Visitors from France!

Our family had a very nice visit with Tajanna, her boy friend (Sebastien), Mom (Nicole) and dad (Joel)! We all had a great time getting to know each other! Sebastien and Tajanna had to translate for us. They are here from France. Unfortunately, they must leave on the 15th of this month! We all wish they could stay longer.

They were able to do some fun activities while they stayed in Kelowna. Watched a Rodeo, went wine tasting, swimming and Kayaking, and took part in Chrissy's Birthday Party. It is great to meet such fun , caring, loving, passionate people ! We will always remember our time with them.

Enjoy the pictures!

More Pictures!

Renewal update

Hi everyone,

I am still working away at our house. I want to show you some of our details we have in lour new kitchen.

In our Tall pantry cabinets We installed soft close roll outs. We also have soft close hinges on all doors, and drawers. Even if you slam them they get to a certain point and softly shut.

On the back of our island the doors are push to open hinges. You push the door and it springs open . I did that so the look of the doors was just like finished backs. They give us more more storage space!

Today I had the day off at my normal work. I cut slate and fit them in our entrance. I am going to set them after dinner.

Bye for now.

Doug

Hi from Doug

Hi!

I did play golf this evening. I have not played for quite a while. Was not that great of a game for me. I did not shot very well. I thought a lot about my dad. We used to always play on Sunday . Please all of you that have your parents still, enjoy the time you have with them!!

We are getting closer to finishing out house. We finished the hard wood flooring in our bed room this past weekend. Chrissy's dad said he will finish the rest of the drawers we need for our kitchen.

I will include pictures next time.

Good night!

Finished both sets of stairs

Yes, we have finished our stairs! Nice! Chrissy is thrilled with everything! She said she has never had such a stunning house before! I am happy too! We have done the majority of the work by ourselves, so it is very rewarding! Plus, saved us a lot of money! I would never be able to pay someone else to do all of this work. Too expensive.

Our next step is to tile the entrance area. You can see the black slate in the picture. We must put a sub floor under the slate then and mortar them down.

Enjoy the picture !

Bye for now.

Doug

Hard wood the stairs

Hi,

No kitchens to install on Monday, so I worked on our front stairs. Getting closer to finishing!

Doug

Kitchen closer to finishing!

Hi all!

First, I hope all of you are doing well! Enjoying the summer and doing your best to create things you want in your lives. Self creation. Take your idea, or goal and make a plan to achieve it. With hard work, patience, determination, focus, toughness, and balance. We can all achieve our goals and dreams. Balance has been a tough point for me lately. Work ,and work on our house has been my focus. I have really run my self to the point of being too tired! So I am to the point of asking for help in our house renewal. We are going to ask Chrissy's dad to pantry roll outs for the pantry's beside the fridge, My brother, and my friend Doug to help finish the hard wood floor in our bed rooms. I will have a big party for all that have helped us!

As for the goals you have in Ski racing. Now is the time to build your body's in the strength and power department. Which in turn will build your self confidence! For those of you that would like to improve from your past results anyway. Improving in technique will help you but even to be able to use the proper technique you need to be strong. Strong legs to power the ski and hold a tight fast line, a strong stomach and back to maintain your balance and stay low over the front of the skis, and strong upper body for powerful starts and hold your arms up through out the full length of the course. I look forward to watching all of you hit new personal bests in your performances, this up coming season.

Bye for now.

Doug

Flooring inour house

Hi!

Sorry for the long delay between Blogs! We have been working every day. I am getting a little tired of it all. It is coming to a end finally. The challenges of doing all the work ourselves. Well, family and friends have helped. This past weekend, my brother, his wife, Chrissy and her dad helped install the hard wood floor. The main living area is done. We still have the stairs and bed rooms to do. We are using the upstairs kitchen again. I am still waiting for some parts for my island cabinet doors. Once I get those I will update the kitchen pictures. Chrissy is so happy, she cried the first time she saw it! She is very proud of me and my effort.

I hope all of you are enjoying your summer! Also doing your best to stay healthy by eating good foods and exercising your body's! And have a strong and good self image of yourself!

Bye for now my friends

Doug

Japan in The top 16 World Cup

Good morning,

I am just getting ready for my work day. While I was doing so I was able to watch the beginning of the round of 16 game with Paraguay. I am hoping they can pull off a win! They have had a couple of good chances.

This past season I was given some Pondzu from a long time guest. He works at Kikkoman. He gave me 2 different types and they are both very tasty. I love pondzu! Thanks for the gift!

Have a good day!

Doug

More pictures

Sorry ! The last pictures were not the best! Hopefully these will be better!

Bye!

Weekend and new kitchen counter top

Hi,

Yes, still working! During the week in Penticton working on the apartment. Then on our own house on the weekends.

Today we tackled the counter tops. The island in huge! We love it! The pictures show me spraying the contact glue, filing the edge to make it smooth and finished. The laminate looks like real granite! WE really like it!

We are going to my dads tomorrow to cut his lawn and cut the hedge. My brother and I are doing that. We are both doing well but miss our dad! Other than that maybe have a day off and play with the kids!

