Selling MacGyver's Float Home

So Close.....

2012-01-21T16:46:00.000-08:00

Been a while since we last got together so time for an update. We hope to have MacGyver's floathome on the market within 30 days. As you can see by the photo, it's mid winter on the Volga...er.. I mean the Fraser.
The plan is to put it on ebay. I've been a seller there since 1997, so I'm pretty comfortable with it. We hope this will allow a wider audience as it may have some nostalgic value for some of the MacGyver fans.

Over the course of a very busy summer, we managed to have the upstairs floors put in, a beautiful deep rick mahogany color with a 25 year guarantee. Just this last week I managed to replace the front porch so all is safe and sound. Next on the agenda is a full inside paint in a comforting neutral. This will allow the art to pop. Adele and I also had the kitchen counters redone with bright white 6" tiles. Clean and modern. One last thing in the next week, full restoration of the kitchen floors. We're going to sand them down and have the real Larch refinished.
We hope to have a video done shortly. This will allow you all to get a look around for yourself.

New photos, winter 2008

2011-03-24T20:42:00.000-07:00

Oh, how could we ever forget the winter of 2008?

The river froze and the snow accumulated on top of the frozen water,

it looked like we could almost walk right across to Maple Ridge!

(the view below is of the centre of the marina looking north).

We shovelled the snow from our decks and the flat roof but soon had nowhere to put it.

Snow is usually pushed easily into the river but at that time shovels were heaping it on either side of the docks.

This view (above) is looking north, the centre walkway is a wooden finger dock between 2 homes,

then the snow continues right across the river to the other shore.

The tides still rose and fell twice daily, cracking the ice and reforming, creating hard ridges.

Marina residents kept watch over their floatation, as beautiful as the ice and snow can be,

the heavy ice could cause damage as well.

Our neighbour on the live-a-board boat (above) also had to contend with the elements,

not to mention a very slippery passage between the dock and her boat deck.

In this view you are looking east, the snow you see piled on either side of the dock

is sitting on the river ice - at least two feet below.

Looking east (above) the morning sun reflects on Golden Ears.

A good natured marina rivalry exists between the East-enders (above) and the

West-enders (below), with the West-enders being the most colourful group

(of course!)

Looking west (below) you can see the Golden Ears bridge in the distance

and home sweet home.

Came home tonight & threw open all the windows!

2011-03-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

She says:
Yes, it's truly one of those beautiful, glorious, wonderful sun-filled days on the river, I came home tonight and threw open all the windows! Our little Chihuahua Elvis followed me excitedly from room to room as I unlocked latches and flung back the sheers and let the river breezes clear out all the stale winter air. I could even hear some of my neighbours talking on the docks (a normal occurrence in warm weather of course but nice to hear once again after the closed doors and windows of winter).
I listened to the birds and even a woodpecker! Then I heard then real harbinger of spring - the first power boat zooming up-river, motoring too close to our homes (very typical) and the wake bounced our homes about and threw bright reflections from sun on water high up on our walls and reflected brightly through stained glass and crystal wind chimes.
I checked my stats for this blog tonight, and wow, we've had over 1800 visits, most from the United States and Canada, but some from Norway, Italy and Greece! Many of you come here from the MacGyver fan site (see the site link on this page, and Hello to you Rocky!)
Welcome all and please take time to leave a comment, we would love to hear from you!
I will be posting new photos later this week.
Cheers!

