Winter and Summer

This picture was taken just after John finished the stone stairs in the front rock wall (which was after we did this other job, click if you want to see how it all started) that was a work in progress for several years. He used a total of 115 tons of rock & boulders to build all the garden walls, a in-ground circular firepit and 2 more stone stairways... Heavy work but he liked the physical demands of it.... He moved them all himself. I stuck with the roses and perennials.

It took us and the help of two others, 6 weeks to cedar shingle  our place... The best parts of using cedar shingles on the exterior of a structure is that they will gradually turn to a silver-gray naturally with the salt air quite quickly... no need to stain or paint them, therefore saving much labor and material cost for the life of the building...  other good things about them is that there is hardly any waste material because you can use up many small pieces  wherever needed...  they let the building breathe... they last at least 70 years... anybody can do it that can follow a straight line... they are natural and beautiful.

When you work where you live, it is very different than going off to another workplace every day... space and proper light and pleasant working conditions are necessary .... 24/7  can be difficult without a break with some beauty......



 

We built the house with a sort of alcove in the front where we can be cozy on breezy days ... and it also acts as a heat sink..






ah yes dreaming of long summer days... .... longing for blue skies, fluffy clouds, gardens, and flowers everywhere....



...... the reward of summer, here..... is sheer ecstasy.