Trilobite

Celine walked by the house with Banjo this morning and saw a big cement truck pouring the foundation! She came back home for the camera, but by the time she returned to the house the truck was gone and the construction crew had started leveling the wet cement.

When she returned after work the cement was dry and the wooden frame had been removed. There are mysterious troughs near the front door, and orange dots painted in all the corners. We suppose the seven big circles are for the main support posts of the house. I wonder how they’re going to get the tractor out of there.

On Wednesday we went to a geocache near Highway 401. It was very pretty, despite being so close to the road. We saw a rainbow and a porcupine. Later went to visit an old mill which has been restored. We’d like to go back one day and take the tour.

Thursday was my and Christine’s birthday. We spent the afternoon visiting Rheni. Then Celine joined us and we went out for dinner at Chez Piggy.

Yesterday Duncan asked us to go climbing with him again. Unfortunately, he set up his ropes on a route that was far too difficult for us. There was only one extra harness, and I let Celine take it. She climbed up a few meters and then couldn’t go any further. Duncan was pressed for time so I said I would wait until next time. Then we looked for a place on a cliff with less traffic to re-hide our geocache (it went missing).

Later on we went to a mill which hadn’t been restored. It was interesting to explore all the different rooms and buildings. Celine found one area where there had been a fire. There were lots of pretty flowers all around.

On the way home last night we found a fledgling crow on the road with an injured leg. We brought him home and gave him some peas to eat. In the morning we took him out onto the roof to sit in the sun, and he drank some water and ate some dog food. A bunch of seagulls came by for some food too, but we didn’t give them any. After lunch a wildlife rehabilitator from Howe Island came to pick the little guy up. She said she’ll take him to Napanee, where she knows somebody who is good with birds that have leg injuries.

On Thursday the contractors dug the foundation for the house and built a new driveway. They have been having trouble with people parking in front of the house and blocking their way in, so they made a no parking zone.

I asked the guy on the tractor about the birch tree, and he said it doesn’t need to be cut down. It’s roots were damaged during the digging, so I hope it survives. Gisele’s garden is doing okay.

Yesterday they started building the framework to pour the concrete into, and by this morning it was finished [garage, front, back].

The other day a bunch of the nosy neighbours were gathered in front of the house on the sidewalk. One of them was even drinking a beer. The guy with the beautiful front lawn sent Celine’s parents an email complaining that he only wants construction to occur between 8am and 5pm on weekdays.

I have posted some more old photos (April 29, May 2 & 6).

We have now reached the Tripod 20MB disk quota so I’ll have to start deleting old photos to make space for new ones. The good news is that my brother Peter has promised to give me an account on the computer in his basement. When that happens, I’ll move the blog there and restore all the deleted pictures.

Today we went to a couple of our geocaches to advertise a new mailing list I set up. When we were at the lakeshore there were many swallows flying all around us. We also saw a search & rescue helicopter. I guess it was the coast guard.

In Ottawa this weekend we went letterboxing on Parliament Hill. It was lots of fun:

10 bucks is where you need to begin. Head 40 degrees and count 12 lanterns toward “peace.” Step down to the 2nd stone building. Observe the area until you are parallel with the 3rd gate up. Cross it but wait on black. Take a reading of 45 degrees and see the group of four. Be discreet.

We stamped our logbook and the box’s logbook when we found the letterbox. I think I like letterboxing better than geocaching, but there are only 9 letterboxes in all of Ontario, compared to 1825 geocaches.

The next day we drove to Embrun and paid our respects to Celine’s grandmother. Then Gisele showed us where she learned to swim.

I have posted some old photos. Look at the entries for April 11, 18, and 25.

We went to the cottage last weekend (chipmunk, dragonfly, frog, trillium). We paddled the canoe from “the pond” to the main part of Potspoon Lake. There is a family of beavers that live in the pond and we went along the paths they made through the reeds. When we got to the dam we had to get out and pull the canoe across it to the higher water.

Later we put the canoe on Celine’s car using some foam blocks and special straps that she bought, and drove to Third Depot Lake. Banjo liked it there. We paddled around the lake, found an island with 5 or 6 osprey nests on it, and stopped to do some exploring. One of the nests was occupied and the mother osprey chirped and squawked at us when we got too close!

The construction of the house has begun! There are now stakes in the ground which represent where the house will be. Celine said that when her parents saw how much of the yard was left, they hastily modified the blueprints to remove 5 feet from the family room!

We are going to Ottawa tonight.

Thursday after work our friend Duncan took us rock climbing at the Kingston Mills lockstation. He picked an easy 25 meter cliff and rappelled down, leaving us at the top. Trial by fire, I guess. Celine conquered her fears and went next. I waited till she reached the bottom, then it was my turn. Afterwards, we climbed back up and rappelled down again. I hid a geocache on the side of the cliff.

Celine and I both really, really enjoyed this. We’re going to ask Duncan to take us out again!

The house was torn down yesterday morning. It only took about an hour [8:04, 8:15, 8:23, 8:29, 8:32, 8:40, 8:42, 8:43, 8:48, 9:01, 9:29, 9:34]. Most of the neighbourhood came to watch, as well as Celine’s family. Her mother was excited, but Kid seemed a bit nervous.

By midafternoon all that was left was a pile of limestone in a big hole in the ground, and part of the floor. Today even the limestone is gone. At least the shed is still standing.