In the Palm of Her Hand

2011-03-22T19:54:00.000-07:00

She says:
Well, it's the first week of Spring 2011 and the welcome sun is shining down through the clouds upon the river this evening. It's still too cold to think about finishing the outside painting, or changing out the new bumpers, but winter is finally over and warm weather is really heading our way. It was low tide when I got home tonight, stepping cautiously down the ramp I wondered about freshet this year, there wasn't much in the way of snow in the Lower Mainland this winter but the same may not be true for the mountains, so as the melt begins the water will rise.
The world watched while Japan was hit by an awful earthquake 10 days ago and while we kept the Japanese people uppermost in our thoughts and prayers the realization of a remote but possible tsunami began to surface here on the coast. There isn't much we can do in the marina except to be sure our lines are in good repair and that we are cross-tied tightly enough - but with the ability to still flex so lines won't break.
There's a connection to the Earth here on our floating home that I have never felt in a home on land. The big, beautiful Super Moon shone on the river last Saturday night, neighbours celebrated the bright moon and the onset of spring, while we keep an eye on the weather and the mountains and wonder if a rapid rise in Spring temperatures will melt snow too quickly, and if that rapid melt will impact freshet - either way the river will rise, it's only a question of when and how much.
There was a small earthquake off Vancouver Island a few days ago, in response to the plate movement in Japan, I wonder?
No tsunami tides here, just a quiet beginning to Spring 2011 in southern BC and as much as we human beings attempt to alter our world and harness her resources and assert our dominance over her, for me this March 2011 is just a reminder that Mother Nature holds us all in the palm of her hand.

Winter Wonderland

2011-03-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

He says:
Okay, as pretty as this is, I'm ready for summer. This was shot from the shore, looking out to the marina. It really can be a winter wonderland.
Getting ready to sell MacGyver's floathome has been a bigger project than we imagined. We have replaced nearly every window and door, we have gutted and rebuilt the bathroom, we have added a luscious dark larch hardwood floor to the kitchen along with adding a window seat storage area. This, along with the countless other small things including paint etc, has been a huge challenge.
It's time for us to get back on land. With wifey's business and the need for dirt, we're going to let someone else have the privelege of floating on the river. It truly has been a fabulous 5 years. When we bought the floathome we knew it was going to be a lifestyle change, but it has truly touched us in many ways. If you have never lived in a community of common interest, you'll be in for a treat.
Respect and privacy were things that we were concerned about when we first moved here. It turned out it was a needless worry. No one bangs on your door asking why aren't your at so and so's get together. Everyone smiles, nods, says a few kind words when we meet on the dock and we all go about our merry way. No pressure to participate, but warm hugs when you do.
From live bands, to summer barbeques, to Chrismas sing a longs to floating luminaries in remembrance of loved ones, there are many wonderful things to do as a community. You can also walk along the beach watching the beaver, bike the quiet roads, saunter to the dog park or chase deer in the dog walking field. It truly is a great place and we will miss it, but, like my favorite saying goes: "embrace change, it's gonna happen anyway"

Adding Color

2011-02-09T18:48:00.000-08:00

He says:
Well, MacGyver's floathome looks a little different than you might remember it. We think it's an improvement, hope you do too!
As you can see, the biggest change from the show is the basic color. If you remember, it used to be the old original aged gray cedar. We decided to pay homage to the water theme so we went for a lovely Mediterranean blue. After we added the railings, we set off all the trim with a deep glossy black. To make it pop, we opted for a wild lime green on all three doors. To finish it off, a tomato red awning over the fireplace entry door area allows a covered smoking area for our guests. The outside is pretty well done, just a couple more touches inside and we'll be ready to put 'er up!!!

Icy Cold and Toasty Warm

2010-11-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

He says:
Sitting in my chair watching the temperature plummet and ice build up on the river. It's only November people! Preparing the floathome for winter is pretty easy these days. A lot of the work is ongoing, such as installing new insulation around all the new windows we put in and making sure that the locks for the doors are snugged down tight.
About the only other things we have to do are change the light bulb in the storage room outside from a regular bulb to a heat bulb. This keeps the temperature above freezing. We also have a plug in heater wrap for the copper pipes to the kitchen. Sitting so close to the water, they're one of the first things to freeze. I installed new insulation and heat tape around the water hose that supplies our main water as it pops out of the river (good insulation) and is exposed to the air (bad insulation) as it climbs to our main water pipe.
The other constant is bringing down pellets from the car to the house to keep the pellet stove fed. One bag of fir pellets usually lasts about 3-4 days, but in this weather with the stove cranked up high, less than two days. It certainly works well though, that little stove can heat up all 1200 sf in no time flat.
One more project that wifey and I finished is installing a 9 foot long seating and storage bench in the living room/den/library/office. Wonderful for extra storage and it allowed us to clear out one more closet.

