The Best of Times and the Worst of Times

The most significant thing that happened this week was the moving of our electrical service.  We have been looking forward to seeing the end of these ugly poles... which soon can be removed.

BC Hydro showed up on Wednesday morning about 9:35, cut off our power and proceeded to disconnect their lines from two old poles, then bring the same wire from the third pole back...

And reconnect us to the new mast on the back of our workshop.  Coming this way took about 100 feet less wire than before... but we then had to take about 75 feet of 1.75" heavy conductor from the new meter base to the house panel.

The whole thing took BC Hydro less than 40 minutes.  They mounted the meter and then turned our power back on.  Wesley, our electrician, had things set up so we would have power into our workshop panel immediately while the house was cut off.

The old 200 amp panel was right in the back of our closet where we are going to be walking to get into our new closet... so we had to move the panel.  This was no small job, so we were glad to get going on this mid-morning.   Since we needed some supplies from Victoria, Shirley went on her own and I stayed to help Wesley move the panel.  With a long extension cord we brought power from the workshop to the house so Wesley could disconnect and label all the wires and know how to get things back the way they used to be.

In about an hour Wesley had the panel removed and we set it up in a much better wall in our new larger closet, only about four feet away from the original location.  Before lunch we had the panel mounted in it's new home and we spent the rest of the afternoon re-routing the wiring so we could reconnect everything to the same breakers, right where they were before.  Many of the wires were long enough so moving them was easy... but there were about eight or ten wires that went into junction boxes with more wire added to them.

When Shirley returned from town we were almost done re-routing wires and all Wesley had to do was connect them to the breakers.  While he did that I took Shirley to the Wild Fennel for supper.  By the time we got home from eating Wesley was ready to turn on the breakers to light up our house.  He worked a ten hour day to see this all completed.  It was no small job.

Wesley said that twice before when he moved an electrical panel and he went to turn the power on it didn't work... and both times it wasn't his fault... there was a power outage on the island!  What are the odds? I fully expected that it would happen again... after all it was raining and stormy all afternoon... and you know how things happen in three's?

The next most significant activity this week was building the shelving for our new pantry.  I really have no previous experience in building or finishing cabinets... so I had a very costly class called Woodwork Finishing 101.  I really should have let Westwood make the pieces for the shelf gables and the 54" cabinet that goes between the fridge and freezer.

But you know me... I thought I could do it cheaper.  So I ordered the doors for the cabinet, bought a couple sheets of nice 3/4" maple plywood and some 3/4" ivory Melamine.  I then proceeded to cut out the pieces and stain them.  I had basically everything done and the next day after Shirley was back from Victoria I started to put the Watco Danish Oil on to the stained maple... we stained them the same colour as our kitchen cabinets. Yikes!  I got a rapid rude education in woodwork finishing.

As you can see from the photo above, I was mystified by the strange circles and blotches that developed as I applied the Danish Oil.  I was just sick.  The more I rubbed the worse it got.  The Danish oil that Shirley went to town for wasn't working for us... so she Googled it up to learn why we had the problem and she soon had the answer.  Since the stain was also oil base they cannot be used together.  Why didn't I think of that?

So out to the workshop I went and started sanding off all the finish.  What a huge job.  I spent a whole morning getting the wood totally stripped so we could re-stain it.  But when we applied the stain again we still had a problem!  There was some weird swirls that seemed to be telegraphing thru giving a really odd pattern that neither of us liked.  It was like the swirl used when we put the oil on.  I tried a second board and it also had the same problem.  What the world was going on?  It was enough to make a grown man cry!

Shirley was ready to just paint the wood a solid colour... maybe an antique look.  But that seemed like even more work that I wanted... plus how good is antique and Melamine going to look together?  So back to the workshop I went and I sanded those two boards yet again.  This time I went deeper and I used two more levels of finer sand paper.

Before I just used 80 and 120 grit paper since that was the belts I had for my electric sander. But I had some 150 and 250 sheets in my sand paper drawer... which meant some serious hand rubbing.  I found I was spending up to an hour to polish a board now.  But when I had the first one done we tested the stain... and it came out absolutely wonderful!

