Time to activate long dormant plans…

Yes, PN has had a retirement countdown timer running since the Fall of 2022. TS is ready. PN is ready. Release the hounds! Eventually, I might compile these 100-some-odd graffiti activities into an artwork. It's how I cope with the insanity of being a high school science teacher. PN.

2 months of contract teaching left…

...and then it's July 2023. The clean up begins. TS and I clean up our GTA condominium suite, follow the mantra (when in doubt, throw it out), and begin rental-accomodation hunting (up on the North Bruce Peninsula). To casual Bruce Trail hikers: please respect the signage for our property. Expect to encounter heavy machinery at … Continue reading 2 months of contract teaching left…

So, we want highly-concentrated…

…battery packs. Why I might want these in a room with automated fire-suppression. Link.

TS is getting stronger…

She’s been faithful to her assigned exercises. Including the dreadful crouching-crab-walk with the rubber band of doom!

Happy December 25th!

PN is grateful that TS is recovering so well post knee-surgery. TS is becoming an Fe-womyn with all of those various (borderline sadistic) physiotherapeutic exercises (Gus [from the clinic], if you're reading this, I don't know whether to thank you or curse you). While I want to spend a week at the site (during our … Continue reading Happy December 25th!

Gate Lock 🔐 Box Installed

We’re optimistic that our well will be sunk before the deep snow piles up (see image, courtesy of Evolve Builders Group [Melanie Scott, designer]). Authorized personnel? BCB&B is now ready for your constructive business!

Ah… so THAT’S why I received so many telephone calls from satellite ISP agents…

When TS & I move up to the peninsula, we expect to pay a lot for broadband internet service. Off-grid. Our property line is at least ~1000 m from the last utility pole. Link to CBC article.

Educate Yourself…

I am very aware that I earn a fantastic salary, posess excellent medical benefits, and a have a pension fund that can't be beat. I have the luxury of retiring in June. My CUPE colleagues -- no. My colleagues in CUPE (especially in caretaking, as a CYW, or performing EA duties) often do the same … Continue reading Educate Yourself…

October 2022 360-degree image

You are looking at my 2nd attempt at making a full-sphere image of our driveway at the build-site. My iDevice did its very best at knitting together images into an image bubble. Yes, PN is wearing red wooly socks in his Birkenstocks. TS is accepting of my fashion crimes. PN & TS also cut away … Continue reading October 2022 360-degree image

Deacon’s Domain (Cottage)

…is a nice place to come back to after a day processing firewood. The weird lighting effect is courtesy of my iDevice (a long exposure?). It’s definitely not haunted. Nope.

First FULL Week At Werk…

I'm enjoying working with my junior technicians. https://audioboom.com/posts/6410426 I'd like to share a random tale. This one showcases 6 different urban myths. I'd rate it as PG-13. https://audioboom.com/posts/6432568 About 30 (thirty) years ago, TS and I went to an psychic faire back in British Columbia. We had a vaguely similar experience. Nope. Nope. Nope! https://audioboom.com/posts/6491760Continue reading First FULL Week At Werk…

Another year of stand-up philosophy!

I'm looking forward to this contract year (as a high school science teacher). Would I rather be on the property clearing the build site? Would I rather be pulling out deadfall and Widowmakers on our 10Ha woodlot? Would I rather be maintaining the tractor/ATV trails with my Sthil saws & cutters? Would I rather be … Continue reading Another year of stand-up philosophy!

And now. And now, we clean up…

...after 2 weeks in the bush, it's time to clean up our kit. Important culinary safety note = (Dairy Queen [Chicken Strips + Fries + medium-sized Blizzard with Skor bits]) + (Brunswick Smoked Sardines) + (Brunswick Tomato-Basil Sardines) + (PBJ-on-unsalted-crackers) = gastric woe until 01:00 EST. PN should really know better, eh.

Image of future BCB&B site.

4 weeks of harvesting, logging, and chipping…

…leads to a roughed-in build site! See the attached images, eh. Revision: Ah. So THAT’S how one inserts images. Oy. After 4 weeks of forestry, TS & PN roughed out the future build-site. PN & TS’s build-site is on the other side of the rock outcrop (that is on the left side of the image). … Continue reading 4 weeks of harvesting, logging, and chipping…

Hardwood is…

…well, hard. A grove of slow-growing oak, maple, and ironwood (yes, that’s a real Ontario tree [I’m using this tree atlas to identify my plants])… are challenging me. I thought I would be able to sharpen my saw’s chain every 3 days. Nope. The chain skates on the media! Daily sharpening. Daily! I won’t be … Continue reading Hardwood is…

Juvenile rattlesnake said…

…hey! Back off. So we did. 4 hummingbirds found our forest feeder and are now having a turf war over the bloody thing. A humourus 12 minute description of our feathered fiends (not friends). And a safety PSA for Mountain Trout Camp. 🤨 Lumber update: I’m chopping straight lengths of oak & maple (~5-6’ blocks) … Continue reading Juvenile rattlesnake said…

TS – 1 … Black Bear – 0

TS had her first black bear encounter this afternoon (at about 3 p.m.). I was splitting firewood up at the parking lot. TS was shredding branches (~150-200m away from me). While I was banging logs apart, I heard someone swear(?) and started blasting on our canned-air horn. A lot. I hopped on the ATV and … Continue reading TS – 1 … Black Bear – 0