Tootfinder

I am so lucky to live where I do with lakes with crystal clear water nearby.
The water was very nice.
#SproatLake #PortAlberni #summer

Going to my 30yr high school reunion like
(Except of course… we’re all that guy, or gal)
#portalberni #imold #highschool

If we ever get a second unit outside, or upsize the one we have, to be able to put registers on the top floor then there is no doubt in my mind that we could keep the whole house to 23-25°C #home #energyefficiency #heatpumps #electric #portalberni

🚂Coming to Vancouver Island this summer? Headed to Tofino!? Make a stop for a train ride in Port Alberni! 🚂
Every weekend will have rides using a restored diesel loco and heritage passenger cars on the waterfront.
4 weekends will feature the 95yr old No7 Steam Locomotive!
News article here: #SteamTrain #PortAlberni #VancouverIsland #Summer #Tourism

Cooling our old house in summer. This house was built in 1940 so it has gone through all the stages and types of heating you can probably imagine.
We installed a ductless ("air source") heat pump a few years back. This was a revelation after 15 years of "window management" and fans to keep a lid on the intense heat of the Alberni Valley.
It has made a wonderful difference both for cheaper heating in winter and newfound cooling potential in summer. We only could get one big enough for two of three floors.
So basement and main floor have a register like this.
Today, on the first official hot day of summer it is:
Outside temp: 33°C
Top Floor (windows open, fans on): 30°C
Main Floor (windows closed HP set to 23°C): 25°C
Basement (HP set to 23): I would estimate 23°C
We also have a hybrid HP/Electric hot water tank in the basement that I have blowing its outlet air into the room for summer to help keep the temperature down in the basement.
#home #energyefficiency #heatpumps #electric #portalberni

Going out for some pond building parts but had to take a break at the cΓuumaʕas river (su-u-ma-as) to watch the fishers coming in from a morning of sockeye salmon fishing. 🎣
Lots of sounds of Bald Eagles in the distance. Probably in the trees across the river looking for a fish to snatch up.
check out the pro trailer parking with the offset stalls. 😂 🅿️
#portalberni #poolpond

Said line. #flags #pride #home #portalberni

Happy Pride 🏳️‍🌈!!
Got new line (see next) for the flag pole as the old stuff broke in a gale a couple months ago.
This stuff is much much nicer!
Wanted to make sure I had it up at least for 🇨🇦 day but it was easier than I thought it would be to get down with a little help from son.
#flags #pride #home #portalberni

Azalea 🌺 blooms a full month after all the others.
"BEHOLD, I shall never submit to your 'schedule'!"
#bloomscrolling #portalberni #yard

flowing!!! 🎉 💧
Ill stop filling soon for the night but this is a huge milestone! HAPPY DAY
#poolpond #BackyardProject #diy #portalberni #watergarden

ooohh! The water is at the top! Now we'll see where it chooses to go!
Looks like I will actually be taking some pebble *out* if I want to plant in an inch or so of water.
#poolpond #BackyardProject #diy #portalberni #watergarden

Time for the first fill and empty cycle. Not sure how many times I'll do this probably a bunch lol. We will see how long it takes to fill it. The hazelnut tree will get lots of water today.
While, it's doing that, I will keep working on the rock liner of the intake pump bay. If I can get that done today, then I can try to direct the overflow from the filter into the pump and set up a circulation.
#poolpond #BackyardProject #diy #portalberni #watergarden

Not being on Facebook to see the daily misinformation-fuelled drama unfold in town is a blessing… and a curse, a little… example eleventy-million-and-one.
"When a bunch of American Naval personnel unloaded U.S. Coast Guard vessels at Clutesi Haven Marina in Port Alberni on Monday, social media sites blew up with rumours about why they were on Vancouver Island and why there were armed vessels making their way down the Alberni Inlet.”
😅😂
#SocialMedia #RumourMill #SmallTown #PortAlberni
https://www.albernivalleynews.com/local-news/us-coast-guard-vessels-cause-concern-at-port-alberni-marina-8098472

Officially the longest load I have carried with the trailer. 😂 Had to use 0.5 on the iPhone. 😆
#portalberni #poolpond #trailer #ev

