Home again time has come: the bulk 
weiz us again! For about three days, we can entertain us again on your mood on Lozärndütsch to sleep in our own bed, the morning bite into crusty bread and comfortable with our old Opel Astra curves through the area. Adi I leave the pleasure of a ride, and confine myself on opening the garage door. But somehow no longer seems the car to his "lord and master" used to be and the bucks start huge. With each test, the plate carriage bounces closer to the front wall of the garage. As the bumper just millimeters from being there on Adi discouraged. I did my part since the Petrol history or a score to settle and wants to polish up my image a bit. So I dare a last attempt to start the car. And lo and behold, trouble-free as ever, it starts and can be obedient to steer out of the garage. Adi is incredulous wonder and slightly confused next to it, finally, because a woman is sitting at the wheel. Well, my dear Adi, what the tumble of the start button, which is the manual transmission car containing the coupling ;-)!
But back to our last three weeks in Canada: The topping w 
ar so to speak, the go-ahead to a brilliant final sprint. In addition to many smaller (but, unfortunately, often time-consuming) work were still the insertion the windows and doors. There were two reasons why we were so so late. On the one hand, our cabin or even our log cabin at the request of Johanne and Sylvain was higher and more complex than originally planned. This had also meant that we had to beat again in mid-July a dozen trees. On the other hand, did the two very hard time with the organization of windows. They could not understand how important it was mainly for Adi to stop the project, ie to let a house with a roof, windows and doors back. When they came back then from the three-week vacation in France without having ordered the promised window (three to five 
weeks for delivery are common in Canada and there), pulled us out of patience. We were very close, vacate our earlier material together to take trouble, three beautiful holiday weeks. Thanks Annie and Mario did not do so. Short decided they ordered two windows and a door. Merci beaucoup! We were, therefore, covered the roof and celebrated a topping that would have even the Gauls with envy can 
pale. In this period we also visited my parents who retired this year, "rang" with a seven-week trip to Canada. For them was only half time and after three weeks in Western Canada by motorhome, they enjoyed the three quiet days for us obviously. Thank you for the way we have to "get out" found! We also enjoyed the time with you!
And so arose towards the end but still containing some frantic minutes for a 
lles what decency 
could be done. The insertion of the windows were designed to be less difficult than expected, only at the door, we were again facing a small problem: she was too high. We would have to saw through a log with a supporting role that seemed ill advised. Mario therefore make a quick decision left a door to measure. And because time was short, he had the good carpenter just times three days, with the warning: "If not by Thursday evening is finished, I paid you!". It worked so we could spend our last night in the Canadian bush in a completed log house with two windows and a door. (The remaining windows will be installed next year.)
stay in front of our Abfl 
ug us on Thursday, two days in Quebec, we ship to say goodbye to all our friends, make car number, material, ... good. Everything goes so fast that we hardly have time to realize that our Canadian adventure is definitely over. The upcoming trip home, we see a mixed blessing contrary. We know that since the story in London, the safety regulations were tightened again. And they promptly take us in Quebec before giving up out of the luggage. In the large duffel bag 
they have discovered a suspicious object. The next 10 minutes are spent clearing out. In a wild confusion there are maple syrup, solar panel, dirty underwear, books, ... to light (not for nothing that the tax collectors wear gloves). Only the ominous thing is gone. Finally, see also the tax collectors that we have no hidden bomb in the luggage and let us go. We, or Adi come, but not far. When people check it is position just sampled before we can enter. And so it should go w 
pus. For each pick, change the tax collectors Adi out, pull him off his shoes, touch his feet (which it already put about 24 hours in the same shoes ...), take his picture. Adi makes the best of a bad job, ultimately it would be negligent to let such a muscle-bound karate as to pass unchecked, he says ;-) (I lead the whole back more to chance, his black hooded sweatshirt and maybe his hairstyle -. for the latter but I myself am responsible) Nevertheless, we reached Zurich on schedule and are Taxi drivers and Matteo Adis parents with poster, flowers and minibus received (molto grazie!).
is settling in the home are anything but heavy and the jetlag is quickly forgotten, with all the calls, SMS and spontaneous short visits. At this point a very big THANK YOU to you all (family, friends, colleagues)! Thanks for all the lovely e-mails (some of which are unfortunately still unanswered, sorry :-(), for mental support, encouraging words, the reading of our adventures, the tenterhooks along 
and compassion, the spontaneous Phone calls and visits from the distant home country! A heartfelt thank you, we also want the Grisons for company Off-grid systems to send Mr. Hassler . Thanks to its powerful and totally travel-friendly solar panel we were during the last five months, sometimes a little energy, but never dead! Toll also that one problem could be resolved as quickly and without bureaucracy. (Who wants to know more about solar panels, which the page was info@offgridsystems.ch emfpohlen.) And last but not least, here again Ralph Pfersich mentioned without its price, book and written and oral advice nothing came of our project would be!
