Monthly Archives: March 2013

One of the graces of living in a house for a while?

Knowing what probably needs fixed!

Today, my furnace stopped working.  For a while.  Check the sensor lights.  The basics of the furnace are still working.

Almost immediately I go to the previous cause of problems.  Our furnace drains excess water into our drainage system.  The same pipe is hooked to our washing machine.  When the pressure of the water increases during drain cycles, the water is apt to back up into the furnace.

To prevent this, we put in a valve.  Said valve lasts for only a while.  The impurities in our water cause the valve to pit and begin to leak water backwards into the furnace.  When the furnace senses the water, the “quit” action happens right away.

So, without too much time wasted, I purchased a new valve.  After the valve was inserted, I checked the backwash.  No problem.  The furnace seems to be working and we are on our way once again.

Now, if only I could do the same with the roof.  New shingles will be a project for this summer!  But I have a feeling that will take more than a few hours!!!

The talk of the town!

We have all had enough of the snow for this year.  And then we hear of the possibility of more?  Of course, even a whisper at this point (and probably just a rumor) sets one off.  This seems to bring out the beast in even the most mild snow shoveller! 

As I look our my window, the drifts in the back yard are less than a meter high.  But the constant snow, in a land known for little snow, does wear on one (and two, and three, and many more).

Today I am enjoying a clear sky, a sun that melts and little breeze as I write this blog.  May God grant to all of us a love of creation.  This is where I dwell – may I see the greatness and marvel in the wonder!

Sunday was interesting.   In Calgary, Alberta, a snow storm descended.

Now, for the past months I have traveled thousands of kilometers.  In whiteout conditions, in fog, on ice covered roads, behind trucks spewing splatters of brown water on the windshield, behind shaky red lights I presume were vehicles preceding me, and generally in winter road conditions none too nice.

Sunday was a day of wind and snow.  At least for the hours we had scheduled to visit some friends.

Cynthia and I had sung in a trio 30 years ago.  The other trio member was to be in Calgary on Sunday.  We had not seen her in decades.  She would be attending a church service just down the road.  A mere 30 minutes away. 

We had arranged to attend the service. 

Until the snow began.  I started out on the road.  The first kilometer was ugly but passable.  Then a blough of trees gathered the snow and caused a drift to cross the road.  We motored through and I began to wonder what would come next.  And what the road would look like two hours later, on our return trip.

I may have seen many kilometers of winter weather, but this was a bit too scary for me.  And with a passenger of great worth, I decided to turn back.  The return trip allowed us to attend another church service – which was worshipful and restful.  Unfortunately, meeting our friend will have to await for another time!

Driving to work I encountered a most strange thing!

At one corner, a temporary four way stop had been instituted.  Apparently someone had knocked out a traffic light standard. 

One of the temporary stop signs had also been hit.  The subsequent result was that the sign, it’s sand bags and other paraphenalia were stretched across the road. 

We all were able to navigate around the debris.  I continued on for a few more blocks, wondering who would clean this up.  If not me, then who.

I turned around, headed back, and moved the debris to the side of the road. 

The reason this sticks in my mind is that our Grade 5-7 Sunday School class (which I help teach) has been working on random acts of kindness.  Here was an opportunity which I almost missed.

I wonder how many other opportunities we miss?