So I spent ALL day Friday sanding and redoing ALL the boards with ALL four sandpapers.  We had to also take off the "iron-on" maple edging and re-apply new edging to all the plywood, since the oil had also affected that part as well, and it was too thin to handle much more sanding.  So, as I am writing this tonight, all the boards have been repaired, sanded and stained and will sit over the weekend drying... getting ready for lacquer.  Am I crazy?

Sunday I will take some sheets of plywood and block off a corner of our new studio to make a paint spray booth.  I bought a new Wagner paint sprayer from Home Depot.  We want to pre-finish the cedar shingles for the siding on the addition as well... and I hope to be able to hang up the boards and end gables for the cabinet and lacquer them too.  Wish me well.  These boards cannot afford another sanding!  The maple skin on this plywood is already too thin in places!

"When you come to the end of your rope, just tie a knot and hang on."

I sent this quote to Shirley on a card in 1965 while she was in hospital for several months... after being in a car accident in Calgary.

 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Clickity Click

It is interesting to compare the clicks at the beginning of the year.

My John Deere tractor starts the New Year with 373.7 hours... about 75 hours added this past year.  That is about twice what I usually use the tractor.  We did some serious tree removal and site levelling behind the greenhouse... plus all the construction work.  Removing and backfilling the foundations... removing stumps... carrying rocks... plus lifting up beams, plywood, lumber to save physical labour.

The Ford 350 starts the year with 159,951 km... cool mirror number, eh?  Almost 160 k's... which is 100,000 miles.  We added just over 7,000 km's this past year.  We use the truck more than the car to go to Victoria as we always have a load of something to bring back home.  Over the past two years we have brought 66 loads of gravel for our community driveway.... plus 10 loads of navy jack for concrete I mixed on site.  We have hauled lots of lumber, plywood, insulation and drywall. for our reno project.  I would hate to live here on this island without this truck.

Shirley's car starts the year with 46,918 km... about 7,500 more in one year.  We took one trip to California, and a couple to Kelowna.  A couple times to Cannon Beach... once to Bainbridge Island to Shelby's place in the photo above.. not all that much. We didn't even get to Walla Walla this year!  Ooops!  But we had a lovely Thanksbirthmas 2011 with you.

Our combined kilometers driven was about 14,500... which is about 9,000 miles in 2012.  That is more than half of what we used to do in the Okanagan.

Vehicle insurance dropped about 25% when we moved to Mayne Island... I guess they know that islanders don't chalk up the miles as much as mainlanders.

The thing I learned today was that the reason it's so hard to win in the stock market today is that we cannot compete against the robots.  Computers are programmed to trade stocks.  All the major traders have robots... so I have decided if you can't beat 'em you gotta join 'em.  So, move over... I'm coming.  Thank you John Carter at TradeTheMarkets.com and Mike Dillard for lesson 13 in the Elevation Group.

Happy New Year!

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to post photos more often than once a week and to try to take some pictures every day.  I'm not ready to do Project 365 like Shirley did last year... in fact we worked almost all day on shelves in our new pantry and I didn't touch my camera until tonight... to get yesterday's pictures off.

We went for a very pleasant hike New Year's Eve to Edith Point... where I captured this fun photo of my sweetheart as she posed by an arbutus tree near the Point.

Another one of my New Years Resolutions is to learn something new every day... and make a note of it.
I quite often learn something most days, but promptly forget what it was.  So writing it down may help with the retention. Sometimes I will share these new things I learn on my blog... like am going to do tonight.  Hope you pick up an idea or so.

Today I was reading Lesson 11 in the Elevation Group from Mike Dillard.  The topic was about how to start a home business and get some cash flow from it.  He obviously has it figured out... and below I want to share his list of "Core Values for a Long and Profitable Business."  I couldn't just do it as a link, as this is in the middle of huge document that is for "members only."  I liked it a lot... and wish all businesses operated with a similar set of Core Values... don't you?

1: Forget About The Money, And The Money Will Come.

