This Old House - Part II The Fireplace

Time and tide wait for no man, I've been told. With the winter weather swirling around, threatening to chill us - should we dare to venture outside - indoor projects become more interesting.

Ron has been wanting to "zoosh" up the fireplace since I offered up an off-hand question about it possibly looking better painted white. He's generally not one to let moss grow on him and we went on a jaunt to our local Kent store to see what could be done. An hour later, we left with trim, paint and a couple of odds and sods. (Side note: we love Kent. The staff are always helpful, they've given us tons of advice (and parts - but that's a whole other story) for free! Use them, if they're in your 'hood. It's a good Canadian company.)

Original fireplace

Probably the funniest thing about this endeavour is that we don't have a car. Add to that the fact that lunch had long passed and we hadn't eaten...well, you have the makings for odd circumstances. We marched (dubiously, I confess) into a local restaurant called Kelsey's Roadhouse. (It's a chain, not surprisingly, but we weren't convinced, just by the clientele seated in the window...it reminded us of the mushy-vegetable restaurant in Courtenay, in the Comox Valley.) Be that as it may, we ventured in, and were met by very friendly staff. No one seemed non-plussed about our 8 foot lengths of trim and other accoutrements. They treated us very well and made sure that everything was top notch. We were pleased with the service and the food, no mushy vegetables to be found.

Some of the lumber in question

The bus driver was more dubious, as we boarded the #51 Greenline to head home. Of course we promised not to accost anyone with our decorative trim and behaved like this happened all the time. The trip was unremarkable, no heads were coshed.

Anyhow, a few days after Christmas, Ron decided it was time to tackle our next improvement project.

Chair rail molding

He added trim around the upper mantle, columns and medallions and then sanded the wood. I tack ragged, filled nail holes and helped to paint. 

Embellishments are important

Of course, we're quite pleased with the result. We feel that it just looks more finished and like is was meant to be there, instead of added as an afterthought. Some people might be horrified that we covered up the natural wood, but with so much wood floor, we figured it wasn't an unpardonable sin.

Almost finished product

 

A bit of the details

What's next? Maybe painting the kitchen, or our master bedroom, or even the guest bedroom. There should be enough to keep us busy over the winter.

This Old House

I gotta tell you...Ron gets a bee in his bonnet quite frequently. He's a bit like a British Bulldog that's bitten something and doesn't want to let go. He did it with the paneling on the sun porch, he's done it with numerous other things in the past.

I'll give him his due: it almost always pans out. The paneling came off the sun porch fairly easily and only a small part of the wood siding underneath needed repair. The porch looks so much better now that it's the same colour as the exterior of the house.

His newest "project" was to strip off the paint from the hinges, door knobs and locks that we have in the house. We noticed that they seem to be engraved or had some sort of filigree, but the detail was buried under 100 years of paint. He found a video that said all we really had to do was simmer the pieces in hot water and baking soda to get the majority of the paint off.

It can't be that simple, right? Well, actually it was. Sure we needed to pick out some tight spots and brush and scrub a bit, but the majority of the paint lifted right off. We're left with some pretty amazing hinges that strangely don't match...one side has one style and the other side has another. Quirky.

The set on our dining room door is stamped April 3 1877, Pat B. (Patent reference, or manufacturer? Not clear, but patents usually have a number assigned, no?) So, a bit of scrubbing with steel wool, sanding and rubbing with alcohol, some goo gone and a bit of mineral oil later and we have clean hinges of indeterminate metal type. We're pleased, and really, that's the payoff, right?

It's been a pretty cool exercise and no one else might notice, but we love the hardware!

Could I be a "Karen"? Holiday Edtion Ponderings

I fully admit to being of the "me" generation. The tacky, riotous, cocaine infused 80's that gave rise to Neo-liberalism, austerity measures and trickle down economics. The world of Thatcher, Reagan and Mulroney, to name a few of the conservative politicians of the time. 

This, painfully, leads me to the conclusion that I could also be a "Karen", described in the Urban Dictionary (at least the most popular definition) as: "mother of three. blonde. owns a volvo. annoying as hell. wears acrylics 24/7. currently at your workplace speaking to your manager." Confessedly, I'm neither blonde nor own a Volvo. I don't wear acrylic nails and rarely ask for a manager, but be that as it may, I can see how Millenials would see me as such.

The 80's seem like a lifetime ago in many ways. 50 percent debauchery, 50 percent innocence; it was a confusing time.

