Trying to be ready for Thanksgiving

HK is building the wall for the spare room so that we can have sleepers in there soon.
Right now there's a big hole because of the new stairs and it's not a very safe place to be.
Metal studs and sound proofing will go into the wall as well as fancy soundproof drywall.

Fireplace Surround

Henrik has been working diligently on the fireplace surround.
Metal framing will be covered in cement board, then wire mesh and a layer of K2 stone.

Glass Blocks by New Front Door

HK built the frame and put in the channels.

AO put in the blocks and mortar!

It's nice to have some more natural light next to the new front door.

Alligator lizard in the wood pile

Way cool guys were found underneath the firewood pile!!

Brick Saga

Matching bricks were located on Gabriola island.
The previous owners had dug them off the beach 30 years ago.

We had to re-stack them on new pallets. All 2812 of them.

I was might sore after that long day's work.

The faces have to be split off each brick.

The old front door site has been closed in.

Ultimately the 'practice planter' will be covered in stonework just like the stone walls that surround the driveway. Plants will be put in front of the old front door and a trellis erected so that Ivy can grow up and cover the brickwork.

Lets hope I get better at it before the addition gets covered.

How Kachelofen Removal Happened

The Kachelofen removal was no small task.
It took 3 days in late August to accomplish it.

First we had to take his head off.
The smoke pipe was inside his head and had to be removed.
It has been salvaged for future use or sale.

Then his body was removed, block by block with a hammer and cold chisel.
His guts were full of ash and creosote and it was a very, very messy task.

Then his legs were removed. That took more than a hammer and cold chisel.

Henrik used the Jack Hammer for a day and a half to separate the cinder blocks.
Poor HK could barely feel his arms after the event.

The cinderblocks went all the way down to the basement.