New Year comes in cold!

It's a cold, cold new year that has blown in the inlet. 2010 ended well and I look forward to a good 2011. Right away though the new year is a challenge out here in the bush. Our water line has frozen as it always does when it dips below freezing.
The water pipe running through the forest from the stream is in shade and it eventually freezes after so many days of freezing weather. We prepare for it with a lot of 5 gal buckets of rainwater for washing and a drinking water supply on the back porch.
Our little pelton wheel is running but the smaller pipe to the house has frozen. Usually this only lasts a few days. We have lots of ideas to solve this occasional problem, but never seem to get around to it. The easiest solution would be to put some heat tape on the pipe from the house. We have never done this because of the electrical draw on our system. However, we have been getting an increase in amps from the system so we are thinking of trying it.
Just the beginning of fun problems to solve living off grid!
Happy New Year to everyone!

Egmont Saloon Night - What a Kick!

This year's second annual Egmont Saloon Night was such a kick! Everyone had a great time and we raised money for the community hall restoration. Great bunch of volunteers and a very supportive business community helped make it a success.

 

Community Projects Completed!

Been a busy summer and I am happy to report that two major  community projects I have been working on are completed!

 

The Egmont Heritage Centre - Totem Pole carving by Arnold Jones

Arnie with Bella and Ali carrying eagle w

Frog face on whale tail

The new 24 ft. pole at the Centre is fantastic. Arnie did a wonderful job. Two seasons of carving a cedar log donated by the Sechelt Community Forest. Arnie's clan is the frog. So he has carved three frogs in his memorial pole.  The pole is centered at the entrance to the museum and will have a native plant garden surrounding it.

Arnie painting killer whale

me, Arnie, Jess and Sonja

 
The Egmont Community Club Hall - hall foundation and renovation

New cedar shake porch roof. New porch comes later!

This has been a long process for the community. Started raising funds five years ago. Lots of raffles and other fund raising projects raised over $50,000 from the community. Grants from Heritage Legacy Fund $25,000 and Jervis Inlet fund / SCRD another $25,000. We have a perimeter, cement foundation now, a basement room that will become our Thrift Store and restored old windows and a new porch cedar shake roof. Whew! Now will enter Phase II - paint inside and out, kitchen reno, heater, and moving Thrift Store downstairs. More fundraising!!

Mural No. 2

Another mural was completed for the Egmont Heritage Centre on July 3 by Davyd Oram. The theme for this 4' x 8' mural was "fishing". This time Dave painted at the Centre. The end result was a brightly colored picture of a fishing boat next to the dock. There was music, bbq and a beer garden. Thank goodness the weather turned out nice. The next day was cool and rainy. Once again we lucked out with the weather.

A great group of musicians donated their time and talents to make the day even better. Katie and the Cornpones, Joe Stanton and Gordon Birtch were excellent. Over 100 people enjoyed the day, while around 50 stayed for the seafood bbq of salmon, shrimp, salads and fry bread! Yum!

The proceeds go to the Centre and the totem pole. There will be limited edition prints signed by the artist available in the fall.

Aboriginal Art Show - Egmont Heritage Centre

Some beautiful work has been submitted by local Native artists to the art show at the Egmont Heritage Centre. This includes beadwork, carvings, baskets and other cedar weavings, drawings, clothing and felt art.

A reception for the artists was held on Aboriginal Day, June 21. Take a look at some of the work.

Russ Silvey             

                                                                                                             Jessica Casey

First Saturday Murals

A great artist and all-round nice guy, Davyd Oram from Sechelt, BC is painting four murals for the Egmont Heritage Centre. Each mural will be painted on the first Saturday of each month with a theme reflecting Egmont history. They will eventually be incorporated into the museum's outdoor display.

The first painting was done on Egmont Day, June 5.
It was facinating to watch Dave create a 4' x 8' mural in only a few hours. People loved it.

The next mural painting is going to be on July 3 at the Egmont Heritage Centre. While Dave creates there will be music, a bbq and beer garden.

We are busy planning the seafood menu and getting organized.
The plan is to produce limited edition prints signed by the artist to raise funds for the museum.

Will keep you posted!
                                                                                                  Artist Dave and brother George (left)

Egmont Day 2010

After a lot of worrying about the weather and rain, the sun came out and Egmont Day was beautiful. Lots of extra work this year for the volunteers, as the entire event was held in Egmont Park. Spent Friday carrying tables, chairs, canopies, supplies out of hall.It rained for two weeks straight, but Saturday, June 1 was beautiful and sunny. Kids had lots of fun with fishing derby, relay races, cake walk and games.

The Egmont Community Club served over 100 hamburgers, 60 smokies, at least that many hot dogs for lunch and dinner for 75 that evening. There was also the Skookum Burger eating contest, canoe races, a parade and a scavenger hunt. Lots of fun.

What a super group of volunteers, board members and supporters.

But it's one of those things, now I am glad it is over! Whew!