Tiptoe Through the Tulips with Me

 Friday was a rare day of no work activity on my Pilchuck home in-progress. No stone mason, no sheetrock guys, only the porta-potty lady came through the gate Friday morning for the weekly and crucial refreshing service.

Friday was also a rare, pleasant day of good, clear weather. I bought supplies in Stanwood to restock my small fridge inside the trailer and a bottle of Chardonnay to take with me on my usual Friday night dinner in La Conner with Sue's brother Bob and his wife Ann. I always enjoy what Bob serves up and it is a singular opportunity for me to have a great meal and a conversation. Needless-to-say, Friday dinner is a highlight of my standard week otherwise spent in isolation.

After dinner with the Cooks in La Conner, I usually let myself in the door at my sister's house in Anacortes around 10 at night, about 10 miles down the road from the Cook's place. Once inside, I start their washing machine while my hosts are sleeping and I tuck into the guest room. I run the drier in the morning hours and fold my clean laundry after breakfast with Wendy and Barth and return to my trailer home. 

So goes my usual Friday-Saturday routine. Friday's spectacular weather continued into Saturday, and I was in a fine mood to frolic. And frolicking opportunities did abound.

The Skagit Valley, west of I-5 and east of Fidalgo Island, is a rich flood plain between the north and south forks of the Skagit River with prime agricultural land. Portions of the farmland are planted with tulip bulbs. Tulip bulbs beget gorgeous flowers in April, and gorgeous flowers beget the Skagit Tulip Festival. One could pay for a bus tour of the tulip fields and other tourist trappings of a flower festival, but I chose to find a field of red and yellow tulips, park on the farm road should and tiptoe through the tulips scot free.

I had my camera and drenched my lens in acres of color. 

Skagit Valley tulips

Rows of reds

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey! Who let that yellow-petal in here. This is a red tulip field. Yellow tulips are sneaky.

 

Acres of yellow tulips - right where they belong

 

View across the Skagit Flats

Down the heart of a tulip

Ready for your close-up?

Red meets Yellow

Worm's eye view, and a lovely view at that

I was not alone in making the best of the opportunity to tiptoe through the tulips; several ladies were dressed fancy for some glamor shots with the expansive floral background, young mothers were planting their infants next to the tulips and beaming as they snapped their phone cameras, capturing the fleeting youth of their child. I wanted to whisper to them, "Good for you, you may not believe at this moment, but they will not be small and pose-able for much longer. This stage will disappear forever in wink of a shutter. Good for you mom for seizing this opportunity!"

Fancy blonde posing before posies

Sari you match so well

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of artist set up with easel and acrylics, capturing the April display before their canvas.   

An artist outstanding in her field

A few miles from the center of the throng of tourist, I discovered a discreetly advertised art show set up in a barn tucked off the beaten path and far from the madding crowd. I found the display of art works to be peaceful and also inspirational toward my vision of spending time creating art, once my country house is completed. 

Of course no one who grew up in the Sixties can ever look at a field of tulips and not have a heart*felt attack of nostalgia for Tiny Tim. One just can not un-see what one once saw on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In TV show.  

 https://youtu.be/wMbQsKJ64S0

 

Easter - this year in Tumwater!

This year, the Jewish Passover, the Muslim month of Ramadan and the joyous Christian Easter celebrations all coincided. During the Passover, at the close of the Jewish Seder Supper, the Jews proclaim their wish to all be reunited and celebrate together with the closing phrase; 'Next year in Jerusalem!'

This year the phrase went out among the Suneson family ahead of Easter; This year in Tumwater! Sister Sheri and her husband Tony sent out invitations with their plans for the Paschal Feast in their new home in Tumwater. The Suneson family gathered with dad (a healthy 91) Wendy and Barth from Anacortes, their son Brian and his wife Amy plus their darling daughter Ellie (7 months), also from Tumwater. Amy's parents, Ray and Beth were visiting from California and were joyfully included and I traded the environs of my trailer home at the construction site for a 2-night stay with Sheri and Tony. I count ten big people at Sheri's festive table and one little baby girl getting a taste of some real food.

I left Friday afternoon, grinding my way down I-5 for 116 miles to Tumwater in the holiday traffic, covering the distance in about 3-1/2 hours - averaging about 33-1/3 mph, made me think I was moving at the same rate as an old vinyl record on a turntable.

Sheri sets a fine table

Sheri's Saturday feast featured a large ham, she made a couple of quiches, set out bowls of berries and fresh fruit, dad brought two pineapples he diced himself, Wendy a couple of salads and Brian pinwheel sides. I brought a bottle of pinot noir that only I drank; the other 9 declined - a good thing too, because my selected bottle was spoiled wine and tasted terrible. Dessert for those interested in a celebratory Easter sweet, was a homemade coconut cake with ice cream.