As we near the holiday season, I've started hearing "Do They Know It's Christmas?", that definitive 80's Christmas classic featuring the artists of the day, some great, some lost in obscurity now. This song, I find, clearly represents the clueless ethnocentricity of day. In many ways it encapsulates how sheltered we were in so many ways, despite the fact that the song was a charity effort to feed the starving in Africa. (That sounds pretty noble, right?)

Do They Know It's Christmas Video

When I really listen to the lyrics, I can feel myself cringe. The title alone is an example of how "woke" (or un-woke, depending on your definition) we were. Sure, there are a lot of Christians in Africa, but there are also Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists, Pagans, Hindus and (more randomly) Baha'is, etc. Less than half of the population has an affiliation with any Christian religion, so no, many don't know (or care) that it's Christmas.

They tried and that's what counts, right?

The line "there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time" is also, plainly, ridiculous. Africa is mostly in the southern hemisphere, meaning that what is traditionally the Christmas season, is during there summer. (Ask an Australian...snow a Christmas? Hah.)
Okay, so maybe I'm making a bit light, but this is the era I grew up in. I was a child under threat of the hair brush or wooden spoon. Parents didn't mess around back then. There wasn't any of this "no" is a damaging word stuff. There was John Hughes with his anthology of cliched movies "Pretty in Pink", "The Breakfast Club", "Sixteen Candles" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". We were inundated with stereotypes. (Have you seen "9 to 5", a movie trying to point out how wrong sexism is by using complete stereotyped female characters?)

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it isn't completely our fault that the Boomers ran away with the environment or that we rode the wave of "all about me".  For the most part, we honestly didn't know better. We thought that rinsing tin cans out to recycle and buying crap was actually helping. We know better now. Okay, I'm way less likely to TikTok about "OK, Boomer" than Millenials, because that boomer was my wooden spoon wielding Mother and sass wasn't acceptable. So, maybe I'm a Karen. (Ouch!)

I will say one thing. One day, Millenials, many years from now (which will still come sooner than you expect), you will find yourself on the receiving end of derision from the younger generation, not just the the older. This is how it works. Your kids will rolls their eyes at you and find a phrase, that you find incomprehensible, to describe just how out of touch you are. You might even find yourself being protective about what you've achieved in your life and considering ways to maintain and protect your way of life that baffles the next generation. I hope not.

As to: "Do They Know It's Christmas", as cringe worthy as it may be to a modern being, I still feel a tug at the old heart strings when I hear the opening chords. Sentimentality is a powerful thing. Finally, one of the things my corporal punishment loving mother tried to teach me was to be kind. (I did mention it was confusing times, yes?) So be kind to one another, we're all doing our best.

When Winter Blows In

I have to admit, we had a pretty good October. Halloween came in with a bit of drizzle, wind and 18 degrees Celsius - at night...can't really complain. Then a week passed.

We woke up to snow, just starting to accumulate. It snowed all day. We kept the drapes closed and hunkered down, after our workout in the morning. By the end of the day, we had a good five centimetres of the white stuff. The next day the sun came out and we sat on the sun porch, enjoying a bevvie and +20 degrees. (That's the beauty of the sun porch...basically a green house.)

Then the snow melted, more or less, but the temperatures remained stubbornly low. We've now been flirting, on and off, with flurries and carpets of white and the blissful moments of sunshine. I have to say, that -3 and sunny (no wind) is way better than +3 and rainy. 

November seems to be stacking up as a kind month. Have we had snow? Yes, as mentioned. Have we had lots of snow? No...thank heavens! We've spent a few more afternoons on the sun porch and enjoyed some long strolls along the river and through new neighbourhoods. We've spent time with neighbours, enjoying good company and food. We've had highs and lows. There are challenges to every relocation, even when you come "home". We're past the six month mark, which is always a good milestone. (Kilometrestone sounds ridiculous...right?)

We've now put up the Christmas lights (as you can see) and are waiting for a "quintessential" evening snow photo. We're prepared to wait for another month (more, even, why rush?), if we must. Hope your holiday season is shaping up, that you're spending time with those you love, feeding your soul and opening hearts with joy.

Beautiful, Deceptive Autumn

It's kind of hard not to marvel at autumn, especially on the east coast. This is the time that people rhapsodize about the "change of seasons" or fully enjoying the "four seasons". It really has its perks.

