Fredley on Whidbey

A Milestone Almost Reached

2012-01-26T19:48:00.000-08:00

Brad left Whidbey the middle of November for an "adventure of a life time". A five month trek from the north end of the North island to the south end of the South Island on the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand.

Brad will cross from North Island to South Island, early February. Tomorrow he leaves Palmerston for Wellington, where he will catch the ferry to cross the Marlborourgh Sounds.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T13:41:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from Auckland, New Zealand, where Brad treks.

Brad's Adventure!

2011-11-13T18:43:00.000-08:00

SeaTac Departure

Check out his new shirt from Wander on Whidbey

Brad departs for New Zealand tomorrow for a five-month hike of the Te Araroa Trail. The missing-of-Brad has already started and he's still in Seattle. If you want to follow Brad's adventure see Brad's Blog or Fran's Blog as they follow Brad on the Te Araroa Trail from the north tip of New Zealand to the south tip. An adventure that will unfold over the next five months (mid November to mid April).

Tater Tot and Sushi Moto

2011-05-22T16:47:00.000-07:00

We've had a sad kitty month. Both of Brad's much-loved kitties have died recently. Toter Tot of old age and Sushi Moto of Cancer. Goodbye sweet kitties.

Benton At Six Months

2011-05-22T16:42:00.000-07:00

Benton is growing up. At 35 lbs. he's the perfect size and we're hoping he will stop growing, RIGHT NOW. He's a cutie and we're loving him most of the time. Every now and then though his puppy antics are trying, but mostly he's super.

Where are we?

2011-05-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how the foliage is almost hiding our buildings from the east. As we look out our windows, towards the east, it doesn't seem like we are so hidden. Yet, from the neighbor's backyard, our screening is very effective.

Benton Forces our Hand

2011-05-22T16:31:00.001-07:00

Although we didn't want to fence our property, we're doing it. Our outdoor/indoor life with all the doors wide open all summer long got us to thinking about our new pup. At some point he could be trained to stay within our property borders, but for now, he's still an unreliable puppy.

We're putting up a wire fence that, through the years, will be smothered in foliage making it invisible. For now we can see it, but barely.

Worker Bees!

2011-05-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

Fredley's two fence builders -- Mr. Ed and the Brad Guy.

Screen

2011-05-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

I failed to post pictures of our finished screens. With the foilage filling in it's almost impossible to see them in some places. What we love is more privacy in our bed/bath and loosing the view of the neighbor's storage area. Plus, the metal roofing we used on the screens (matching the siding of the mainliving building), extends the architecture into the garden, enhancing both the buildings and the outdoor spaces.

Recycled Roofing Becomes the Perfect Screen

2011-03-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

Our new screen makes use of the same recycled roofing we used to side our main living building. It will be capped with black flashing to give it a finished, refined look. Although we're liking the open feeling of our neighborhood, for this part of our garden we needed to screen away the neighbor's unsightly storage and provide bathroom privacy. This 40 feet of screening does the job.

Even the back side looks good, but doesn't really need to since it faces the neighbor's storage area and propane tank.

The close proximity of the neighbor's studio which is nonconforming being only 1 foot from our property line is one of the reasons we needed to screen this section of our property.

Moving our New Screen Along Toward Finished...

2011-03-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

Some familar faces are back on the Fredley project -- much missed and very welcomed back -- working on our new screen.

Travis

Erin

Brad (dbBrad)

A Privacy Need

2011-03-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

We've long intended to build a screen between a studio on our neighbor's property to the north and our guesthouse building. Finally we're getting around to doing that project. Between storage on the back of the studio and their propane tank, it is not a very attractive scene. Further, our bath windows look that way so for privacy this 40' screen is critical.

Rain, rain and more rain.

2011-03-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

We've been having enough rain to think about building an ark. The land on Whidbey is completely saturated with puddles everywhere; ditches full; catch basins overflowing; wetlands, creeks and lakes high; and people growing webbed feet. Fortunately, our built pond and wetland are handling our roof and site water beautifully. The pond is draining into the wetland, as planned, and the wetland is filling, with about a foot of capacity yet to go. It appears we've provided for more than adequate overflow. If this storm doesn't fill it to capacity, it's hard to imagine what would. Yesterday afternoon, after it stopped raining, the wetland showed no signs of water on the surface after about 2 hours so the absorption is rapid.

dbBrad our design builder and I worked together on this project, and two other storm water projects in Greenbank.

Extending our Stream

2010-11-22T12:58:00.000-08:00

Our little stream extension was under construction last week. Just in time for our early Thanksgiving celebration with friends. As always, we had the last minute project scramble getting put in place just minutes before our guests arrived.

Last week:

This week:

The snow is falling and the temperature is in the mid 20's. It's beautiful out, but cold. Fortunately, Brad of dbBrad finished up one leg of our heating system last week.

Sunday - A Day of Work!

2010-11-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

With a borrowed "half hour" from Mr. Ed (time was actually more like 2 or 3 hours), and a full half+ day of Brad's time, Sunday turned into an amazingly productive day of many small, and not so small, garden projects. Our first task was planting a huge old tree Brad drug home a few weeks ago for a pond snag. With many grunts of effort and Fran fearing both her favorite men would have broken backs, the snag was planted by the pond.

Snag

Now we just wait for the Pileated Woodpeckers to visit.

Pileated Woodpecker

Then an old stone step that wasn't working very well because of spacing and a riser that was too low, was ripped out and a new step was put into place.

Stone Step

Another project we've been working on for a little bit is extending our stream. If two ponds and a stream are good, isn't more stream better? Well, apparently that's what we think, because that's what we're doing. To give Hermione (a beautiful gift from Diane Kendy) a location of greater status, she's been moved in preparation for her new home along the new stream. Then plumbing and digging are being done before putting in the stream's liner. And, of course, the gathering of the rocks needed to create the natural look of a NW stream.

