Hi there
Well now that we have survived the last few weeks of storms the snow came to wake us up. The stormy weather out here at Beale was nowhere nearly as bad as what communities east of us got. No trees came down, the new metal roofs didn't blow off, our water supply is still usable and our power stayed on!!!
Speaking of the new metal roofs - we have developed some leaking since they were put on - besides the leaking we had while they were being put on!!!! The back bedroom has had leaking in it - although when Norbie went into the attic to check it out he couldn't find where it has been coming in. And the area around the chimney leaked - not to mention the water that is seeping in through the bricks. The base thinks the best way to solve that problem is to take the chimney apart and rebrick. This is a job they will probably want to do in the middle of the spring rains.
We have had so much thunder and lightening - why do we say it that way when actually the lightening comes first? One night the skies lit up for over an hour - so brightly it was like someone was turning the lights on and off. Needless to say it is a bit nerve racking wondering if the tower is going to get hit - no lightening rods on that baby. Our circuit got knocked out many years ago from a strike. Last weekend Estevan's tower got hit - if you are not familiar with that station, they have this wonderful flying buttress of a tower - I think its about 210 feet high. The principal keeper was in the radio room at the time and BANG the tower got smacked. Not only did it put out their circuit, but every Coast Guard radio and telephone connection north of them. Tofino Radio was scrambling as they had no way of contacting anyone north of them. The radio techs have been up that way all week working on the different sites - as this is written Estevan and Nootka is still MIA having to do their weather by 22Alpha - we haven't heard their voices in ever so long. Rumour has it they might be back on tomorrow - Monday. The Keeper at Estevan also lost his internet and the lightening strike caused damage to one of their generators. Fun times.
For all of you that suffer through the dry spells of summer, you will be pleased to know - our tanks runneth over! We have so much water now we flush on a regular basis and the long hot baths are to die for. I haven't calculated how much water we got but I will at the end of the month and let you all know at a later date.
I am getting myself ready to head out to Richmond/Ladner for Christmas. Needless to say I have finished my Christmas cards and tomorrow start my baking - which I send out to various Coast Guard personnel - it helps to suck up you know..... Now don't think oh yeah it must be nice to have the time - I am heading into town to go Christmas shopping for those of you that have already started - probably when the first sign of Christmas went up in July. I will hopefully get off the station on the 7th of December and Norbie will follow two weeks later. Why he is coming out so late I have no idea - I think he is afraid I might make him help me shop - chicken that he is - such a bushman.
Yesterday's snow - enough that the guys had to shovel - reminded me that it is winter. The new metal roofs dispensed of the snow quite nicely - you just can't walk out the front or back door lest the snow falls off the roof and knocks you out - that was good design planning. But even though it is wintertime I am still able to get broccoli from the greenhouse and carrots, beets and kale out of the garden. I am still struggling - a year later - dealing with produce that either runs out or goes bad before the next tender. Even the tupperware can't keep it fresh for 5 weeks.
Well I guess that's about it for now. I would like to report that I have managed to out wit our local hawk, by feeding the birds at different times and not every morning at nine a.m. I have not been supplying him with grain fed breakfasts. It made me crazy to watch the hawk swoop down on the Stellars while they were feeding out front. Mind you I am sure Ivan would have been pleased to lose some of them as he often complains that I should quit feeding them as they leave a mess on the railings - please note however I have seen him throwing out seed. See we are all suckers for the wild life out here.
So until another time - stay well - and remember - our light is always on.
Well now that we have survived the last few weeks of storms the snow came to wake us up. The stormy weather out here at Beale was nowhere nearly as bad as what communities east of us got. No trees came down, the new metal roofs didn't blow off, our water supply is still usable and our power stayed on!!!
Speaking of the new metal roofs - we have developed some leaking since they were put on - besides the leaking we had while they were being put on!!!! The back bedroom has had leaking in it - although when Norbie went into the attic to check it out he couldn't find where it has been coming in. And the area around the chimney leaked - not to mention the water that is seeping in through the bricks. The base thinks the best way to solve that problem is to take the chimney apart and rebrick. This is a job they will probably want to do in the middle of the spring rains.
We have had so much thunder and lightening - why do we say it that way when actually the lightening comes first? One night the skies lit up for over an hour - so brightly it was like someone was turning the lights on and off. Needless to say it is a bit nerve racking wondering if the tower is going to get hit - no lightening rods on that baby. Our circuit got knocked out many years ago from a strike. Last weekend Estevan's tower got hit - if you are not familiar with that station, they have this wonderful flying buttress of a tower - I think its about 210 feet high. The principal keeper was in the radio room at the time and BANG the tower got smacked. Not only did it put out their circuit, but every Coast Guard radio and telephone connection north of them. Tofino Radio was scrambling as they had no way of contacting anyone north of them. The radio techs have been up that way all week working on the different sites - as this is written Estevan and Nootka is still MIA having to do their weather by 22Alpha - we haven't heard their voices in ever so long. Rumour has it they might be back on tomorrow - Monday. The Keeper at Estevan also lost his internet and the lightening strike caused damage to one of their generators. Fun times.
For all of you that suffer through the dry spells of summer, you will be pleased to know - our tanks runneth over! We have so much water now we flush on a regular basis and the long hot baths are to die for. I haven't calculated how much water we got but I will at the end of the month and let you all know at a later date.
I am getting myself ready to head out to Richmond/Ladner for Christmas. Needless to say I have finished my Christmas cards and tomorrow start my baking - which I send out to various Coast Guard personnel - it helps to suck up you know..... Now don't think oh yeah it must be nice to have the time - I am heading into town to go Christmas shopping for those of you that have already started - probably when the first sign of Christmas went up in July. I will hopefully get off the station on the 7th of December and Norbie will follow two weeks later. Why he is coming out so late I have no idea - I think he is afraid I might make him help me shop - chicken that he is - such a bushman.
Yesterday's snow - enough that the guys had to shovel - reminded me that it is winter. The new metal roofs dispensed of the snow quite nicely - you just can't walk out the front or back door lest the snow falls off the roof and knocks you out - that was good design planning. But even though it is wintertime I am still able to get broccoli from the greenhouse and carrots, beets and kale out of the garden. I am still struggling - a year later - dealing with produce that either runs out or goes bad before the next tender. Even the tupperware can't keep it fresh for 5 weeks.
Well I guess that's about it for now. I would like to report that I have managed to out wit our local hawk, by feeding the birds at different times and not every morning at nine a.m. I have not been supplying him with grain fed breakfasts. It made me crazy to watch the hawk swoop down on the Stellars while they were feeding out front. Mind you I am sure Ivan would have been pleased to lose some of them as he often complains that I should quit feeding them as they leave a mess on the railings - please note however I have seen him throwing out seed. See we are all suckers for the wild life out here.
So until another time - stay well - and remember - our light is always on.
posted by Lady of the Light | 4:11 PM
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