I’m in my new home in Canada and I feel grateful.

My wife, Claw was only able to stay in the house for the first two nights before leaving to Illinois to help her florist sister for the Mother’s Day crunch. Then she returned to our Massachusetts house that we still have to sell. So, for the last two weeks, I’ve been here by myself, Kevin McCallister-ing it up. I’m lingering to put in security cameras and wire cat6 internet cable through the walls and subfloor. It sounds boring I know, but for a middle aged techy man who likes learning new things it’s plenty fun.

This is our dream house. It might be the highest point in the city, on 40 acres with clear views of the ancient mountains that ring around the city. These are the oldest mountains on earth. Precambrian rock 2.7 billion years old. They lie flat and long, worn by billions of years of erosion. From the deck that rings around the house I can see all the mountains that surrounded the first 18 years of my life. I can see the ski runs on Mount Baldy to the Northeast. East there is a beautiful clear view of the sleeping giant. Here is a pic of it floating in Lake Superior mist.

Southeast I can see Mount McKay and the paper mill. South I see Loch Lomond mountain. I can even see Candy mountain to the West (I have a bit of treetop trimming to do though).

It’s truly incredible. I had no idea there was a location in T.Bay where all these places could be seen simultaneously. The treetops obscure almost all signs of man. I can’t see any neighbours in any direction. And it’s my new home. I wouldn’t trade these views for anywhere on earth. It’s truly amazing.

The builder of the house owned a lumber mill in northern Minnesota. All the doors of the house are solid core pine with a natural stain. It has hardwood cathedral ceilings and floors made of hickory and spalted maple. The exterior has cedar siding. He built the house in 2003 and unfortunately died only a few years later. I find myself walking around feeling a great sense of gratitude to this man I’ve never met. We bought the house from his elderly widow since she was having a hard time managing the property. She has swung by a few times after the sale to check if I need anything. I am doing my best to be super kind and accommodating since I can tell she is having a hard time letting it go.

On Mother’s Day, I had my parents, an aunt, an uncle and three cousins out to the house after brunch. The very first party on the patio. While we were sitting on the deck catching up, three hawks gently glided around the deck.

A trio of big healthy deer are outside the windows most mornings.

A groundhog gave me the stink-eye as I was headed out one day.

This was everything I was looking for and more. So yes, I am extremely grateful. I hope I can live here healthy and happy for many years.