Hermoine & New Stream-in-the-works

Two other projects were worked on too. A retaining wall under the guesthouse and a stone patio, also under the guesthouse, overlooking the pond. Photographs of those two projects will follow. Presently the heating system installation project is being staged in that area so photographs of both would be full of PVC parts and tool boxes and all the stuff needed for plumbing.

Phase II

2010-10-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

We are about to begin the second phase of our building project. Although we've been in our new home almost two years, we did not complete some of the important details -- like the solar heating system and our cabinet work. So, coming soon, more building adventures.

Aah! Home!

2010-08-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

From Washington to North and South Dakota, via Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, with bike riding at the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene, Hiawatha Trail, Spokane River Trail and George Mickelson Trail. Wandering through small towns, seeing the economic downturn at every stop, yet seeing new pickup trucks everywhere. Enjoying the history, geography, wildlife, Sturgis Bike Rally, terrific camping spots, and an opportunity for Ed to visit with his mom in ND while I enjoyed a seven day retreat at Bismark Lake in SD. I continue to love the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming, especially as the terrain turns to open pasture at 10,000 feet. But the Black Hills are pretty spectacular too. Pretty much the entire trip had us exclaiming as one view after another unfolded.

We savor our trips in our little tent trailer and we savor the return to our home-by-Brad. Despite the fun of the adventure, returning home after traveling for three weeks can't be beat. That breathtaking moment of driving into one's own drive and seeing the place we call home with new and fresh eyes is the moment of our greatest pleasure on the entire trip. What better compliment can we give to our designer-builder than that. Aah! Home!

Garden Appreciation Day!

2010-05-02T12:10:00.000-07:00

The garden is young but oh so rewarding.

Front Entry

Soloman's Seal at stream

Birdbath from Brad

Evergreen, native Penstemon

Deciduous Azaleas

Sun Rose

Blue Oat Grass

Thinking about the whole

2010-04-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

The amazing thing about watching Brad (dbbrad) design is how he holds the whole project in his head at once. The inside of the building; the exterior; the interior in relationship to the exterior; the building's relationship to the site; the condition of the site and what it needs in terms of contours, water management, privacy. sun and shade; the relationship of indoors to outdoors; how the buildings relate to the other buildings in the neighborhood; the total picture.

Having worked in landscape design for 30 years now, I have rarely seen this design ability to hold-the-whole in a designer's vision. Many designers, (dare I say most?) design with only the interior vision. Other designers have only the exterior vision. But, even more often, designers neglect the site (the total) completely.

How often I arrive at the newly built home to see trash; compaction; unnecessary water problems; thoughtless siting of the home in relation to sun and shade; machine damage to remaining trees; and a complete lack of thought to the relationship of the home to the site. Sometimes the interior works well and even looks great but looks horrible from the exterior with roof lines that don't work or placement of skylights that were seen only from the inside spaces ruining the exterior rhythm. Or, the home faces north with no interior light, or at other times with no play with the light at all.

And then there is the function issue which needs to be a major focus in design. A need that is equal to aesthetics. When a designer thinks only of function one sees mostly a boring building. When a designer thinks only of aesthetics we see it for what it is -- designer ego. For years, for example, I have said I'd never hire a designer to design a kitchen if he/she didn't cook. I have stepped into some kitchens that looked beautiful but made no sense whatsoever in how they functioned. The reverse is true. A good designer can produce both -- function and beauty.

What's so amazing about our new home is how, according to Ed, "it lives like a second skin." And for me, to be more content inside, because of the inside-outside relationship, than I've ever been in a home. We also both still love how our home nestles into the neighborhood as if it's always been there. In fact, it is so integrated that people ask us which buildings are ours and which buildings are the neighbors. Not because of proximity, but because of thoughtful integration.

And, then there is attention to grade, water, ornamental gardens, wildlife, exposure, beauty, automobiles, solar, growing food, accessibility, mystery, light, privacy, and on and on. How does one hold all of these things, and more, in their head to achieve a totally integrated design? I don't know. I would be unable to do it. But, Brad does it. That's his skill and its awesome.

Then add flexibility in using recycled materials in a way that is new and innovative, creating a timeless structure, well, have I already said awesome?

Do you have a view?

2010-03-17T10:01:00.001-07:00

When we first purchased our property in Langley one of the first questions asked was, "do you have a view?" I would always say "no", knowing that the question related to a view of Saratoga Passage and the Cascade Mountains. Our previous home, high bluff waterfront on Saratoga Road, had a drop dead view of both water and mountains.

Our new lot, with wonderful southern exposure and lovely trees, but no view left me to answer the questions with a "no". But, more recently, as our garden develops and our water catchment system (pond, stream, wetland) develops, creating more beauty and habitat, I'm conflicted when I answer either yes or no. No is correct for the questioner's "hidden" question of, "do we have the BIG view?" . Yet, Yes is correct for how I actually see our garden each day and my enjoyment of our view.

Even in it's early stages, the roof water in our garden is turning into a more and more lovely "view". Fish swim, birds bathe, flowing water serenades, all as the plantings develop more fully.

When we were thinking about selling our Saratoga home, beautiful garden and stupendous view, I knew I would build a pond for a new "water view". It was clear to me, after we built a small pond at our entry at Saratoga, and I spent more time viewing that small pond, than the big pond (Saratoga Passage) that we could create a view on a city lot. A view that wouldn't have the same concerns about a crumbling bluff or higher and higher taxes. One that was of our making but one of beauty nevertheless. And we did! Plus we are managing all our roof water with beauty, habitat and aquifer recharge. As it matures the beauty will multiply. A pond was always in the works, Brad was the master of the bigger vision.