If you do something for money, you will fail. Making money is the BY-PRODUCT or result, of helping other people solve a problem. When I stopped worrying about making money, and started focusing on helping others, the money came quickly and by the truck-load.

I do not look for ways to make money. I look for problems I can help people solve.

2: Always Deliver What You Promised, And On Time.

If you sell a product to someone, make sure it’s delivered quickly. If you say that it will be there in five days, deliver it in three days.

If you’re not sure if you can meet a deadline, then don’t set one.

3: Be Authentic.

I’ve been told many times over the years that the reason people like to do business with me, is because I’m real. Every event I’ve ever been to, I’m approached by someone who says, “Wow Mike… You’re exactly the same person in real life as you are on the web…”

People don’t want to buy from a fast-talking sales person. They want to buy from a friend they can trust.

Be yourself.

4: Deliver 10 Times More Value Than The Price.

Whenever I produce a product, I make sure it’s worth 10 times more than the price.

This is extremely important if it’s your very first product, and therefore, your very first impression on your new customers.

5: Never Make A Decision Based On Money.

There are extremely profitable products and services that I could promote to EVG Members, which would probably make me an extra $50,000 or more per month.

But I do not promote them.

Why?

Because in most cases, I don’t feel like they’re in the best interest of my Members. I do what’s right for my customers, not what’s right for my pocket book.

And it’s for this reason, that I’ll have customers for years, instead of cash for a few months.

6: Always Make Decisions For The Long-Term.

A very good friend of mine recently asked me if I had plans to write a main-stream book based on The Elevation Group in the coming months,, as it would help with branding and promotion.

I said that yes I did, but I’m going to wait at least two or three more years because I want to earn the right to produce a book that can truly change people’s lives.

I am confident the decision to wait and write a truly profound book three years from now, will result in benefits that are far greater than a mediocre book I can write today.

7: When You Screw Up, (Because You Will), Admit It And Apologize.

While I strive to be the best I can, I am not perfect. Your customers will forgive you and respect you that much more if you acknowledge your mistakes and apologize. Trying to hide it will only turn you into a liar.

8: Provide The Best Customer Service Possible.

Treat your customers as you’d like to be treated. Make it easy to reach your customer service department, and train your agents well. They represent you.

9: Say “Thank You” Sincerely, And Often.

If you don’t, they will buy from someone else who does.

10: Stick To Your Guns.

Stand up for who you are and your beliefs. You will never be able to please everyone, and attempting to do so will only make you look like a flip-flopping politician. Sticking to your beliefs will help you create true, loyal fans.

11: Never Burn A Bridge Over Money.

I see partnerships or joint-ventures fall apart all the time over a financial dispute. Always give the other person the benefit of the doubt, and the money that’s in question.

It’s only dirty paper, and burning a bridge or screwing someone over for money is the quickest way to end up at the bottom.

Industries are small, word gets around, and no one wants to do business with a jackass.

12: Never Argue With A Customer.

Just give them a refund and a respectful “thank you”. You don’t know what’s going on in their life, or the problems they may be having.

13: Fire Bad Customers.

On the other hand, if someone’s an asshole or treats anyone on your team with disrespect, fire them. Give them a refund, remove them from your database, and wish them well. They’re never worth the money.

14: Stand Up For Yourself.

If you choose to start a business in the “information marketing” world as I have, you will become a tiny celebrity in your own little way.

While most of the people you have contact with will become fans if you follow the values outlined above, “haters” come with the territory. (Even Jesus had haters).

Should you find yourself the target of a mentally unstable person who wishes to harm you or your business, stand up for yourself and take the high road. Do not engage them publically, as they are only looking for attention.

You can engage them privately to try and find common ground. When I’ve seen a negative post in the past, it’s usually a case of miscommunication. I’ll personally email or call the person to clear the air, and that’s worked wonderfully 99% of the time.

If they continue to abuse you and your reputation without just cause, get a good attorney, and sue the crap out of them.

These people are bullies who feel safe behind a computer. That feeling goes away when they’re served with a lawsuit in person.

