Silver Mountain

I got a chance to finally go skiing yesterday, only because the cable guy canceled out. But thats a different story. Anyway, I bought a weekday season pass at Silver Mountain which is approx. 22 miles to the East of CDA heading towards Montana. Highway 90 is kept very well maintained during the winter and once over the pass the speed limit increases from 65 to 75, so it doesn't take long to get there. You exit off the highway and drive about a 1/2 mile, get on the worlds longest enclosed gondola and in 20 minutes your skiing.

The weather was perfect and they currently have around 100" of snow.

Santa Cruz and Capitola

Last week Mare and I made a high speed run to Santa Cruz to visit her daughter Justina and to help her get ready for the arrival of grandchild number 6. That's right number 6. Justina's fourth and finally a boy. This first picture is of the vacation rentals in the Capitola Village, they always make a good photo. In the back ground of the other two photos is the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk taken from the wharf in front of Gildas restaurant following breakfast with my lovely wife and very pregnant Justina. Due date was Dec. 11 and to date no action yet. I'll keep you posted.

Construction Photos

The following photos are in no particular order. I promise I won't bore you with anymore.

A cantilevered hunk of white pine supports the wash basin in the guest bathroom which also has a moose theme and motif.
Knotty alder was used for all the cabinetry, doors, base case and trim finished and stained with a distressed look.




The floors are random widths of eastern white pine and two styles of granite was used for the counter tops.

Half logs were used for the steps leading up to the loft which since became the office.
Cedar 2x6 was used for decking material because of the abundance in this area and I like the look as opposed to the sterile mono colored look of trex.
Just another shot of the 12" white pine logs used in place of 8x8 post and glue lam beams originally specified.





There are 5 continuous beams that run full length to the living room and protrude 2' to the exterior of the house front and back. This shot is looking up to the loft.

Fall of 2006

The top photo was taken right after we had used the excavator to stand the front wall of the house. This wall
had 186 individual pieces of 2x6 framing and was 21 feet high. In the center you'll notice the garage, kitchen and
dining room on the right and the master bedroom and bath on the left had allready been completely framed as
we were waiting for the logs to arrive to complete the living room/entry. Lower photo shows 100% exterior frame
with site concrete yet to install.

The Eagles are Back

The eagles have arrived to cash in and clean up on the salmon that spawn this time of year. This year they seem to be a little early and I have been told the fish and game has made a count of at least 70 birds so far. I captured this shot at the end of Beauty Bay while coming home last weekend. As you leave highway 90 east bound and merge to 97, heading towards our house, the road follows the coast line for approx 3 miles where to highest concentration of eagles hang out. One big problem is that the eagles attract more watchers than there are eagles and the watchers have a tendency to stop in the middle of the highway do to a lack of turnouts and usually you will find them just around a blind corner. Screeeeeech.

Finished At Last

I wanted to figure out a way I could share the photo's of before and after as well as the different phases of the construction of our house, (Marylin's house) and where I live, without having to carry around a pocket full of photos. So, with the help of my computer savoy daughter and a butt load of digital photos, I can share these photos and descriptions of my relocation to the most northern portion of the state of Idaho with anyone brave and of patient enough to log on. Keep in mind I am an Idaho native, but the northern and southern end of the state is totally different and comparable to the extreme difference of northern and southern California. We'll go into that later. For now be patient and let me know what you think in the comment space.