Chelsea and Mike: September 2011

All of Mike's real estate research finally paid off when he found this amazing location at an affordable price: 3 minute walk to the beach, flat land to develop/clear, enough parking outside and room inside for all the family members to come stay for the weekends, a big workshop for Mike's car projects, and a parking garage for me in the winter. It even has a well, running water, and electricity! However, it also came with a hell of a lot of work to do. This is what we've been doing since July 15th!

We pulled out carpets (Judy, Chester and Mike)

and removed staples (Judy, Mike, and Irene)

from a few rooms. (Orange shag! Really? If it was clean, I would've thought it was cool!)

De-cluttered and moved items out of the "cabin"
(That chandelier was next on the list of things to go...)

Grandma Irene made a flower bed and planted flowers out front!

As we worked, the kids played outside!

Helene watching Mia hoola hoop

They found something!

Cammie, Helene, Mia, and Luna

Cheryl and Judy taking a quick break

Irene and Camron checkin' out the workshop

The dogs were free to roam = Doggie Heaven!

The Maguire kids workin' together

Luna is such a pretty dog

Cleaning bathrooms...

from top to bottom.

Off to the beach before bed. Deja and Luna jumping through the waves

Mia decided to get her feet wet too!

Layla sittin' back and enjoying the view

Cheryl and Luna

Mike, takin' a breather after a long day's work!

Me too!

Deja needed a rest as well, after all of her swimming, wave jumping and stick chasing!

Traps set (We had to catch both gophers and mice for a couple weeks. Glad Mike was willing to take on that job!)

Mike, Judy, Irene and I moved this old wall tent base from the location we made into the fire-pit area to create a little deck at the front entrance. Later, Mike and Jay put in some screws. Now, all it needs is a nice coloured stain.

Cleaned and gravelled this area, and built a fire-pit!!!

Dismantling the greenhouse: We removed the door, windows and walls, pulled off the plastic on this side, and we're starting on the frame.

Two thirds of the greenhouse dismantled, rotten wood burned and salvaging the garden beds.

I didn't think Mike was serious when he suggested he, Judy and I move this huge, rusted, steel oil tank from one side of the property to the other.

However, we managed to do it. Once we got it moving, it picked up momentum and almost rolled on it's own. Mike's been teaching me that we shouldn't underestimate our strength (especially when we have Judy and Irene helping us out)!

Cleaning up more junk found around the property, loading it up and taking it to the dump!

Mike and I pulled this disgusting, old carpet out of the ground. Unbelievably more difficult than it sounds. It had rocks, dirt, gravel, weeds, and who knows what else on top of it. Mike's hands hurt for days afterwards.

Moving the garden beds

Salvaging wood from the greenhouse

Mike made this bench and put it by the fire-pit!

Mike and I shovelled the soil out of this garden bed

Irene prying nails out of the remaining greenhouse frame

Mike helping with the really tough ones

Bye-bye plastic!

Judy shovelling out the second bed

Mike trying to give Irene and Judy orders. You can really tell that they take Mike seriously.

Cleared out numerous mismatched pots, pans, lids, handles, casserole dishes, egg beaters, plastic container, trays, jugs... from the walk-in pantry. So thankful "Tiffany's" (the free store) is so close by. (How could one family ever use or need this much stuff?)

After Judy, Cheryl, Jay and I attempted to scrub the cupboards and drawers clean with scouring pads and various chemicals, it came down to sanding, if you can believe that! Mike removed all the doors and drawers and Josh did most of the sanding.

One garden bed moved (which was so hilarious, Mike, Judy and I barely had enough strength, because we were laughing so hard), cut and soil added.

It was an absolute scorcher working outside in the sun that day!

Cheryl painting the wall in the master bedroom

Set-up the beds in one room for Josh and Jay

Cleaning and PAINTING the yellow-stained ceilings

Dinner break! Cooking smokies on the fire!

Irene

Josh

Jay

Judy, Mike, and Irene

Back to work. Mike helped direct Josh and Jay as they moved gravel behind the "cabin" to create a new gravel path along the side of the house to the crawl space. (Josh and Jay had already finished pulling/cutting out raspberry bushes and fireweed.)

Josh goofin' around doing balancing tricks on the shovel

Josh getting in trouble for goofin' around when he was supposed to be working. (Josh and Jay were filling out time sheets and getting paid to help with the jobs around the property!)

Jay, laughin' at Josh

Josh evening out the gravel

Deja's such a cutie!

Quad break!

Josh and Jay went off exploring the Tagish trails.

These two know how to have fun!

Mike taking a brief load off

Deja's on a mission

Josh giving Deja some lovin'

Josh and Jay, trying to pass on the responsibility of carrying the dog leash, which turned into a game!

Josh, Jay, Judy, and Mike walking towards the beach

Josh and Jay

Run Jay! Josh is right behind you!

Walking through public access

Josh, Mike, Jay and Judy on California Beach

An amazing spot and a beautiful day

Jay and Deja fighting for the stick

Mike's going to start a water fight

Mike, Jay, and Josh

The splashes getting bigger

Mike got Jay!

Josh escaped and went to talk to Grandma Judy on the beach

Josh modelling his new leaf "tatoo"

Mike and Jay continue their water battle as onlookers paddle by.

Looks like Jay's getting her revenge

Josh and Judy enjoying the show

Josh poses with Grandma, completely unaware of the plan Mike and Jay are brewing

Mike and Jay ambush Josh

Josh going down

Josh got soaked, but he took Mike and Jay with him!

A new day - Morning coffee on the beach

and some stick throwing and fetching with Deja

After the sanding, Mike stained the kitchen cupboards and drawers

Mike, Jay and I cleaned the couches

Jay was in charge of the little green carpet cleaner, while Mike and I did the pre-scrubbing

We also cleaned the carpeted wall. (Don't ask. We don't know either. But it's unique.)

Mike found this washer and drier set for $100. They work and look like new! I can't believe we have a "cabin" with a washer and drier. But they sure have come in handy. We've finished off some days with the dirtiest clothes I've ever seen!