Time to thin the Apples! 🍏 🍎
Both the blushing delight and northern spy planted last year are doing fantastic.
The new northern spy planted in March has not faired well. I had to remove it from its spot to try to rehabilitate it in a pot. Prognosis is not good.
But the new plum is doing well.
#gardening #apple #fruit #portalberni

They’re little copter boats. See their little hulls? They would be adorable if they weren’t meant for deadly purposes.
I am surprised the CAF/USN base at Nanoose Bay (CFMETR) is not testing this tech. Seems like an optimal location. I guess they have enough to do with the torpedo testing.
There are joint Canada/USA/Mexico naval exercises happening off Vancouver Island. Saw some military trucks passing through #portalberni yesterday.
#war #nato #ukraine
https://mastodon.social/@MAKS23/114773098179052838

thankful for the rain today!! Only took a few days for the new grass/clover/flower mix to sprout!!
🌱 🌱 🌱
Going to get hot this week so I am very glad it has begun successfully now.
#driveway #yardwork #diy #portalberni

I think I moved about a yard of drain rock into the filter this morning, but I have stopped now due to the smoke rolling in. :(
Probably need 4-5 more cart loads before I switch to the top layer of pebble.
#pondlife #backyardpond #poolpond #bcwildfire #airquality #gardening #portalberni

It has been a super busy and tiring week… I took a moment to go outside and admire my driveway. Which is a weird thing to say!! 😂
I can’t believe how many different kinds of bees are buzzing in the flowers! And there are 30 Apples on EACH tree.
The clover is so nice to walk barefoot in, but I do keep an eye out for those bees!
I have reduced the watering now that it all seems established. Only 15min every 4 days. We are also on alternating-day water restrictions.
I am hoping that next summer it will be ok to either not water it at all, or only weekly at most as long as the pollinators are happy!
Reminder that life is good.
#gardening #portalberni #lawnalternative #bees #apples #bloomscrolling

This is not the world I or my children deserved or asked for. #WesleyRidgeFire #ElonMusk #Tesla #ClimateChangeEmergency #EndFossilFuels #BCLNG #Fascism #Capitalism #endstagecapitalism #portalberni

The world is on fire, and the owner of an electric car company is helping fuel the flames of both climate change and fascist capitalism.
#WesleyRidgeFire #ElonMusk #Tesla #ClimateChangeEmergency #EndFossilFuels #BCLNG #Fascism #Capitalism #endstagecapitalism #portalberni

#pondpool #backyardpond #diy #portalberni
Currently turning a very useful and formerly solid box into swiss cheese 🧀 to enable entry of one, and eventually up to two, 2" outlet pipes from the pump(s). This box is both a home for the pump and will act as a prefilter and skimmer. Need maximum inflow from the intake bay of the pond without totally compromising the strength of the box.
I am going to make seven big holes around the top/front and side and then perforate the box with smaller 1/4" holes around the bottom to promote circulation from all parts of the bay.
I will back fill around the box with pebble and 1" drain rock before concealing it with large rocks and flat slate.

Cutting of black pipe complete. Now to fill in the Bay with pebble and drainrock. #pondpool #backyardpond #diy #portalberni

By jove.... by complete coincidence I think the hose will be exactly the right length.
Hole is now made in the yellow milk crate for the pipe to attach directly to the inlet and reach down to the bottom of the pond. The rest of the pipe will attach to the outlet on top running up and out.
#pondpool #backyardpond #diy #portalberni

Here is the seed we used from West Coast Seeds. Look at the tiny white flowers starting to bloom in the new "grass"!
And a picture of last year's planting. It is 99% clover I thibk because we used an old bag and the flowers were no longer viable. But a few poppies did sprout!
#yardwork #diy #portalberni #alternativegrss #clover #bloomscrolling

this was the driveway before.
#yardwork #diy #portalberni #alternativegrss #clover #bloomscrolling

