The Squamidian Report – June 2 / 07

 

Issue #262

 

Also in this issue:

The Ontarion

 

Hi All,

 

One of our springtime projects has been to repair and replace sections of our fence. I’ve had to replace all the posts across the back but the panels have all be salvageable. I’ve also had to replace all the posts down our north side yard. However, most of those panels are toast. There had been a heavy growth of ivy from the neighbour’s side that rotted out everything and pulled the fence over. I think I’ve mentioned that. Anyway, I’m almost finished with that side now but I keep running up against a problem. All the old posts were 4x4’s that were a true 4 inches by 4 inches. New 4x4 posts are 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches. So for every two posts I put in, I gain a linier inch. This means that where I just replace a post and re-use the old panel I end up with a gap. Where I put in new posts and panels, I either have to create a gap or end up with a larger gap where I meet an existing section.

 

One thing I have discovered is that I can buy pre-built cedar panels for less money than I can buy the materials and build them myself. This works fine for most sections but there is a sloped section where I have to fabricate a panel, and there is one section where that accumulative gap has added up and I need to hand build a custom panel. No problem, just takes a bit longer to do so the project drags out a bit longer.

 

And of course there is the dog size gate I will have to put in along that side. You remember that dog that came over and stole our apples? Well, she has gotten kind of used to parts of the fence being down and is now quite comfortable to just waltz right in and lay down in the kitchen, after checking out the BBQ to see if we had anything interesting. She seems to be happy for whatever attention we will give her. The other evening we were sitting out on the deck when she came over for a pat and a dog cookie. She then wandered off and we went back into the house to hit the hay. As we passed through the kitchen we spotted her stretched out on the floor, content as could be. We sent her home.

 

But if we don’t put in a gate, that dog will sit sadly on her own deck and stare over at us, inflicting all sorts of feelings of guilt for baring her from our yard and our cookie jar. So I will build a gate, just for the neighbour’s dog.

*

The snow up in the high country is finally starting to melt. We have had some pretty nice warm sunny weather lately and that sun is beginning to eat away at the stuff. Some of the steep slopes above the tree line are now showing bare spots, and some of the high treed slopes are melting off completely. That’s why so many low areas along the rivers are concerned about flooding. It is now June and there is still way more snow up there to melt and run down than there would be at the end of a normal winter, let alone this late in the year. The fear is that there will be a fast summer melt instead of a slow spring melt. Not expected to be much of a problem along the Squamish River but the big rivers like the Fraser that drain huge areas of the interior could get interesting.

 

doug

****

 

 

****

THE ONTARION REPORT

 

Hello everyone!

 

Spending time in the sun seems like it’s going to be main activity for Ontario’s residents this summer. I know that happens every summer but this year we’ve got one heck of a good and early start on it. That’s ok with me! As long as Mother Nature doesn’t pull a switch and send Hurricanes our way instead of leaving them on the south east shores of United States I’ll be happy! With so many strange happenings weather wise world wide I wouldn’t put it past her to trick us as well. I was watching TV last week and there was a program on talking about the severe weather changes around the globe and I decided to check with our insurance agent to see if we’re covered for hurricane and tornado damage. The agent I spoke with checked our policy and confirmed that we are indeed covered for such disasters. Whew! I can’t imagine how devastated I’d have been if one showed up this year and we weren’t covered. Most people don’t give it a second thought around these parts but there is a distinct possibility that we could be in for big weather changes in the near future. As the Boy Scouts say “Be Prepared”!

*

When checking my e-mail last week I was the recipient of a note from the biggest Harley dealer in Canada. It just so happens that it was from the same dealer that Doug and Sue’s new bike came from. They were offering me a chance to win the Harley of my choice. All I had to do was write in 500 words or less how long I’ve been dreaming of owning a Harley and send the short story to them. If I wanted a bonus chance I could print out my story and deliver it in person to my local HD dealer. I’ve got the story printed and have only to take it in to Kitchener Harley Davidson this week. I figured I’ll do that tomorrow or Saturday. Weather I’ve been dreaming of being a Hog owner all my life or not, telling the story was quite easy and if it wins me a $25,000.00 motorcycle who cares if it’s true! I’ve already got the model I want picked out and if all goes well, I’ll be picking it up early this season.

PS: Did you give them my name Doug? Hmmmmmm…..?

*

Did any of you have the winning ticket in this past Wednesday’s 6/49 draw? With a whopping prize of $30,000,000.00 I’d have picked up that cheque first thing Thursday morning if it were my good fortune to have won it. Can you imagine the great things you could do with a win like that? WOW! Oh well, if nobody we know won that big amount, they have another chance to pick up an even bigger one tonight with a prize of $32 million. Get out and grab a few tickets if you haven’t already done so. I wouldn’t be without my tickets! People all around Kitchener have been winning big prizes over the past half year and it would be nice to be the person to continue that trend. Good luck to those of you who have tickets and have a nice weekend!

Guess that’s it for this week.

 

Thanks for tuning in and I look forward to talking to you all again next time in The Ontarion Report.

 

Bye for now.. Greg

 

PS: Something To Think About>

A “jiffy” is an actual unit of measurement. It represents 1/1000 of a second.

 

 

****

The Family and the Squamidian sites:

http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b/ and http://www.thedougsite.ca

Have a good one..

the doug

 

The Fine Print!

The articles in these issues are the sole property of the persons writing them and should be respected as such.