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, 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 