The (alternative mix*) grass is growing in the driveway and the rock tracks are solid.
* It’s not grass at all. Mostly native clover, plus poppies and some small flowering grasses. It looks patchy but the stated goal on the bag is for about 75% coverage so that it can grow, flower, seed itself, and then fill in naturally next year. I will add a picture of our side path that we did last year. The clover has indeed filled in nicely and it is staying nice and green with minimal water. You can see it on the left in the very back of the picture. The clover is about 30cm/1ft tall and is full of blooms.
#yardwork #diy #portalberni #alternativegrss #clover #bloomscrolling

#DoorDashLife
It's hot. The orders are backed up... but at least the hatch is big enough to have a quick snooze. 😆 😴
edit: ended up unassigning, the Walmart folks said they were 150 orders behind on the day. 😬 😆
#gigwork #gigEconomy #doorDash #PortAlberni #walmart

Full thread of my observations of the tsunami overnight here in Port Alberni. I am really glad that I stayed up . once in a lifetime :-)
#tsunami #tsunami #portalberni #tofino #bamfield #ucluelet #earthquake #russia
https://socialbc.ca/@alberniweather/114941890691974692

Pond plumbing dilemna. Any plumbers out there?
The pond will have two strong pumps moving water through the bog filter and around the pool.
One pump will be dedicated to the filter (long black pipe).
The 2nd pump will split duty between the filter and providing water for 3 to 5 emitters in the bottom of the pool and around the edges.
The main piping is black 2” flexible pipe plus some PVC Sched40.
Plumbing Question: Should I reduce diameter once (as pictured badly lol) when branching from the mainline and then have valves for each and long runs of smaller 3/4 or 1/2" line to each sprayer.
Or keep it to 2" throughout and reduce at the outlets?
I would rather have the valve controls centralized than have them spread about where the sprayers are (obv not an option for the bottom ones anyway)
#Pond #DIY #Plumbing #PoolPond #PortAlberni #Home #BackyardPond

That was a once in a lifetime experience and I am grateful for it, even if I feel slightly bleary eyed!
#tsunami #portalberni #tofino #bamfield #ucluelet #russiaearthquake #pacific #youtube #earthquake #kamchatkaquake #vancouverIsland #oceanography #seismology
https://socialbc.ca/@alberniweather/114943955863726708

and then there is the backyard... lol. The hazelnut tree is doing surprisingly well considering the chaos literally at its feet. The far flower garden with the blueberries and the only rose bush we like is also doing OK especially now that I have battled back against the encroaching blackberry vines.
I didnt capture the new plum, or the rhubarb-amazon, but they're ok too.
We are starting to make real progress on the pond/pool now. The inlets for the wetland filter are in the hole and we started placing the large rocks on the bottom... the first layer.
Many yards of rock and pebble to go! Oh, and I have had to peel back some of the liner
in the pool. I've decided I need to make a landing spot for one pump to live in the back corner of the pool so it can circulate water from the bottom.
Uncovered an anthill in the process! 🐜
#portalberni #yard #diy #poolPond

Some blooming closeups. #bloomscrolling #altgrass #portalberni #yard #diy

Fruit is happening! and more
flowers #bloomscrolling #altgrass #portalberni #yard #diy

Time for a walk around the yard as I was watering this morning. It's going to be hot today (30°C)
(see alt text for descriptions)
#bloomscrolling #altgrass #portalberni #yard #diy

lots of flowers now in the alt-grass including a new white and purple one! And the strawberries are ripe under the growing 🍎 tree!
It's weird when the driveway is the most productive part of the yard!
The hope though is that this is a preview of what our backyard will become over the next couple years. 🤞
Also managed to put the trailer back in its spot. The grass seems tough enough now to handle the traffic.
#bloomscrolling #altgrass #portalberni #yard #diy

Another step in the #PoolPond today. Bought the 2 pumps. They are high-efficiency, DC variable speed/power up to 15000L/hr (4000gal/hr) and 105W.
One will be to take water from the pond to the bog filter, and one will do double duty going to the bog filter or to sprayers/jets inside the pond (both decorative and for circulation)
I might get a 3rd pump in time if I find the extra capacity is needed.
#DIY #PondLife #PortAlberni #Pool #Pond #Natural
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CLB7SJ4Q?psc=1&smid=A7SIQ2Y2T11UM&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp

