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Gulf Island Building.

1M views 8K replies 149 participants last post by  Katie Cabana 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi all:
Since the summer of 1997, I have been building a cabin and house on our 1/2 acre lot here. Before I dive into that part, I am going to show a few photos to set the stage a bit. We are remote here. No services of any kind, except that which we provide for ourselves. So don't expect to see any paved roads with big trucks delivering any materials.
We live at the head of a small bay, which is both a blessing and a curse.
When the tide goes out, we have to clamber over hundreds of yards of rocks to get to our boat. When it is in, I can float logs right up to my little railway to move them onto the log deck. Well, not any more, but more about that later.
This is the bay in front of us.
 

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#4,130 ·
If you guys don't mind I'm going to jump in here with one of those "feel good" stories.

About two weeks ago my son-in-law arrived from Iraq for two weeks R&R at home. We met him at the airport on Sunday evening about 11 pm and about four and a half hours later he called to let us know he was taking his wife (our daughter) to the hospital to have their second child. The timing was obviously perfect. That Monday they had a brand new daughter but that isn't the whole story.

This morning we took him to the airport for his flight back to Iraq - all twelve of us.

About twenty minutes before scheduled departure they announced the flight was ready for immediate boarding. He checked-in, went through security and then the gate agent told him he was good to go. She then told him "now, return to your family and we'll come and get you at the last minute." Everyone else was boarded at that time.

It is a small regional airport of course where people are still real and compassionate.

Sure enough...about two minutes away from departure the agent came to get him and off he went.

God bless our soldiers.

Just had to share that.

Carry on.:)
 
#4,133 ·
Such a small thing to do for someone...but with such a big impact.

I can't even imagine anyone thinking about doing that up here, never mind actually doing it.

Now what we need is for you to let us know when he returns for good. That will be a day that I will be really glad to celebrate with you.

Thanks so much for sharing this with everyone.

What are you calling your brand new grand daughter?

And a huge CONGRATULATIONS!
 
#4,345 ·
I was just sitting at the 'puter messing about when the missus hollered at me to look at the sunset.

Grabbed the camera and ran outside quick like a bunny, but once again, I just missed it.

But for a new years' day sunset, I don't think it's too bad! :)
 

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#7,913 ·
I know it almost been a couple of years but WOW you may have been a little late but those were still spectacular and I really do enjoy your photography. I like to think I can take pictures, but what I see in my head and what I get on my camera are often 3 different things.

About the multi-tailed comet I found it really interesting. When I was like 6 I got really interested in astronomy, only 34 now and amazed at the energy you demonstrate, so I knew that most comets can have a tail and maybe a second but not anywhere near what they found. I do have to say after reading all of your astronomy tips has made me start looking at getting a telescope again, I always seem to look at them and then not buy one.

I am so loving this thread and feel like I am learning so much from it. Now if I can just remember everything for when I need it. Thank you for supplying such wonderful information along with the other experts who have joined in with their tips. There is one that I saw a few pages back(somewhere between like 250 and 290) by Bud Cline about using daubs of silicone ever 24" on along the long run edge and at the end of each long run board around floating laminate flooring to help keep it from shifting that I am going to use on a floating laminate flooring I am currently installing and was noticing that tendency.
 
#6,003 ·
Well, it looks like just a couple of hours left to go in 2011 out on the wet coast. Yes, that's wet coast...or west coast if you prefer. Same place.

I've already received New Year's greetings from the other coast and those in the eastern and central time zones - for which I thank you.

If I may, I would like to acknowledge everyone who joined in on this thread this year, and there have been quite a few of you! Thank you! I just spent a few hours trying to read this thing since January 1st, now I see why it is taking everyone so long to get through it. And no, I didn't make it.

So from Mrs. Coco and I, please accept my very best wishes for a happy and healthy 2012.

Happy New Year!
 
#4,247 ·
This may be an appropriate time for me to post a continuation to my earlier post # 4131 (Feel Good) referring to my son-in-law and his recent return to Iraq.

A lot of us (me especially) don't hesitate to take shots at all of the big box stores at various times for various reasons.

Well today I went to my local Menard's Home Center here in Hastings Nebraska and I began to check out with a huge arm full of candy to send to my son-in-law and his (friends) in Iraq. The early a.m. cashier who is also an assistant store manager asked me if I was having a huge sweet tooth. I told her I was buying all that candy to send to Iraq.

She asked me if I could wait a few minutes while she checked out the few people behind me in line and of course I did.

She finished with those customers and then she went to her locker, retrieved her purse, and pulled out several store coupons and store credits and store gift cards she had been hording.

She handed them to me then told me now I could go back and check out. This boiled down to about a thirty dollar contribution to my purchase of candy to send to Iraq.

All I can say is a big huge:

THANK YOU
to CAROLYN at the HASTINGS NEBRASKA MENARD'S STORE.

I certainly appreciate your kindness.