Having lived in perennial spring for a while, we understand the time shifting ability of no seasons. When the days stay the same length and there is always something in bloom, time ceases to exist. Is is April? Is it November? We honestly couldn't tell you without keeping a sharp eye on the calendar. So, fall is a pretty impressive change. The colours are amazing, especially on days with deep blue skies and ample sunshine. The trees remind us that it's a good thing to go out looking fabulous.

The majesty of the season ALMOST makes you forget what's coming after. The key phrase being almost. We've weather stripped and insulated, sealed and layered all in an attempt to winterize this old house. We aren't ready, we know that, but we've done what we can. In the meantime, we'll enjoy the blazing colours of a year that is trying to grow old gracefully, with a bit of class and elan. We also know that it will likely end up giving up the ghost in a petulant tantrum of ice and snow, but that's what we signed up for, at least this year.

First snow of the season

Hope you enjoy the colours as much as we do. If you're in that springtime place we once inhabited, enjoy the magic timelessness of it and our autumn, from afar. If closer to home, perhaps a little winter prep might be in order, if you've been putting it off. For those on the very we(s)t  coast, crack out the galoshes and lights that mimic daylight. We'll all make it through. 

Ghosts and Ghoulies - the return of Halloween

We were trying to figure out when the last time we were truly required to prepare for Halloween because of trick or treators. It seems the last time we could expect kids at the door was October of 2002. Yup...17 years ago. So weird, right? That's the joy of condo living!

I confess to liking Halloween; the chance to dress up (be something I'm not! So awesome), the spine tingles of scary stories, the eternal promise of free candy (at least when I was a kid).  I even loved the other side of it. Seeing the kids in costumes, handing out candy, quite smugly closing the door on freezing/drenched parents and returning to the comfort of my heated house, as they escorted their kids from door to door, once I'd given out the treats. 

So here we are again. Back on Treat Street. We've bought and carved the pumpkins, applied liberal amounts of spider webs to the front porch, bought enough candy for over 50 kids. (I'm hoping there will be some left over, to be sure.)

So here's to Halloween, the ghosts and ghouls, princesses and knights. Hope your night was SPOOK-tacular.

Beautiful, Deceptive Vancouver

Most everyone knows I consider Vancouver my home town and that it's more "homey" to me than most other places. Visitors mostly love it. And why not? It's nestled on the ocean and has the coastal mountains rising up on its edges? It's a food lovers haven and a perfect spot for people who love outdoor activities. There's a reason that Vancouver rates so highly for things like "Best Places to Live". 

English Bay at Sunset

These facts, plus others (money laundering *cough *cough) make Vancouver real estate ridiculously expensive, even after a correction due to various investment taxes put in place to "discourage" too much foreign investment. 

The Five Sails from Expo '86

The truth is that once you leave, it's really hard to get back into the market again, either as a buyer or renter. A one bedroom will set you back over $2000, on average. (A two bedroom over 3 grand!) Now the average income in Vancouver is around $78,000, not too bad, right? Well, this number is grossly skewed by the big income earners that pull down high six figures. This doesn't take into account the suburban centres around the city that earn less, either, but where property really isn't all that much different. The median income is only about $5000 more than the rest of the country, when property values, for Canada, on average are markedly less. (An example is the average 1 bedroom apartment rental for all of Canada (including the ridiculous rates of Toronto and Vancouver) is $1260.)

Vancouver skyline from North Vancouver

This is the deceptiveness that is Vancouver. It's like the weather. You'll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful city when the sun is shining.  Then the clouds come and you can't see the mountains, quite frequently, you can't see the other side of the street and the wind blows cold and damp through your bones until you wonder why you're even there. It, like all cities, has two faces and you either learn to love them both or leave. (Or you leave to go on a crazy adventure and devil take the consequences of ever returning.)

Siwash (Slhx̱í7lsh in the Squamish language) Rock

Sure the place has great parks, a good cultural scene, world famous First Nations art and traditions, plus a myriad of amazing tourist destinations and restaurants of almost every description and price point...it's just the weather and cost of living there. If you've already swung it; great! I almost envy you.

Inukshuk

Vancouver will always feel like home to me, but I don't know if I'll ever plant my shallow roots there again. It's a great town to visit, catch up with family and friends and then say good-bye when the weather turns. 

Button Up! Autumn is Coming

To be quite frank, it seems like we were just getting into the beat of summer, yet here we are heading to the first day of fall. As much as I'd like to deny it, our days of summer chasing are coming to an end and we'll finally have to face not just the crisp colourful days of autumn, but the crystal cold of winter.

