Building our new house
In early 2006, we were catalyzed to build a new home here at Sacred Groves to expand our residential facilities and community living on this beautiful land.
These new structures, purchased from Oregon Yurtworks will be the heart and hearth of the Sacred Groves community, home for 4-6 residents. Residents will have private space in one of the house bedrooms or in cabins (small yurt in photo). We want to model a "small is beautiful" lifestyle with each person 'downsizing' their personal, private space to less than 300sq. feet. We intend to share cars, kitchen, bathroom and laundry with a commitment to the spiritual and personal growth required for community living.
In Spring 2007, our dream is becoming a reality. We have 'broken ground' for the new house and the foundation is being built with carpenter Tere Carranza at the helm. Watch this blog for progress as the house grows.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Costa Rica - the short story
We're getting closer to moving in...at least to the partial move in...
Costa Rica is a beautiful country - green mountains, puffing volcanoes, very friendly and helpful inhabitants. I met more relatives than I had the brain memory to integrate - my father's cousins and their progeny. I heard stories about ancestors ( 'all the Mercedes die young'; my grandfather was dishonorably discharged from the National Guard of El Salvador after his company failed to help extinguish a burning building because they were all passed-out drunk; several sets of children were the offspring of the local town priests....etc etc) , sat at many a table for the late afternoon 'snack' with cousins and relatives - where coffee, pastries, a creamy cheese, and sometimes tortillas and beans were served; caught a bit of the conversation as Papa caught up with people he had not seen in 20, 30, 60 years.
I passed through the three stages of driving-acclimation :
the first: sphincter-clenching heart-stopping terror as we run stop signs, aim for pedestrians fleeing across the street;
secondly: averting the eyes from the road, and breathing in peace and tranquility - as we hurtle past the cluster of people standing in the narrow trail-like road waiting for the bus ;
the final stage - total acceptance that the stop signs are there (like fake flowers in a lobby) but aren't the real thing, that people are meant to scurry across the road and dart in and out of zooming traffic, and that street names are a crutch that keep people from really knowing the landmarks and storefronts in their neighborhoods.
I enjoyed staying with my father's cousin - Leyla, in her little apartment in a barrio of San Jose. The family is close and connected - her sister Xennia lives across the green swale that separates the rows of 'townhouses', a daughter of Xennia lives next door, another sister used to live in that complex as well. Xennia and Leyla constantly move from one house to the other - and I found them very dear and amusing as they engaged in a constant banter and discussion about everything from how to boil water for coffee to whose house should we have almuerzo (the main mid-day meal).
I didn't get a chance to see those areas that draw the crowds of international tourists ( beaches, rain forests, rafting rivers, etc) - but we did get out of San Jose a couple of times to visit two volcanoes - which were stunning and amazing in their own right.
I was hampered by my limited ( OK - non-existent) Spanish - in that I could not fully participate in some of the lively discussions about politics, family, the weather. My father translated where he could - but it was tiring for both of us to be 'on' so much. One of the highlights of the trip was having a conversation in English with a young cousin who clearly enjoyed practicing her language skills with a native speaker; another was taking a walk with her younger sister who showed me all the plants and trees and flowers in the neighborhood - we even snuck through a fence to gather the 'oreillas' - the earshaped pods of a lovely large tree that rattle when you shake them...
All in all- it was a wonderful once in a life time trip - thanks to the generosity of my father - I am grateful to know this land where he was born and to have met so many good people to whom I am related!!(costa rica pics here)
However after a week in paradize - I was ready to get back to the 'grind'.
posted by Tere # 11:39 AM 1 Comments
Sunday, March 23, 2008
We passed the inspections!!
At Equinox/Easter week-end we find ourselves nearly complete with all that is required to get our FINAL INSPECTION! In fact, this past week we passed the FINAL ELECTRICAL inspection (a HUGE hurdle to mount) and the FINAL Health District inspection for our septic system. Tere flew off this morning to join her father in Denver and then fly off to visit his home-land, Costa Rica--she'll be gone for 10 days. Myself (Therese), I'll be home this week to welcome Margaret, the City of Bainbridge Island Building Inspector who will be dropping by to check the APPROVED box for our FINAL INSPECTION --wooohooo!!