I enclosed a letter in the box so that the soldiers on the receiving end would know where the candy came from.
 
#7,305 ·
It's that time of year again when I have the distinct pleasure to extend my thanks to all the good visitors to the Gulf Island Building thread.

So to fixrite...bigjim...bud cline...beenthere...oh'mike...picflight... shumakerscitt...gma2rjc..no.1 hustler...fallrisk...leiona...two knots...firefighter 3244...doorman 54...framer 52...datawog... scoggy...ironlight...double...cdn nick...mort...bleach cola... drtbk4ever...kwikfishron...simoo... shadytrake...rubberhead... flamtap...mlayden...scotzilla...adam borzy...julie b...dsee ...fishinbo...awoodfloorguy...amateuralex... creeper...exstarr... thorpedo...memarybe and jakeubu my thanks to you for taking the time to visit and say a few words.

It's not often that one accumulates such a variety of unusually named friends and acquaintances, but I cannot think of a finer bunch of people anywhere.

I know I shouldn't really single out any one or two people for special thanks, but I must thank Bud for putting himself out there and sharing a few of his life's faux pas. After all, how many of us can count driving in to a storefront as one of our life's accomplishments! Then there was the snake in the boat...and the little plumbing problem in the apartment building...and the taxi episode...

And so from me to you...

A Very Merry Christmas
 
#7,306 ·
And right back at ya big guy.:) We appreciate you posting another yearly chapter of your adventuresome book here for all to read and enjoy.
 
#3,687 ·
SIDE BAR:

It is not my intention to blow-out any-one's candle and I'm not sure this is the place for this but I'll tell you what I know then I'll shut up about the subject.:)

Some fifteen years ago (or so) (I really don't remember) laminate flooring was introduced to this country under the name of Pergo coming from a European company named Perstop.

This was the cats meow and had been successful and proven in European countries for the previous seventeen years.

I immediately became certified by Perstop to install their product. Almost immediately problems began to arise. At that time Pergo was a tongue and groove product (as they are now) but the tongue and grooves were to be glued together. The glue would purge of course and purging was hard to control even when limiting the amount of glue being used.

Over a period of days after installation the seams would swell from the moisture of the glue. The core was made of particleboard. It is no secret what happens to particleboard when it is introduced to moisture. The maker insisted the swelling would dissipate over time but the truth is it never did. The "Blame-Game" began and the faults were said to be a result of installer errors.

The assembled panels would shift over time as I mentioned above. Moisture from below would cause waves in the panels themselves separate from the seams.

In the meantime...every manufacturer of laminate counter tops started jumping into the circus. Wilson Art, Neva Mar, Formica, to name a few.

As the claims began to tsunami, manufacturers began to reformulate the core product they used. A plastic core finally solved the problem for some but priced the products out of the intended low-cost-flooring market.

Then no-name brands were introduced again but with the particleboard core. The proud old-time names were gone from the low-cost scene. The recognized brand names reappeared but this time with the higher priced floor products due to the new and improved core.

Sales plummeted for all laminate flooring for a time and that is when the extended warranty periods began to arise. Millions of square feet of product in production and no market without a twenty-five year warranty. That's funny because laminate flooring was always considered a throw-away product that could easily be change from time to time with little cost. The industry says most flooring has about a fifteen year appeal before Harriet Homeowner wants a change it.

With the high cost of installation by a pro and a desire to make the floors more installer friendly for the huge DIY market, "click" flooring was introduced eliminating the swollen edges from the glue that was no longer needed and basically eliminating the professional installer in some cases. Eureka...laminate flooring is now the preferred floor covering of the DIY market.

The makers gamble that the on average every-fifteen-year-exchange will continue and a twenty-five year warranty won't be executed in any great numbers.

To install laminate flooring properly all of the door jambs and door casings must be undercut. The problem with is the cuts must be made so high that the return to a vinyl flooring would be almost impossible from an acceptable appearance standpoint. The same may apply to a carpet replacing a laminate flooring. It simply ruins the woodwork unless more laminate is installed as a replacement.

The makers have made millions however so how can anyone (especially me) argue with that?:)

No one has ever been able to explain to me how a product with seventeen years proven success in Europe could come to this country and fail so miserably and so soon. Unless of course.............:whistling2:
 
#4,041 ·
Found a picture to show the lay of the land around here.

It shows the local ski hill during summer time taken from a location about 1/3 of the way up the opposite side of the valley.
 

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#4,240 ·
...back yet again...

Bootz found us on July 19th, fireguy on July 20th, Korey L Griffin on July 21st, and ambersmith on July 22nd, 2010. SamTHorn was right behind on July 23rd.

beerdog (now there's a great handle!) was here on August 1st, David Robinson on August 2nd, Justin 08 also on August 2nd, no1hustler was here on August 19th, french electrician - Marc all the way from Paris - found us on August 20th.

