Windy morning on Lake Huron! Tough going on the big water, the ferry was closed for most of the morning on November 25th.

 

 

Was up in the U.P. the week before Thanksgiving to meet with the architect and do the final review on the plans. Then went on down to the Island for a few days and get some perimeter trees down. The electric is now in place with a ground transformer and meter stanchion. With the power being underground that should minimize outages at least on my end.  The basement excavation was started and November on Lake Huron was as historic with winter coming in fast and furious. Fifty mile an hour winds, snow falling and ice forming in all the coves. I don't anticipate much more being done until spring now.

Looking west towards DeTour Reef Light waves were 3-4 high in Fairview Cove. Much larger out on Lake Huron.

 

 

Comet taking in the waves and wind.

 

Below is a video of the waves the morning a big storm blew in. They were much larger earlier in the morning and the sound of the waves was more powerful than the wind. Sorry you only hear the wind on the video. The ferry was shut down most of that morning and the Might Mac bridge was closed to high profile vehicles.

Excavation started. Stanchion and transformer in the rear

 

Mostly rocks and grainy sand, should drain well with a walkout basement!

 

 

 

Went up the week of November 5th and got some more trees down. Quite a bit accomplished this week despite the continuous hunt for contractors and more delays seem to keep piling up. Deer season starts November 15, 2013 and that is the main chatter all over the island.

Even though it wasn't too cold the evidence that winter is on the way seems to hold true by just watching the water on Lake Huron. Wind most everyday and lost an entire day due to rain. Comet enjoys being outside all day and watching him track through the woods tells me someone missed out on a great hunting dog. Glad Jacob rescued him and he's mine now. Good company and not too demanding!

Security on the job! Squirrels! Crazy squirrels.

On Friday November 8, 2013 Cloverland Electric Coop was supposed to make it out for the underground electric cable. After several trips they got the cable in and had to go back for the ground transformer.

Stanchion and electric meter in place! Rick Arndt from Arndt Electric took care of my power supply and gave me a 25 year guarantee!

Underground electric trench going into the property.

 

Down bound freighter on a windy Lake Huron

Had to stop in Midland on the way back and help this guy move into his new home along with Jacob, Maggie & Cora. Patton looks like a paid man here, arms back in the recliner waiting for the big one with his boots on! Ready to respond!!!

 

Comet on patrol watching for crazed marauding squirrels! One evening he chased a pine martin or an otter still trying to research what it was, but I hit the recall button before the big chomp down came and the wildlife made it safely under a rock.

 

Finally, I have a large rock for landscaping!

 

 Can't say enough good things about LaPoint Contractors they were there earlier and had the trench done before the power company showed up. Paul & Chris do great work!

Chris from LaPoint Contractors digging the underground electric trench into the property

 

CLICK ON ANY PHOTO FOR LARGE VIEW

Was late catching the 4:40 ferry this day. Then I remembered I'm retired, what's an hour? Got a snack  and some fresh water for Comet. It was worth the wait because at 5:40 we got to see this!! Sometimes in life you need to remind yourself to slow down, otherwise you miss some pretty special moments.

Little windy on the last tree cutting operation

The waves were picking up!

 Before the stumps were removed

After and stakes in place for a basement!

Comet cooling off in Lake Huron

At the end of each work day Comet & I go out and check out the sunset. Each day is different and equally stunning. We will share some with you now from September & October and put up more as the year goes by. Enjoy and if you have any questions we would love to read them.

Even Comet likes to watch the sun go down, it means a walk and dinner time!

Sunset over the channel

 

 

Morning moon setting in the west

 Calm waters and a painted sky!

Dueling freighters one upbound to Lake Superior and one downdound to Detroit

Sunset at the DeTour Reef Light

 

Breakout!! On October 9, made the opening out to the road. So now the underground electric can be brought into the property by trench where a ground transformer will be installed.

This blog is for family and friends of Jack Keister who is a retired Fire Chief from West Carrollton, Ohio and is building a log home on Drummond Island, Michigan. http://www.drummondislandchamber.com/ The land sits on Anderson Point and is 1.3 acres facing west on Lake Huron towards the DeTour Reef lighthouse which is the entrance to the St. Mary's river that heads up to Lake Superior in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan where my son and daughter in law went to college at Lake Superior State University. Ships from all over the world make their way through the channel on the way to Lake Superior or down bound to Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

Checking out the site in 2009

 

Sunset September 2013 the small dot on the horizon to the left is the DeTour Reef Lighthouse
http://www.michigan.org/property/detour-reef-light/

The land was purchased in November 2012 and the lot is totally wooded with Cedar, Spruce and some Birch trees.

Most of September & October 2013 was spent clearing trees to get ready for construction.

My logging partners Jacob Keister and the amazing Comet!  Logging is hard work and we have to take breaks and enjoy the view whenever we can.

This is the home site and the first pile of logs we cleared just to get into the lot. Mostly cedar and some birch cover the land which were 50'-60' tall. The rest of the trees were spruce that were 3-4 feet tall up to 12 feet.

Looking back towards the North and East we made a second and third log pile. Comet's main job is site security. Where the trees open into the clearing will be the drain field. The home will sit in the foreground and the shoreline is to the left. Over 60 large trees were cut down to make room for the building process.

Me and Comet with our matching retirement beards!

 

Durango at work pulling big logs