What the Hell Happened to Summer?

2010-10-15T13:25:00.001-07:00

He says:
Why is it that when your life is filled with good intentions and wonderful plans, the day to day stuff gets in the way? Did you know that it takes 3 1/2 hours to pick up drycleaning, get a bottle of wine, wash the car and get gas? That's the better part of a morning or an afternoon. Now I understand why people live in high density housing or townhouses. I could have done all that in half an hour. Shopping isn't a task then, it's an opportunity for a little stroll.
When you live in a floating home, there are things to consider when you do your shopping. Like high tide. Who knew. It is substantially easier to carry your Costco shopping spree down a gangplank when it's nearly level at high tide, than when it's at low tide and you need a sherpa and a rope guide to venture the steep angle you're now faced with. It's like living in the Bay of Fundy. Remember that when you buy furniture.
Anyway, back to the point. Just like those afternoons that slip by while doing little chores, the summer has done the same thing. I never got out fishing (my bad, I live on the river for god's sake), I golfed twice, never got to the PNE, none of the fun things that you remember about summer. I did get a lot done, mind you. Painting, building, cutting, cleaning, moving, schlepping, lifting. It was all a blur. Oh well, we're getting closer to being able to put Land's End on the market. Then of course, we'll move. We certainly couldn't have any chores or repairs to do in a new house. Could we?

As "Talk Like a Pirate Day" & the Autumnal Equinox approach . . .

2010-09-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

(She says):
A few years ago my good friend (a Kindred Spirit) and I created Remembrance Luminary Night. I told her we could make a bag in memory of her loved one who had passed on. I said we can celebrate life, and create an ceremony using our beloved river.
We held a test run a few days later. It was a rainy night and we were not sure what to expect, but I put a tea light into a paper bag then stopped by Kindred Spirit's floathome "The Ginger Jar" and knocked on the door, she brought a lighter and we went up to the east end of the marina and stood in the dark and cold on the Shear. She lit the candle and placed the bag on the water, the tide was going out so we followed the journey - paralleling it as we walked the dock downriver. We reached the far west end and stood alongside my float home "Land's End" and watched it as it floated west - we were surprised how far away it got and we could still see the yellow candle flickering even in the spitting rain.
A couple weeks later we organized our first official Remembrance Luminary Night. Kindred Spirit and I brought tea lights, small paper lunch bags, crayons, felts, glue and a pair of scissors. No rules, just biodegradable items. I sent out an email to the marina and put up a poster to invite our friends and neighbours. We met on the Shear at sunset by the big log table. Some people stood back and only watched as we began to cut and paste and draw. One gentle bachelor buddy stood close by watching with a look on his face that said "what is she doing now?" After making several bags I lined them up on the edge of the dock then lit the inner candles I looked at Bachelor Buddy and asked him if he could place them on the river for me? He nodded, then knelt down and set them one by one on the water and gave each a little push and out they went. It dark and the golden glow was soooo irresistible! A lot of oohing and aahing was heard as the group finally saw and understood what had been only an idea a couple weeks before.
Soon my Bachelor Buddy disappeared only to return with a great big grocery bag and several small candles. He was now going to create a mega luminary! Other people began cutting and writing and drawing and good naturedly arguing over "only ONE pair of scissors?!" The group took on the feeling of an open air kindergarten room at craft time. People were laughing, sharing felt pens, sipping wine and being filled with the joy of making something.
Soon the dock was lined with bags and it was dark enough to begin lighting all the inner candles. That first year we had maybe 50 of them. The bags were placed on the river and when they were all floating we stood back to see what we had created.
The bags did not float up - or down - the river - in fact, they stayed pretty much where they were. It was slack tide. The tide was changing and so the Luminaries floated across the river - very, very slowly. Staying together. Some people were smiling, others had tears in their eyes, some were laughing and crying. Some people hugged. Others stood apart and just watched the lights.
After several minutes we heard a motor and saw a boat heading down river, towards us, it was moving at a very quick pace. We all stood in the dark and some voices wondered would the boat swamp all of our little lights? After all the work would they now sink? Gradually the boat slowed, moving slower and slower, until finally the motor turned off and the boat carefully floated right into the midst of our Luminaries.
Someone quietly wondered what the people on the boat must be thinking? It was so dark they may not even be able to see us all standing on the Shear. Then we could see bright white flashes coming from the boat and realized they were taking photos of this wonderful experience! Then once again the motor started up and very, very slowly and respectfully they continued their journey downriver.
All of us Floaters stood out on the Shear for at least an hour while the tides turned and our Luminaries remained so close by. Then one bag caught fire and I raised my voice to say "flame out". I stood there and thought about my words it came to my mind that some people also "flame out' and leave too soon. When a couple more Luminaries burst into flame other voices echoed my words "flame out".
This was a Sacred night.
We've had other Luminary nights since and each time it's been magical, mystical and memorable. No matter what the weather is like during the day, each year when we gather, the river quiets herself and waits for us.
This year Remembrance Luminary Night was held in August because Kindred Spirit became a Landlubber and moved to the Island. The day was rainy, dark and cold and I had planned a "bon voyage pot luck dinner" on the Shear. But sure enough the clouds parted and the sun emerged just in time! And of course the wind on the river stopped, the waves quieted and once more the Luminaries floated peacefully away. A magical night was had by all.

