At long last... we have internet!

The internet has been a bit dodgy recently, but seems to be working again.
The last week at the land has been very busy, including one overnight stay, one 12-hour work day, and a few days of extra help.




The studio:
-all walls, floors, trimming done
-canvases installed
-rainwater harvesting put in place
-all solar panel things bought and waiting for install
-drystack stone steps finished




The bath house:
-framed
-juniper posts cut and notched
-foundation holes dug
-roof assembled
-interior decoration / hardware purchased
-gallon of NO VOC "environmentally friendly" paint found and purchased for $20

The woodshed:
-hoisted into place and secured
-all lumber organized underneath




The land:
-cleaned and beautified by a team of highly skilled men with clippers
-brush piles consolidated and some burned
-a few new plants installed
-cut down a few choice trees




Relaxation:
-went to San Antonio after a particularly hard few days of work last weekend; spent time with Blake's extended family
-watched Shrek 3, Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Slumdog Millionaire
-camped out in the shelter after a bonfire and watching a storm pass by
-visited the Langfords for a short evening




It has rained consistently for the last week.. every night and morning. This keeps it a fair bit cooler throughout the day, temperature wise, but the humidity is SO much higher that the benefit is nullified.
I left my sketchbook out in the flash-flood rain yesterday, and spent the better part of an hour drying each page with a blowdryer. It swelled like a sponge and came out of its binding, but the pages are still legible.

There are finally new pictures up at my Picassa page.

nearly almost somewhat complete

So it feels like a monumental day: We got almost all of the interior finishing done (walls painted, floor done, trimmings in place) and the first, more difficult canvas up.
It finally feels like a real building!
However.. it is not complete. Not even very close. It's one of those prjects that is never, ever finished.

After we finish the trimming and install the other canvas, we still have to:
-fix the flashing and gutter so the building doesn't leak.
-weatherproof wood deck
-possibly build a 20' deck extension with another 8' roof overhang
-if not the suuuuper long deck, at least a 4' deck on the back (which would be really super easy because the structure is already there)
-install solar panel
-install LED lighting

-Bath house
-tighten up the deck
-clean up landscaping
-get all party plans in order


However, I'm very excited about what we've accomplished and what's next. The bathhouse should be a pretty fun project, and I've claimed the interior as my pet project. Blake is more hesitant.


Yesterday we went to the Salvage yard to pick up material for the bath house, and walked away with both the foundation structure and the design in mind. The place was haunting and beautiful... not sure whether to feel all the joy and hope of a kid in a candy shop (look at all this cool stuff!!!) or despair and hopelessness of looking on the expansive waste and ruin of civilization. At the very least, it provided a fun place to photograph.

There are many more on my picassa album.


The salvage yard


airplanes


Looking for inspiration


Funny face


Starting to install the canvas back at the land


Painting by candle light


Installing the canvas


Sometimes it takes a little effort


The workers, taking a break after framing the canvas

A slow weekend

Greg and Sarah came down on Thursday and Friday, so Blake and I took the day off from work. We had lunch, showed them around the land, and got to hang out with them. [By the way, Harry Potter 6 was terrible. Don't go see it.]

We went back to work on Saturday; Kent, Blake's dad, showed up to help, and we managed to fly through our to do list:
-finished the deck shade roof
-planted and mulched the remaining grapes, herbs, and trees.
-started on interior finishings
-cleaned out and organized the van

Saturday was also a night for rain. A huge storm rolled through town and we got nearly an inch of rain overnight. The lightening was incredible; I woke up at 4 to near constant light from the storm, kind of like a strobe. The thunder wasn't so bad, but the gutters are backed up and everything is starting to look a little bit more alive. It has cooled down considerably, a welcome relief to everyone.


