Way back in the summer of 2021 when we started clearing the property west of the city, there were dozens of trees that had to be cut down, both dead and alive. We have been calling this little summer get away El Parque. Daryl has been busy with that chainsaw.
Spring of 2022 we returned to El Parque to find severall very large trees had been uprooted. Must have been quite the wind.
One tree in particular was gigantic and probably gave us enough firewood for the summer. Daryl decided to save some of the wood and make a bench. We left the pieces in the bush to dry out.
Summer of 2023, Daryl brought the chunks of wood out of the forest and trimmed them up. Unfortunately the wood was still too wet to do much with. So we left them out in the sun.
Summer of 2024 at El Parque was kind of a write off, although Daryl was able to get some of the bark removed before ending up in a cast. Most of the bark was removed with an axe.
This summer, 2025, saw the bench finally take shape. First, the ‘seat’ was split in half, then the base was shaped so it would all fit nice and flat.
All that was needed to finish the bench off was fill a few cracks in the wood, a bit of sanding and staining. That took a while as we have had so much rain this summer the wood wasn’t dry enough to sand until August.
And it is done after 4 summers!! Maybe we have too much time on our hands:)
My walking buddy and I have been walking sections of the Grey Canal Trail for the last several mornings. According to google, the Grey Canal area was part of a 50 kilometer gravity fed irrigation system, built between 1906 -1914. This was quite an accomplishment and supplied water to over 20, 000 acres.
There were parking lots all along the trail, so far we have walked from Bella Vista to Blue Jay, only covering a very small part of the extensive trails. The scenery was spectacular. Going in one direction you get lake views, and in the other valley views.
The trails were in great shape with viewing areas along the way.
Today we walked above Davidson Orchards. It was an absolutely massive area that, in places, extended to both sides of the trail, although it was not all cultivated. Some of the trees were covered in netting, gotta keep those pesky birds away from that fruit. Although we were quite far away we could see the tractor pulled train giving tours of the orchard.
Yesterday the path took us around the side of cliffs, today it was hot, no shade and a totally different landscape.
There was lots of sage, which although smells good, I hear is terrible for allergies. There were no thistles on the path, but on the other side of the fence there were fields of them! At one point we saw workers cutting the heads off and bagging them.
The trail seemed to be very well used and we saw lots of people every day. There were also enough coyote droppings that I would be a tad nervous walking alone. It was good to walk with a buddy.
On this trip to Vernon Daryl and I decided we would do a bit of exploring. Today we tried to go an haskap berry picking place, but unfortunately they are done for the year. On our way we passed a sign that said cider tasting, and of course we had to stop. It’s actually an apple orchard that has a restaurant and does cider tasting.
The inside restaurant was very nice but full of people, so no pictures.
On a late cloudy, cool, slightly wet Friday afternoon, even the patio was busy.
There was quite a selection of ciders that are made from their own apples. We got to try four different flavours. The first one,Modern Dry, was dry and tart. The next two, Earl Grey and Rhubarb were both very good. While different, they had lots of flavour with just a hint of sweet. If you like really sweet, then the fourth, the Cherry cider would be for you.
Mid July apples aren’t ready but coming along nicely. Our server told us the cardboard is to keep bugs from climbing up the trees.
The smells coming out of the kitchen were incredible, we just had to share a pizza. What a flavour combination: fresh apricots, chorizo, blue cheese and pesto! Yummm
Next stop was Peters U-pick. Peaches aren’t ready yet, but the cherries are.
We have picked cherries here a few times previously, but I have never seen the abundance of this year.
The previous day we had gone to a winery called The Perch, overlooking Swan Lake. It was a small tasting as everything was sold out except for two whites. This one was quite good, high praise indeed as I am not a white wine drinker.
Unfortunately we only took one picture of the very beautiful location.
We will go back another year and enjoy a nice crisp white with a charcuterie board, sitting at a picnic table enjoying the valley scenery.
Two winters work has turned this house into a beautiful home. Looking at it makes all the hours Daryl spent on his knees to make the floor spectacular, and the hours I spent sanding, grinding and staining to make a functional coffee table out of a stump and a raw slab of wood, all worthwhile. Then of course there were the windows and doors that had to be removed, sanded and stained. And so much more. It was all worthwhile!
The $40 table we watched being made last year and have been using outside, just needed a good sanding and clear sealer to become an end table.
