STEP BY STEP

“A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?”   Proverbs 20:24

It’s been a busy month since we arrived in Keremeos to find a thin layer of snow on the ground, proving that the Similkameen Valley does indeed experience winter. Throughout February we’ve had a couple balmy weeks with daytime highs 7 or 8 degrees and nighttime lows barely dipping below zero. I enjoyed some beautiful walks up the mountain or along the river that felt more like Saskatchewan spring. We’ve also had some days with daytime highs below freezing and nighttime lows down to -17 and are currently sitting with 4 inches of snow and a coating of ice on the paved part of our road. The winterized fifth wheel trailer we are renting for 5 weeks isn’t too cozy warm during the cold snaps but otherwise suits our needs well. The cottage, on the other hand, has been toasty warm no matter the outside temperature from the moment insulation lined the walls.

Busy is good, especially for me, but I haven’t managed to get a blog posted! A surprise halt to painting has left me with an afternoon free, so time to get an update out. It’s no big revelation, but this month has reinforced the life lesson that many projects have to be approached step-by-step, with those steps in a particular order. If one small, seemingly insignificant action gets missed before the next task gets started, you may have to waste time or materials undoing something or adjusting your plan to get it done another way. (Some of you will know that this is especially true when assembling IKEA cabinets or drawers.) Allow me to take you through the steps Rick has travelled since we arrived in Keremeos February 1.

On February 2, Rick made a quick call to Fortis BC (power supplier) to check on our hook-up progress, which he had been monitoring with regular calls for two months. He received the disheartening report that it might be another 2 weeks yet before we were connected to the grid. What?! This has been on order since last October. Our brother-in-law will be here tomorrow to start wiring! We dolefully made our first trip to the property and as we topped the rise from which our lot comes into view, we spotted 3 big power trucks and several bodies that seemed to be on OUR LAND! Yes, they were, with the result that the transformer was hung and power activated before the end of the day. First huge step behind us. Thank you, Lord.

Next step – electrical wiring of the whole cottage. This has to take place, of course, before you insulate or create interior walls because it all goes inside the walls. Rick had bought a new heater for the crawl space and appropriated an ancient space heater from my dad’s basement which warmed the cottage nicely. Our original plan had been for our handy, knowledgeable, and detail-oriented brother-in-law to do the wiring, but since the cottage will eventually be a rental unit, we couldn’t get a homeowner’s permit to proceed. Therefore, we had to pay a professional electrician instead with Rick and Lorne assisting. In 2 days, dozens of wires were strung, leading to power outlets, switches, light sources, water heater, kitchen & bathroom fans, and exterior lights and outlet. It was a surprise, however, to find out that aside from the outlet in the crawl space and one on ground level, none of the others could be activated until the drywalling was done and first coat of mud applied. What?! That’s what happens when you have to step out of the DIY world and follow the rules.

Next step – pink fiberglass insulation between all studs and split on either side of the wiring. This was a job I could help with and prided myself at splitting each batt evenly and adjusting it smoothly in place. After this, I took on the task of cutting and stapling Tyvek wrap to the outside eaves because a bird was tearing out insulation, freeing it to the wind so fibers got snagged on every sagebrush clump within 100 feet of the cottage!

Next step – poly stapled over insulation to create a vapor barrier. I got to help hold ends in place so it didn’t wrap itself around Rick’s head.

Next step – hanging drywall slabs and cutting pieces to fit every square inch of wall space. Fortunately Rick remembered that the pocket doors for the bathroom had to be installed BEFORE putting the gyproc on. I got to make myself useful painting them a bright white.

Next step – tape, mud, dry, more mud, dry, more mud, sand, more mud, sand.

Next step – plumbing, which involves measuring, cutting, gluing, and running water and sewer lines down in the crawl space. Rick did a lot of sitting down on the job in this phase. A lot of plumbing leads to and from the bathroom so this step also included placing the shower base, lining the shower space with waterproof membrane and running water lines halfway up the shower.