Tomorrow (Sunday 19 September) is "Talk Like a Pirate Day"

And yes, there is a website as well as a you tube video tutorial so you too can shout "Avast!" with the best. Visit: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

Shiver me timbers!

This Tuesday (22 September) marks the Autumnal Equinox.

Sunset is at 7:10 pm and Floaters will once again gather to toast the sun, mark the passing of summer 2010 at 8:09 pm and the greet the birth of Fall. Just going with the flow...

Autumnal Equinox 8:09 pm Wednesday 22 September 2010

2010-09-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

(She says:)
Tonight we gather on the Shear to toast the sun, mark the end of summer and welcome autumn in all her colourful glory. When we lift our glasses tonight I will read the words I wrote today:

"In these equal hours of Darkness and Light

We gather to celebrate the return of Autumn
Lift your eyes - look West
Now, please lift your glasses – towards the last Sunset of Summer
(take a moment for a silent prayer or wish)
With Thankfulness and Harmony we welcome the Autumn Equinox
We ask for Blessings and Abundance
That we may we find the Great Balance in our Lives
To the Sun!

(photos to follow)

And now a word or two from the Granddaughter

2010-09-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

(Our 11 year old granddaughter is also a "butterfly-babe-in-training" but she can explain all that).
(And now the Granddaughter says:)
After the scare of Papa's incident with "Blackanddeckerous" every thing went well, we got all of the outter house repainted except the very tip of the house (and we will get my Dad to do that). We got almost all of the inner house repainted.
One thing my Gramma didn't tell you is that she raises butterflies! Sometimes she raises them from eggs and sometimes she raises them from chrysalises and sometimes from caterpillars. Butterflies start out as eggs some are different colours, some are small and some are large. The next step is caterpillars, they start out teesy weensy, but man do they get big! Then they hang in a "J" next they make chrysalisis around themselves. A chrysalis is what a butterfly makes, a cocoon is what a moth makes around itself. Lastly they turn into a butterfly or a moth. If you find a cterpillar on a leaf,on a tree or on a plant, usually that's what they eat, but they could eat something else. Always make sure you have netting around your jar or whatever you are using because if you catch a butterfly or moth and it lays eggs the baby caterpillars will escape out of
the breathing hole because they are so tiny!
Butterflies eat nectar but Gatorade will work. Put a little bit on a cotton pad and put it in the jar or whatever you are using before you put the butterfly in it. They will drink that. When you change the pad you shoulld check for eggs, look really close! You should put some leaves in there for them to lay their eggs on. Do not be alarmed if they die after laying their eggs that is part of the process of life. You should probably catch more than one butterfly that way you will have more than one chance of having a boy and girl and having eggs. If you find a chrysalis or cocoon don't touch it pull off the stick or twig that it is on and try not to move it too much and put it in an open container with netting on it so when it emerges it doesn't fly away or die from no oxygen. Then you should probably let it go.
My Papa is in the film industry he worked on Flick 2 it was a great movie!
So, like I said everything went well with repainting, we still haven't changed the floors or replaced the countertops but that will come soon enough. Soon enough.