It was impressive, instructive, exciting and eventful five months. Who knows what will happen next. Perhaps there is a chance to work here in the 
Switzerland in this area. In any case, we were not the last time in Canada. We will pay our block house every now and then a visit there and enjoy some vacation days! Hey, by the way: if you want to contact us, either with respect to questions, comments, ideas for log homes or, more generally, to achieve our time in Canada, we either blockhuette@hotmail.com or at telephone number 041 534 32 30 We look forward to feedback of any kind!
sprint ... a blog for comic friends (lots of text and even more "Bildli)
The past three weeks have been even more so eventful that prompt the writing was too short. We did not even have time to empty our mailbox. And that's really saying something, because your messages, encouragements and greetings are sacred to us!
To make it short: The ridge purlin fits perfectly and the angle fit (which is not only to thank me and Adi 
). While working on the first gable, is us meaning in the sense that we do not know how much we have to do it. We remember still weak, that we would help the trigonometric function arithmetic here, but have no idea anymore how to do it. So we decide we wait, Ralph (log house guru, teacher and sponsor of our clutch bell), to ask for advice. And in fact we get a few days later, a mail with the necessary explanations. Many thanks, Ralph, for your express answer! (Other students have actually also questions and, if so, have you ever considered to employ a secretary?) In any case, we return confident with the corresponding formula in the bag on the building site back. Our optimism is short-lived. It turns out, namely, that neither have our pocket calculators were still on the laptop Winkelfuntkionstasten. Crap, time is running out, because in two days is to hang up the excavator the purlin. In our distress we pick up the phone and call Adis Joker to his father. He quickly added his yellow booklet formula (a relic from the Gymizeiten his sons ...) and the calculator at hand and barely ten minutes later, we are holding the requested information: If the gable height 1 
.89 meters.
, we must admit: The Beginner's Luck "followed" on us. Random complements the amount of both solid wood gable with the strength of the ridge purlin absolutely perfect! time to celebrate the success of this important goal remains to us but little. Now it is the 22 (!) Prepare rafters. Quite a lot, but in view of the snowy winter months (this year the snow height of 4 meters!) Absolutely makes sense. We just have to place the sophisticated four-gable rafters before arriving Adis parents. They have been around a week in Canada and are looking forward now appears to us to actively support the building site 
. And of course we are grateful for any handout. The attachment of the rafters is a threesome just already much better and faster. Adis and mother had taken a nurse can easily be a painter. Gertrude, Melchior: Thank you very much for your great help, the certification in a log cabin her locker gets! But as the saying goes: Work is not everything (or was it money?). In any case, we use the time together or for watching beavers in the canoe, cozy chat, exciting and impressive Jassrunden short visit with the whales. There we talk once again with Dominique, who has apparently intense regarding our offer log homes set apart (and still expressed a genuine interest - he has even shown us the proposed location). We'll see. 
On Wednesday evening we returned from the whales and said goodbye in Adis parents. We stayed two days in order to control boards, we zusägten rind from the boards to close the openings between the rafters. Last Saturday it was finally time. At eight o'clock we took the roof in attack. The required material was ordered and shipped directly to the building site. Despite some small margin (of a supply, the sheet was forgotten, at a certain mass of the other boards or the number not supplied), the atmosphere was great and the work went quickly. Adi and I benefited a lot, but we had no idea how to make a roof covers. (We had our little 
hut covered probably with boards and earth.) At this point a very large MERCI to Pierre , the "chief organizer" of the roof, the infinitely invested much time, energy and effort into our project has to Annie that was always and everywhere with the patience and good humor girls for everything and we were spoiled at every opportunity with culinary delights, to Mario , of us with his humor, expertise, and his zwirbligen work force (despite Dyskushernie! ) to the side, stood at Sylvain and Johanne to us in their chalet granted asylum and a large part of the additional acquisitions, to Martine (Pierre's wife) who decided not to vacation with Pierre and we instead here in no man's land catered to Denis , who with his tractor and his followers always at the right time, right place was to Rodrigez and Mariette (the parents of Annie and Sylvain), who helped us with many kind words and all the others we mention here not by name, who helped us in any way! Only thanks to their 
r assistance, our log cabin to become what it is! The results speak for themselves really, and we are proud of our first album! Meanwhile Adi can imagine a life without power saw only with difficulty and is already dreaming of jobs in Switzerland. One morning Adichef even so engrossed in his Planerei that he did not notice until after half a cup, that the supposed Instant coffee was just hot water ...! (To be noted in its defense that the cup was dark brown.)