Blake sawing off the overhangs of the shade roof structure



Heaving the roofing into place



Three generations of help



Working on interior



Cleaning out the van

Days 3 and 4 at the Land

We completed the deck yesterday, and with the help of Miller and his family installed the subfloor of the shelter, measured and cut the next pieces of structure for the roof, and mulched all the remaining trees.
It was a brutally hot day, but a lot has been completed!

We got to hang out with Greg and Sarah today, are going to see Harry Potter 6 with Blake's friends tonight, and will show off our handiwork to G+S tomorrow morning. It will be our first morning off, but will probably go back for a longer session in the evening to finish the roof overhang before the foretold rain arrives on Saturday.


Heading out to water


The completed deck in the morning light


Water = life


Measuring the columns for the next bit of roof


Miller and his crew came out to help install the subfloor


Supervisors.

Good friends are fun

First day and a half

The new Picasa album is here: At the Land.

First day and a half have been long, but productive.
Yesterday was a bit frustrating: we had several trips to Lowes, a wasp infestation, and unbearable heat to slow us down.
By 11 am it's really too hot to do much out there, even with the shade. It's been over 100 for the last month.

===MONDAY===
We got to the land around 8, and I helped GD (for ease, I will refer to Grandpa Downs as such) water all of the plants while Blake tried to get rid of the 3 waspnests in the structure.
I mostly sat around and not much building happened because it was hot.
We went back in the evening, framed a bit of the deck, and left at 9:30pm.

===TODAY===


Surveying the work to be done in the morning.


Arrived at 7, and started immediately on the deck framing. By 1 we had completed the structural framing for the flooring and weather sealed it all. We will go back this evening to install the flooring throughout the interior and exterior and possibly start framing up the next section of wall so that the canvas walls can be installed tomorrow.



Preparing to torque the middle beam into alignment. It was badly warped, but with a little ingenuity, a few screws, and muscle strength, we managed to straighten it back out.


We made a lot of progress and it feels good to see things take shape so quickly!



Weather sealing the structural frame of the deck after installation is complete.


The storage van (which will hopefully be organized soon) contains everything necessary: ax heads, random tools, bits of wire, assorted screws, a few varmints...

At the Land

We have spent the last few days at Blake's mother's house, near Dallas, lounging by the pool and reading the first Harry Potter. It's been rather idle and un-productive, just like summer should be, but we have not been completely lazy either.
Over the last hour, Blake and I have made a schedule for the rest of the month {while baking a cake}.

Week 1 [July 12 - 18]
-Finish the shelter
-Buy and plant new companion plants
-Complete mulching
*Greg and Sarah visit
*Harry Potter opening

Week 2 [July 19 - 26]
-Design and build small bathouse
-Test Blake's thesis whole-tree joints
-Install solar panels

Week 3 [July 27 - August 2]
-Select site for Blake's thesis and begin project [Whole tree parametric lattice] (possibly in the form of a wood workshop)
-Finalize exhibition plans, including:
---Design and plan of installations
---Formatting slideshows and presentations
---Printing of drawings, research, other work
---Design and begin construction of additional structures (shade, tables, etc)

Week 4 [August 3 - 9]
-Complete revamp of deck
-Grounds cleanup, including weeding, lighting, and party provisions
-Installation of work

August 10: Exhibition opens
August 11: Clean up and relax
August 12: Andrew's birthday in Abilene
August 13: I fly back to Chicago

====

It is a lot to do, but possible with hard work. We plan on keeping a pretty intense daily schedule:
5:30 am: Wake up.
6am-12 or 1: Work at land.
1-6: Return to Gparent's for lunch and to wait out the hot part of the day; work at home on computers [fixing up drawings, putting work in correct format for exhibition, installation planning, and miscellaneous personal work]. Blog/Phlog about day's work.
6-9pm: If necessary, return to land to work.


In addition to the Land work, I'd like to also do a few side personal projects, including:
-Reading and Reflecting on: Walden Pond, Futurist (and other) Manifestos, Evans' short essays
-Working out possible IDP credit for work at the land
-Rewriting (adding to) essay from AA HTS on Architecture and Morality (I have done quite a bit already, but want to think more on this)
-Backing up and cleaning up my C-Drive


Sound fun? I think so!