Talking to Land's End

2010-09-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

(She says)
Here we are it's mid September and we are still here, with a reno-in-progress, a laminate floor to install upstairs, a kitchen counter to replace, and a window seat to build, so we certainly aren't going anywhere this year.
My Hunky Guy is currently taking an online course through the University. So his weekdays are filled with books and a laptop screen while I'm away at my day job (and I love my job!)
Our weekends used to be crammed with so many reno projects I was actually groaning when I woke up on Saturdays. So last weekend we took time out to go for a drive with the granddaughter and just enjoy some thrift shopping and the sunshine. I came home feeling refreshed and renewed and with a better sense of direction. We will continue our work but will balance it with some down time, too.
My Hunky Guy and I are excited about the upcoming big budget MacGyver movie. I google it regularly and I was happy to see "New Line Cinema has tapped Jason Richman" to write the script. So that means it's moving forward that is encouraging news. I wonder about the timeline, how long till they begin filming and will it be here in Vancouver, BC where the series was filmed? Last year I faxed and emailed everyone I could find: Executive producer, Dino De Laurentiis, Raffaella De Laurentiis, Martha De Laurentiis and series creator Lee Zlotoff in order to offer our float home for use in the movie. The faxes and emails went through but no word from any of them. Of course until the script is written we won't even know if they will consider using Land's End again.
It's exciting to think that our home could be restored to it's former use. I don't care if they repaint or even remodel in order to use it. And if they do we will certainly want to leave it as they create it. Our home's history is interesting with just enough questions marks to keep us looking for answers. On the MacGyver fansite we sent photos of the home that started fans asking questions - the kitchen and the front rooms have been switched, not sure by whom or why but it was after the series ended. One of the fans noticed a cabinet through the open french doorway and that is actually the cabinet in the kitchen. The garden window is gone (it was in the kitchen in the series but would be in the living area now). The half bath/laundry room off the kitchen was used as a dressing room, and there are a couple of interesting wires and switch plates still in that room - but no longer live, of course).
I have been known to talk to Land's End and I really wish she could return the favour and tell me her history. Why was she abandoned in Coal Harbour? Who found her and when did they renovate her? Who built her? And where are her architectural plans? Can we locate more photos of when she was used in the series? Did the tv series use a set for the interior shots?
Well, enough questions for today. When we find any answers we will be sure to post them. And if any of you out there have ideas, comments or suggestions - please let us know.

The Painted House

2010-08-10T22:27:00.000-07:00

He says:

So, every time a project needs to happen, it seems something gets in the way to slow it down. We are trying to repaint the whole house, inside and out. We actually did two sides of the house last summer and were sitting admiring our handiwork when we realized that the two sides not done are actually a shade off. Upon closer inspection we saw that the north and the east side are different colors than the west and the south. Close, but no cigar.