two and a half weeks we remain until our return to Switzerland. We can tackle the whole, although now a little more comfortable, but there could still be one or the other to do. So we still have to make the false floor, which occupies the rear half of the house, the window and cut door openings, which saw two spurs on the home front, and make several small jobs and repairs. And - last but not least - we are next Saturday to celebrate a great topping with all our friends a la Asterix and Obelix, ie, suckling pig, wine and beer. 
word "leisure" or: Is there life after sawing? To make it short: In the meantime I realized that I may cancel this out words such as holidays, leisure and sleep out of my repertoire. In concrete terms, when I come out of this holiday home, I've probably only needed vacation time ;-).
Our construction and so our daily routine are strongly dependent on Peter. On the one hand, it can draw on wet wood and poor on the other hand, work on damp strains with increasing altitude and more dangerous. In addition, we have no skeleton but only two or three different high ladders (some actions are therefore not fully compliant SUVA). In return, Adi blossomed slowly but surely 
artists. With incredible confidence he balances in about three meters above the small tribes and has already saved brilliantly from one or other critical situation. I will not get rid of the suspicion that he wants to flay at my impression, he takes sometimes detours just to get up "rumturnen" can (well, maybe there are also the genes that would explain Adis preference for bananas ... .?!).
For about two months the weather is mostly dry. In addition, it has no more mosquitoes and black flies and the moment the temperatures move back into more comfortable areas. These optimal conditions, we benefit from as much as possible, resulting in part dependent on twelve hour work days. On such days we are sometimes almost too tired to go before sleep or something to eat 
n (thank God only "almost"!). I think it's understandable that I sometimes right after rain longing and hopeful search the sky for dark clouds. How wonderful it would be, once again retreat into a full day with a thrilling crime somewhere and never stop, as is read until the last word. In the meantime, namely the five books of my mother found the way here (thank you) and cry out, to be devoured. (My standards are even already dropped so much that I am not even a requirement to do that on a beautiful, warm day in a deck chair.)
But if it actually even raining, there is often still so many things done: cleaning up a broom in your hand, hair and clothes Wash blog write beard trimmed, .... Speaking Bart: With Adis hairstyle that is such a thing, actually yes, the long-haired rocker en 
his role model, but since the amount of hair somehow not quite work out, the motto is "the shorter the better." That's why he has taken from Switzerland to its electrical battery trimmer. To his chagrin, one might say here but do not charge because the voltage is too low. Because Adi but his hair definitely not - as he says - will "open" states that it has got hold of as much as silly $ 2 a battery-operated Hair Clipper. I do not know if he really expected it, that this thing works. In any case, the supposed bargain has drawn more than cut and was promptly and with an exclamation that I would not play here, disposed of. Thank God have mercy on him and Nicole and Denise him a brand-new trimmer ;-) brought. What
here in Canada also is missing, or otherwise Perwoll any miracle cure to the laundry is blindingly white or bacteria-free clean again . Although the clothes can smell like hand washing better, but clean and free of stains cuddly softness of the question. We love to have grabbed the opportunity with both hands, therefore, as we almost a month ago with Nicole and Denise at a campsite Washer and dryer vorfanden. Washed is fast, but we have to hang up first, and second, no room is the sun already set, so we opt for the dryer. After one pass, the laundry is still damp so that I throw in another dollar, the program provides a level-adjusting warmer and I hope that after round two at least level is reached "drying cycle. An hour later, Adi and I control again to the laundry room. But what a disappointment! Still, the clothes are so wet that it would make no sense to take her Sun Apparently, the tumbler is broken and I am considering just to report back to the campsite responsible message. But since It is next door a second free machine outweighs the convenience and we try it. Umbeigen laundering, throw dollars, select Program. I'm already halfway out to the laundry room, when Adi asked me: "Have you pressed the start button?". Start button? Well, as so often was also a machine that does not work if you do not press Start. Adi can hardly recover to be superior to the well again with the marriage well and has for my statement that I got home my clothes always hang up and never tumbler, left only a sympathetic smile. (At least I saved myself the embarrassment of a defect report!) After the first burst of laughter assured me Adi true that it is important that a woman can handle a chainsaw as a tumbler, but I know I still get to hear this story a few times.