Reveling...

2010-03-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

We haven't been project busy with our home for several months now. We're just enjoying living in our new home. Although we still have projects and cleanup to do, it's been nice to have a break from the daily grind of building. Instead we're simply reveling in the pleasure of our new spaces. And the pleasure is great. This home-built-by-Brad is remarkable in it's suitability to our lives. We don't intend to build another home but if we did, our designer builder would be hired again. We love how his mind works!

Cabinet Work

2010-01-24T12:09:00.000-08:00

Bathroom drawers are now installed, without fronts, but drawers. Yippee!

It's been a year!

2010-01-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

We've been in our new home a year now -- loving every minute. Never in my life have I had a home where the indoor/outdoor relationship was exactly what I wanted. In Seattle four French doors were added for greater access to the back garden. At Saratoga, five French door were added for the same reason. Both remodels were terrific and did the best we could to take homes with no relationship to the garden and create that relationship. But this home is perfect with it's relationship to the garden. When I'm in I feel out; when I'm out I feel in. And with separate buildings creating forced travel between the spaces, I'm out often. Historically I've needed outdoor bedrooms and other ways to get outside more. Living here I'm content -- inside or out, or anywhere in between. Now I know my need for this indoor/outdoor relationship is greater than many people's needs in that regard, but I suspect the lack of it is an area of discontent not often identified. Anyway, for me this space is perfect!

Although our cabinets are still unfinished, as is our solar system, we are more than comfortable. Living here is easy, especially since it forced reduction in stuff. We're living smaller, and with fewer possessions, than we have since college days. It is a wonderfully freeing feeling. Also it pleases me to know that on my death I won't be leaving piles of stuff for my son to sort through.

The garden, for a one-year garden, is looking beautiful. There are still many areas needing plants to grow to fill in the bare spots and other areas that aren't planted yet at all. But all the beds are weed free, mulched, and ready for spring planting. The patios, decks and pathways are complete. We still need some screens for privacy around the bath, but that will happen soon -- we have the materials ready to go. And, we have a fireplace planned for one of our covered patios that is not yet complete, but again, we have most of the materials and are simply waiting for time.

The water system of rain from roof, to pond, to stream, to pond, to wetland continues to function beautifully and provide us with delightful wildlife experiences and much beauty. Just this past weekend Ed and I spend a pleasurable 20 minutes watching 6 birds splash and bathe around the edges. As the plants mature and fill out the wildlife will increase because their safety will be greater. At present there is still too much open area for safe travel to the south. From east to west, on our north side, they have an outstanding corridor where they can fly in short sprints from tree to tree for several miles in each direction.

Discipline is a word that is at the top of my list in living here. Discipline is what is required to keep "stuff" from accumulating. Trips home from the Post Office require daily sorting; trips from the grocery store require the same; as do trips from almost any shop. If something comes in the door, something else must go out. Not having Fibber McGee's (radio show ending in '59 so I'm dating myself) closet is the greatest pleasure.

As I sit here and type I'm overlooking the front lawn and vegetable garden on one side and the pond and native plant restoration area on the other. This is a richness that I am unable to describe. Masterfully well done by dbbrad.

We have sold or given away most of the things of value but of no use to us. We still have six great wicker chairs of outstanding value and in almost perfect shape. So, if you're interested in six wicker Palecek chairs just call 360 730 3924. Or, we have a cedar Chinese truck, hand carved. Great for a coffee table that stores blankets, etc. Other than that, we've pretty much managed to shed what we don't need or want.

The report card for our first year -- A+.

Kingfisher

2009-12-23T13:29:00.000-08:00

Last year when our pond was new we added 20 feeder fish (very tiny goldfish). They disappeared. We added 20 more. They disappeared. We added 20 more, plus two koi, and one larger gold fish from a friend's pond. They all disappeared. Having had fish before I was pretty sure they were all hunkered down in the bottom of the pond, waiting for warmer water. But, we were impatient. We now had 60+ fish in our pond. A few floated, but very few, so in actuality we probably had about 55 fish. All winter the pond showed no sign of fish. This spring, once it warmed up, they began, slowly, to come to the surface. We could never get an accurate count but we were sure we had at least 40 fish from the previous year and a batch of new babies. We had plenty of fish. In fact, we were now concerned that our pond was over-stocked.

Well, not to worry. Just this morning I heard a rattling and saw the flash of a bird flying up to our roof. A few moments later I heard the rattling again and watched in fascination as the same bird dove into the pond and came up with a goldfish in its beak. A Kingfisher has discovered our pond. Eating is good!

Refining Storage

2009-12-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

This pantry is narrow pull out storage that can be accessed from both sides. It works well. I would use this food storage solution again. But, as with anything new, learning how to use it best takes some time.

So, the ongoing task of living in our new home is one of refining what we need, and storing it in a way that is both pleasing and useful. When one lives in small spaces, those spaces cannot be wasted storing items for only occasional use. We keep the items we use year-around close at hand and the seldom used items are not kept at all. Those extra serving dishes or cooking pots used twice a year at holiday time are no longer part of our inventory -- not even in our storage closets.

The past few days I've been refining the contents of our shelves, adding to our food storage containers, and eliminating items that have been collecting dust. When moving into our new home I made the best cut I could but the experience of living here has provided valuable information. For example, the pull out pantry doesn't store bagged items, like beans and pasta, well. The packages flop around and get caught when the pantry is pulled out. Plus they take up too much room.

