Downtown Whitehorse Rental House Update

The yard is in the process of being stripped to be covered with geotextile fabric and lower maintenance rocks. The fence will be rebuilt to a more private and better constructed standard. We will add a parking spot for my truck beside the garage out back. Some proper drainage will be added beside the house and insulated skirting will be added around the perimeter of the house to help keep rodents at bay.

Midnight Sun Gardening

It has been flat out crazy since we got back. We bought some plants to brighten things up but then never found a spare moment to get them potted up. It’s either been busy with work and social events or torrential rains. We’ve had so much rain this spring on top of the record-breaking snows that the clay cliffs around downtown Whitehorse have let go and slumped three different times. One of those slumps has closed one of the access roads into downtown Whitehorse. Anyway I decided that I would just stay up late on this lovely evening and get the pots planted. 

Some NS House Progress

Our houselifter Carl made it back and the Carriage House is now set down on the foundation walls. Darrell (man of many talents) came over the weekend and did some more deywall mudding in the suite. Ted Gillis our Mason put in the new basement windows and cut a hole through the front foundation wall so that air could move under the new brick bay window foundation. This also means we'll be able to insulate the ground and the foundation walls under bay window when the time comes.

Work on Another House Begins...

Our little rental in downtown Whitehorse has needed fencing and some drainage work for some time. Now is the time and the first step was to take down the two spruce trees beside the house. One of the two trees were leaning towards the neighbour's buildings and both had to be removed to complete drainage and skirting work along the side of the house.

The View From the Blanchard Kitchen

The last time we came back from one of Sarah's sabbatical in Europe things were much different than we expected. We woke up in our Blanchard Rd. house the first morning of our return, walked into the kitchen in our bday suits as we always had before to make some tea. We looked out the window above the sink... and saw our neighbors family! Out on a deck that had not been there before we left Whitehorse! We quickly ran for cover and came up with a plan... after much cursing from Christopher about neighbours. Since that day, the plan to deal with neighbours staring directly into our kitchen was implemented and the beauty, privacy and light continues to strike us on a regular basis... but most especially when the Mayday and Mock Orange trees bloom.

Gardening

Though we are later this year because of timing our return from Nova Scotia, gardening has begun. We are concentrating on the vegetable gardens and the raspberry patches first. I should have taken a before and after of the raspberry patches as the cleanup always makes such a dramatic difference.

10 Bohaker St. Restoration Update

Though some trades have not shown up as promised... some have... thankfully. Ted Gillis will be back next week to continue work on the brick foundation repair. Ted's apprentice Justin and his partner have generously offered to put in another 100ft of deer fencing down the slope from the new fence, and along beside the old railway to keep both neighbours and deer off our property. Darrell has made some time for us to repair plaster and begin mudding the walls in the future suite and some other areas of the house.

Return to Whitehorse

So far, Whitehorse seems different to our eyes after spending a winter in Nova Scotia. At some point over the last 5yrs... Whitehorse got too big. The traffic, the dirtiness, the ugliness and lack of safety and basic courtesy in the downtown. Still, our closest friends are here and are as wonderful as ever. Our house and gardens are comforting in thier finished state and feel good. The house itself was in good condition and quite clean. There are a few missing items from light fingers guests and some minor gouges to cabinets, etc. All in all... not too bad. The kitchen took some time to put back together and I expect we'll be unpacking boxes for the better part of the next month or longer. Still... this will be a great opportunity to begin de/stuffing our lives. Christopher has a couple of jobs to complete this summer for past customers... and as always... there is a ton of yard work to do. Scapa is as flexible and happy as ever as long as her agenda items are dealt with every day.