as did the tank story, which took place at the very beginning of our stay, Canada: I drive, drive almost empty tank, gas station. There has, as usual, free-standing columns. I suspect that the tank at the Jeep is right, go left and thus ran off leaving Adi. But bad luck, by signs the attendant gives me to understand that this is not so. Lightning fast, I analyze the situation and looking for an elegant solution to bring the car to the most convenient way in the right position. Since there is enough has free space in front of me, I quickly and expertly led fully a half-circle and go in the opposite direction shortly before on the other side of the tank column. Smiling about the successful maneuvers off I want, when I sign the disbelieving shake of the head of the gas station attendant. Slightly confused, I wonder whether on this site probably is no unleaded. The moment the penny drops and I read on the faces of the two men what they think about women at the wheel .... And to
Finally, something about the current build status: Working out the mass 
sivholzgiebel went surprisingly quickly and painlessly. For simplicity, we worked on the gable Ground and had drawn the tribes after only put together like Lego bricks. To stabilize the whole, we drilled each with a 2.5 cm wide drill two to three 30 cm deep holes in each strain. So we could then always connect two superimposed strains with nearly 30 cm long round wooden rods. This gives the gable design some stability and, with the addition screwed slats that the whole Herrlic 
ility not even the slightest breeze collapses. Yesterday the second gable is finished, and we see clearly that it is not deleted. Today just before noon it was ready: With the help of the machine, we placed the ridge purlin. Adi and I have prepared and purlins gable so far that the whole thing (add, lift, place, draw or take down) lasted barely 10 minutes. Up to this point actually, everything went like clockwork, but the moment of truth comes tonight or tomorrow when we will definitely bring the purlin in place.
From cabin to cabin 
No, this is not a prison, and yes, we know that also belong to a house window! But somehow impress us with this massive wood walls and no windows (or perhaps because) every morning and again. Slowly but surely, our project forms, which is also good if you Considering that we will be back in two months in Switzerland. Without the help of Nicole and Denise, we would still not ready. According to our common 
seeds holidays we have given full speed for four days and are actually finished with the walls. Denise showed tireless efforts in the washing of the tribes (with bleach), a very monotonous and strict labor, which Adi way expresses again and again successfully, with the remark that it was women's work ... (a good thing we practiced in front of the church first! ) And Nico was not enough of working with a chainsaw. He was always the first to urged to leave in the morning and the last, wanted to pass the evening after work beer. In short, there were two great and wonderful weeks, we've experienced with our friends. Many thanks again for your visit and help on the site!
Today, Sylvain and Johanne with the two kids flew off to southern France, where they are three weeks holiday. This has given us the honor to be a month to enjoy the company of Dali. Dali is now eight years old dog of our Canadian friends. He is infinitely good-natured and affectionate, but also very lazy. His favorite things are lying around and driving. This week we have him, so even with to Baie-Saint-Paul taken. On the way back I got out then about 2 km from the chalet, to run back to Dali. He should at least get a little exercise and have the opportunity to go do his business. The first is the fact Hütetag missed and our negligence in the morning promptly fined. dress up dog ash ... is not exactly what we imagine with gentle compliance to the new day. Adi then graciously accepted the case (for that he must wash finally no strains ;-)). Long story short, the dog did not dream of it, get comfortable with running the home, but ran like a fury behind his beloved Auto ago, probably in the hope that he can jump up somewhere. It was indeed nothing but Dali proved tough guy in the literal sense, for he came only two minutes after Adi at the Chalet. We were amazed not bad on this great achievement that we would have expected him to be honest never. But the poor animal had apparently taken badly. He panted almost the lungs from the body and could hardly stand up. When Dali's condition had not improved after three hours of essential Adi resorted to homeopathy and gave him a gift of arnica. That worked wonders and the next morning was our four-legged friend again the old man.
