March 13, 2008. Western Head, N.S. Lazy Day.

Not a ripple in the ocean, the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Today it looks like a pond, except bigger. April Williams cuts my hair here. She is a very nice young woman, the daughter of our builder George Perhaps because boat building was for many years the main employment in Nova Scotia, there are many many good carpenters. George Williams family has been in this area for several generations. He was born and raised in Liverpool, played in a rock and roll band during and after high school, married Sheila and then went into the building business. They moved to Calgary, Alberta ,for a few years when their children were young, then returned here almost twenty years ago. George is more interested in doing a good job than making more money. He cares about the job he does and it shows. He did the renovations to the old part of our house, and built the addition. He built my friend Gills house across the bay, and the house of the Mitchells. He built our carriage house too. He has the best qualities. He is very smart but does not know it. He is very humble but proud of his work. He is quiet but will talk with you for half an hour about what he saw in last nights sky. When we first met him he was not cumputer literate. We suggested that as we were not here, the best way to communicate was via e mail. So he bartered a computer for a roof job, bought a digital camera, and soon while away he would sent us daily progress on the job. Ken told George about the Nasa web site. Now he looks it up every night. It has been so much fun to watch his progress and his confidence grow. When our home was complete, Ken and I walked around to prepare a punch list. There were two items not perfect, both done by the subs. That is what I call a good builder.

Yesterday I talked with another carpenter. He is a fine carpenter, not a builder. His workshop is down by Moose Harbor. He can make anything. Using pictures in an old book, he made a replica of an 18th century bed for us made of birch (the same wood as in the picture) complete with all the fancy bits. It is beautiful. He also made us a drop leaf table, made of birdseye maple, again a replica of an antique table. They are both beautiful and live in the carriage house. It is important to be beaufiful there because the living accomodation is an effeciency apartment. Everything in one room. But a room with a view. David is a wonderful carpenter, but he is very very slow. In fairness to him, other builders ask him to make these fancy mouldings for these custom jobs. Also he is a diver, so he gets asked by the power company to repair the dams, or the paper company to do down and repair the docks. With his skilled hands and his expertice as a diver, he gets paid a lot of money. Lots more than he gets paid from carpentry. Yesterday we contracted David to build a coffee table and two end tables, all for the living room here. Since knowing David, I have aquired a very good collection of books about antique furniture in Canada. David is again making us a replica of some old furniture. The book we are working from has all the dementions and the types of wood. So he is excited and so am I. Now the real question is when will they be completed. I will let you know. Oh yes, the furniture will be made of birdseye maple and cherry.

Ken and I walked the main street in Liverpool today. Once every time here I go into every store from one of the street to the other, so today Ken came with me. It is a nice walk, but it is a nice little walk. The main street is not very long. But the stores and galleries are interesting. And April Williams cut my hair today.