The kitchen is not very big and there are not a lot of cupboards. But oh my!! Still not finished.The only drawers and doors are going to be under the sink. Maybe they will be ready before Daryl comes home. Eventually we will get chairs for the island.
We have this lovely ‘European’ sink. At the shop we were told it was difficult to get the right sized parts here, but it is so pretty! Well the shop staff knew what they were talking about. Maybe it is a good thing we don’t have drawers and cupboards yet. Access is so much easier for the multiple attempts to stop leaks.
The house we have rented for the past three winters has a gas stove. I have had a terrible time adjusting the oven temperature to anywhere near where it is supposed to be. However, last year when we arrived there was an air fryer oven with multiple functions. It worked so well. When shopping for the ‘new’ house, we found a stove with two ovens, the top an electric air fryer, and the bottom gas. It came with zero instructions so the functioning is a work in progress as there are a zillion buttons, but we are getting there! I find it weird that the gas tank for the stove is inside the house. At some point Daryl will drill a hole in the wall and put the tank outside. The backsplash is also a project for another year.
Bedrooms are finished, just need bedding, supplies and artwork. And maybe a dresser or two.
Storage space is at a premium. There is one storage area in our bedroom, above this space and above both closets, storage space has been created. Also above the washer and dryer area. Amazing what you can put ‘up there’.
It is wonderful having functional bathrooms. However, we still haven’t stayed overnight as there is no hot water or air conditioners. Both are coming, and are the two big ticket items remaining inside the house.
Now we just need every day stuff for inside. However, there is still a ways to go on the outside. That is a project for another year. When we return in the fall, it’s still rainy season so everything will be lush and green for a couple of months.
We didn’t smash the bottle, but we did have a glass of wine to celebrate our new home away from home.
During the house renovation, getting water hook-up has been a strange and long process. When we finally heard from the water company, we were told we had already been hooked up. Daryl went on a quest to find out if this was reality as he had previously found a pipe (lots of digging and input from the neighbours) but there was no water. Turned out, there never has been water hook-up to this house. We also didn’t have a water meter.
We had been borrowing water from our neighbour’s well since last year. After many requests, and a couple of months, ‘a guy’ came by in the dark, used a big flash light, and hooked us up to the town water supply. Still no meter, but at least we had town water to the property, but not in the house. We had sinks and toilets but no water.
Daryl was just a little annoyed with the contractor and it might have showed! On a Friday late afternoon, right before carnival, a plumber showed up with a water tank. Progress, but no go, as it was too small. We needed a tank that could hold several days supply of water as town supply can be sporadic. Eventually the correct sized tank arrived.
Shortly afterwards a truck showed up with the remaining supplies.
The guys went to work and it didn’t take long to get the form ready and the concrete pad built. By the time we left the house, it was already dark and the guys were still working. On Friday evening of carnival no less!
We came back to the house the next morning to find the town water connected and a full tank of water. Now only one final step needed, to actually get water into the house.
While the plumbers were checking the pipes inside the house, a couple of small leaks were found that were thought to be easy repairs, and they were. However once the water was connected and running through the house pipes, it was such a big surprise to find water pouring out of an electrical outlet. It ended up being smashed water pipes, both hot and cold, that were under the floor between the bedroom and bathroom. The water filled up the space and escaped through the electrical outlet. The fix was not an easy repair but a two day job!
I guess it is true, one never knows what one will find when doing a reno. Thankfully it is all done and just needs a coat of paint to be as good as new.
Sometimes I think we are so close to occupancy. It is safe to say we are both ready but not holding our breath!
This house has terra cotta tile floors which have never been sealed. It was dirty and had lots of gouges. It was quite a job to clean each tile by hand, some stains were so ingrained you had to use a power brush. However, there was a fine line between getting the dirt out and not wrecking the tile.
The holes in the tiles definitely needed fixing. Daryl found terra cotta repair on Amazon and while time consuming, worked very well. He has patched every hole, crack and gouge individually.
The shower stalls were in incredibly bad disrepair. Amazing how well they cleaned up.
The walls were in also rough shape. Before the painters came, Daryl did some patching and sanding.
The storage area was painted and the floor sealed so we could mostly clean out the house for the painters.
The really high cracks were repaired by the painters. For some reason I have an aversion to Daryl being on a tall ladder!!