This year we decided that since we were going to sell, we should make sure that the house looked completely fresh and up-to-date. Wifey took two weeks off work to allow us to finish the painting and away we went. One thing you have to realize when you paint a floating home; when you lean a ladder against it, the bottom of the ladder sits on the dock. Docks move up and down with the waves; ergo your ladder moves up and down against the side of the house. This is not conducive to a feeling of safety or a smooth paint job as the ladder has a tendency to scrape off your fresh coat of paint as it rubs up and down with the dock movement.

Throw in eye surgery and my little mishap with the saw and the 4 day project took the better part of two weeks. The outside has a fresh coat of a lovely teal (very water like feeling) color. The trim is mostly done, a jet-black that looks very crisp. It will be finished in the next few days as I will be able to get to the top edges as soon as I fully recover from my eye surgery. Wifey has been working extremely hard; she has pretty well painted the whole interior, a combination of greens and blues with dove grey & white ceilings. It looks great and matches our Olympic green and blue wrap we got to surround the deck (a privacy issue). I’ve been helping on some of the higher up areas that are all getting a crisp new white which opens it up quite a bit. Wifey has been great, nursing me back to health from injury to injury. I can’t lift anything over 20 lbs, so she gets stuck schlepping ladders etc back and forth. I’ll try to make it up to her.

The "Honey-do" list

2010-07-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

My Hunky Guy with a power tool

(He says)

Okay boys, here it goes. You know that to do list? The one the wife gives you, just a couple of small things to knock off before you head out golfing? Mine is now officially a novel. It just passed 300 pages, no longer a list, not even a chapter or short story. It’s a Stephen King novel.

Granted, it didn’t help attempting a slow bleed suicide-by-power-tool last Sunday, that kind of slowed things down. (All is well on that front, including a way cool scar that looks like a Frankenstein forearm). The list is overwhelming. Little things like finish out the door trim shouldn’t take long; you expect those on the list. It’s the ones like lay new floor in the bedroom and the office and install new kitchen countertops; those are the ones that scare the hell out of me.

Lovely Wifey has taken a week off work and she’s going to be the foreman!? of all the projects and she’s doing a great deal on the list as well. She loves painting and is very good at it. If you hear from me again you know that neither one of us has been arrested for manslaughter. I love my wife but if anyone watches Canada’s Worst Handyman you know this can’t end well. The project today is to repaint the house, I do the exterior and Wifey does the inside. If I don’t have a jammer climbing up and down the ladder in 29 degree heat I’ll let you know how things went.

Change is good . . .

2010-07-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

The little tug that could - moving day - heading up river

(She says)
Change is good. And living on the river took more than a few adjustments.

When moving in we told the movers a couple of times that it was best to come at high tide, because the job would be much easier for them.

Well they came in their own time, which was not high tide, not even close, and after a lot of grumbling about how they did not charge us nearly enough to climb up and down that really steep dock (and our polite reminder about our suggested moving in time as related to the non-negotiable tidal charts) we finally got them moving and our new floating home filling up with our stuff. And I mean really filling up.

So there I was busily pointing out where each piece of furniture or box should go, until one of our new neighbours came by to tell us we were ‘listing’. And we were. I realized that the house was beginning to tip to one side - quite dramatically in fact (you just cannot play marbles in a floating home) but this was more than a little bit off. I quickly asked the movers to stack all of the rest of our belongings dead centre in the middle of the house. Boxes, furniture, tables all were then stacked willy nilly somewhere close to the spiral staircase. Whew!

Now, I have never decorated a home with my main intention being to become truly "balanced" it was almost a feng shui moment before I had even heard of feng shui, and it’s something we still deal with today “the couch goes here, so the loveseat has to go there” as we shove something heavy to one side of the house and then find something equally heavy to balance it on the other. Occasionally Hunky Guy and I will step out on the dock to check the ‘freeboard’. It’s hard to find the right combination of proper room ambiance AND the right degree of floor leveling. It’s like trying to balance a teeter-totter with a hand full of heavy rocks all in different sizes.