In looking for solutions, Brad discovered these great glass canisters (top shelf) at one of our local stores. They are now full of coffee beans, rice, beans, pasta, granola, oatmeal and the secondary flours and sugars (soy and wheat flour/powdered and brown sugar) for baking. The larger quantities of sugar and flour are in the larger containers. In the pantry, plastic sealed containers are used for dried fruits and nuts. The remainder of the pantry is available for cans and boxes of frequently used items that store well in that space and are handy to grab. Floppy bags and bulk supplies are no longer creating panty problems. After purchase, they are immediately placed in the canisters -- neat, dry, air tight and handy storage.

I went on a reading jag about the Chinese Cultural Revolution a fews months ago. It left me with a clear idea of just how lucky we are here in America with our large homes (even ours at 860 square feet) and all our amenities for living well in those homes. Thinking of cooking on a gas burner, squatting on the floor of a hallway; an entire family living in a cold cement room of only very limited space and almost no privacy; inadequate heat; few accessories; and so forth, has helped me realize how little I really need. And, how much I have, even after reducing what we had by so much. I like turning away from the American norm so I can focus on the essence of what's really important. Having what I need rather than what I want helps me to have a quality life without being owned by my possessions.

A friend once visited our Saratoga home (also small at 1200 square feet). Her comment was, "oh, I love small homes. I would love to have one too." Since she was in the process of designing a new home I asked her why she couldn't have one. Her reply was that she had so much furniture she needed a large home to house it in. Her children were grown and out of the house so it was only she and her husband. But, they built a four bedroom home of probably 4,000 square feet so she could store her furniture. Hum? Seemed crazy to me.

Solar Heat Storage

2009-12-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

Brad Hankins, designer and builder of our fredleyonwhidbey home, designed our solar system's heat storage and sensor monitoring system. He has posted some interesting and educational comments at his blog, click website address below, then follow links to solar.

Brad Hankins
Design Build BRAD
360.920.8280
www.dbbrad.com

Guest House Interior Shots

2009-12-10T14:52:00.001-08:00

This first picture is of the window seat with a 'Green Giant' Western Red Cedar in the background. This hybrid cedar will reach only 30' tall by 10' wide so can be planted in a more restricted location. The tree is centered on the hallway/bridge as one walks directly from main living. The neighbor's studio you see in this picture will be hidden by the tree in a few more years.This pictures shows the bath vanity area, in relation to the window seat. It also shows that the bath is lower than the bed area. There are two steps, with one riser, which is a floating metal stair connecting the two areas.
Here is the bedroom area with the wall bed up. The floor space available when the bed is up is designed for yoga. A table on the backside of the bed is available for working on a sewing or research project.
This is a photo of the bedroom area, with the bed down. A lowered bed leaves plenty of room to walk around all sides of the bed, but that's all. There is not extra room for furniture, which was our desire. Past experience had shown us that furniture is just a place to put clothes instead of in the closet. Because of the generous windows and the high ceiling the room does not feel cramped or claustrophobic in any way.

Seattle Times Pacific NW Magazine

2009-11-23T17:44:00.000-08:00

Following is a reprint of that article dated 11/22/09, without photos.

See: Seattle Times Article

On Whidbey, a unified home from multiple recycled parts

By Valerie Easton

FRAN ABEL and Ed Anderson's new home is three separate little buildings that look as if they might have started out fitting snugly together into a single home. You can imagine some force of nature causing the sharp angles and winged rooflines to burst apart, then settle back down into a cluster within the hollows of the landscape. If the parts could be fit back together, their shapes might interlock as seamlessly as a 3D jigsaw puzzle.

This Whidbey Island home embodies the idea that green doesn't mean dull, and innovative design can be as practical as it is cool. It doesn't hurt that Abel is a garden designer experienced in water catchment and native plantings. Her son, Brad Hankins of B.R.A.D. Building Renovation and Architectural Design,(note: dbbrad) who designed and built the house, is relentless in researching green technology and searching out materials to repurpose.

"This place started out with a patina and will only get better," says Hankins, pointing out that little maintenance is needed on materials that have already endured wind, rain and time. The windows and the roofing are new, but that's about all this family purchased at a store. "You have a design, and it evolves as you find the materials," he explains. Despite the contemporary flair of his design, the home's siding of worn metal and old barn wood leaves you guessing as to whether it's remodeled or new.

Which is just how Abel and Anderson like it. They wanted their new place to fit into the neighborhood. A major reason they moved into Langley from their view property outside of town was to gain the sense of community that comes from having neighbors nearby and town an easy walk or bike ride away.

Not only did the family put hundred-year-old barn wood, scrap steel and 40-year-old chairs found on Craigslist to good purpose, they even used waste from the job. The greenhouse adjoining Abel's vegetable garden is built of leftover windows, stone and scraps of insulation. Very little needed to be hauled away after the project was completed.

So how much money did the family save by such skillful repurposing? "Zero," says Hankins, who explains that it takes lots of time to transport, store, clean and detail materials with a previous life. "It may not save money," chimes in Abel, "but it feels good to do, and you can't buy wood like this anymore."

The entire project is a scant 860 square feet, spread out over the three buildings. Every space is multipurpose; the kitchen, dining and living rooms share a single space. The bedroom converts to a yoga room when the Murphy bed is folded into the wall, and its hallway is lined with books. The "barn" houses a workshop, guest room/study, laundry and plenty of storage for bikes and boats.

The main building is heated by solar power collected in vacuum tubes on the roof and stored in a heat sink beneath the concrete floor. "This building will take care of itself," says Hankins. The bedroom has a hydronic heater with solar storage tank. Because this high-mass heat-storage system is a bit experimental, Hankins buried 24 sensors to create a data-collection center that will monitor the heat sink to see how it's responding to all the weather factors that influence the system.

"Three separate buildings isn't as efficient," acknowledges Abel, "but you get some privacy." Since Anderson likes rock 'n' roll and Abel prefers classical music, a little division between buildings makes for smoother family dynamics. Each little building has its own relationship to the outdoors, its own deck or terrace.

