The Christmas Song (politically corrected)

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire 

(Walnuts, don’t you think?  When was the last time you saw a chestnut tree?)

Jack Frost nipping at your nose 

("Looking" at your nose, maybe.  Nipping at noses is abusive)

Yuletide Carols being sung by a choir 

(Perhaps “Big Time Carols,” with no intent to offend large women named Carol.  Yuletide is the time for pagan Germanic rituals, and though the Constitution forbids laws against such things, I really don’t think most want to support this kind of behavior.)

And folks dressed up like Eskimos 

(Gotta change this to "Inuits."  The First Nations peoples are very touchy about colonially assigned names)

Everybody knows a turkey and some Mistletoe 

(Mistletoe? Really? Unrequested sexual advances?  I think not.) 

help to make the season bright 

(Probably “make the season tolerable.” We don’t want to offend the dim bulbs with the word “bright.”)

Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow 

(This is an indication of poor parenting.  TV time really needs to be regulated so eyestrain is avoided)

Will find it hard to sleep tonight 

(Caffeinated beverages should not be served to minors)

They know that Santa’s on his way 

(Leave this as is…including a multicultural/Latino reference is good for inclusiveness)

He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh 

(Does he have a drinking problem?  Red nose, etc.  Should we be saying, “He’s loaded…”?)

And every mother’s child 

(Have to say “parent’s child”, lest we discriminate against fathers)

is gonna spy 

(try, not spy…don’t want the KGB involved)

to see if Reindeer really know how to fly 

(The physics are all wrong here. We can’t encourage such nonsense, or we’ll end up with kids who don’t believe that the climate can change. )

And so, I'm offering this simple phrase 

to kids from One to ninety-two 

(Unfortunately, it appears that arrested development may well provide society with children of all ages, so this is quite accurate)

Although it's been said many times, many ways

“Merry Christmas to you”

(For all who receive this greeting, regardless of your own beliefs, consider the spirit in which it is offered, and the good will it conveys.  Surmount any differences, receive with an open heart, and return the same positive message in whatever fashion or form you prefer.  Now THAT is correct!)

Merry Christmas to you!

The New Cabinet

Plenty of snow at the camp.

The guys put up a windbreak where the big slider will be.

The false beam is in place toward the lake.

And also the other one, toward the kitchen.

The view of the driveway from the master bedroom.

Entry hallway.
Note the ceiling rafters at 9 feet.

Looking back at the entry door from the great room.
The tamarack posts look great!

Bill contemplates the cabinetry from where the island will be.
It is the season for new cabinets.

Kitchen ceiling at 9 feet.

Composite photo with lots of distortion.
Notice how thin Bill is.
Also see the centered peak (at about 13 feet) in the bedroom,
and the tiny peak on the right going to the bathroom.

Scaffolding draped with ice.

Guest cottage from the great room.

Our fiberized volcanic rock insulation,
which as you can see from this picture, also defies gravity.

Lake is still there.

Where the channel really runs.
Note the orca over near Pete's dock.

The little creek runs into the main lake/creek.

 

From the dock.

Yep, plenty of snow!

Looking up from the rowing launch dock.

Bill enjoys the guest cottage.

Marc continues to look to the kayak shack for
construction inspiration.

Can't see it well, but there is a trench for the the electrical service
on the left of the driveway.

Where the trench meet the house.

Another supervisor.

Will the tree lean on the telephone pole?

The metal roof sheds the snow nicely.

Really like the naughty pine on the guest cottage.

Fine November Day

Raking in the sunshine

on a fine November day.

All the troubles of the world

are very far away.

No one 'round to nod or frown

at what I have to say.

Raking up the fallen leaves,

one fine November day.

Where Eagles Stare

The supervisor ascends the first floor.
The chimney chase rests waiting on its side.
and pine for the ceiling has dried in the basement,

Posts stand at attention, awaiting their loads.

Construction remains a subtractive business.
3D house printers were not yet perfected back in 2016.

Awaiting the big day, the footprint and mass is the same as what is no longer there.
But it will be oh-so-much better.

Wrong lens, poorly stabilized,
but you can make out the form of the eagle
weighing down a left reaching limb.
He has been hanging around throughout the project.
His presence is a good omen.

But we need another bird for this job.
The crane has arrived.

The chimney chase rises.
No reason to build it in place when you have the crane to help.

Up over the peak...

...and lowered into place.

A testament to good engineering,
the chase matched perfectly with the securing bolts
in the foundation.
A few nuts and additional screws later,
the chimney chase is secured where we expect it to stay for the rest of our lives.

The "scissors" trusses lie waiting by the chimney with care.
Well, not really near the chimney chase, but they're waiting.

But another of slightly different dimension is first.

The crew secures the straps for transport.

Maybe the longer straps are a better idea.

Up it goes!

Some buildings have flying buttresses.
We have flying trusses.

Up and over the chimney chase,
the truss flies toward the guest cottage.

Preparing for landing.

The crane operator and the crew work together
to coax the truss into position.

Nudge, nudge.
Coax, coax.

Long, hefty screws secure the pre-drilled ends.

On both ends.  Why not?

Climbing to secure the truss with a temporary cross piece
from existing structure to new truss.

The stylish supervisor captures the action.

Fixed in place, straps are removed.

Detail of truss support.
My father's father, the carpenter, would be pleased.

 While not remotely alike,
this visage is reminiscent of flag raising on Iwo Jima.
Good teamwork is always worth noting.

Step and repeat.

Same process, different location.

Dropped into place.

As an added benefit of running the crane,
the operator gets a hearty helping of diesel fumes.

Our on-site, neighborly inspector insures all is well done.

The rear truss is set in place.
I was happy they did this prior to boxing it in
under all the interior trusses.

The lawn is looking better than ever.

And our garden is flourishing. 

The floodgate at the dam open,
the water level is down for the winter.

Last truss set into place.
The place really begins to take shape.

Much more to do,
but a small amount of imagination conjures the new house.