Smugglers Cove Whidbey Island

Apparently, this now takes the number one spot for the biggest pain in the butt under-road power drill.  Lucky us!  Regardless, it is now done.  Tomorrow, the power will be connected.  The residents in the area will be powerless for a bit of time, while we jump on the grid.  Sorry folks.

The concrete footings seem to be setting up nicely – Mark tap danced along the ridge and all was well.

The weekend brought planting of vegetables and flowers; clamming; beach walks and dog parks.  The sun shone brightly and the temperature was pleasant.  Today feels like a “Let’s not do anything” day…so that means the library, market, thrift stores and the gym.

This really, really happened today.  A massive pumper truck showed up.  He had come by earlier in the day to see if he could make it up our fou-fou driveway…oh yes he could!

We love our driveway!

He came back with the truck…a massive piece of equipment and soon thereafter, the concrete truck arrived.  Everything was set into place and it all began.

Mark and I just smiled at each other; frequently.  This is a dream unfolding.  This is a story with an elongated setup and we are ready to head to the denouement.  However, there will be many stories to tell along the way.

And really, none of them are minor.  It may seem such in a novel of no consequence, but this is a reality play of which we are in the midst.  We have had pipes to lay, trenches to dig, and at long last, a home to construct.  Today was a wonderful sunny day with fog rolling hither and yon.  Chills and heat and chills and heat.

So…the digging continues, both in the road and on the property.  The footings are being formed.  They are supposed to be poured today!!!  These photos are from yesterday (lower one) and a couple of days ago (top one).

The “pig” as we like to call it, made it through the underbelly of the road.  We should have power next Tuesday.  This is real.

Wow and wow!

Here is the initial digging for the footings.  I have to look up footings, because I honestly don’t know what that means.

While this was being done, the other guys were out in the street trying to push under the road.  Again.  It is frustrating for everyone involved.

We aren’t willing to go off grid.  Seriously!

Right now, I would like a big, juicy steak.  One cooked on the grill and just barely done.  Oozing with juice.  Inhaling the aroma.  Lovely thought.

Okay, so, it snowed a couple of days ago and we went to the property to see how it looked.  Well, shown here, it looked wonderful.  Notice the new stakes?  Yes, that is where the house will be.  Adjusted a bit to catch more solar energy.

We both wanted to be in the house, sitting in front of a nice warm fire and maybe that steak would be on the grill.  The dogs tagged along and they love the snow.  Dory was eating snow and I wondered aloud when she last had done that?  The snow was wonderful, as was the day.

The underground the road power plan is being adjusted and altered and we just push forward.  The sun is shining.  This morning, seedlings were planted.  Dogs walked.  Gym done.  Time for that grill!

We had a date to set the house stakes for yesterday morning at 8:30.  Well, it poured rain all night and all morning.  We cancelled.

Thirty minutes later – out comes the sun.  Along with the sun came massive winds.  So, we did some errands and cooled out heels.

Early afternoon, sun is still shining, wind still howling, but we reschedule.  As we drive to the property, there are huge black clouds to the north.

We get to the property and shortly thereafter, the hail starts.  Of course!  However, Mother Nature did not thwart us!  The stakes are set!  It is amazing to me that the house footprint looks so tiny.  It is not a huge home to begin with, but I look at those stakes and I am bewildered.  I think it has to do with the scale of the trees and the sky and the land.  I am told that the house size will change in my head several times over the construction time.  It will look tiny, then large, then small and so forth.

While we were staking, the other crew was attempting to drill under the road.  This is a rocky Island.  There are glacial remnants.  Apparently, the drill was thwarted by such.  Dang.  Plan “B” is being formulated.  It is frustrating that we have to drill because the power company gave us a “bad” map.

So, we take steps forward and move chess pieces backwards.  It is a huge game and we want to win.  No, we will win.

I’m quite sure all of this has been foreplay.

Thus far, we have been playing in a delightful pile of mud.  We have thrown out and tossed out decades of life.  We have had trenches dug and pipes buried in a seemingly-endless treasure hunt.

We have now signed a contract and the house-building is set to begin.  Did you hear that?  House building?  Foundation to be poured.  Get it?  Permanent.  Done and done.

Last changes have been made to the plans (although I cannot imagine more are not going to happen).  Items have been pulled out of the contract and shoved in to the contract.  Responsibilities, dates, expectations and reality are on a collision course.

Every cent that goes out is gone for good.  Do we have enough set aside to live?  That’s just one of the little questions that permeates our current existence.

In order to have solar power, we may have to cut down more trees.  I do not know if I am willing to cross that line.  Big decision.

My gosh this is really, really big.  If we screw this up, bummer for us.

The next 6 months need to be full of loud discussions and proactive positioning.  If we sit meekly in the corner, then we deserve whatever we get.  I need to go run through my vocal exercises.  Loud and large and clear and strong!

The Island continues to surprise me.  It is one of the very, very best places to have solar panels in place.  We are in the shadow of the Olympic Mountains; therefore, we get more sun and less rain.  We get enough rain to wash the solar panels clean.  We get enough sun to empower the panels quite nicely.  This state has given tax breaks and incentives to folks who want to harness the sun.  The system will pay for itself in a very brief amount of time.   And then, the system will add money into our pockets because we are helping our neighbors.

Why does this country not embrace this energy solution?  Why does this country not throw money at solar options, instead of oil production?

I always thought a rain delay in a baseball game was an indication of what a bunch of wussies were playing the game.  No one cancels football.  It just isn’t done.

Digging in the mud with very heavy equipment is another thing altogether.  Getting the driveway and extended drivable areas ready for heavy equipment has been challenging.  But, it is done.

The septic field has been marked off and now the construction team waits for the weather to cooperate.  I get it.  I concur.

The picture above is not anywhere near the septic system or the building site.  Rather, that photo is a small natural pool of water that I hope will be host to birds, deer, amphibians, and such.  I consider it a treasure.

So, Mother Nature needs to get on with this weekend’s storm and be done for awhile.

The previous post was all too correct.  We are all over the place with the wants and needs of the powers that be.  Someone needs to attend “Engineering Drawing 101”.  Just a thought.

That being said, the last trip to the property was wonderful.  It was a bright, sunny day and as we walked through the gate and looked up, there were two Bald Eagles dancing above.  They twirled and swooped and put on a show.  They were breathtaking!

The property itself is really muddy, but our fabulous Ryan is doing his best to firm-up the area needed for cement mixers, heavy equipment, trucks, and who knows what else.

The phone lines are in.  They went in efficiently and easily.  The power does seem to be on the other side of the street, despite the previous reports.

Next week, the septic drain field is set to be installed.  The following week the under-street tunnels will be dug.  Unlike Colorado, these folks do not tear-up a street at the drop of a hat.  Think endless potholes, snow and you have Colorado streets.  Bumpy, lumpy and poorly maintained.

We have an organic community garden spot on the radar.  The possibilities are endless and somewhat overwhelming, but very exciting.  I look forward to fresh flowers, herbs and vegetables.  Spring is clearly on the horizon.  There are flowers already in bloom.  That is a difficult concept to imagine.  I moved the geraniums outdoors…in February.  Amazing!