"Ed and I love coming outside in the morning and experiencing the weather, feeling the wind, hearing the birds," says Abel of their open-air journey between bedroom and main house.

And how about the dynamics of a son designing and building a house for his mother? "Having a client with great taste is such an asset," says Hankins with a grin.

Storm Water Management

2009-10-31T11:56:00.000-07:00

In this time of municipal jurisdictions thinking surface water is a liability, we are exceedingly pleased with how we've handled our roof water. The larger pond overflows into the wetland (Picture 1) where, despite some torrential downpours of late, has handled, with room to spare, all of our roof water. All three roofs feed the upper pond or creek directly, then flow down the creek to the lower pond. Once the lower pond is at capacity the water overflows into the wetland. The second photo illustrates the guesthouse roof water flowing into the creek. The other two buildings are piped underground directly to the upper pond.

Very heavy rain during the night and well into the morning resulted in the deepest wetland collection I'd observed. At 11:00 a.m. the wetland, at it's deepest, was 6.5" and covered an area 7' by 15'. By 12:00 there was little or no rain and the stream had stopped flowing. The wetland was already going down. By 3:00 the wetland was 2" deep at its deepest and measured 5' by 13'. At no time did we come even close to capacity. These results were in saturated ground as we've had a very rainy few weeks.

The water in the stream in this photo (below) is all rain water. The circulating pump mostly runs in the summer when there is little rain.

Birds have been thoroughly enjoying drinking and bathing at the ponds' edges, especially during their migration this fall. On occasion we'll see as many as 20 or 30 birds at a time accessing the pond.

Images by Lois Mason - 4

2009-10-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

Images by Lois Mason - 3

2009-10-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

Images by Lois Mason - 2

2009-10-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

Images by Lois Mason - 1

2009-10-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

Metal Wall

2009-09-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

A week, or so, ago, Tim finished up our metal wall in the main living building.

Living Art

2009-08-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

As part of John's art the reworking is part of the experience. For our garden we modified the piece he brought to be more organic with stone rather than the cut glass of the original piece. We also installed it by hanging it as part of our front entry rain "chain" system.

Garden Art

2009-08-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

Some fabulous new garden art arrived today. John of RE brought by a couple more pieces for loan and Brad and Erin gathered some wonderful stones for a cairn.

Karra & Dennis

2009-08-09T20:14:00.000-07:00

Seeing Karra and Dennis again, after several years, was wonderful. Unfortunately, their son (now 6) didn't come along because they were having a business meeting with Brad and didn't want the distraction. However, we haven't seen him since he was an infant, so we were disappointed. We're looking forward to the next visit -- with all three of them!

Our Crew Moves On.

2009-08-04T19:54:00.000-07:00

Josh, Brad and Travis load up the table saw, saw horses, planer and a multitude of other tools for moving to a new job. Our barn is emptying out and we'll soon have both our car and our little tent trailer under cover. But, boy will we miss these guys.

Annie

2009-08-03T06:15:00.000-07:00

Sweet Annie who helped us build our new home and has loved living here, died on the bridge, one of her favorite spots, on Saturday. Too soon we've had to dig a grave in our new garden and too soon we've had to say goodbye to our much loved pup (she was only 11). We have a huge, huge empty spot at Grace Lane and in our hearts.

Gary, Linda, Heidi

2009-07-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

Art by RE

2009-07-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

John of RE created this beautiful found object art. To my great surprise and delight I found it by my door this afternoon. Naturally, it took me about three seconds to install it in the garden. Thanks John!

Invaluable Fillers

2009-07-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

New gardens have too much empty space to be lush the first year or two. Quick fill-the-space solutions are California Poppies and Nasturtiums. In the second picture, even in among Ferns and Rhododendrons, California Poppies are terrific! A pack or two of seeds, costing just a couple of dollars, can bring months of outrageous color. Poppies, cut back shortly after the first bloom, will flush out again and provide a second bloom. A word of warning: the deer leave the Poppies alone but nibble on the Nasturtiums.

A stream of our favorite people...

2009-07-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

Taigan

Marti, Shelly, Paula, Betty & Ann

Brad & Erin

Michael & Shelly

Elliott, Ed & Judy

A few garden shots...

2009-07-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

Mulching is complete.

2009-07-21T07:52:00.000-07:00

In two days the job is done and what a huge, huge improvement over the ugly black plastic. When the black plastic was removed the weeds looked pretty dead. Some of the weeds had large tap roots and we weren't certain those tap roots were dead so the hog mat under the chips was necessary to complete the weed-kill job. My garden of 16 years on Saratoga Road never saw an herbicide, pesticide or chemical fertilizer. This garden on Grace Lane will never see one either. Mulching is my answer to weeds and soil improvement. Using the right plants and encouraging a well-balanced habitat handles the diseases and insects.

Mulching the mat is the next step.

2009-07-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

Even on this steep hill the chip mulch sticks to the hog mat. These chips are from Heggenes Arboreal Services and are very useful in improving soil and controlling weeds. In this instance, they are used over hog mat but I also use them over newspaper and cardboard for weed control. For a new garden, mulching like this is invaluable for creating new garden beds. Construction sites end up with both weeds and compacted soil. The mulch will solve both problems -- drowning out the weeds and getting the earthworms happily cultivating under the mulch. Using wood chips, rather than bark, saves money and recycles an otherwise unused byproduct of tree pruning. On Whidbey a load of chips (about 10 yards) is $50, or free if it's the public utility pruners creating them along the road right-of-ways. Fox's Tree Service is another invaluable source of chips. And, for tree work, both Jim Fox and Jason Heggenes are knowledgeable and delightful to work with.

Installing the mat mulch...