Your reputation is your business. Stand up for yourself.

15: Thank Your Mentors.

None of us can build a business, or acquire new skills alone. We all need teachers and mentors, and I believe that teaching is the noblest profession on the world.

So There You Have It…

Staying true to these principles have allowed me to build a long-profitable business in our new “trust-based economy”.

Print them out, write them out, post them on your wall, and never forget them.

The Best of 2011 in Pictures from Our World

This year I am sending out Christmas and New Year's wishes along with one or two pictures from each month of 2011.  It has been a very busy year... and some months it is really hard to decide which photos best tell the story.

January sunset from our deck... we live in a ferryland... this proves it. There are two ferries busy at work and we never go anywhere without taking a ferry.

Some January days we spend in the clouds... and this part of our driveway we often use for walking or jogging, rain or shine.

In February Shelby and family came home for a weekend and we did the Edith Point hike together.

The hike provided many photo opportunities... hard to pick out the best... but I love this shot of our grand daughter Maizy at Edith Point.

This totem pole is inside the Sydney Ferry terminal.  We come thru this place once or twice every week of the year, but last March I captured this shot in the evening as I was killing time waiting for our ferry to  go home.

In March we took an 8 day road trip to California... to  PUC to visited my Alma Mater, our friends Duane and Mary Cronk and Myron Widmer.  We also visited nephew Donald Logan and family in Napa and my sister Dolores and husband Merritt in Sacramento area.  While there we toured the Crocker Museum where I took this photo of Shirley examining a painting.  She looks like she fits right into the picture, eh?

In April when Shirley went to Paris with her sister Marilyn and was joined a week later by her friend Gail Booth...

I spent a a lovely three weeks with Lorne Booth in Tucson playing golf and pickle ball... soaking up some sunshine.

Lorne and I drove together home to Alberta... on the way we spent an enjoyable afternoon at Bryce Canyon, waking up to snow the next morning.

We went to Kelowna for Mothers Day... and Shirley joined me climbing Carrot Mountain.  Only in the Spring is there water running beside the trail... plus a couple of waterfalls.  Shirley found the water shockingly cold.

Mayne Island has several great places to hike... so when Sherilee and family came home we all took a stroll to Bennett Bay.

Memorial Day weekend the whole family was home and we had endless fun and games together.

We even converted the tennis court here to play Pickle ball and really had a blast!

In June we spent a wonderful weekend with sister Rose and Morian in Abbotsford... we went to the Cirque du Soleil together... but we were not allowed to take any pictures of that event.  However, the most unforgettable experience was not even planned... Morian took us to the mission and this truly spectacular church.  In my book this is the nicest church I've seen in Canada... an amazing work of art in concrete and stained glass.  The town of Mission BC was named after this Catholic monastery.

In July we started in earnest to construct the carport/studio that would connect the existing house and garage.  I did all the excavation for the footings and foundation mostly by hand, using the tractor to take away the material removed.  Our place will never look the same again.

I made this scale model of what the addition would look like and from this made the drawings to get a building permit.  Because of the long spans and unconventional design the Building Inspector told me I had to have a structural engineer stamp my drawings and oversee the construction... all of which added to a big time delay in getting the first concrete poured.

 After getting the structural engineer involved the depth of any excavations that were not on bedrock got deeper and wider... this one ended increased from 36 inches square up to 52 inches deep with a 12 inch thick footing 5 feet by 6.5 feet.

We used the tractor to help us place the rebar cage into the hole... it weighted almost 250 pounds.

With the help of Brendan and my tractor, we put all the beams and TGI's into the project.  It took us most of seven weeks to complete the framing and get it ready for the new roof.

Our car can hardly wait for the carport to be completed... can you see the smile on her face?  Both the car and Shirley are very happy in anticipation.  Note the 16-inch deep TGI's on 12-inch centres.

We had not originally planned this dormer with windows in the loft of the studio... but the view was just too spectacular.  I was able to make the roof joists work in the modified plan and only had to buy a couple of 2 x 12's for the dormer soffits.

