Gasshō,
Have you noticed that a lot of conversation about weather these days contains observations along the lines of, “Yeah, this is really unusual for us”? It might be time for us to consider that “unusual” is the new “usual.” In our case, we took our eyes off the weather app for just a few minutes and summer turned into winter. Don’t know what happened to fall….
Mojo (our truck) works hard but also does art!
Wait! What happened to Fall?
The good news for us is that we were able to get lots done and ready before this first snow. Yep, just had our first snow of the year. Unusual for us. Doesn’t snow in Sequim. Uh huh.
Before....
After...
When we first bought 4 Acres we thought we’d tear down the dilapidated sheds at the bottom of the property. They really were a mess. However, as is our wont, we got to know them and grew fond of them. In one we began to store the tools we were using to clean up and beautify that area. In the other we began to put some of the still usable build-ables—fence posts and pickets, leftover bits of siding from what we are now officially calling The Mash Tent [more about that soon], a couple of usable trellises, and such. We used some of the bits of siding to repair the bottom wood that had been allowed to rot in mud, then a good sweeping and a coat of paint and, voila! Both functional and lovely.
When we first moved to the 320 acres in California there was nothing on it. Our first “structure” was a 16X32 foot army tent—a mash tent. It became kitchen and dining hall and remained such, right up until, many years later, we moved into the official Monastery building. The garage on 4 Acres will serve the same mash tent purpose for us and is coming along apace. There’s still a great deal to do, but it’s unfolding in a way that is clearly perfect. Roof has been made solid and sturdy, insulation is in, electrical has passed inspection. It turns out the concrete slab on which the back of the building rests—concrete walls about 3 feet high and below ground—were never sealed. We found this out when, after the first big rain, the water began to seep in at an alarming rate. This could seem like less than good news, but it turns out to be fortuitous. We’re at a perfect stage in the reconstruction to dig out that back area and install what I learned as a French drain but around these parts is called a curtain drain. That said, according to google, we’re getting a French drain as there’s not going to be anything “shallow” about it! Behind the mash tent it will be five or so feet deep and contain a pump that will whisk water from inside and outside the building across to the sewer line. We knew we wanted a trench across the top of the property in order to bring water and electricity to a future building, so this is just sooner rather than later. Once this is done, and, yes, this should be an exciting photo opportunity, we will be ready for sheetrock, finishing electrical, putting in the plumbing for a sink, and away we go.
Our first use of the building is one I’ve been eager for, lo these many months. We’re going to set up a recording studio and begin recording the books. The original hope was to have a couple ready to offer at the holidays, but that might be a bit ambitious. Maybe yes, maybe no. We didn’t think we’d get this far with the whole project so, as we know, all is possible.
Oh, and if you have a request for which book to start with, please let me know.
In gasshō,
ch