2009-07-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

With Dianne's generous help, the plastic is pulled off the hillside. Then the mat is rolled out and stapled to the hillside. One roll was exactly the right size for our project.

Thanks Christine and Dianne!

2009-07-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

This new roll of hog mat will be replacing the black plastic as a weed barrier for our hillside. Two very generous friends, Christine and Dianne, gave us the hog mat for a house warming gift. In Christine's restoration work she uses hog mat for controlling weeds prior to planting the native plant starts. The hog mat is textured enough to hold a top dressing of chips or bark mulch, thick enough to stop weeds, easy to tear a hole in for planting, and in a couple years will decompose.

Porch Acid Treatment

2009-06-14T06:11:00.000-07:00

The process of staining the concrete on the porch has begun...

Little things

2009-06-14T05:59:00.000-07:00

that make a huge difference -- like an entry closet and a cabinet over the refrigerator happened this week.

Our Second Sink Hole Table

2009-06-12T13:33:00.000-07:00

Bottle Shelf

2009-06-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

The glass shelves were completed a week, or so, ago. The new bottle shelf, made out of zipper steel, was installed this week.

Jeff visits...

2009-06-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

Our Pt. Townsend friend, Jeff, visits for a day.

Peak Masks

2009-06-10T11:06:00.000-07:00

Our main living building has four peaks -- 2 inside and 2 outside. Those peaks now display our 4-mask collection.

On inside peak, east

On inside peak, west

On outside peak, west, under covered patio

On outside peak, east, under overhang

Double Duty

2009-06-10T09:58:00.000-07:00

We knew, when we were designing our home, that living small would demand each room to do double or triple duty. Ed's office is also the guest room; the laundry sink doubles as a bath sink; the living room combines dining, kitchen and Fran's office; a hall way is also a library; and the guesthouse bedroom is also an exercise area. Even the wall bed must serve double duty with a table on the back side. But, we don't stop there. A pole we put in the lawn must pull its weightx2 too. It holds an umbrella to create a pleasant area to sit and then the same holder supports our clothes line.

Room with a view...

2009-06-10T09:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, even the laundry room has a view to love as we look across the lawn to the neighbors on the north.

Our garden is producing nicely...

2009-06-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

More lettuce than we can eat; broccoli for dinner; strawberries, blueberries and raspberries ripening; pumpkins appearing on the vines; and our first apples already forming just this second year.

Sink Hole Table

2009-06-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

Brad created, in about 10 minutes, a sink hole table -- think donut hole! Martha and Fran enjoy a cool glass of water at the new table.

Early Morning Walk

2009-06-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

With coffee in hand, I wander the garden each morning. Today I took the camera with me and picked up a few shots.

Stream

Entry Porch

Entry porch again

Pond

Looking up

Main living and guesthouse

Finishing up the details...

2009-06-09T07:08:00.000-07:00

Josh and Brad complete the ridge cap on main living.

Anne B

2009-06-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

dropped by for a lovely long visit and lunch today, plus her first viewing of our new home.

Our first waterlily bloom

2009-06-01T12:38:00.000-07:00

Just about a year ago...

2009-06-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

Pleased seems like too weak a word...

2009-05-31T20:28:00.000-07:00

The shadows, play of light, crisp look, design vision, craftsmanship all add up to a stunningly good looking shelf arrangement. I haven't quite finished my part -- adding the kitchen gear -- but am closing in on it. Couldn't wait another minute to capture the new look on the blog.

Kitchen Shelves are Up!

2009-05-31T20:23:00.000-07:00

and we're delighted with our new shelves. Brad and Tim do it again!

Full day...

2009-05-31T20:07:00.000-07:00

Brad is installing our new shelves on a day he'd scheduled to the limit. First, he had a quick early morning meeting followed by breakfast at Useless Bay Coffee with Erin, Ed and me. Then another appointment before quickly installing our shelves, and then another appointment later in the afternoon, followed by a drive back to Bellingham. Whew!

A glorious day of family and friends...

2009-05-31T20:00:00.000-07:00

Lots of visitors today...

2009-05-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

Kim with Annie

Peggy & Marty with Ed

Ursula & Ann

John with Brad

Shelves and brackets for kitchen

2009-05-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

Updated garden and building shots

2009-05-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

Stream under bridge

Entry garden with morning light

Main Living and Guesthouse looking north

Main Living and Guesthouse looking SW

Not very photogenic, but

2009-05-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

here's the door to our machine room. After putting up and removing insulation to enter the machine room for all these months, having a door, fully functional, with hinges and handle, is one of those my-life-works-better items. The handle, by the way, is from Langley's very popular thrift store, Good Cheer.

The kitchen is dismantled...

2009-05-30T07:32:00.000-07:00

Ed is dismantling the temporary shelves in main living in preparation for installing our new glass shelves. Beautiful metal brackets have been welded to hold the glass. Brad, working away on design projects and the Bellingham remodel, will be on Whidbey today for the installation. Pictures of the new look later today.

Moving in on N E A T after two+ years of construction mess

2009-05-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

Construction piles are going away and driveway gravel is getting spread.

Lots of little tasks...

2009-05-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

A huge load of chips for mulching the garden is delivered;

a gift at our door turns into a catch-all for garden gadgets;

the beginning of a new door for our equipment room;

a new dogwood (Eddie's White Wonder) is planted;

a screen gets trimmed out;

new plants are put into the ground; and

a new stone wall at the entry gets built.

What's it like living in our new home?

2009-04-29T08:40:00.000-07:00

When one steps outside the box there's always the "how will it work" question. Will we be pleased with our not so common solutions to the common home design? Although we're comfortable with our knowledge of who we are and what we like, we've never before experienced living in a home like this one. Many factors went into our comfort level with leaving behind the "tried and true" homes we commonly see.

