Rain, rain and more rain.

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.

Thinking about the whole

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?

Storm Water Management

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.

Spring is here -- sort of...

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?

Ah, spring.

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.

Stream from tip to toe...

Our stream is largely finished from the headwaters to the outflow. A few days ago Brad and Austin moved the last three large boulders into place. Since then, smaller rocks, gravel and plants have been tucked in here and there. We're also in the process of placing lights which is a tricky, tricky business. We view this area from the top, bottom and bridge so placing the lights so they don't zing you is quite challenging. We're anxiously awaiting spring and the new growth to pop forth on the plantings. The cushioning is very much needed to move from the man made look to a more natural mountain stream look.

A Dusting of Snow

views from the bridge...

Spring IS coming...

We've definitely had winter in the NW this year so when we can grab a semi-warm day for gardening, we do. And, when we grab it, the vegetable garden seems like a good place to put our energy. The pathways are newly mulched and the beds with either wintered over crops or cover crops are looking pretty good.

Some Amazing Snow...

Including roof snow, in the first two shots, that defies gravity and in the next two that amaze with the curl...

Lots of winter this year!

Our December goals are finishing up our new home and moving into it. The weather and our long to-do list have both been challenging. Despite that we've taken time out to play in our winter wonderland. Happy Holidays to all of you!

Snow on Whidbey

We're having about a 10 day cold spell, complete with snow. It is beautiful. The timing isn't perfect for our project but it's difficult to complain surrounded with this much beauty.

Why Separate Buildings?

In our design we decided every room must have dual functions. We'd use the sun to offset our need for full use of the power grid; we'd manage our site water efficiently; we'd build small; we'd make use of recycled materials whenever possible; we're be careful with the land and repair construction damage with native plants or food crops; and we'd create wildlife habitat. In that equation, people ask, "so, why three buildings?"

That's a very good question because three buildings are less efficient than one and efficiency has been a driving design force. However, with each room functioning in multiple ways, and only 860+ sq. ft. of heated space, we knew we'd need room from one another. Each of us would need private space to make noise without damaging our relationship. Ed loves loud rock n' roll. I only like it a little. I love loud opera, Ed likes it only a little. The operative word here is "loud". I rarely vacuum our apartment because I can't play opera loud, and, in my mind, that is the only way to vacuum or clean house -- opera and incense. Our fellow apartment dwellers wouldn't like either. They'd like Ed's music even less. With separate buildings we can cut loose.

Also, we find as we age our sleep patterns are strange, with one or the other of us prowling the house at 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning. We entertain ourselves as best we can without bothering our sleeping partner or we search for another bed so we can toss and turn to our heart's content. We call it "sleeping around". With our separate buildings we can use our computers; listen to music; turn on the lights to read; make jam; or even take a bath without bothering one another. And with house guests we can all have wonderful visits and then retire to separate spaces -- small, but separate spaces.

Our retreats are not just "heated" retreats. Each building also has outdoor covered areas for enjoying inclement weather without getting soaking wet. Being forced inside just because it's raining is painful to me because I so love being in the weather, but don't much want to always get wet. Outdoor covered areas expand our home significantly without adding to our heating costs.

Accordingly we have 2000 sq. ft. of roof area, with only 860 sq. ft. of it heated The summer months will turn our main living space into one seamless indoor/outdoor room. Even our kitchen is designed to partly move outside during the warm weather, with carts we can use for food preparation on the kitchen patio.

Our new home, to the extent possible given building codes and the like, turns the average home's design on its ears. We definitely are not building the realtor's or banker's dream home of a three car garage, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, entry hall, dining room, living room, and huge kitchen. We didn't build for someone else, but for us. I've always rejected the usual resale argument and created special, if not normal, homes. Resale has always been swift and financially rewarding. Will it be with this home? Who knows but we don't plan on that being our problem. At our ages, this is the home we hope to end our lives in, barring the need for, God forbid, a nursing home. However, I suspect, given the popularity of living small, with solar and in town, resale will not be a problem. Others will determine that though (I hope!).

On another note, when we purchased our carriage doors (two are used to close up the shop area) there was a set of three available. We only needed two, but purchased all three because that's how they came and it's difficult to locate carriage door. We'd planned on selling the third. Today I'm off to paint the third carriage door because we now have found the perfect use for it. Stay tuned.

