Day 39 - NEW SIGN!

There was one day, back in December I believe, where I started playing with ideas for the logo and sign design. Today was the day all the planning, design, and hard work came to fruition.

And what a day we've had... Sun, rain, and snow.

The day started with a few finishing touches to the framework. Jed (Concept Signs) arrived and the sun was mostly shining as we unloaded and laid out our game plan. Jed and Mike did the majority of the work on the first half of the sign and I documented the experience with my camera. Unfortunately, Jed had to leave as he had a vacation to start in an unmentionably warm destination.

 

 

 

We had a quick lunch and decided to get right back at it... well, now the weather had turned to rain and quickly turned to big, fat, wet snowflakes. But we persisted.... soaked and chilled to the bone we climbed our scaffolding, drilled and screwed the sign parts into place until everything was done.

Then the sun came out....... but of course... good time to bail Jed!

 

And VOILA!

Now for the signage on the front of the gallery and a bunch of work still to be done on the interior. I plan on staying warm for the rest of the evening and not eating dinner at 9:30 like most nights this week. We have three glorious days ahead of us to plug away on the renovations.

We will be open for May long weekend so if you're in Tobermory stop in and check us out!!!

Day 31/32 - Back on track

So I figured out what day into this process where at and it's a little scary. Although Mike and I feel we're on track everything is going to be happening quickly in the next few weeks to meet our deadline.

Before....

Yesterday was a decent day and after spending the morning inside working I decided to get into the garden. Rolling up my sleeves I staked out the expansion, edged it all, then broke out the tiller to work it all up. Apparently small tillers do not like landscape material, extension chords, or large hidden roots. My knife was my best friend (obviously not for the extension chord, which survived with a little electrical tape). The bed is expanded, the raised bed frames are in place, and I have the plan for what is going where. I'm still waiting for my dirt....

Aerial view of the garden from the front deck.

After.

As soon as the snow melted these beauties started coming up!

The patch of garlic has been growing for a while now. It was planted in November.

Today however, was a miserable day of rain and thunderstorms. Yesterday we picked up the HardiBoard that will be used as a backing for the sign. We cut that down to size last night when Mike got home from work and this morning I primed them. It would have been fine except that damn paint roller wouldn't stay on the handle... cursed thing... now I understand why Mike was hollering a couple nights ago downstairs. This afternoon I've been in front of the computer working on the rack cards and generally just getting things in order.

Concrete dust... yum.

The HardiBoard... ready for priming.

Our trusted supervisory staff.... on break.

In a couple weeks the new signage will be up!

With all the work we've been doing we still have a ways to go. Mike's home... time to get back at it!

Kelly

Kelly kills the columns

After much anguish and frustration kelly has completed the pillars.  :-)

Day ???.... I don't even know anymore....

I'll figure out what day we're on another day... My brain hurts from the work that I've been doing down there. The posts from hell have consumed my days and my dreams... stripping the plaster off them has been hell. I would rather have mucked a thousand stalls than to have done what I just accomplished. I know, it sounds silly. But you all have no idea. However... they are done!!! On to more tedious and mind numbing reno jobs :-)

The gallery is starting to take shape. Mike has been putting on some primer and we can start painting any time now. Today was beautiful. Finally a day above 10 degrees and the sun was out. I wanted to play in the garden but there's not much to do until my triple mix arrives next week. Then it will be wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of dirt moved to the raised beds. I can't wait to plant!!!

We are excited about the artists we're working with to display with us over the summer and hope to announce them soon!

Dinner is almost done so this is a quick post.... till next time everyone!!!

Kelly

These are the pillars from hell.....

Apparently the cursing was that the roller kept falling off the handle...

Day 18 - Garden inspirations...

Ok, so I know the garden doesn't have anything to do with the renovations on the Gallery. However, it did lift our spirits to listen to tunes in the backyard and swing the hammer to build four (very sturdy) raised beds. It's going to take a lot of soil to fill these suckers but they look amazing and I can't wait to finish putting the garden together. The weather was not much more co-operative today... we did have a bit of rain and a bit of snow, but we pushed through and got the job done.

Mike is working on the supports for the sign right now with the assistance of Luke and Adam (friends of ours that work up here too). They showed up as a surprise and what a great one! It just serves as a reminder about how close summer really is despite the cold and miserable weather.  Dinner is on the stove (slight adjustments for the boys showing up) and it will be good to visit with them.

 

Tomorrow we're back to Collingwood for my Blue Mountain staff party so no work on the gallery or garden tomorrow. That's ok... it's supposed to be rain again :-( Might as well get dressed up and have dinner with friends!

Goodnight all!

Kelly

Day 17 - Progress interrupted by....

SNOW!

Seriously... a decent day of mostly sun... We went down to Timbermart and bought the lumber for the raised beds. Awesome. I can't wait to build the beds (hopefully tomorrow) and get things rolling. We even got the materials for hoop houses on two of the beds so I'm hoping to get some greens started before the typical growing season. With the amount of vegetables we're getting from the store it will be so great to be harvesting everything from our own yard again.

Tobermory is starting to buzz... business owners are coming back to town to set up, shops are opening, and the steady hum of traffic along the highway out front is starting back up. All the signs of summer approaching. We worked hard this afternoon erecting the new posts for the new sign.

Then it got chilly... very chilly... then the dreaded white stuff started falling from the sky. I tried denial. I tried closing my eyes. But no... it really is snowing again. Will summer never come?

I hope for a nicer day tomorrow so we can finish the frame for the sign and get the raised beds built.


Cross your fingers for us!




It's still snowing as I write this... and it's accumulating. I'm glad it's Mike that will man the BBQ!!!


~Kelly

Day 13/14 - Mother Nature has a messed up sense of humour....

Day 13 

Ok ok... I know everyone's been complaining over and over about the unpredictable spring weather (or winter weather, not sure anymore). All I have to say is it's a good thing I haven't switched my Smart Car's winter tires out yet for its less reliable all purpose "summer" tires. I headed down to Grand Bend's Lambton Heritage Museum to pick up the artwork from the last show. This is a four hour trip from Tobermory only to turn around to four hours home. Much of the drive was lovely, sunny, windy... except between Sauble Beach and Kincardine... the wrath of winter was still upon me. Snow squalls, zero visibility, slippery roads, stupid drivers... you get the picture. Once I exited this winter vortex the drive continued on... gorgeous with NO SNOW!

 Entering the storm....

Here I'm thinking... ahh... that wasn't so bad...

NOT!  White out squalls for the next 40km

I see blue sky!!

I remember thinking... "Ahhh, where am I?"

Rinse and Repeat... only slightly better on the drive home. Needless to say me and my trusty miniature sized vehicle made it home with the artwork in one piece! I even avoided a kamikaze group of deer with no sense of self preservation. Again my car can go from 90km to 0km in less than 20 feet.... that's twice in 24 hours... it must be spring.

On a side note.... I got to see my two furry friends at Quinn and Erin's place in Bayfield while dropping off some artwork for them and picking up Huron Horizon. They were my welcoming committee when I got there... too cute.

 Day 14

Today is an office day... all the little things that must be done in organizing the rebirth of the gallery. None too exciting. (Office work doesn't include power tools)

Although it is cold outside the sun is shining brightly and I may just have to spend a few hours in the garden moving rocks. The cold weather will not dampen my anticipation of spring!!!

Till later....

Kelly