First, we had complete faith in Brad's ability to design a home for us we'd love to live in. Second, we knew we had the skill to evaluate his design in terms of our life style. Third, we understood our capacity to be flexible in how we live in a home and to adjust to a new way of living.

One of the most controversial issues was needing to go outside between the three buildings. Questions asked were always in the area of, "What about the rain", "Is it covered?", "What about cold winter days?"

Having lived here since January, during some of the worst weather the NW has to offer, we can say, without hesitation, that the passage from one building to another is one of the delights of living here. We love it. This picture is one of the scenes we see first in the morning and last at night. It delights us each time we cross the bridge. And, we might add, the snow earlier in the year didn't destroy the beauty or pleasure. The bridge is definitely one of Brad's design features that is a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Living small is a delight too. It is a challenge to reduce one's possessions down to the bones, and keep them that way. The ease of living without too much stuff is well worth the effort of sorting and eliminating and then sorting and eliminating again and again. It will be an ongoing task, but one we embrace wholeheartedly.

This neighborhood is delightful as well. The lack of fences separating properties opens the area up to feeling like an intentional community. The siting of our buildings, in relation to our neighbors' clustered buildings, leads to easy gatherings of neighbors but protects each home's privacy when desired. Bonus: our neighbors are truly great.

Our kitchen design is quite unique with the separation of food preparation and cooking on two sides of the main living building. Both Ed and I enjoy cooking but we move at vastly different speeds. This design allows us to both work in the kitchen without tripping over one another. Previously, in the kitchens we've had, only one of us could be in the kitchen at a time. Our solution to accommodate different speeds in the kitchen has resulted in much more shared cooking pleasure.

Separate buildings, especially when living small, are a key element in privacy and provide the option to be truly alone, even when in relationship. At times I actually lose Ed. When is he? He loses me as well. That's perfect. We can be totally alone even in a 860 sq. ft. home. Or, the two of us can be completely alone, even if Brad and Erin are watching a movie in main living, by simply being in another building. Little retreats everywhere! Wonderful!

The bath, with triple french doors opening out onto a private garden; eight foot glass doors opening the kitchen up totally to the outdoor patio; a wall of windows to the east looking out onto the pond; five opening windows in the guesthouse looking out over the pond; and oversized glass doors opening out onto the bridge, give all the spaces an almost seamless relationship to the outdoors. This is the first home I've lived in that has the connection to the garden that I've always craved.

Plus, a million little bonuses. The bridge is a perfect dog run. In fact, on a nice day when the doors are open, Annie can pass from the guesthouse to the main living building pausing to nap in the sun on the bridge. There's a swing on the barn. Under the guesthouse is a delightful covered patio at the edge of the pond. Every window has a view of something interesting and beautiful. The light and sunshine enter the buildings in perfect and unpredictable ways. Wildlife is finding its way to the pond providing us with the pleasure of watching the birds bathe. No frogs yet, but we're hopeful they'll come.

I've just touched the highlights of living on Grace Lane. We will discover more surprises throughout the year, unfolding daily, as the light and weather change, and we adjust our living styles -- as we settle in to a new way of living.

There are, however, huge problems with our new home and that's that I can't get anything done for just looking. Standing on the bridge gazing out at the pond and stream; gawking at the buildings when I'm trying to gravel the pathways; admiring the details of the barn when I should be painting; or simply aimlessly moving from one enticing spot to another. Productivity is yielding to eye candy. Ah!

Jacob & Josh

2009-04-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

A visit from our cute neighbor boys.

Final Inspection Today!

2009-04-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

And, with a big yippee! we passed. What an adventure this has been building our new home. Little tasks remain to be completed, but the "systems" are all go, and our certificate of occupancy is a done deal. Working with Bob, Langley's building inspector, has been a pleasure from start to finish. He is knowledgeable, reasonable, and an amazingly competent and delightful person to work with.

A huge thanks to Brad for a job well done; Ed for his electrical work, patience and bringing home the $$; and to all our workers, subcontractors, friends, family, neighbors and cheerleaders. Thank you! Thank you!

More garden beds...

2009-04-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

We're raking and shaping and preparing more and more garden beds. Little by the little the garden takes shape as the paths are refined and plants are added to the new spaces.

Are we impatient, or what?

2009-04-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

We release fish into the pond and they dive to the bottom -- immediately. So we do it again and again, including 24 goldfish and two koi yesterday. Have we seen them since? No. Or the others we've released? No. We've been through this before, with other ponds, but we're still too ready for instant gratification to settle down and wait quietly.

New Leaves

2009-04-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

Our new vine maples are beginning to leaf out. They were dug this winter at Brad's Dad's home in North Bend, arriving here with small root balls. Digging them was difficult as they were so thick and entangled in the understory of their native forest. We planted them with care and have been nursing them throughout the winter months, hoping for the best. We're more and more optimistic!

Larry and Betty

2009-04-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

drop by to deliver a house warming gift and take a quick tour. With the sun out all afternoon I had the end doors wide open to the patio for a taste of how wonderful the summer days will be in our new space. Thanks Larry and Betty for the perfect gift -- red trimmed pot and red geranium. I'm definitely in love with red these days and the hit of spring was perfect!

Hermione

2009-04-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

Diane, because she moved from her beautiful home on Archwood Court, generously gifted us with this wonderful garden sculpture. It took us a while to find the perfect spot, but look how wonderful she is. Brad placed her today. At Archwood she was near the creek and completely surrounded with moss. She will be surrounded here at well, once she and our garden settle in. A huge, huge thank you Diane!

Spring is here -- sort of...

