Great Day in the Morning!

Wednesday, May 28th was a red-letter day for us. We received two items of news to which we could say “HALLELUJAH!!”

On Tuesday, there was a visit from the local County Planning Commission representative at Steve and Peggy's house which John has been framing up. His news was not good., Although they had taken out a building permit 4 years ago, and built the concrete slab 2 years ago, in order to keep the permit current, they had to show some substantial improvement to the property at least every 6 months. He was a very nice, sensitive person and listened to the story of John being there to help out as they couldn't afford a contractor nor a mortgage payment. Try as he night, he could not see any way out of getting a new building permit and probably a new permit for the septic as well. He went away feeling very disgusted with his job in these circumstances.

The next morning Peggy and I were about to leave for Sandpoint to attend at the County Commissioner's Office to obtain new permits (which simply was a considerable amount of additional money they would have to put out that could be spent on material for the house and which they really did not have) when the telephone rang. It was this gentleman's secretary advising that upon checking, everything was in in order and no further building permits would be required at this time. However, they would be required to show substantial improvements every 6 months. Almost a miracle, in my mind. They were certainly jumping with joy. Something going their way for a change...

Then we received an e-mail that the ex family friend who had sexually molested our granddaughter a couple of years ago had his sentencing that day and the Judge had thrown the book at him. He had pled out to one year and the Judge upped the sentence to 2 years less a day – provincial time as opposed to federal so he could impose some rather severe restrictions on him after he got out. The Judge spent a half hour reaming him out severely, which was music to the ears of the family of the victim. Too bad she couldn't have been there herself. They are getting a transcript so she can get the full impact, and they can put an end to this dreadful experience. Thank the Lord!

John made excellent progress on the house. By Friday, all the interior walls were up and braced and fastened down to the floor with a Hilti gun, and top plates installed. Peggy and I cleaned up the floors so it looks pretty neat. We now have to wait for the rafters to arrive. They are expected June 3rd.

Not to brag, but the “old man” put up that house basically 80% by himself, in 6 full days. Pretty darn good, I'd say...

So we decided to let Peggy and Steve have some time alone and went to Creston to visit Christy and Rod again. While John and Christy and Rod were standing on the front sundeck smoking, did John spot a COUGAR casually strolling through their yard between the wood shed and the coverall building. Rod has pigs and chickens at the back, so he grabbed a big stick that was handy and sprinted off like a shot, chasing it out past the back garden, before realizing what a disadvantage he would be at if the cougar didn't run! It didn't exactly run away, but it didn't turn back either. So they are going to have to keep an eagle eye open. Thankfully, there is a skunky smell in the air to warn them when the cougar is nearby. They said it was easily 4 feet long from head to rear end (not including its 3' tail), and higher than a large German Shepherd.

There had been people standing in the neighbour's yard and the cougar would have been watching them across the fence, but they didn't see it. They thought the smell was a skunk in the distance. Fun and excitement in the country!

Well, that’s it for now. Hi to all.