The fact that our
dwell foreign hosts does not mean such that the busy coming and going out here would subside. Maybe even the opposite is the case, because next week start here with coarser gun. With heavy machinery, its purpose is the dam of "our" lake, which is actually broken in the spring of 2006 to be repaired. This has two very positive aspects. On the one hand, we come as yet to benefit from a small lake in front of our cabin and on the other hand, we can place any of the purlin using one of these monsters. This strain is the highest, but also the greatest and most difficult, we block. Because our skyline does not exactly in the middle runs to the hut, we appreciate it as a realistic, this strain for two (or three) and fit without mechanical assistance. (On the next Adi "fights" with the eaves purlin.)
And here we are at the point which I have already mentioned in the title. Our cabin is developing more and more to the cabin. Although the matrix with 5.40 m to 6.40 m in the interior, much as the Adi planned as last year, has recorded and Johanne mailed. But by her height, design and effort, has moved the whole thing in one direction, the Adi and I had planned did not. The basic idea 
was a simple hunting lodge (About the same as in the photo, only slightly larger) without putting up any comfort. In recent weeks, has become increasingly clear that John and Sylvain became a small guest house with toilet, kitchen and maybe even want to take a shower. It means that the walls are insulated with glass wool, that a floor placed on the false bottom, and include new windows in each worth 800 Can. Dollars are to be installed and the cabin or just the log cabin is higher than originally planned and a modern roof structure gets with paneling for the interior view, vapor barrier, insulation and everything else that goes with it. Add to that the not exactly cheap interior and exterior painting, to protect the wood from moisture, fungus and bugs. Nice to Sylvain naturally assume all costs for their additional requests. Adi and I are often a bit torn. On the one hand, we find it fantastic that our works are to be afterwards actually still used and inhabited. On the other hand it seems we have something funny to us in the simple and not too big living room or shower, toilet, bed etc. present. Be that as it may, we still have fun in our project and are excited about what is at the end of it!
construction holiday, and a first offer see you here again lack of time, the latest Lake Valley Heritage Indicative printed. Some important additions we would like but not denied. You can find them at the end.
Two weeks ago, we spontaneously get the message that we will visit a friendly couple from Switzerland. Now they are here and we have grasped the opportunity with both hands and turned on a common vacation week. Which meets g 
ut are, for the time 
here in Quebec have so-called structural holiday and all the craftsmen to take a two week "enforced break." During our trip we have found that Eastern Canada has to offer, together with trees still an awful lot more. In perfect weather we erküren every new day the most beautiful our recent trip. A highlight after the next (zoo, bike tour with overnight stay at the sandy beach in the National Park, whale watching in the sea kayak, ...). The latter turns out to be the undisputed highlight! The appropriate tip, we have Mario, a relative received our Canadian friends. The recommended campsite is incredibly beautiful location on gently sloping to the St Lawrence river rocks. From there you can spend hours watching the vorbeizie 
existing whales. We are somewhat disappointed when we arrived at just the farthest tent sites (no seaview) are free. As the boss comes into the office and we sent him on the off chance a greeting from Mario from. And lo and behold, five minutes later we put our tents on one of the foremost (for Dauerermieter reserved) seats and feel - not without satisfaction - some envious glance in the back. Well, sometimes, vitamin B-containing quite useful! The weather, the mood and the whales are so great that we just decided to add yet another day. Deeply impressed by this magnificent marine mammals decide Adi and I, in August (the best season for whale watching) again to come here. We also say Dominique, head of the camp, the goodbye 
. It reacts surprised that we still will always be in the area. When we told him to tell even from our cabin project, white Dominique not really know whether we take him on the arm. Only when we show him some photos, his skepticism turned into interest. And since he himself has long been toying with the idea to set up camp on his two or three log cabins, we agree that we will meet again in three weeks to negotiate a possible construction next summer. With the prospect of a new order we return recovered to countless unforgettable experiences richer and with a new zest to our building site back.
And here are the promised additions that are not for all ears:
We have en ... 