*tenting fingers*
Excellent.
#freepipe #diy #itPaysToKnowPeople #poolpond #BackyardProject #portAlberni

the plumbing for the bog/wetland filter is nearly complete.
The last item I needed was some 6" PVC pipe for a cleanout. It'll go down through the milk crate so I can send a vaccuum hose down there.
It isn't easy to find this size at stores, but a friend of a friend came through with some free cutoffs. They'll work perfectly. Probably $50 worth of pipe! I only had to buy the plug ($40).
Befriend a tradesperson! 😀
#freepipe #diy #itPaysToKnowPeople #poolpond #BackyardProject #portAlberni

It is so nice how the #pandemicpond is maturing now. This is its 5th summer! Can't believe it. The bog filter has made a massive difference for the water clarity and keeping down the algae. The first pic below is from this time last year and you can see the algae clouding and sliming everything.
Two years ago I started planting some moss around rocks in the stream and it has filled in really nicely and naturally. It also served to trap seeds I think and grass and other "weeds" but I like that it just looks more and more like a normal stream. We even have a marsh marigold at the top of the stream (last pic) that we did not plant that came from one that was in the top pond and was eaten by deer. 🦌
#diy #ponds #gardening #fish #ecosystem #portalberni

#PondLife #PoolPond #Backyard #DIY #PortAlberni #Home
$CAD1100 is a lot to spend on just a couple items, but I guess in the grand scheme of making a pond/pool that will completely transform our backyard, it's not crazy. This about equals the amount spent ($1200 iirc) to rent the digger last Labour Day weekend. The liner and underlay fabric was another $3000. So we're looking at about $5500 so far for the project as a whole. Still better (including for the ecosystem!) than your average $50,000 in-ground pool install. ;=D
I realized last night that I bought the wrong pumps (DCT vs DCP argh). One of those “oh that's cheaper than I thought it would be” moments... followed by... “oh crap.”
I'll send the previous pumps back immediately upon arrival.
It's ok though, these will be two 20,000L/h variable pumps. The entire pond/pool system should be no more than 23,000L. My biggest rookie mistake with the #pandemicpond in the front yard was too small a pump. I rectified that when I added the bog filters there.
So I'm overbuilding this time. I should be able to run them at low-speed/power for the same amount of flow. Which will be better for pump longevity and power over time.
Also got main piping for the system: 50ft of 2" flexible PVC (Schedule 40). This will move water from the intake bay (behind the tree) to the bog filter (in front of the tree) and connect to smaller diameter piping/valves/fittings for sprayers in the pool.
This should be the end of the big-ticket items. The rest will be a LOT of little stuff: electrical, piping, and a lot of rock. Probably another $1000-$1500 to go, all should be local, and some of it can be put off until next year if needed.
It took a few tries on the Bezos Site, but I managed to find a supplier within Canada to avoid tariffs on any of it because Tariff-flation is definitely a thing! (American .com store essentially doubled the cost!)
So ya, you can hashtag this #tariffs #TariffLife #TheAmericanFascist and #TrumpTariffs

I feel like I disrespected the backyard. So here is some backyard blooming and fruiting love! See the hazelnut!?
#bloomscrolling #fruit #grapes #rhubarb #portalberni #yard #diy #poolPond

It’s already 25°C and I am dripping with sweat… but a slight modification had to be completed! Made a shelf in the main #poolpond area to hold a milk crate, which will hold one of the pumps.
I decided it was critical to have circulation from the bottom of the pool including taking water from the bottom to send to the filter. But since the main pump area is in the intake bay/skimmer I would have had to bring a pipe up and over the wall and down into pool. (The pumps must be submerged in at least 6” of water at all times)
This would be inefficient and potentially have air lock problems… so I pulled back the three layers of liner and cloth and excavated a little nook in the already semi hidden back corner.
This will have to do. :) the sun was already coming over the house. The rubber liner gets very hot 🥵. Glad it didn’t take too long.
There will be a rock or some sort of wall below and in front of the crate to further support and hide it.
Oh, and now that the liner and stuff is all back, the 🐜 ants can go back to their regularly scheduled ant-ing.
#diy #backyardpond #hot #ants #gardening #homeimprovement #portalberni