Visitors...

Brad and Ed give Judy and Curt a construction tour. It was fun talking with Judy about the indoor-outdoor relationship of our project because she, like me, wants to spend most of her time outside -- rain or shine, hot or cold. And Curt, who is spending large portions of his retirement creating wonderful metal sculpture, loves all our recycled and found objects.

Lots going on...

Josh is focused on flashing details, insulation and more sheet rock, Erin cleans the steel posts, while Dan works on the flooring for the guesthouse. Travis and Brad, not in the line of the camera, stayed busy with miscellaneous tasks of clean up, payroll, and a million other details of construction.

Mr. Ed returned from ND this a.m.! Brad and Erin departed for Bellingham this p.m., the crew is off until Monday, and Ed and I have a good movie for the evening.

It's raining, started right after I watered the vegetable garden. Temperature is 61.

Beautiful day!

Viewing our vegetable garden from the east on this beautiful sunny NW day.

"Coldest June in more than a century"

The Seattle PI headline today. Snowplows were busy clearing snow on Snoqualmie Pass, with less than two weeks before summer solstice. Snow level is at 2,500 feet and temperatures are at least 10 degrees below normal. We've all been whining about the cold, rain and lack of spring, but it's justified. The weather sucks. There is, unfortunately, no end in sight before the end of June. The weather has definitely been a problem with our construction project with some days just too awful to pump up the motivation.

Snow in Mid-April?

Yep, if you double click on the photo you can see the snow flakes. Here it is mid-April and the snow is still falling in the NW. Ed reports that Lynnwood had three inches on the ground yesterday. I've told my clients for years now, and they usually condescendingly grin at me, that it's not safe to put out tender plants until Mother's Day. Well, this year they're listening to those wise words. Last week, for one day, we had a beautiful spring day and the temperature got into the 70's and we all celebrated the warmth. But it was just a tease. Today, it started out at 38, and has now (9:00) jumped up by two degrees. More snow is forecast. The mittens and hats have come out of the closet again.

One More Layer of Complexity

The final layer of PEX was laid yesterday and is the last layer of detail before the pour. The PEX will carry hot water for heat and is added to a similar layer of PEX at the bottom of this heat sink (5' down), and it joins layers of wire, rebar, electrical conduit, plumbing, sensors, table vaults, insulation, and compacted sand. Yesterday the electrical inspection for the conduit was passed (plumbing passed some weeks ago). The pour is now scheduled for next week for certain. two possible glitches are the weather and running out of PEX for the final "cooling" leg in the outdoor covered area. PEX turns out to be very difficult to locate and to purchase without going through a licensed plumber. And the weather, well, it is a strange spring here in the NW.

While the Sun Shines!

With glorious weather, it was a great weekend for vegetable garden preparation. Ed finished up the chicken wire to keep the rabbits out. Erin and Brad started working on the cold frame. Fran continued to mulch and work on soil prep.

Yesterday we planted six fruit trees. Four apples -- Corail, Enterprise, Braeburn & William's Pride. Two plums -- Early Laxton and Seneca. Plus six blueberries (3 Bluecrop and 3 Bluegold) were planted in pots, waiting for the garden to be ready for them. And, one grape (Himrod Seedless) was planted as well. Plus the gates were installed. Last Thursday and Friday the pathways were mulched.

Quite the transformation given that just a few weeks ago we had a sea of mud.

Now, back to building...

Really Cold!

Today the temperature is in the mid twenties and our Whidbey world is white with frost. The leaves of the Rhododendrons and other broad leaf shrubs are distorted with the cold. I need to paint the underside of the plywood that goes on the guest house roof. Under the overhangs it will be visible. My prospects of painting look slim. I will try to catch an hour or two of painting time during the middle of the day. Far from ideal, but...

Later: I did get the plywood painted, despite the cold, so who knows if the paint will stick or even dry. It was an interesting juggling act. I leaned the painted boards up against a ladder to dry, but the ladder tipped over after I'd finished. There I was holding five sheets of plywood, covered with wet paint, and at the same time I was trying to right the ladder. No help in sight as I struggled to manage the heavy, slippery, finger pinching mess.