Spring delights

There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling.

Mirabel Osler

Azalea

It's interesting that I'm the gardener but when the camera is in Ed's hands he captures the flora. Even though the construction site is just that -- a construction site -- we do have beautiful garden views here and there around the edges, and Ed's camera-eye finds them. Just this past week we spent a few of our building hours picking up free sword ferns given to us by Sydney and Mike Hoffman. On our property's east boundary we are replanting natives so the ferns are a perfect start. They are tough and can handle the sun and poor soil of an initial restoration project. They are now planted and watered in just in time for their spring burst of growth. Small Vine Maples were planted with the ferns which are now being happily enjoyed for breakfast. The munching deer have eaten most of the maples' leaves. The deer also nip off the new fern tips. Even though our lot is in the city limits we have deer browsing daily on this tender leaf or that fragrant flower. From hoof prints we can see they are also inspecting the construction progress on a regular basis.

Wild Strawberries

Geranium

Oxalis

A mess

"A good home must be made, not bought."

Joyce Maynard, "Domestic Affairs"

If making a "good home" starts with a mess, a good home we will have! Our building site has stacks and stacks of recycled lumber in various stages of completion. There are piles with the nails removed; piles still to have the nails removed. Piles needing washing; some already washed. Piles of differing sizes and types -- cedar, fir, hemlock 2x8's, beams, siding. Other piles of purchased wood -- plywood and 2x4's and osb. Then there are the electrical supplies, plumbing parts, rolls of tar paper, insulation, and boxes and boxes of nails and screws. In addition, utility trenches are uncovered, waiting for the final wires and hookups and inspections. Add to that the neighbor's rv, our storage tent, and a million tools. Walking about safely is almost impossible. Although each day includes site cleanup the mess grows and grows and grows. Fortunately, from time-to-time a mess is also eliminated.

Brad, Annie and the carriage doors

Brad has been working on installing the carriage doors (obtained from a home being demolished in Edmonds) to secure the work shop. The carriage doors were our first recycled purchase, one we found on Craig's list and purchased from Re-Use, a brokerage firm hooking up old building materials with interested users. Once the doors are installed, that will be one less pile-on-site, and one more completed project. This past Sunday, Erin covered a huge trench eliminating an ankle breaker. Shortly we'll have enough soil graded, lumber used, or properly stored, trenches filled, and construction far enough along, that we can complete the driveway and finish it up with gravel.

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A celebration of beginning and completing tasks happens every day on a construction site.

Annie

"To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly,cheerful, reverent- that is to triumph over old age."

Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Today, Brad, Ed, Erin, Chris, Scotty and I will be dedicating the day to the new home-building project. Annie will watch and ponder our focus and wonder why we're not on the beach or walking in the woods -- so much more fun -- with our usual play-with-the-dog enthusiasm. Her days at the construction site are not quite up to the quality she has come to expect. On the other hand, she's with her people and their friends which is worth many pats on the head and there is no end of activity to watch. Yet watching is so puzzling. Machines of all sizes! Hammering, digging, cutting! Noise! Yikees! Although there are great times of fun at Grace Lane, especially ripping through the ditches and piles of dirt, it's mostly just staying out of the way that's important.

Sleeping wing moves forward...

This is an interesting building Brad and Chris are working on. It's not only a carport with shop at one end, but also a bedroom, bath and laundry. All in one relatively small space. The joists are the recycled 2x8's we picked up in Tacoma a few weeks ago. The beam you see on the far left of one photo is also recycled and will support the roof-to-be. It's great seeing this old lumber, now without nails, planed and sanded being used again. Beautiful! The shop, in the last photo, is actually getting set up for the heavy work ahead.

The joists go up

the joists are also rafters














upstairs space -- open but covered



















view from windows to the west



















shop-to-be

Odds and Ends from Airin

Just some leftover pics from my spring break.

These are my boots in Brad's truck. They fell apart and Brad glued them back together for me. Thanks Brad. They're holding up great and give me something to take pictures of while I'm waiting.

The Bellingham Crew goes mountain biking after lunch. Gotta love it.I usually ride the bus from Bellingham to Langley and back. On this day I got off the bus at Maxwellton Rd. and pedaled to the site. It was one of the first really spring-like days and I was particularly pleased to be pedaling. It's exciting to roll down the driveway anticipating all the change and growth that's happening.

More gleaning

Brad loading the truck yet again

Look at our beautiful new door. It is a metal door, with four panels, the two middle panels (removed in the picture) open. It dates back to the 40's. The north Seattle house being remodeled in the background is its first home. Delightful folks sold us the door and although they were sad to part with it, they were delighted to see it go to a good new home. Naturally we don't know exactly how we're going to use it but we will find the perfect spot.

What a remarkable truck & loading job

A fully loaded truck! Also on the truck is beautiful old barn wood we picked up north of Bellingham, a new roller bench from Grizzly in Bellingham, a new torch in Bow, and a number of other items accumulated here and there over the course of the weekend.