June 1 -- let summer begin

Jason & Lorraine arrived late afternoon and we sat out on the deck, swatted a few flies, and had our beer/wine -- that makes it summer up here -- to heck with the calendar.

It was another hot day -- I went for a bike ride around 8am and got back around noon -- the "now usual" ride from here to 69 to Port Loring and back. It was a little easier today with no wind. Sandy worked in the garden continuing her planting.

I spent most of the afternoon continuing to research the Ditra and Kerdi products, measuring the rooms downstairs and figuring out what I need to order. I also worked out what I need in DRIcore 2x2 panels and plywood 4x8 sheets. They are not as much of an issue because I can pick up what I need as I go and return what I don't use. I'm ordering the Ditra etc. products to be delivered to Stef's place in Exton and will pick them up next weekend when I'm down in Philly.

I'm still waiting to hear back from the Ditra supplier regarding the price for expedited delivery. Their standard ordering and delivery process would not get there in time. The products are less than 1/2 price compared to buying in Canada at Home Depot.

I will get the DRIcore from Home Depot in Sudbury and the plywood from Timbr Mart in Port Loring. Tom's prices for lumber are just as good as Home Depot (and he delivers for nothing). I try to give them as much business as possible -- it's good to have a local supplier. He does not carry the DRIcore, but that's ok -- we go into Sudbury regularly and can buy it a bit at a time. In fact, since I found that the church in Port Loring still hasn't started it's summer schedule yet I'll have to either go to Britt or Sudbury on Sunday. Britt is only 1/2 hour away; Sudbury is 1:15 -- but I can visit HD at the same time and pick up an SUV-full of DRIcore to get me started on the basement.

Once I get the first bit of DRIcore and plywood in place at the bottom of the stairs I can start on the posts and railings to finish the staircase.

Sandy has still not decided whether or not she will come to Philly next weekend. She needs to take her car in for service -- it's overdue -- and she wants to see a ballet that is playing in Toronto. What she may do is go down to Toronto on Thursday, go to the ballet that night with Joyce, stay at Joyce's that night and then meet me at the car dealer the next morning as I drive down and through. She would leave her car there and we'd pick it up on the way back from Philly.

For me, this last week has been like a "lull" in the action. Starting next week, with the first load of DRIcore in hand, I will resume work on the basement. The floor will be a lot of work; I will do it one section at a time. Somewhere in there I will also finish the plumbing for the darkroom in conjunction with the plumbing for the bathroom. Ceilings ? -- I probably will not tackle the ceilings until next summer, although that could change depending on how quickly the floor moves along. The only ceiling that is complicated is the bathroom since it is a high humidity area. The rest of the basement will have a drop ceiling of some sort. I haven't worked that out yet.