We had set a deadline of Spring Equinox to complete everything needed for our Certificate of Occupancy and THANKS TO TERE'S TIRELESS EFFORTS, WE SUCCEEDED!!!! Tere will need a couple more months to finish cosmetic details on the big house and the yurtlettes, but there will no longer be a team banging and sawing every day, the bulk of the work is done and construction material and tools are disappeared from our living room. At last I'll begin to bring my things over and settle in.
Yesterday afternoon and evening we celebrated the onset of spring and the completion of the big work in a couple ways: in a ceremonial way, we sang, raked and hauled dirt, honoring and thanking Mother Earth for the 'give-away' of so much native vegetation for the new house and environs. We planted a variety of wildflower, grass and clover seeds with a circle of women and men in the big field in front of the house in grand Eostar fashion! Later, we danced and drummed in the Great Room with old friends and new-comers. Easter morning, Tere and I woke up to a gentle soaking rain falling on the new seeds, listening to the winds in the cedars. Everything feels beautiful around the new house this morning as one chapter ends (the year-long chapter of lots of hard physical work) and a new season begins. We are blessed and we know this house is a BLESSING for us and for our community!
posted by Tere # 2:06 PM 1 Comments
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
it's only Tuesday and we're done!!!
Phew!!! We did it!!! We passed the electrical final inspection!! yes- it WAS a big deal - because it's the last hurdle before the City of Bainbridge Island can issue us a Certificate of Completion ( OK - there's the septic system certification in the pipeline that COBI also needs - but I don't have anything to do with that at this stage). So - whether or not we'll get the COC before I go to Costa Rica next week is a moot point. The real point is that now we can relax - this phase of the push is over!!!(check out the latest pics )
We embarked on this electrical work in October - and we've valiantly blundered forward ( with the requisite several steps backward at each lurch) from drilling holes in the studs ( thank you Sarah!) to pulling the wires - often several times ( thank you Sarah!), to pulling the big main wires through the conduits ( Thank you Sarah and Teagan and Carol and Jodie and Robert and Dennis K), to installing breakers at the panel ( many thanks to Carol and Dennis K and Annie) , to installing outlets and switches ( thanks to Carol, Jodie, Teagan, Sarah, Dennis K, Annie), to firing up the main panel ( thank you Dennis and Annie) and getting the yurtlette panels hot and functioning ( thank you Annie) - and the many hours and many gray hairs that pushed their way out of my head as I struggled with the spaghetti of wires pushing their way out of the many many three and four way switches ( what was I thinking?!!). Anyway - our 5 month apprenticeship is OVER!!( the only difference between me and someone who's gone thru the entire 5 year apprenticeship program is that they understand what they're doing....).
Have you noticed a theme in this tale....that Sarah has had a hand in just about every stage of this house building. And she's turning into quite the kick-ass carpenter!! She's already garnered several offers from other builders. Her humor, can-do attitude ( and 'attitude'), willingness to jump in to any project, desire to learn, and generally being a good sport and good egg have made it a pleasure to come to work every day, and made her an indispensable part of this home!!!
Sarah - you rock!!!
posted by Tere # 9:15 PM 0 Comments
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Progress
Wooo Hooooo!!! We're in the home stretch now!! The light at the end of the tunnel is illuminating this scene: a sweet sit-down dinner in our beautiful space with friends and Grovesmates - the french doors opening out to our deck where candles cast a gentle light in the darkness and laughter and good cheer all around!!
Of course the scene at this end of the tunnel is more chaotic - tools everywhere, the windows still dusty from the floor sanding saga ( 3 days!!! and three different sanders - the last of which FINALLY did the job!!!), the kitchen in need of a few appliances ( stove, fridge), the bathroom is ready to go - except that the little tub needs to be hooked up.... you get the picture. We've been working at a frantic pace to get all the inspections taken care of ( the electrical final is on Monday...fingers crossed that we'll pass it this time). We got a good start on building the back deck, installing all the lights and heaters, and Sarah cut and installed the wall boards in the yurtlettes in record time!! Dennis K put in a few days on the electrical panel - and then Annie Tarpley ( master electrician!!!) stepped in and finished it off - even the subpanels in the yurtlettes!!! I continue to be amazed and in awe that angels show up just when we need them! (thank you Andrea and Stacey; Ilgvar; David S).
