Massive undertaking this week – the armour stone retaining wall!

However, before we get to that action, here’s what happened inside.

Brian and Matt finished tiling the shower wall in the master, then grouted it and the guest ensuite upstairs. They’re off to work on another project and will return in the new year. Side note: Brian Aubie is amazing. He’s batting 1,000 knowing what we would want before we did. Tile direction in all areas, metal trim finishes and grout colours. He’s the Kreskin of tile world.

In other exciting news, the hardwood flooring we special-ordered from The Depot in mid October, FINALLY arrived this week. (We had almost given up all hope that it would ever arrive and had begun exploring a Plan B last weekend.) Dave picked it up Wednesday morning and went straight to it. Bet you didn’t think it was going on…

wait for it…

Yup, the ceiling! The breezeway was our test area to see if it would work. So many considerations besides colour (Equestrian Oak if you’re curious). Engineered hardwood verses laminate, plank width and length options, board thickness and weight, ease of installation. All signs point to YES it was worth the wait. We’ll be ordering another 1,000 sq. ft. in the new year for the master bedroom and great room ceilings.

Now for the triumphant enterprise…

Marty Trapp and Kyle Black were back working their magic. How they and Dave made this happen in 2 days is beyond comprehension. We had a fresh snow Sunday night which made for a very muddy Monday. Marty pulled out the Manitoba maple tree stump, carved out the area for the stones (with very little room wiggle room), graded and put down gravel – then they were ready for the stone.

Each block brought over from the front by forklift, then chained and lifted into place with the backhoe, hacked and chiseled by hand to fit, then nudged gingerly into its final position with the bucket of the backhoe. Level, gravel, weed barrier, repeat. Not bad for Day 1.

Marty returned on Friday, and he and Dave finished the job. Installed the rest of the stones (save one lonely guy) and graded the areas above and below the wall.

Kyle arrived at day’s end to haul away the extra soil and move the bin from the driveway to the west side on the property. Last night’s snowfall covered the chaos in a beautiful blanket of white.

Magic.