Next step – sourcing, sorting, cleaning and staining reclaimed tongue-in-groove pine for the ceiling. Prepping and staining the boards was my job. Then the stained boards were taking up too much room in the cottage, so we started installing the longest ones on the ceiling. Looking good!

Next step – paint. First we conferred on paint colors with the kids and deferred to the artist. We found excellent paint at our local Home Hardware, purchased the first two gallons and I put the first coat on the bedroom walls. Then we moved to the kitchen space and put two coats on the area where the cabinets go.

Next step – build another wall for the custom shower. Rick had to figure out how to construct a partial wall from which to hang the shower door. More mudding and sanding followed.

Next step – Flooring. Rick began installing the vinyl plank flooring in the kitchen space in preparation for setting in the base cabinets. Beautiful flooring and very easy to install.

Next step – IKEA cabinets. We did have a few false starts, disassemblies and frustrations, but got them put together fairly quickly. We still didn't have our complete order and were missing a few doors, so we put in another order that was supposed to be shipped to us by parcel post. What?! IKEA delivers at an affordable rate in BC? Let’s see if it actually happens.

Next step – consult with our water system professional to get the ball rolling on installing the pump at the well (which you read about in the last blog) and getting the precious liquid to the cottage. This meeting was extremely positive with a promise to get the job done next week.

Next step – hang the upper cabinets in the kitchen

Next step – Insulate and install the ceiling in the pumphouse in preparation for power to be hooked up and a heater to be installed.

Next step - Purchase the fridge, tile, bathroom faucet, more paint, and various other items in Penticton. Receive the IKEA shipment - wow! The delivery truck even showed up in front of our land for $32! We finished assembling everything we had, slid the base cabinets into place and presto! Our kitchen is taking shape. And that's what things look like as of this writing.

Another tedious step-by-step process has been my potential employment as a Teacher on Call for Okanagan Similkameen School District 53. It is now 3 weeks since I went in to the office in Oliver to fill out documentation and get basic orientation. They submitted a request for a criminal record check at that time, and last Friday I got forms in the mail from the ministry in Victoria directing me to get my fingerprints taken (this has happened before, as someone born the same day in the same city I was has a criminal record). Fingerprinting is only done on Fridays at the Keremeos RCMP detachment, so I went in there today to be told that they would not fingerprint me because I did not have a photo ID that matched the address on the form. In other words, I have to get my BC drivers license first. What?! Fingerprints for a criminal record check is a federal matter; just check me against the system. This is getting almost as problematic as the process I have been working through for the last 2 months pursuing my BC teacher certification. In keeping with our land development theme, I had to start from scratch on this one, beginning with going all the way back to securing a copy of my birth certificate from Alberta Vital Statistics (I do have my original card, but it is in the Big Steel Box, not to be opened for months yet). What?! I'm a fully-accredited 20 year veteran Saskatchewan teacher and you want proof of my maiden name on my birth certificate from 63 years ago? I have gathered and submitted university transcripts, records of employment, statement of professional standing, another consent to Criminal Record Check, etc., etc. The jury is out on whether the job of teaching on call will prove worth all this effort. I can only imagine what it’s like to get credentials recognized for someone who is not a lifelong Canadian.

It is now March 3^rd and we are hoping to actually move into our little home on March 8^th! There will be lots left to do, but we want to stop paying rent and take up residence on our land. We have a bonafide BC address, an account at our local credit union, a home church, and are on a first name basis with the local Home Hardware staff and several tradespersons, so it’s time to stop playing the tourist. 

Step-by-step we have been called to this place, and step-by-step we will continue to walk, following the plan laid out for us by the master builder. If you are also working your way through a many-faceted project with bumps along the way, hang in there. At first it may seem that progress is very slow, but then suddenly it all comes together and you're standing on new ground with stories to share. 

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” – 1 Peter 2:21

Our new address is 120 Pin Cushion Trail, Keremeos, BC  V0X 1N4

Our phone numbers and email addresses remain the same.

Next post will come from the cottage!

R & C