Enjoy the pictures!

Bye for now!

Doug

Saturday's work

Hi!

First of all Congratulations to Okumura San and Arigi! I wish you both the best for your life together!!

Second, yes, still working on our house. The lights are in and all the cabinets, installed shelves and some of the drawers. The Drawer slides are soft close. Very classy! We can install the hard wood floor now. My brother Rick will help me with that. Maybe next weekend.

Oh, And Happy Fathers Day! Tomorrow in North America it is a Day to Celebrate being a dad!

Install new kitchen in our house

Hi all!

Well, I have finished building all cabinets for our house. We are still waiting for the doors to arrive though. Also have to build a few roll outs for our pantry cabinets. It is looking good!

I am working a lot now so it is difficult to find time to work on our own house. Only weekends of course.

I hope you are all working hard to improve you body strength! Whole body! Legs, stomach back, and legs. All are vital to perform at your personal best.

Bye for now.

Doug

Apartment kitchen installing

Hi !

The kitchen company I work for in Kelowna put me on a big project in Penticton. It is an apartment building. So far I must do all the work by myself. Chrissy has been helping me though and has been very helpful.

We are still working on our house on weekends. We are getting closer to finishing. I have most of the new cabinetry installed. We are waiting the the cabinet doors to come in. I ordered those.

Bye for now.

Doug

Making cabinets!

Hi!

I am on to the stage of making the kitchen cabinetry. I am using Chrissy's dad's shop. It has been fun to make on my own, but lots of work. I have so busy between work and working on this project with the house. not much time for any thing else. Well, I have made time to play with Makaiya after dinner. We have been playing catch with a tennis ball. Of course reading to her in her bed before she sleeps. Here are some pictures from today at the shop, and my truck and trailer.

Bye for now.

Doug

Preparation takes time and patience

Hi !

We are doing well with our house renewal. It is amazing how similar preparation is with our house renewal and ski racing. The better the preparation the better the finished product and better the finish in racing. I spent a lot of time leveling the floor, preparing the ceiling for the finish spray and so on. The preparation needed time, patience, planning, timing, and plan old hard work.

Now ski racing needs the same preparation! Endurance, Strength and power from our body's. That takes time, and effort. I have still been working out at home. Lifting weights. Full body work outs. legs , core (stomach and back), and upper body. My vision is that more of you do the same! If you can do that the better chance for even better results. As well as a better chance for a longer, healthier life! My work outs take 45 to 30 minutes. As I said I do them all at home. I did have to buy dumb bell weights.

http://www.bowflexselecttech.ca/bst_microsite_ca/products.jsp

This site has very compact system. They may be found on auctions and I did see them at Costco in Kelowna. They may have them at the Costco in Japan?

http://www.beachbody.com/category/video.do?bclid=6614435001

http://www.beachbody.com/category/video.do?bclid=6615759001

These sites are DVD sets that are very good. I use the Chalean Extreme DVD set.

Bye for now. Please check them out! And do your best to prepare!

Doug

Ceiling repair

Hi every one,

Another step toward our house renewal was achieved today. We had to put new dry wall up on the ceiling where we took the old parts out. The old ceiling had a textured spray on it. The Challenge was to add to the new one , but at the same time match to the old! That was a concern for me since the original ceiling was done 30 years ago. Today we did our best and matched it!!!!! I am thrilled! Chrissy will will paint the walls next. I will start building the kitchen cabinets.

The last time I played golf I shot 77. The time before that 80. I feel like I have a better understanding of how to play and swing. My handy cap is 8 now. My goal is to be 0 though.

House renewal update

Hi!

It has been very busy here in Kelowna. I have been leveling our floor in the Kitchen, dinning , and living room. It was very out of level. We are putting hard wood flooring in so the sub floor must be very level.

The weather is finally warming up. We have officially temperatures in the 20's. I have not golfed much. I am playing tomorrow though. And maybe Ssaturday. I will let you know how I shoot.

I am still working out in the mornings. Hard to do while I am working. I get up early and do it before Chrissy or Makaiya wake up. I do feel strong and my lower back is also pain free. Anyway, Do your best to improve your body strength.

Bye for now.

Doug

Back Yard

Hi all!

We have been busy working on our house inside and out. Here are some pictures of the back yard. We have been pulling weeds and working on greening up the lawn. Nice blossoms on one of the trees.

I played golf on Saturday. Shot 90. Not very good but I did enjoy myself. PLayed with some of my dad's friends.

Bye for now.

Doug

Last wall tear down!

Well we packed away all of our things in the last walls cabinets. As well as teared it down. Also took another load of wood to the city dump. For the same cost as yesterday. $6! We have My trailer filled again with the dry wall from the old walls. We will have to dump that tomorrow.

I am helping Chriss'y dad with a kitchen he is working on in Oyama. Oyama is a town name North of Kelowna. 30 minutes from my house.

Another update is that I have continued weight training around 5 times per week. I am feeling very good. I am working out before I start work. Around 6 to 7 am is when I start. It is hard to do sometimes, but I feel good after I finish. My back is still feeling good. The weight training has helped it a lot.

Bye for now.

Doug