... exercise! Nico's and Adi can not wait to get under the hood and do in every church, in which we go past and put a hold. Once we have made them the joy and hope we now for the next 10 years to have peace again ... ;-)
this week to help Denise and Nicole still actively part in the final laps. We lack a further 2 - 3 rounds and hope that we did this until her departure on Monday. working at this height it is already easier than the four of holding together.
half How much have we placed at this point, a picture of the current build status. But since the battery of the solar panel is unfortunately still a ways off (as well as the books that my mother has sent 2 months ago), we can not fetch any new pictures from the camera. Fortunately we have another two or three elderly in stock, we can show you. Regarding the progress of our cabin, we are now fully dependent on your imagination. To make it short: We have four walls and bar height exceeded 2m approach the limit. Round 10 is complete and we expect that we can begin after 3 rounds with the roof. But this is pie in the sky, we see only a little bit back: There is exactly one month since we have noted with Armin's help in the first round of attack. That was hard work, we had but the tribes still carry the car to the building site and then they move there by hand, lift, rotate, ... . Thank God we kriegten the next day gain in the form of two cousins of Sylvain (Pierre-Denis) and a tractor! Both were written officially sick (shoulder injury) and distributed so the free time in forest work (they left for the evening exercises the physiotherapist away ...). Thanks to them we had in two days all 65 strains of finely stacked neatly at the building site. Egg 
sionally we would love to have now begun to attract the high walls. But for now, we still had to prepare the soil of our hut. It was Armin us with his experience as a carpenter of great help. At a distance of about 70 cm, we installed rafters. Then we installed a grid (protection from porcupines and other uninvited guests), which we covered with a wooden pallet in order to screw it finally big wooden boards laid. Once the roof is then made, we will isolate the sub-floor with polystyrene and a second layer boards . Cover Perhaps you have seen in the last photo of our previous report that a cable passes through the cabin. Adis to great satisfaction, we work for 2 weeks with a chain hoist, which leads to a skyline on the building site. Adi has been talked about before we left to move in this way trunks. I was like to be honest not very enthusiastic. Pierre, however, had the same idea as Adi and organized for us for such material. (We would have the operation cost $ 2,000, he let his play 
s Connections and got all silly occasion for as much as 100 dollars!) With Pierre's help and the tractor was us 2 days later, a working Skyline available to us today to facilitate the work tremendously. Our daily average is so now at about 2 strains. (If `s raining, we pull our a well-deserved days off.) Our daily routine looks something like this in short: go early in the spring (about 6 clock), long work and then sleep early again (about 21 clock). The mosquitoes has been narrowed somewhat, but there are days that are almost unbearably hot. (Short rack: The Chalet of Sylvain and Johanne looks with its large windows while out beautifully, but has the disadvantage that it turned on fine days in a greenhouse. After such a day we just decided to put our inner tent on the pier and enjoyed the cool evening breeze. The next morning we started our work before the first cock enschrei. The working conditions were optimal, as the strong wind drove the mosquitoes, we got underway. When we came back in the evening tired and wanted to enjoy our Fe 
ierabendbier on the dock, the tent was gone, or stop just gone with the wind. We immediately launched an extensive search operation in the undergrowth. Result. It was only left one alternative: the sea. Adi hopped into the canoe and paddled along the shore. Shortly afterwards, told me his howls of joy that he find anything was. The tent (and with it Adis forehead bitch) about 300 m from the bridge was removed in 2 m depth to surface. The mountain was a breeze, the smell of fish we brought but still not completely gone. By the way: Petzl is waterproof) is On such hot days adjusted the program accordingly, as we get up out of 5 clock, this clock be connected between 13 und 16 clock a siesta!. In the meantime, has been found that Adi and I are on the site for building a dream team and complement each other perfectly. The work process has been well established, lap after lap, it means clean lay tribes, alignment, draw, take down, sawing, milling, Isolating heave up again and let the master come at last in his name. The dry "Toc", which is a master at fitting neatly drawn up by himself, has become one of our favorite sounds. 
But we are fascinated not only the block construction. Denis and Pierre have been for a long time ago, to build himself a log house and pack up now jumping at the chance to acquire basic knowledge. Otherwise we must have no fear of lonely here, for despite stalemate keeps popping up on someone from the large family who wants to support us energetically. Speaking of support: Tomorrow we will gain from home! Nicole and Denise Lätt have very short notice decided to visit us here in Canada. We will enjoy it, to once again be able to chat with someone in such a way as we grew the beak (en suisse allemand!).
