OVERDUE UPDATE

THURSDAY

First off, sorry it took so long to update. It has been a busy few days. We got to the Island without a hitch. The skies were clear, the airports were empty, and we arrived in Moncton 5 minutes ahead of schedule! Dad, Jim, Lawrence and James were there to greet us at the airport. We got the truck from Dad and drove to the Island, arriving at the motel about 9pm.

Lanes Cottages and Motel in Montague

View of Montague from the motel

FRIDAY

We drove down to the house and met with Carter, Gordy MacLeod my foundation guy, Mike McCarthy my general contractor, and Steve Jamieson my electrical/ mechanical contractor. The forms were finished and we toured the house, going over the plans and what happens next. Gordy told me that when he dug up the house he found a brick path about a foot below the surface all the way around the house that I don't think any of us ever knew was there. About 21 years ago Grammy had the foundation repaired (I'm using that term loosely) and some of the sandstone was removed and replaced with concrete block. I always wondered where the stone went. Turns out, it was buried in the yard and Gordy found that too. Now we have lots of stone to rebuild the garden wall.

SATURDAY

We drove to Lauretta, PEI, a three hour drive to the opposite tip of the Island to meet with Carter's brother Kerras who is a talented folk artist and carpenter, and sells salvaged architectural materials. Check out his website at http://www.birchgate.ca/kerras/ 

Our friend Arnold went with us and we had a great day together, and I made some purchases for the house.

 

 Arnold, David and I had lunch at Tim Horton's in O'Leary

 I got this newel post and door for the new back porch. Both are about 140 years old judging from their design.

 One of two marble vanities salvaged from the Saint Dunstan's Basilica Bishop's Palace, dating from the 1860's.

Bishop's Palace as it looked at the turn of the last century

 Bishop's Palace as it looked Monday

Saturday evening, Jim and Marcia arrived and stayed in the room next to ours at the motel, and Danny, Loreen and Ralta visited us as well. Below is dinner at Sandy's that evening with Loreen, Sarah, Janice, Ralta, Lois and Betty.

SUNDAY

We drove out to the house in the morning with Jim and Marcia and met with Michael, Janice, Sarah, James and Betty to have a look around.

Then we all drove out to Sandy's for lunch. After lunch, the ones from New Brunswick headed home. Later that evening Mom and Dad came over to the Island and stayed at the same motel.

MONDAY 

Mom, Dad, David and I had breakfast at Tim's in Montague and headed out to the house to find them pouring the foundation! The crane is the concrete pump. That was operated by remote control to pump the concrete into the forms all the way around the house. I am so glad we got to see this happening. They had the whole thing done in about 2 hours. 

After they finished pouring we headed to Charlottetown and had lunch at Gahan House. Then across the bridge to Tom and Jennifer's house in Dieppe where David and I stayed the night, and flew home the next day.

The trip could not have been more successful. Thanks to the work crew for doing such a great job. 

Next steps are to replace the sills and joists, drop the house on the foundation, frame and enclose the additions and get the new roof and cedar shingles on before winter hits. Still lots to do but things are moving along.