The painters did a fabulous job (Sherwin Williams), with not a drop of paint spilled anywhere. It is starting to come together.
After the walls were painted, the floors were finished. That was a really big job. Apart from each tile having to be cleaned by hand, there were 3-4 coats of Super Diamond Clear Sealer applied. Before I arrived at the end of October, Daryl already had one bedroom cleaned and sealed. He has just finished, so a good four months!! “little by little” or “poco a poco”.
The deck was the last to be done. I have no idea what was in the sealer but it smelled awful!! When Daryl got the paintbrush out it was time for me to leave! First he dusted an area, then poured the sealer, and then brushed it on. Initially Daryl had tried standing up and using a roller. Whatever is in this sealer actually ate the roller, so hands and knees it was.
There is a good chance we won’t be getting any outside furniture until next fall. Summer time here (now) it can be quite windy, which is a saving grace as it makes it comfortable to be outside. The little chairs we have now blow away so we will be looking for something sturdy and comfortable.
A year ago, March 2024, Daryl and I had the opportunity to purchase an old Corotu wood stump with a slab that could be used as a coffee table. We got the wood cut to height and brought it to our totally unliveable house.
Once the bark was removed from the base it showed tons of bug holes. The sides of the top had also been eaten quite severely.
Daryl saturated both pieces with an insecticide and once it had dried up and stopped stinking, it was stored. After several months sitting in a closet, it was time to drag the pieces of wood out and start the refinishing process.
It actually looked good until you got up close and started sanding. Then there were so many holes where bugs had been eating the wood. There were no live bugs as thankfully the insecticide from the previous year had done its job.
There was wood around the sides of the top that was like tissue paper and had to be removed. Unfortunately, it also meant some of the nice contrast light coloured wood around the table would be destroyed.
Pretty soon it became evident that the chisel and sander weren’t going to do the job and it was time to use a grinder. Another new skill and kind of scary at the beginning. It could chew through the wood like a hot knife in butter!
It took a while but eventually the base was smooth, levelled and sealed.
The table top took a lot longer to do. There are three lovely hearts in the wood and most of the light coloured wood around the edges had been saved.
Then ‘someone’ said to oil the wood to bring out the grain. Well, that was a big mistake, it turned the wood so dark you could barely see the grain, and the sides lost their nice colour. I tried wiping it off and sanding it but it was well soaked in and not coming off.
The only way to salvage this was to turn the piece of wood over and use the ‘not as nice’ side. I had only done minimal sanding on the underside, so time to bring back the sander. It was it very rough shape, but sure looked better than having a black table top.
After applying five coats of a 3 in 1 varnish, stain and sealer it was finished.
Several years ago I was diagnosed with a genetic condition, Alpha-1-Antitrypsin deficiency, that affects my lungs. My body is missing a protein that prevents destruction of lung tissue. I have remained fairly stable with a slow deterioration. Summer 2024 my respirologist again suggested a therapy to augment, or replace, this protein. This medication is given IV weekly not to heal but to prevent further deterioration. With the assurance that I could be taught to self infuse, I decided to give it a trial.
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When Alberta Health Care works, it works very well. After the doctor made the referral, I was contacted in just a couple of weeks by the company that co-ordinated the entire process. Appointments were made at the clinic doing the infusions, and the speciality pharmacy in Edmonton sent the medication to my house. It took just over 5 weeks from seeing the respirologist to having my first infusion on July 30.
The staff at the clinic were wonderful. However, I knew there was no way I was going to be able to start an IV on myself using one hand. This was a problem because not being able to do the infusions myself meant there would be no way I could to go to Panama for the winter.
The nurse doing the treatment suggested a port-a-cath. I had no idea this was an option but decided to pursue it. With a phone call, the respirologist agreed to it and a referral was sent. Again, the stars must have been aligned as one month later I received a letter from Interventional Radiology at South Health Campus with an appointment date. There was an option to go on the cancellation list which I took. Two days later on August 29, 2024 the port-a-cath was inserted.
The port-a-cath is a little ‘plastic’ device that is implanted under the skin on your chest. One side of this device has a ‘tube’ that is attached just above my clavicle where it is sutured in place. The other end is a catheter that runs from this little circle device through the superior vena cava to the right atrium. I was told to give it a month to heal and then go live my life.