story so far ... Lange's passed since we last reported time (which is related to the beautiful weather and the ensuing healthy working conditions combined). In the meantime a lot has happened: The 10 days between Thomas' return, and Armin's (the other Holz from Germany) arrived we use to make the foundation. We buy four 30kg bags of cement and are glad that we have to carry these, only 30 minutes and no longer 3.5 hours. Although it has no more snow, but by the wet weather is not always the way to the construction site navigable. With the cement sack on his back, we gasp for breath, sweating and panting up the hill. (And we will see once again how much work Sherpas - including women -. Accomplish with about 40 pounds on the back and sandals on his feet in some 1000m altitude) 
The approximate location of our cabin We have already set. Now we measure it out exactly and make sure that we base our nine if possible to build on rock. We look to me like the moles, and our construction site turns quickly to a field. But ultimately we have exposed our 9 pieces of rock. We then level the whole thing with a string level and hope that during the night, no moose caught in the tangle Schnurr. order to mix the mortar, we require in addition to the cement or sand and gravel. Sand is found in the river bed enough, but gravel is difficult to find. In addition, we do not agree, what exactly is gravel, or what size he has. Finally, Adi remembered to have seen Fen at the other shore a Kieshau 
. I phone quickly and Sylvain says just as quickly, that we could take as many as we need. Booyah! Although I get the buckets of gravel on the lake have long arms and Adi from mortar mixing a crooked back, but can really see our 9 columns. Even if you look at the bases, the order in which they are incurred, we're very proud of our work. So we sit down after the completion of day's work tired but happy to approve a large stone on the river bank, us a beer and enjoy the silence and the view over the parched Seeebene. So we introduced Canada and our work! mothers and other concerned readers: skip the next section! calls Suddenly Adi incredulously: "But look, a bear!" I suggest just how much beer he was drinking (it's definitely can not lie) and decide, to make him a joy for laughter's. Adi has now jumped up and stood transfixed on the plane. I just think that now but he exaggerates a little, as I see it too. About 150 meters away from us, a black bear trotted slowly across the meadow. Two or three times he lifts his nose and sniffs the air. But we are against the wind, we can not smell it also. We look to me like the cinema and watch the Bears fascinated, until he disappeared in the woods. Only because I realize that I'm barely 5 minutes earlier at the exact spot where the bear has crossed the stream, which are brought calm to the sand scooping shovel. My knees are slightly soft (but this can be back out on the beer) and I am glad that the timing is not "better" was. enjoy after a long rainy period, we doubled the nice weather and are pleased to note that those tribes who have been stripped of bark and a Sonnerplätzchen along the way are getting a nice golden color. Less happy are we, when we notice that some of the tribes, which lie in the shade (and unfortunately that is the majority) have already started to gray patches. So we use the remaining day to arrive Armin trying to pull the weak (thin) and medium strains with our good old Jeep to the sun. We will add a root end in the trunk, attach it with a chain to the tow bar and drive as a snail's pace to the piles. I do not know if our back or the car more have suffered severe it was for all three! On Tuesday, the 30th May we bring Armin at the airport. It has been announced in advance that he would necessarily see the Niagara Falls. And since Adi and I can use a few days to relax, we take off on the same day to the south. Six days and over 2000 kilometers later we are back in the chalet, richer by many impressions and some experience. One of them was a classic rookie mistakes that we made just 3 times: first, the last time and one too many. We left that is open on the first night at the campsite all car doors when we set up the tents. Results: A ten-minute drive would gossip orgy as we shortly afterwards for dinner. This was also the beginning of a great period of suffering. Although we heard from about a half months of mosquitoes and black flies plague, but too bad we have not even imagined in our worst nightmares. to work without power over the head borders on megalomania, the latest two days later turns into masochism. Adi, it is particularly dirty. He is the darling of all insect populations and even if no skin millimeter longer visible, the beasts will find a way inside. The poor thing is in each case shortly before the shooting rampage and scratches his nights on the stings and bites bloody. Meanwhile, s 
he pulls in like a leper and ventures hardly in shorts and T-shirt to the village. evil in spite of all we begin with the first round of our log cabin. Slowly but surely, the walls are higher, what gives remarks at the "in and out." But not stretch to your (and our) nervous too bad, we will next report detailed more closely to our work.