2009-04-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

When I got up yesterday morning it was raining. You can see the guesthouse roof water (on the left) spilling into our stream. But, an hour later, it was snowing. We ended up getting about an inch of so that stuck around all day. What's with this April weather?

How did we get our name?

2009-04-08T17:00:00.001-07:00

We're building on Whidbey Island: "on whidbey"

There are three of us in our family: "fredley" -- Fran (fr), Ed (ed), and Bradley (ley)

What a difference a day makes...

2009-04-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

Day 3 the guesthouse pathway gets a coating of crushed rock.

Guesthouse Garden

2009-04-07T17:31:00.000-07:00

This is what the guesthouse garden looked like yesterday (Day 1).

Today, after moving trash, rocks, weeds, plants and soil it's changed a bit (Day 2). Tomorrow I hope to gravel the pathways. The stakes indicate the locations of screens.

Pathways

2009-04-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

We now have a pathway to our front door! The berm that Annie is testing out will be planted soon. There is no longer an opening to access the covered porch from the south, but much more privacy and a sense of the porch being a "room".

There is now a "proper" trail to the stream, east of main living. Back under the living area you can see the beginnings of rock/landscape cloth installation. It's a dry area, where nothing will grow, so the rock covering will be neat, tidy and attractive.

Another Pile

2009-04-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

Boulders for retaining and crushed rock for pathways.

Drainage

2009-04-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite methods of handling water, pests and home maintenance is to put drain rock under the building overhangs. This allows access for easy window washing, painting, and other types of cleanup. I'm not a fan of landscape cloth in the garden but for this use I find it useful to keep the area weed and silt free.

Under the front entry path a snake-like catch basin for water running off the driveway is installed. With drain tile and drain rock the entire pathway becomes a catch basin. The drain tile has been wrapped with landscape cloth to keep it from silting up. The snake drainage ends at a true catch basin.

Oh boy, gardening...

2009-04-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

The edge of the pond isn't complete, but under the guesthouse it is raked and there's a bench under cover for enjoying rainy days.

There are now plantings in place at the SE corner of the main living building.

Pathways are being carved into the land for the front door approach and a berm has been built so there's no direct approach to the covered patio. (Note: The porch gets cleaned off and then we start another project. Please excuse our mess!)

The pathway to the front door is getting ready for gravel. Monday Blue Star is delivering gravel so all the pathways will soon be firm, safe and cleaner. Then too, we hope, we can keep our floors a little cleaner. Right now sand and grit are tracked in with each step.

Annie

2009-04-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

Annie's thinking our new window seat is dog perfect.

Our Returning Neighbors

2009-04-04T19:53:00.000-07:00

Dianne is just back from Alaska where she's been working for the past five weeks. Fred just returned from two months in Mexico and Laurie, also recently returned from Mexico, catch up on what's happened with our construction project.

Our inside out greenhouse

2009-04-04T19:41:00.000-07:00

Brad and Josh put old Island County Fair Ground roofing up in the greenhouse for paneling. Then, a piece of welded wire mess for tying vines. Behind the paneling, the greenhouse is fully insulated, using scraps from our building project. Next winter the greenhouse should be perfect for winter gardening. Now, with the interior almost done, I'm anxious to get my seed starts going.

Josh's comment about the greenhouse paneling was that it was like the greenhouse was inside out. The tin on the walls is like one would usually see on a shed's exterior.

Ah, spring.

2009-04-04T19:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Ed and I went to Lynnwood to order our closet system and Brad went skiing. When we returned home, Ed looked out the window, and burst out laughing. Our pond had an air mattress floating on it. Gretchen, our neighbor, and I have been talking about floating on the pond come the warm days of summer. There was the tool. Not quite warm enough yet, but Gretchen's moving, so she left us a going away gift. I can't wait for enough warmth to put it to use. The days are now getting up into the 50's but the nights are still very cool. Last night it got down to about 34 and there was frost on the ground this morning. Nevertheless, spring is in the air. I have my peas plus some lettuce and kale planted. Potatoes are cut, the eyes are sprouting and soon they will be in the ground.

Recycling the leftovers

2009-04-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

The old glass that leaked and was replaced needed a home, so became a screen at our entry. The wood holding up the glass was recycled as well. Then, the wire mess, also recycled, was added because just the glass and wood wasn't quite right. Huge improvement. Then (you can see a sample piece of gutter in three of the pictures), Brad had the idea of trimming out the edges with leftover gutter. Each addition make the "experiment" better until we are now quite pleased with the overall look. Sculpture, screen, art -- who knows -- but fun!

Finishing the Front Door

2009-04-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

The glass for the front door had a broken seal, so finally a replacement arrived and was installed. It also now has hardware and works beautifully. The door is huge -- 8x4' -- plus Brad built it out of exceedingly thick recycled wood with steel glass stops. It is, perhaps, the heaviest front door I've ever opened or closed. The "thud" of closing is a reassuring sound.

Ed's Work Space Happening

2009-03-23T17:55:00.000-07:00

Ed & Brad building shelves in the barn's office/guest room.

Ed getting his work space set up.

Loading the shelves.

Is it a porch or is it art?

2009-03-22T21:11:00.001-07:00

Here comes the glass

2009-03-22T19:56:00.001-07:00

Here is the beautiful laminated glass for our entry porch.

Getting the glass on edge before it is put on the skids to move to the roof.

Putting the glass on the skids, being so very careful to support it so it doesn't bend and crack.

Slowly, inch-by-inch, the glass is moved up the skids to the porch roof.

Working the glass upward and forward...

Moving it into place.

Making fitting adjustments.

The smile of gratitude and pleasure that the glass is in place and in one piece.

Testing the structural integrity!

Installing the entry roof support

2009-03-22T19:49:00.000-07:00

Putting into place, clamping, welding, adjusting, and taping to get ready for the roof of glass.