Another last day

It is my last day in Ann Arbor with my parents (possibly ever, since they will likely be moving in the coming months) and I've spent the day in what has become my typical last-day frenzy of running important errands and trying to do more than is possible.
Luckily, I'm mostly packed and the errands I needed to run have been successful (I am now the proud owner of a credit card).

I have uploaded all of the interesting photos, finished Harry Potter 6, and done the laundry.

We have spent the evenings alternating between me talking about my trip and me NOT talking about my trip. The nights I do, I inevitably keep them up far too late and end up hoarse.


Blake was about to kill me after I forced him to take this photo with me. People were staring and he was embarrassed.


A worker texting on her phone at the Reichstag


Cologne Cathedral was like a mountain

Photos up

I can't quite bring myself to post about all of my travels yet.. it will take ages to condense the last few weeks into just a few slides, but photos are now up from all of Blake's and my travels through the UK and Europe.

Check out my [ picassa page ].

And, as expected, it is hard to adjust back to the [lethargic] daily grind of American Life in the Midwest. I leave for Texas on Tuesday and am hoping that this change will help ease my discontent.

In the meantime, I am frantically searching for places to living in Chicago, sorting and repacking all of my belongings, I have donated nearly half of the clothing I own to Salvation Army, and am well into Harry Potter 6.

Home! At last!

I made it home yesterday evening and I've spent the last 24 hours eating, sharing photos and stories, trying to sort through everything I own, and get a handle on my collision into Real Life.

Not a day's rest, and I'm not sure I'd have one even if I could, because keeping momentum is the only way I'll be able to do all the things that need to be done.

But it is a bit crazy: I have to sort and pack all of my things for the fall before I leave in a week for Texas. I've nearly finished, surprisingly, except for the sorting of photos.

3000 photos from the last month, chronicling travels to and through 21 destinations:
Oxford, Blenheim, Cotswolds, Bath, Stonehenge, Newport, Chepstow, Betws y Coed, Lake District, Edinburgh, Whitby, York, Portsmouth, St Malo, Mont St Michel, Versailles, Paris, Cologne, Hannover, Berlin, London.

It is nice to be back in a home, where someone will feed me and I can sleep on a bed and do what I like... but I want desperately to keep on the influence of the places I've been, the walkable way of life, the good health and happiness, the intensity of quality. I've learned a lot, and changed a little, and hope it's not in vain.
It's not very hard now, but I've only been home a day. I think it will hit more fully when I'm back in Chicago in the fall, stuck in a depressingly cold city, forced into courses I do not care for.

Anyways, pictures of said destinations are on their way... about half have been sorted into Picassa, and only a few uploaded.

busses and hiking and trains, oh my!

Currently in newport with 5 minutes to spare on the internet. Things have been surprisingly smooth, despite a few small hiccups in last-minute plan changes (which are to be expected). But camping and hiking and seeing the countryside is amazing. It is a beautiful, beautiful country.


Journaling and photographing a lot, so I will update with more when I return. Catching time online is difficult.

On our way to Snowdonia, a national park in Wales, to camp for 3 nights. Then its up to the Lake ddistrict, scotland, whitby, york, portsmouth, FRANCE, GERMANY, home!
a bit of a whirlwind, but its still feeling slow.

seen such beautiful rolling hills, villages, cottages. wanting to buy one, terribly.

i fall asleep every time i get on the train, its so soothing, so i've missed alot of the countryside that way. it's starting to look all the same: LUCIOUS green masses everywhere, sweet little villages and old castles tucked away.

we were in chepstow last night and got to wander around the castle there... the oldest in wales/britain. crumbling, it is the epitome of "castle" with turrets and things like that.

having a lot of fun with blake. we went swimming last night! (some campsites are better than others) but a cow in a neighboring field sounded like it was DYING all night, which was slightly annoying.