We were very fortunate to get our roof on the new part as well as all the existing shake roof removed and redone in a cold and rainy time of year with no problems.  The snow came and went the next day.

Since paint won't dry outside this time of year, Shirley painted all the facia boards in our guest cottage.  We had to have the facia boards on before the roofing could be completed, so we had to find a way.

We took almost a week off and joined our kids/grandkids at Cannon Beach to celebrate US Thanksgiving, several birthdays, Christmas, Sher and Alan's Anniversary and Kim's new US citizenship... there was always a reason for another party every night... and Sher would re-decorate the fireplace for each new occasion.

Sher and Alan made Thanksbirthmas '11 hats for everyone to commemorate our family time together this year.

Since this photo showing the pantry drywall ready for painting, we have almost finished the painting, put up shelves and the ceiling light. We have the tile ready to do the floor.  Shirley can hardly wait to get moved in and get this corner of our house back to normal.

December gives us some nice winter sunrises... and sunsets.  And as this year is drawing to a close, Shirley and I want to wish all our friends and family the very best of the Christmas holidays with a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Construction Update December 5 to 16, 2011

My wounds have all healed marvellously.  Isn't it wonderful how the Creator designed our body so it would mend itself... but when my car or a tool gets broken it stays broken until we get it fixed.

I think one of the most wonderful things is to have our new roof completed on everything.

When I think back over the past couple of months, it is amazing that these guys worked thru the rainy season...  with even some snow... and they got the existing house and garage done with no water problems.  This is Lance Vaesen completing the ridge cap on the garage.

Two of Lance's boys work with their dad... this is Kellen finishing off some flashing on our house.

Here Brant is working on a last piece of flashing on the highest peak... 29 feet off the ground.

After the shakes were taken off the garage the nails that didn't come out with the shingles got pounded into the strapping.  You can see how important it is to have a hat on as I was checking and nailing some of the sheathing that was missed during the framing.

The garage attic has never looked better since we have been here.  We totally cleaned out all the junk that used to be stored here...

And we have been running some new electrical thru this attic to a new panel on the back corner of the garage where our new service will soon be switched over to.

It took Wesley our electrician, Shirley and me, as well as a come-along to pull this heavy new service line from the back of the garage to the new panel location in our new closet.

I took the sheathing off the house to expose the old panel in the back of our closet.  All these wires will get moved to new panel on a dedicated wall of our new closet.  The day we do this switch over will be a busy day for Wesley and we will be most of the day without power.

Both telephone and BC Hydro power will come into this back corner of the garage... and Wesley installed a guy wire so the mast will be strong enough once the new line is connected.

We purchased three dozen pot lights at Home Depot...

and it is such a joy to have them working in the carport already.  Can you see the smile on our truck now that it can park in our new carport?

One of the items that the engineer caught was a double 2" x 10" beam that I didn't see in the drawing.  So, I had to cut in space under this window for it.

Once I got it all installed, with insulation behind, it looked like it had been there all the time.

Last week Thursday we picked up the drywall for the pantry.  On Friday I called the Building Inspector and asked permission to cover in this one room.  He suggested that I send photos of the room to the Chief Building Inspector and I may get approval to cover without waiting for the next week inspection.

So I sent off 15 photos with notes explaining all the steps I had done and by the end of the day I received a phone call from the Inspector with his approval to cover... and one of the nicest compliments with it.  He told me he had never seen a nicer set of photos.  That made my day.

Here I am last Saturday night starting to screw the drywall to the pantry ceiling.  Shirley should be in this picture too... but she was taking the picture.  Together we had the whole room done by Sunday noon.

I had never before used this cool corner bead that is designed to make smooth curved edges.

I didn't count how many screws and nails are in this arch, but I am sure there are more than a hundred in all.

By Friday afternoon I had the third coat on the drywall... so on Sunday with a little light sanding and a wipe off with a damp cloth we will be ready for the first coat of paint.

Shirley is anxiously wanting to get moved back into her laundry room, as well as this new pantry.  Every day it is a little closer.