Frost warnings are starting to pop up, so we have to winterize the house, closing it off to critters and sneaky drafts. All this at a time, when we're used to looking forward to the warmer days of South American summer...we knew it was coming.

When we were sitting out on the sun porch, watching Moncton "rush hour" traffic the other night, we noticed that the maple tree across the street had some red leaves and as we walked though Mapleton Park on Sunday, we noticed the gentle fall of leaves and the change of colours creeping in. 

We had what is likely our last ice-cream of the season. Most of the dairy bars (ice cream stands) are shuttered, like the Labour Day weekend was the last hurrah. The sun hasn't completely deserted us, we had a lovely walk through Centennial Park, even though a couple of squirrels yelled at us for going through their territory. It's hard to take a little outraged red squirrel seriously, no matter their vehemence.

Heathcliffe, our resident squirrel in PEI
(He got humanely transported to another location)

That being said, it's that time when the critters are looking for a cozy escape from the oncoming winter and, as our house lacks a cat, it's pretty enticing. We've been taking our time, going over the foundation, filling holes, sealing off potential entry points, wrapping the porches with fine mesh and trying to get ahead of the invasion. There are few sounds more distressing than the scritching of critters in the floors or walls.

Memento from the last great mouse battle

Update: Battle Rodent continues, but we've won a major victory! We've found their access to the house it has been baited and sealed. We feel encouraged after so many failures. Despite the feel of autumn in the air, there are a few days of summer being forecast in the upcoming week. Time to buy some long sleeved shirts and start looking for snow boots, just the same. 

Is the Tide a Bore?

This is a little ancillary post to the Hopewell Rocks one. Moncton is situated on a tidal river, fed from the Bay of Fundy, where those great tide changes happen.

Once the tidal bore has passed, but the river is still filling up quickly!

Little did we know that twice a day the river gets flooded with ocean water that creates this thing called a tidal bore. For those not familiar with this, it's a single wave that is created by the pure volume of sea water coming through a narrow opening in the river.

The tidal bore that enters up the Petitcodiac River is strong enough for the brave to surf, which is pretty impressive. Where can you see this spectacle? From Tidal Bore park...simple and to the point, East Coast practicality, especially in naming things, is a beautiful thing. Pro tip: head down past the first couple viewing stations towards Dieppe to get the first view and to double down on the fun, stand on the pedestrian bridge and see the tidal bore and the feeder river fill up at the same time.

The things that surprised me the most was the sound, almost like a slow grinder milling up the coast line. I saw the bore before I heard it, but the sound was definitely unique and louder than one would anticipate.

Add this to your list of things to do in Moncton while here. There's an excellent schedule available at https://tidalboretimes.ca/ . The best times (so we've been advised) to see the bore is on the new moon, closely followed by the full moon. If you can hit it during a super moon, then all the better.

Highs and Lows of Hopewell Rocks

Even the very best of Canadians don't know all the amazing sights that our huge country has to offer. I knew about the amazing tidal flows in the Bay of Fundy from about the age of 11 or so, but never truly appreciated the enormity of a waterline that can rise up to 16 metres (that's 50 feet for you United States-ers) in a matter of hours. You can walk on the ocean floor, where in a few hours, people will be kayaking well above your head.

For more information, visit the Hopewell Rocks website, or just enjoy our pictures. We were there in the heart of tourist season and there were a lot (!!!) of people. Waiting to get the right shot was occasionally painful, as the social media generation has taken over and the "perfect photo" requires many...many...many attempts. One guy went back 11 times in a 20 minute period. In truly Canadian fashion, there was a line to get a photo in an opening and he went back over and over again, to the point that most of the people on the viewing platform were having a good laugh at his expense. I guess he had his reasons.

Once the tide started to come in, we headed up to watch the spectacle. It didn't seem like the water was coming in quickly, but all of a sudden the beach we'd walked on in the distance disappeared and then the midrange beach was under water and a half hour later the whole thing was underwater. The tide rose 12 metres (@40 feet) in under 2 hours. Wow!

The whole family had a good time, but I have to give credit where credit is due...Ron took almost every picture and is responsible for the amazing photos. If you're in the area, it's a great place to visit. Families get in for $25.50, and adults are $10. The entry is good for two days, which is pretty sweet, if you're staying in the area. Parking is free.