We hope to have all systems up and functioning in good order by the end of April - when Sarah and Therese move in ( I've pretty much taken up residence here... it is my other 'sphouse' afterall....) - and we'll have openings for up to 5 other residents!!! The yurtlettes are scheduled to be ready for occupants by June 1 ....and we'll see how close we come to that projection.
I am going to Costa Rica next week - at the invitation of my bio-dad - to see the 'old country' and visit with cousins and relatives I've never met or heard of and to see where el Papa grew up... I'm excited about this trip - I think my sphouse will be fine while I"m gone ( and I hope I won't miss her tooooo badly..)
posted by Tere # 9:47 AM 0 Comments
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Things are moving!
I think I've wrestled the wild wires into their proper boxes and twisted the correct wires together so I'm reasonably confident the lights will turn on and the plugs will power things up once the juice is running through the panel. Dennis K stops by at least once a week (sometimes 3 or 4 times!) and adds another degree of order to the wires running to the panel. Thank goodness for incremental progress! Without his help - there would be very little progress indeed on this end of the workscape.
And now that the OTHER Dennis is on site - things are really cooking! He and Sarah and Teagan have whipped out the trim in the Living Room and all the other rooms that have been painted thus far; and while S and T are picking up the pick-up work of finishing some of the trim - Dennis has installed the kitchen cabinets, installed the bathroom cabinet and set the plywood countertops!!
I just installed the marmoleum on the countertops this eve ( oh, what's that...? the Marmoleum is supposed to go on the floor...? ooops....well, I guess we'll have to dance on the countertops ...) - it looks great - and we'll see how well it wears - ( no pics of the marmo yet - but for other pics...)
however - the highlight of the past 2 weeks was the day the toilet was installed. Therese has been waiting for months to get that porcelain goddess into the house . She is determined to get her money's worth out of that septic system ( after all, it cost tens of thousands of dollars!!) and this white throne is the perfect conduit for her appreciation and provides her with deep satisfaction on a daily basis!
posted by Tere # 11:45 PM 0 Comments
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
we're not in Kansas anymore...
Right!
Therese and I took a much needed break from the joys and strains of housebuilding - and spent a lovely northwesty vacation at La Push. The cabin we ended up in was pricey ( for us...) but worth every breathtaking moment. And we spent many a moment oooohhhing and ahhhhing at the magnificence of the ocean crashing into James Island on the right and the point that separates First Beach from Second Beach on the left.... from our vantage points of: soaking in the sunken bathtub, eating breakfast at the table, cuddling up on the couch with the fake fireplace crackling away while the winter storms whipped up the waves and splattered the many large windows with rain!
And we didn't let the rain keep us indoors! We took a lovely walk through the forest and down to the beach head at Second Beach; and many splendid strolls along the black pebble beach right outside our door; and a 'quick' (3 hours?) stop at Rialto Beach on our way out...(see pics)
Not to worry however - the home show DID go on while we were away - Teagan and Sarah started installing trim in the Great Room - and Dennis M ( the 'other' Dennis ) showed up on Friday to start his stint with the finish work.
Therese and I are calling in the refresher crew to give us that much needed boost for the last part of the project. I'm still pulling wires out of boxes and attaching them to switches.... I hope to finish with the wiring by next week....(hope springs eternal!)
(title with apologies to Cindy in Kansas...)
posted by Tere # 4:42 PM 2 Comments
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Gratitude
Ha! We did it!
Therese and I woke up to a New Year in our new bedroom! True, we slept on the floor - but that's a hair-splitting detail...
The loft is built and waiting for the new mattress, the trim is installed and some of it needs a coat of paint, and the electrical still needs to be sorted out - but hey - other than that - the room is fully functional! (pics here)
And we could not have done it - and enjoyed the process as much - if not for the spirit of generosity and willingness gifted to us by so many amazing people!! We wake each day in gratitude and excitement for the entire process!