Another Kevin arrived on August 22, Lulimet on the same day - the 22nd - Handy Vinny was here on September 13th, as was Jim F also on the 13th.

jules4 (A genuinely talented lady) started on September 18th, anna 38 on November 1st, and everybody's favourite moderator DangerMouse first posted here on November 3rd, 2010.

convchris arrived on November 21st, biggidybankston (gotta love that name) got here on November 23rd, followed by househugger on November 24th and jasonsmithbuild on November 25th.

That about brings me up to date - so if you have been lurking and would like to be added to the list, by all means please drop in and say Hi.

If I have missed your name please accept my apologies - I have tried to locate everyone.

There is yet one more person who has never posted on my thread but who deserves a very special Thank You and that is Nathan. If you don't know who Nathan is take a look around until you find him. He's the guy who makes all this possible for us.

So from me and my wife and our pooch "Bridie" we would like to extend the best of the season to everyone and wish you all
a very Merry Xmas

 
#4,413 ·
Happy Mental Health Day

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they
were walking past the hospital swimming pool,
Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end.

He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed
there...

Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged
from the hospital, as she now considered her to
be mentally stable.

When she went to tell Edna the news she said,
'Edna, I have good news and bad news....The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping
in and saving the life of the person you love...I have concluded that your act displays sound
mindedness.

The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the
bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.'

Edna replied, 'He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry........
How soon can I go home?'

Happy Mental Health Day!

You can do your part by remembering to send an
email to an unstable friend...
:)
 
#4,414 ·
Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

You can do your part by remembering to send an
email to an unstable friend...
:)
You're not trying to send me a message are you?
 
#4,419 ·
But a book describing your entire journey through the building of the cabin and the house would be rather interesting.

Especially the techniques you've used that even seasoned contractors and carpenters haven't seen in their lifetime. For example, most people would have never considered making their own curved and twisted hand rails from wood they had on hand. Things like that are extremely interesting.
 
#4,980 ·
Jules, when you buy that camera, let me know. I have a 70-300 mm 1:4-5:6 LDO macro lens and a Quantaray 2X AF teleconverter I'll give you. I have an old Pentax SLR film camera that doesn't work anymore and have no use for the lenses. There are a couple other lenses too.

Keith, your bride certainly has a green thumb. The flowers are gorgeous. It's nice that you're keeping them watered for her.

I love the shape of the shingles covering the gap. The whole shower structure looks terrific.

Barb
 
#4,981 · (Edited)
I couldn't say it any better than Jules or Barb did, gooooood grief buddy, you don't do anything half way that is for sure. I was going to say I would love to follow you around for a year or two but there is no way I could keep up with you. Once again I say, you are an amazing man Keith, thank you for taking the time to share your pictures and explain how they work, just amazing.

I really do like the fish scale shingles, ( I really do like it all) they really do top it off nicely.
 
#5,585 ·
Bud, do you have a thread here on the forum with pictures of the floor designs you've done?
I do not! I quit taking pictures for years and years and only just started again about three years ago. I have a few pictures scattered around here somewhere but couldn't tell you where they are. I have a few hundred on my hard drive but when I try to post them to a website somewhere they always seem to elude me. I even went as far as to put all of them in folders at one time then somehow the damned folder contents got mixed randomly and that made me mad enough to just say screw it.

My problem is I am "digitally challenged" in several ways. Not the least of which is with digital photography simple as it has become. I have had a couple of the early digital cameras but neither of them produce the quality I like and the built-in lenses aren't usually conducive with taking pictures in tight quarters which is what I need.

Many years ago I was a student of photography and had fish-eye lenses and telephotos and all that other stuff back then but that has all gone away and I just never indulged myself again.

One day I'll get interested again and pull out some stuff.

I know I know: Too much information.:)

I'll try this and see what happens just for fun.

This is a sandstone and travertine job I had something to do with about three years ago.

It appears I have loaded it as an attachment. I have no idea how to get the picture in this frame. See what I mean: "DIGITALLY CHALLENGED".
 

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#5,640 ·
Marbledust: walk along with me on my afternoon "commute" from the work site to home.

The log cabin is about 100 yards up from Otter Bay...first pic is looking there.

Next is the pond trail sign carved by the late Ted Long, there is one at each end of the pond trail.

Next is the brand spanking new RWCS (Ruxton Water Conservation Society) sign which gives information about the pond area.

The remaining three are taken at various points along the trail.
 

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#7,536 ·
Pretty good day today on the stairs, all but the very bottom tread is now done. That one requires a special curved moulding around the end of the step, which I will work on tomorrow.
 

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#7,541 ·
As usual, I have more than one thing on the go at the same time, and the next big job will be to get the railing done around the big opening. The corner post was the only one which needed special cutting to fit right into the corner...the rest are pretty straight forward.

The little bits sticking up in the air will be used as a jig to glue up the long curved handrails with. More fun coming up I think!
 

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