weiz us again! For about three days, we can entertain us again on your mood on Lozärndütsch to sleep in our own bed, the morning bite into crusty bread and comfortable with our old Opel Astra curves through the area. Adi I leave the pleasure of a ride, and confine myself on opening the garage door. But somehow no longer seems the car to his "lord and master" used to be and the bucks start huge. With each test, the plate carriage bounces closer to the front wall of the garage. As the bumper just millimeters from being there on Adi discouraged. I did my part since the Petrol history or a score to settle and wants to polish up my image a bit. So I dare a last attempt to start the car. And lo and behold, trouble-free as ever, it starts and can be obedient to steer out of the garage. Adi is incredulous wonder and slightly confused next to it, finally, because a woman is sitting at the wheel. Well, my dear Adi, what the tumble of the start button, which is the manual transmission car containing the coupling ;-)! 
ar so to speak, the go-ahead to a brilliant final sprint. In addition to many smaller (but, unfortunately, often time-consuming) work were still the insertion the windows and doors. There were two reasons why we were so so late. On the one hand, our cabin or even our log cabin at the request of Johanne and Sylvain was higher and more complex than originally planned. This had also meant that we had to beat again in mid-July a dozen trees. On the other hand, did the two very hard time with the organization of windows. They could not understand how important it was mainly for Adi to stop the project, ie to let a house with a roof, windows and doors back. When they came back then from the three-week vacation in France without having ordered the promised window (three to five 
weeks for delivery are common in Canada and there), pulled us out of patience. We were very close, vacate our earlier material together to take trouble, three beautiful holiday weeks. Thanks Annie and Mario did not do so. Short decided they ordered two windows and a door. Merci beaucoup! We were, therefore, covered the roof and celebrated a topping that would have even the Gauls with envy can 
pale. In this period we also visited my parents who retired this year, "rang" with a seven-week trip to Canada. For them was only half time and after three weeks in Western Canada by motorhome, they enjoyed the three quiet days for us obviously. Thank you for the way we have to "get out" found! We also enjoyed the time with you! 
lles what decency 
could be done. The insertion of the windows were designed to be less difficult than expected, only at the door, we were again facing a small problem: she was too high. We would have to saw through a log with a supporting role that seemed ill advised. Mario therefore make a quick decision left a door to measure. And because time was short, he had the good carpenter just times three days, with the warning: "If not by Thursday evening is finished, I paid you!". It worked so we could spend our last night in the Canadian bush in a completed log house with two windows and a door. (The remaining windows will be installed next year.) 
ug us on Thursday, two days in Quebec, we ship to say goodbye to all our friends, make car number, material, ... good. Everything goes so fast that we hardly have time to realize that our Canadian adventure is definitely over. The upcoming trip home, we see a mixed blessing contrary. We know that since the story in London, the safety regulations were tightened again. And they promptly take us in Quebec before giving up out of the luggage. In the large duffel bag 
they have discovered a suspicious object. The next 10 minutes are spent clearing out. In a wild confusion there are maple syrup, solar panel, dirty underwear, books, ... to light (not for nothing that the tax collectors wear gloves). Only the ominous thing is gone. Finally, see also the tax collectors that we have no hidden bomb in the luggage and let us go. We, or Adi come, but not far. When people check it is position just sampled before we can enter. And so it should go w 
pus. For each pick, change the tax collectors Adi out, pull him off his shoes, touch his feet (which it already put about 24 hours in the same shoes ...), take his picture. Adi makes the best of a bad job, ultimately it would be negligent to let such a muscle-bound karate as to pass unchecked, he says ;-) (I lead the whole back more to chance, his black hooded sweatshirt and maybe his hairstyle -. for the latter but I myself am responsible) Nevertheless, we reached Zurich on schedule and are Taxi drivers and Matteo Adis parents with poster, flowers and minibus received (molto grazie!). 
and compassion, the spontaneous Phone calls and visits from the distant home country! A heartfelt thank you, we also want the Grisons for company Off-grid systems to send Mr. Hassler . Thanks to its powerful and totally travel-friendly solar panel we were during the last five months, sometimes a little energy, but never dead! Toll also that one problem could be resolved as quickly and without bureaucracy. (Who wants to know more about solar panels, which the page was info@offgridsystems.ch emfpohlen.) And last but not least, here again Ralph Pfersich mentioned without its price, book and written and oral advice nothing came of our project would be! 
Switzerland in this area. In any case, we were not the last time in Canada. We will pay our block house every now and then a visit there and enjoy some vacation days! Hey, by the way: if you want to contact us, either with respect to questions, comments, ideas for log homes or, more generally, to achieve our time in Canada, we either blockhuette@hotmail.com or at telephone number 041 534 32 30 We look forward to feedback of any kind! 