Thank you thank you thank you Carol, Jodie, Dennis K, Dennis M, David K, Troy, David S, Tonia, Steph, Richard, Austin and Eddie and Adrian, Tom, Gordon, Sophie, Carmi, Terry, Jonas and many more helping hands and generous hearts. And many thanks to the amazing Grovesmates - Sarah, Teagan, who throw themselves into each project with enthusiasm and gusto, and to Mia, Kendra who encourage and support us in many many ways!
We look forward to the continuing unwrapping that this house building gives to us - the gift of your presence in our lives!
posted by Tere # 9:14 AM 0 Comments
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Are we there yet?
I have no idea what day it is. I've lost my rudder in the tide of season's greetings and holiday festivities (and I did thoroughly enjoy my time hanging out with the extended Charvet Clan).... fortunately I've got the 'sphouse' to tie my drifting life to - and what I DO know is that today was WINDOW Trim Day!!
Yesterday was Finish Installing the Cork Floor Day... I think tomorrow may bring me to BASEBOARD Day, and maybe to Door Trim Day as well....
These holidays do get in the way of 'progress' - but they also give me an excuse for not being ahead of schedule....in fact - as I stare at the 'other' calendar I see that the 'New Year' is three and a half work days away....
It's a toss up at this point - whether I'll be able to make good on my x-mas present to Therese - that we'll be able to set up our bed and desks in our new room by New Years Day...
it all depends on how much the 'we oui' team gets done tomorrow. And all bets are off - given the handicap that they're working under ( ie, Teagan is out on holiday so Sarah has to try to reel me into some form of constructive endeavor).
S0 - today Sarah painted the casings for three of the windows - and we installed them in about 30 minutes....(nevermind that we spent all day assembling them)..... pics here
posted by Tere # 9:54 PM 0 Comments
Saturday, December 22, 2007
We Oui!!
Wednesday Therese went in to Seattle and picked up the cork for the flooring in our bedroom and most of the lights (too bad the 16 wall sconces were back ordered...t'would have been lovely to have connected a few of them up for last night's event )... I installed the underlayment for the cork flooring - and hope to get it (the cork tiles, that is) installed by x-mas. I told Therese that my X-mas present to her was that our room would be complete enough to move in to by the New Year... I then told Sarah and Teagan that they would be working overtime! After they picked themselves up off the floor and recovered from their laughter, they sat down for another extended tea break...
Naawwww - actually Sarah has been upholding her end of the 'We Oui' team all week and mostly by herself as Teagan juggles her other job ( the early shift (5am start time!) at Blackbird Bakery here on Bainbridge Island) and visiting friends and family (Teagan we miss you!). We start the day by examining what 'we' need to get done ( move lumber piles, paint walls, make tea) - and then I find other things to do and let the We Oui team carry on ( Teagan, 'we' really really miss you!!)!
This week, 'we' accomplished many things - not the least of which was getting paint on just about every surface that requires it, and then clearing out the construction mess to accommodate the Solstice Party last night. (some pics here)
And what a great party it was!! Over 50 people came and helped warm the house, drink in the good vibes and break bread as we potlucked, danced, sang songs and enjoyed Craig and Lily's marvelous puppet show rendition of the tale 'Raven Brings Light To The World'.
I am soooo grateful to all who add their light and breath to this small part of the world!
posted by Tere # 2:41 PM 0 Comments
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Let the painting begin!!!
We managed to install enough wallboard and clean the construction mess away in time for the weekend ceremony to take place in the new house - and the participants were hardly aware that the space was buzzing with chop saws and staple guns a few hours before their arrival!!
Sarah and Teagan tag=teamed the wallboard installation and worked circles around me and the chop saw - they installed the board in the great room in a little over a day! We decided to hold off on painting until the boards had a chance to dry out on the walls -
Tonia is coming over again this week to refine her pointers in the fine art of painting - and we're looking forward to trading in our staple guns and saws for paint brushes and rollers.
Therese and I are chomping at the bit to get our room more or less 'complete' - basically - once we get a floor installed- we're moving Therese's office in here. And that may be as soon as next week!!! Watch here for the slipping schedules! check out the latest pics !
posted by Tere # 9:36 PM 0 Comments
