June 2008, moving day for the houses. Once they are moved onto the acreage the real work begins. They have to be gutted, the roof has to be realigned and made to join together then reshingled (thanks to our new found Filipino friends), a basement floor has to be poured, electrical and plumbing started, septic system installed, on and on. The houses look awful, one is pink, the other one is yellow. Locals drive by slowly and stare, we are a freak show. To add to this persona of oddness I move some donkeys onto the land. Heck, might as well give them something interesting to look at. Tequila, Chiquita and Juanita, all I need is Juan Valdez and a Mariachi band. Donkeys are not like horses, I learn quickly. They think, rather than act, making them less flighty than horses, and they make the worst noise known to man. I love them, they are awesome :)
It was windy, it is always windy here, unless it is snowy, sometimes it is both. Our horse shelter blew over, adios Juanita, a very sad day. Our septic tank took off, ricocheted off the horse trailer and took off down the road. A neighbour brought it back on his tractor. We fenced the pasture, I learned to use a post pounder, a skill I hope I never need again. I bought a Norwegian Fjord Horse, Dise. The hairy hippo, she has never missed a meal, bless.
Still living in the city and waiting for our house to sell. I am the General Contractor. I am in charge of getting things done, making sure people are hired and actually show up, most times this does not happen. Contractors do not like to take orders from a woman, even one with an authoritative British accent. Sometimes Mike gets on the phone and yells at contractors, this usually does the trick. General Contracting is not a good way to make friends.
Summer comes and goes, followed by fall, we plod on with what funds we can manage to scrounge and do as much as we can. December 2008, our house has sold, awesome, allowing us to free up some more cash to get on with making the acreage house(s) habitable. We move into the world's smallest townhouse; two adults, three children, two dogs and a collection of cats, yikes! Winter is nasty, lots of snow, very cold. I trek out every day to feed and water. I haul water in, no water on the acreage yet. Not ideal construction weather but we work on things, slowly.
Spring 2009 is wet and rainy and muddy, very unusual and not much fun. Thank goodness for wellies. Insulation is sprayed in, windows are fitted, kitchen is measured, walls are knocked down and rebuilt somewhere else, septic system is still non existent. We have stairs, Hallelujah! We decide to move onto the acreage and live in our travel trailer, hoping this will speed up the construction process. July 1, moving day. We have two trailers, one of them is older than me, to use for bedrooms and a detached garage (also moved on) to use as a camp kitchen and temporary home for the cats. Cooking is to be done outside on the coleman stove. Laundry entails a trip to the city. Showers happen either in the trailer or at the YMCA. We have water to the property line and it is hooked up to the house via a cistern but somehow none of the outside taps are working. We run a hose from the neighbours property to fill water jugs and the horse trough/trailer, usually a few times a week. Plumbers insist it is the fault of the guy who ran the water line, that guy says his line is fine, the fight continues all summer until eventually the plumber realises the water pump is installed backwards. We have water! Even if it is only from the bathtub in the basement thanks to a large wrench, I am happy. The outside tap works, after another visit or two from the plumbers. Drywall and flooring go in, painting is started, still nowhere near finished and winter is almost here. Electrical work progresses, kitchen goes in, sort of. Three tries to make the counter top fit. Alcohol is fabulous :) I enjoy a drink or two most evenings, for medicinal reasons. The weather turns nasty in November, lots of snow and freezing temperatures, not ideal camping weather. Forgot to mention the portapotty, we are a one outhouse family. Once the weather turns cold it is named the Ice Throne for obvious reasons. We stay in the trailers until January 2 2010, breaking point. We move into the house, finished or not I don't care anymore. I am half frozen and in danger of becoming an alcoholic, if I am not there already. We camp on the floors until we can move the beds in. Still no indoor plumbing but who cares, we have some working electrical outlets and can boil water to do dishes. No sink yet, so we have to use washing up bowls. Showering at the YMCA every day, I have become a minor celebrity. The ladies from the 8am aquafit class(whom I meet in the change room daily) are kept informed of progress (or lack of it) and the children's school is keen to hear of any news. They think we are brave, and daring, and probably mad. Friends and acquaintances offer their bathrooms to us, "Come over and shower any time!" Laundry is done while visiting family. I am on a first name basis with the lady at the Laundromat.
Spring 2010....Calls to the plumbers continue, too many calls to mention. A wonderful thing happens, they plumb in the septic system, one toilet and a sink! Heaven! I feel very spoiled, indoor plumbing. I can do laundry at home! The kitchen is finished, appliances arrive and are connected. Painting is finished (sort of, still working on that). The lights are installed. Plumbers come back and finish things up. Tiling, yikes, takes months. Finished now, nuff said. Hot water heater installed. HOT WATER! Showers at home, I have forgotten what this is like.
As if this isn't enough to contend with, in the midst of this we have gained some critters. We now have two fjords, one quarter horse (rescued), one shetland pony (same) and six donkeys. I start a donkey ride business for birthdays and such, Thistledown Donkeys. The gift that keeps on eating arrived for Mike's birthday, November 2009. Hugo, a great dane. He lived with us in the trailer, thankfully he was smaller than he is now. We had our first litters of Siamese kittens in February 2010, second litters in August 2010, third litter expected March 2011. Country Whiskers Siamese Cats is born.
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