The sun rises so early and sets so late here. like 6am-10pm. Makes a nice long day of sightseeing.

Off to Snowdonia!!

It has been an extraordinarily hectic last two days. Was up at 5 am yesterday booking tickets and hostels, worked til 1.

blake and i did go to regents park theater for Much Ado About Nothing, which was MAZING (though cold) and have been visint people and taking short breaks... but for the most part struggling to plan the net 5 weeks of life.

All is (almost) set and we are headed to Oxford in a few hours..... if only those blasted train tickets would work out!!

RAH! to Eurostar/TheFrench/and all others who stand in my way of making convenient bookings. =[

but yay for vacation! finally....

will try to post.. no promises

Last day in Neverland

It's strange and refreshing to be done. Blake is here, and is excessively annoying (he is pestering me at the moment to finish up quick so that we can eat chocolate and watch a movie), so to make this quick, I will post photos... that hopefully capture and sum up the last day more completely than I could write.

More photos, including detail shots of projects, can be seen here.


One full, slightly panic-stricken day of painting letters with Mike and Daniel preceded Blake's arrival and the opening.


All happy after a successful review. My review went well and it was really interesting to hear the emphasis of certain jurors. Brett Steele loved the chairs and dress as excellent representations of architects sneakily stealing other bodies of work and presenting them in only a way architects would (process - based). Eugene and Valentin loved the crazy mooshy "house" for its bold use of form and color. Ironically, the Zaha dudes didn't like it as much.


The exhibition (monia's side) after we all set up our final models


Post-crit, we journeyed to the balcony for to change into our freshly painted shirts that read ["Suckers for Sam - Moanin for Monia - VSP 2009"]


All of us, in our new shirts after giving Monia her gifts (a similar shirt, the studio Mix CD of all of our Project-title songs, and a frame with photos of us jumping and being silly with our projects)


Lil Mama Monia...


...took pictures of us all with our exhibition spreads.


After a farewell dinner in Soho, we got pastries at the best bakery in town, and ate on the steps of a Roman Catholic church off Tottenham (after being kicked out of the park by skeezy security guards).

It wasn't sad saying goodbye to anyone, because it doesn't feel over. I feel like I'll walk to school Monday with a cup of coffee, as usual, and wait for tutorial in the evening. At the very least, I feel like I will see them all again.
VSP '09 reunion, anyone?

This Week's Work 13

I've spent the last few days teetering on some sort of edge between school and summer, excitement and nostalgia, relaxation and stress.
All of our whitebooks and final drawings have been submitted and are coming back from the printers today. The model is done. The presentation is (nearly) done.
I've been in studio, however, with everyone and it feels like the beginning of the term again. There's work to do, but the temptation of outside is hard to overcome, and we all want to spend the afternoon shopping or sipping coffees. Go home late, maybe grab a beer, and talk about AA.
Except the conversation has changed; it's no longer about how we are so excited to be here, or how to next develop our project... it's how much we are glad to have been here, how we don't want it to end or go home... II've never had a stranger end to a semester. Instead of the abrupt stressful end to the term (a flury of long nights and hurried printing the night before), we had to have all of our things due a week in advance, giving us time to prepare ourselves and final models for the exhibition on Thursday. I've had over a week of almost no work.
But the stress is still there, partly, because we've had to organize everything and submit it. Daniel and I, having finished early, put together the Bible whitebook and ran some errands.

We've made shirts, silly signs, had a brunch outing, gone dancing. My studio friends have been wonderful, and it's really strange that in 4 days everything will have changed.

Code of Honor?

I stumbled upon this article from a recent Bldgblog entry.
Read and view for yourself, but I can't get over how wrong it is.

"The Explorers, a coeducational affiliate of the Boy Scouts... train members in confronting terrorism, illegal immigration and border violence."






Equivalent?