The Bunky's coming home.

Conditions at 7:00 am- 15* and light drizzle
Expected later: overcast and a high of 17*


At least that's the plan for today.

The story of the bunky is a complex one. First of all, the name. In Ontario, a lot of folks own cottages, and when you own a cottage on a lake in Ontario, you get lots of company. Many people build a tiny building beside the cottage with just beds to house extra overnight guests and they're called bunkys.

Four years ago, we purchased the property on Five House Road in May. By June we couldn't wait to come back. This time Patti and Greg and the kids came down as well, as did our friend Stephan. We rented two cottages out in Tracadie.
We had a great week touring around, exploring our future home province. After we got home then we really wanted to do something, but we didn't have much money (having just spent it all on the land) and very little vacation time left as well. But we talked it over and decided we could build a little cabin of some sort that we could stay in for short periods of time. The planning began in earnest and after reviewing our options, and visiting RV centres we settled on a plan we thought might work.

We had one week to get from a pile of lumber sitting in the middle of an empty field, to the finished product. (This is one of those time's I'm really happy I document things in scrapbooks as I have the whole process in pictures. )

We came up with a stationary version of a camper trailer - just without the wheels. It's 7 feet deep and 14 feet long - your basic garden shed. But it's totally finished inside with painted drywall and trim, and laminate flooring. It has a small sink with running water and a 3 burner gas stove. The special part is that we did it entirely ourselves (well, really mostly Lloyd)

It's fully insulated which allowed us to come to visit the island any time of the year. And visit we did. We had a lot of wonderful trips to PEI staying in that little structure.

In summer months we would set up a dining tent outside and put the table and chairs out there to allow more space inside and give us a place to eat without mosquitoes. A nearby firepit completed our tiny piece of paradise, and many an evening were spent sitting under the stars gazing at the flames of a bonfire. In winter months we spent many a trip just sitting and reading for hours on end. What could be more relaxing.

On the outside it looks like your typical garden shed, and everyone is totally amazed when they go inside at how much is actually in there.

Today Bernie and Lloyd are going to try to move it to Dromore Road. I think it will be somewhat of a challenge, but they met last night, and took a drive over to size up the situation. They just have to keep telling themselves, it's just a garden shed. I'm sure the job won't be without it's challenges and I wish I was going to be there to help or at least witness and take pictures! I'd love to see it going down the road.

Now when guests come to visit, they have the option of staying in the big house or the 'guest house'. With any luck at all I think the plan is to try to move the tree house as well. It won't be in a tree for while, it will just be on the ground, but at least it will be usable. Tristen will be so pleased. Apparently he tells EVERYONE that he has a treehouse at his grandma's in PEI. Lloyd says he can put it up in the air on his next trip. At least if it's moved, the kids will be able to use it when they're here (so long as they use bug spray!)

If those get moved today, that will be an amazing feat. Most of the wood is cut and I'm off on Thursday so we should have no trouble getting the shelter up and the fence installed when I'm there to help. So it's actually been a very productive week, getting lots of odd jobs done as well as the wood cut up.

Tonight we are off the the Van Gaal's for supper - lobster, potato salad, fresh baked rolls. YUM! Alas Lobster season is almost over so one more good feed before it's done.