The port is ready for immediate use, however the clinic opted to wait two weeks to give the area a chance to heal. I was the first patient this clinic had taught to self infuse, so it was a learning experience for everyone. It’s quite the process Clean the insertion site and let it air dry otherwise the dressing won’t stick. Set up a sterile field. Prime the ‘gripper’, the needle that’s inserted into the port, with normal saline (in a 10 ml syringe) so it is ready for insertion. Set up a primary IV, attach to the gripper and start it dripping. Put the medication into an empty IV bag and set up this secondary line.
There are three little knobs on the port, and the gripper goes in the centre of this tiny little area. Everything is backwards as I am using a mirror. My port is low on my chest so I am able to look down to make sure the gripper is flush with the port.
Such a relief when you pull back on that plunger and get blood. It means success.
After everything has run through, the line gets flushed, the gripper removed and do it all again in a week.
I needed six months of supplies to get me through the winter. One Path, the support company, sent me boxes of supplies. The clinic was amazing in helping me get organized, even supplying a fold up IV pole to go in my suitcase.
The airlines (Porter and Air Transat) needed a letter from the doctor saying what I needed to bring and why. The supplies went in a large suitcase and there was no charge. The medication had to come on the plane with me to be kept cold. Two large cooler bags were not a problem.
Everything went well for the first month. Then I began to have trouble getting blood back. It was so stressful as I had no idea what, or if, I was doing anything wrong. I even saw a doctor who inserted the gripper and was unable to get blood back. Thankfully I talked to two nurses who work in cancer care. One had 30 years experience working with ports and was able to give me practical problem solving tips. It worked and the last four infusions have been smooth.
In hindsite, being educated with tips on what to do in different scenarios would have been really helpful. But here we are, enjoying the sun, renovating a house and living the life. So yes, it has been worth it.
Spring of 2024 when this place was brand new to us, but not lived in for 10 years, it needed a whole lot of work. A lot of the ‘big stuff’ has been done: fencing, roof replaced, the wood ceiling has been stripped and stained, and electricity installed.
All the woodwork including counters, windows and doors needed to be sanded and stained. That we have been able to do. Apparently if one does enough hard physical labour, one doesn’t need to go to the gym!!
Last spring Daryl bought hundreds of feet of trim (slight exaggeration) and we stained them all. It took a while but now all the door and windows have new trim. We got an old blanket at the second hand store ($4), makes a great floor protector.
Spring of 2024 we also started cleaning up the bathroom cabinets. It looked in rough shape, but had good bones. Amazing what can be accomplished with sanding and a can of stain.
After the first few minutes with the sander, I wasn’t so sure it would end up being usable.
The sinks and toilets have joined the growing pile of trash waiting for a trip to the dump.
Both bathroom vanities are finished. Quite the change.
The windows and doors have been sanded and stained. On the outside of all of them, we finished with marine clear coat, to see if that will preserve them just a bit longer, especially during rainy season.
Lovely sweat band, but very necessary as feels like rivers run down my face!
Practically every door had to have the bottoms sanded so they would open and close without scraping.
Doors are done. Getting prettier every day:)
Seeing results is gratifying, but one still has to make time to go to the beach and enjoy life!
We have this massive tree in the back yard. Branches had been hanging over the house, filling the gutters with leaves. This tree sheds all year round and it is a lot of leaves. Daryl decided to trim the overhanging branches.
The tree has relatively soft wood, if you cut it half way through it breaks off. It was worth a shot to see if an isolated branch could be pulled off. A bit of rope and some good throwing isolated the branch.
That didn’t work, so pulling it with the car was next.
That didn’t work either. Daryl needed to find a way to partially cut a branch 20 feet in the air. Three 8 foot lengths of wood screwed together, then screw the hand saw to the end. Magic! (We will eventually get a proper tool, but I hear necessity is the mother of invention).
Several good sized limbs later the roof was pretty well free of overhanging limbs. Then it was time to use the machete to hack them into manageable pieces for ‘the pile’ that will eventually be removed. A job well done!
When I left Pedasi last spring there was literally finger size green shoots sticking out of this stump. A month later it was a lovely little green ‘plant’ covering the stump. Well!! Six months later it was at least 20 feet tall.
We have no idea what type of tree…or vine… it is, but it had to go as soon it would be touching the power lines. That machete works amazingly well.
We do like our visitor. The egret seems to enjoy the food in the grass.
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