House Build Land Photos

Love at first sight - we purchased our plot in early Spring. Spring of 2014, that is! The energy efficiency requirements to build in Boulder and are some of the strictest in the country, hence the planning and review process is more extensive than a usual timeline. The bonus is, in the end you get an earth-friendly, futuristic product with a low cost to power and easier maintenance. A product you can feel good about!


A winter's day and the only thing(s) standing between us and Boulder. Our neighbor, an environmentalist, bought the conservation easement -THANK YOU!!!

House Build Progress Photos January

The roofing materials arrive.


Weighting the roof with concrete tiles before install.


Concrete roof tiles.

 
Mudding the drywall - which means we must choose the plaster finish and eventually colors! Love the asymmetrical, symmetrical mix in the home.




Most current color palette.
The open flow through the home will be white/cream, not shown.



Measure.


Height.
And working through the weekend! Love the team.

friends of Summer

Lilah

Lilah loves accessories, pool-hopping and chatting up a storm!

House Build Progress Photos

August. Astrid moves dirt, breaks ground.


Goldie on the way with her rig.


September. The home gets a form.
After MUCH deliberation there is no basement.


I am smitten by my neighbors. And despite the construction I think they adore me as well ;)


Lots of steel. There will be exposed steel on the front porch, in the living room, and on the back and side patios. We are from Cleveland, so we love steel.


October. The sticks are up. The framers are awesome.
Bring the framers treats to eat - check.


Stick phase is pretty.
(Plywood phase is not; photos of plywood phase are few and far between if any at all.)


Laundry room with a view.


Fireplace. Goldie is 3-feet tall for scale.


Trusses arrive. Prefab, baby.


Beautiful trusses that unfortunately will be hidden away behind walls.


November. Endless discussions in the dining room with architect.


Upstairs. Goldie's suite. Storm a comin'?


Well, Hello, windows!



Stair 'tower' and stairs we and the crew used to use (ladder).
Exposed steel. Bronze windows. Knotty siding to be stained dark.


Long day's work.


January. Radiant heat pipes. A difficult $ decision that I fully recommend!
Steel beams to be powder-coated dark.


Radiant heat pipe patterning and a wood burning fireplace which heats 3,000 square feet.


Dry wall abound. Looking into the kitchen from the living area.
Kitchen is in North-East  corner of home; the most high energy location in any house.


Baking the gypcrete. The radiant heat is on high and for the first time we (they!) are not all freeeezing on site.


Master 'retreat'. Windows on three sides.
The Master is purposefully placed in the South-West corner, where the energy is calmest in any building.


Front of the house as of January 1, 2016.


Back of the house as of January 1, 2016.


Goldie makes her mark in the Garage. Headed out the back door ...

Everything in the project was conceptualized and chosen by myself and architect Mark Ford of Studio 3fold. We did not use a 'designer' so the next phase, 'finishes'!, should be interesting... Lots more fun to come!!

PACK for the CITY in WINTER with KIDS and the rule of JET LAG is...

 


A few thoughts after a couple of days in Florence, Italy in December:

Packing for the City with a little one in tow

- Coat ; One. Cute with coverage ; covers butt at least, knee length is a bonus.

- Swimsuit ; hotel pools and hot tubs!

- Gloves and Hats ; that fold up small enough to fit into kids' coat pockets.

- Sunnies (or winter hat with brim.)

- Compact warm layers ; wool, cashmere, and silk. We get ours at Petit Bateau.

- PJ's ; more than you think you need. Tight ones that double as undergarments. KicKeepants work well for this.

- Scarves for you end up being very handy for bébé.

- Bright colors and patterns for dresses, leggings etc. (that hide stains and dirt).

- Carrier. Toddlers love these in Cities, (and airports) even if they aren't wild about them at home.*

- Hair things ; lots of options. Clips and bows are a tiny-to-carry way to freshen up tired angels and make them look dressed.

- 2 pairs walking shoes for little feet. Not new shoes.

- Clothing you know works and fits and is loved ; not new clothing!

- For every item think 'Sure Bet' not 'Wild Card'.

- Party dresses and special occasion wear is an exception, of course.

- Diaper. Your potty trained child says "I have to go potty" and you know for whatever reason it could be quite a long while... if we are stuck in the metro, gondola, tram, bus everyone can sigh with relief when Mommy has a diaper on hand.

Mom

- Same cover-it-all-up coat idea for mom.

- Fresh haircut for mom before leaving :)

- Hat for mommy too ; cool baseball cap is easiest to pack.

- Small purses and wallets for mom ; fanny pack or other safe option.

- Backpacks, though great on planes, can cause troublesome access while out and about en ville.

- Umbrella.

- Space to Shop; fold in a Longchamp-esque bag for serious damage.

- And another medium foldable bag ; overnight bags to hand to Grandma/whomever when the kids sleep in their hotel room ;)

*Cities are incredibly invigorating and inspiring, but are overwhelming and overstimulating for small bodies. Coddle, even spoil, your children while traveling.

-Art by Goldie's Parisian cousin Giorgia, 4 years

Mamma e Gigi sul balcone.

Jet lag

Allow one day of adjusting for every hour of time difference to overcome the effects of jet lag. There is no way around this, but balancing your vata  will ease the symptoms of your  desynchronosis.

Happy New Year

Happy Snowy Days

May the force be with you.

And may the force be with you.

The Force is an energy field created by all living things.

It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.

Accept and embrace the oneness of the universe 

and experience infinite, limitless force.

boo eek screech meow

holiest day

The most under-rated way to spend hours upon hours in a car?   Just sitting.

On Sunday we spent eight hours traveling through the mountains to the plains staring out the window mostly in silence. The result? Readiness to resume normal life after a frenetically super-fun long weekend.

Take transitions at a slow and tender pace; silence and space is your friend in these times of change.

Today is the autumn equinox and Yom Kippur.

back in session

Mommies ...

While bébé is at school ...

Please resist the temptation to run-amok-errands!

Take the time to do the thing(s) you "never have time to do".

In my case this is

1. Draw

2. Yoga

DO YOU FIRST 

followed by only the most essential chores promptly before pick-up.

The point is : open-ended time for your love-it-list and limited time for tedious tasks.

caterpillar - cocoon - butterfly

Transition

The inner process through which people come to terms with change.

The way through.

Jet lag has put our little family in limbo these last few days. Disturbed sleep. Erratic energy. In order to dampen the effects of circadian dysrhythmia:

- Unpack and tidy up.

- Drink green juice daily!

- Abstain from caffeine.

- Eat sparingly.

- Stay close to 'home'.

- Walk instead of drive.

- Family-time if possible.

- Be kind to yourself.
- Say 'no'.
and lastly,
- Not sleeping? Savasana.

Change is situational.

Transition is psychological.

what was yours???

cousins :)