Now, I thought I had planned exactly how all of our furniture would comfortably fit into place, but I completely overestimated the size of the rooms and underestimated the size of our stuff. Sheesh! One of the many wonderful things about this little marina is that unwanted stuff can be dragged to a common area on the dock (I refer to it as "the T") and anyone passing by can just drag it on home.

Well, we had good stuff I guess, because as quick as my Hunky Guy was hauling it down the dock it was disappearing. All of it: dressers, end tables, a buffet, a complete sewing centre - everything. I tried to think about it as paying my Karma forward. But now I had a lot of cardboard boxes and nowhere to put the contents. For Heaven’s sake we had had 3 garage sales before moving from our ‘hang-a-shore’ home, but we need to purge even more, and by “we” I meant “me”.

Here we are 4+ years later and I have just finished my household purging once again. I keep thinking if I can find the right combination of craigslisted storage units or cabinets that I will be able to fine a nice lightweight and still usable solution. Well, not yet. I am still trying to find the balance. My mantra? “Change is good.”

"Blackanddeckerous"

2010-07-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

(He says)

As a first blog, I had every intention of giving some background about MacGyver’s float home and how my lovely wifey and I acquired it. I was going to give a breakdown and synopsis as to the wonderful lifestyle and how much fun it is to live on the river. I was going to be eloquent and use grandiose words and flaunt my command of the English language with my impressive wordsmithing.

Instead, I am going to write about power tools and the fact that they are evil. Yes, there is a chain of events that connect the two.

What started off as a simple “honey-do” list turned into my first ride in an ambulance. A simple task really, cut the baseboards round the perimeter of the living room and install them. The evil god “Blackanddeckerous” had other plans. I borrowed a chop saw from my friend and neighbor Roget because it seemed that would be the quickest way to finish this simple task. Wrong. First of all, you have to be a math major to figure out any angles that aren’t 45’s or 90’s. Who the hell designed a wall with three angles, none of which when added up equal 90 degrees? After cutting one piece of baseboard for the 11th time, all at the wrong angle, for some reason that piece became too short. Go figure. Start over again. Same result. I decided to pass on the wall with the goofy angles and move on to the easy cuts. The problem with easy is you underestimate it. Easy becomes painful. If you remember to respect “Blackanddeckerous” and occasionally feed him bits of unwanted wood and sawdust he will allow you to continue with minimal problems. Apparently he becomes quite hungry when you disrespect him. For those of you who don’t know what a chop saw is, picture a chain saw on an elevator. Spinning sharp blades dropping to earth at high speed. Now picture putting your arm under it. Ya, not a pretty picture.

Amazingly enough, other than a lot of blood, and several hours in Emergency, all bits and pieces are still intact. I can move all my digits, I missed the bone by millimeters and I didn’t hit any major arteries. By the time my wifey got me home, my wonderful neighbours had finished the trim, put all the tools away, cleaned up the gory mess and cooked dinner for us. How wonderful is that! They even had ice cold beer awaiting.

So remember people, treat tools and gods with respect. Pay attention when they talk to you. They may just have something important to tell you.

Going with the flow . . .

2010-07-05T22:36:00.000-07:00

We - my Hunky Guy & I - moved in to Land's End on January 4, 2005 after a glorious sun-filled and mostly silent, scenic upriver tow behind the gutsy little tug, Buckshot. We left in the early morning, while the river was calm and glassy, reflecting the wide open clear blue sky. A new year, a new adventure, a new beginning. The river's swinging bridges opened one-at-a-time and made way for us. As we became accustomed to the river's flow and the gentle movement, solitude and a sense of peace moved with us along the working waterway. Nightfall brought chilling cold as the river began to ice up. Sheets fine as silk began to form and float slowly down river. Christmas lights reflected onto dark water and ice. Ten hours later, in full dark, we arrived at our new home. The little marina tucked up against a riverbank. Land's End was tied to the Shear for the night. I stepped back upon the land and the first words I heard were "Welcome home." And my eyes filled.