Sheri scurries about to host the Easter Feaster

 

It was a festive gathering of 4 generations. After the Paschal Feast, Sheri suggested; "Next year on the Pilchuck?"

I said, "That is my fervent wish. It would be so right and good to host an Easter celebration 'Next year on the Pilchuck'.

PS: We have plenty of acreage on the Pilchuck for an epic Easter Egg hunt! 

Barth carves the Easter Ham

 

 

Wendy serves salad

Ellie takes in Uncle Tony and Daddy from Amy's arms

Dad visits with Beth and Ray (Amy's parents)

The Paschal Banquet at the Anecito's new home

Ellie reaches for everything - and eats some of it

During the meal, I got a text from daughter Inga in Portland, OR that her Subaru, which had been stolen from in front of her place about ten days earlier, had been found. The police had it towed to a vehicle lot, where she and Sean went to recover it. Amazing that it only had damage to a cut fuel line, a missing battery and of course the trashed steering column where they cracked and dismantled the ignition system. The catalytic converts where intact, all four wheels remained - it could have been much worse.

I remarked that the stolen battery and cut fuel line were like the stigmata of Christ's nailed hands and feet, and the pierced steering column like His pierced side while upon the cross. I proclaimed the recovered Subaru an Easter miracle. He is Risen! Let us rejoice, Hallelujah!

Our feast and Inga's good news (all things considered) was punctuated by thunder and outpouring of pea-sized hail from the heavens rattling the roof and piling up on the patio.

What a day!   

Ellie say "Good bye, and have a Happy Easter!"

 

After our grand time together, Wendy and Barth returned north to their home, dad was delivered back to his senior residence 6 miles away, Brian, Amy + Ellie and Amy's parents went to their home no far away while I spent the night in the Anecito's guest room.

I was given the choice by Sheri as to what I wanted to do Easter Sunday, and I chose the option to attend worship services with her and Tony. It was the first time since the outbreak and COVID restrictions that she and Tony had been inside the sanctuary of First Methodist of Olympia. It was a triumphant event - every part of it.

I stopped to visit dad Sunday afternoon in his room before returning to the Pilchuck. He and I found it a pleasant visit. We celebrate the resurrection and a joyous gathering.

 

Little House in the Big Woods: Wall-to-Wall

Up, down, all around; floor to ceiling and wall to wall. The house interior has taken form.

It took a 4-man crew of subcontractors four days to hang drywall throughout the entire house, finishing on Wednesday, April 13. Their seams are tight and my general contractor is well pleased with their workmanship. 

The drywall boss came on Good Friday, April 15 to lay paper over all the floors to make it easier to clean up the inevitable mess that the coming taping and mudding crew will make. Before the job is finished, more mess will be created by the texturing crew. Who knew it took three different individual specialties, hangers, tapers and texturers to complete the job of interior walls? I didn't.

The results, besides a final feel for the space and dimensions in all of the chambers, is that I now have an idea of how much light my design actually lets into the living space. For a long time, the inside of the house had only studs, and with no obstructing solid walls, every window allowed light in to fill every open room. Once the brown insulation was placed between the studs, the rooms were closed in. The light, as expected, was diminished, but it seemed a tad dimmer inside the house than I'd hoped. Once the white-sided drywall was hung and covered the brown insulation, it returned all my rooms to a bright and airy atmosphere, an end in which I am satisfied.

Here, take a look for yourself:

ENTRY HALL - Double doors with a semi-circular motif which will be repeated on the tiled entry hall floor. This is a 14-foot ceiling, a bright and welcoming first impression when one enters my home.

Entry hall with 2 round dormer ambient light windows above the doors.

Entry hall looking into living room. Display cabinet inset on left.

DINING ROOM + KITCHEN - The dining room is set in between circular windows, giving the allusion of a ship's portals. The color and decorating theme will be one of marine, water with light blue colors. Plenty of light from the kitchen skylight and the French doors which will lead out onto the 'prow of the ship's deck'.

Kitchen area under octagonal skylight catching southern light..

Dining room with ship's portal round windows.

LIVING ROOM - The living room will be angular and masculine in contrast to the curves and feminine feel of the kitchen and dining rooms.  I will use forest tones of greens and earthen rusts in this space, another contrast to light blue and marine tones in the adjoining kitchen and dining rooms. A wood burning stove will be set in the corner beyond the cozy bay window to heat the upstairs on the many gray and misty days in the Pacific Northwest.

Living room with bay window. Wood stove to be set in corner left of window.

MASTER BEDROOM - The master bedroom faces west and will have French doors that open onto a small balcony that looks across a rolling, green lawn bordered by a seasonal brook lined with moss-covered alders and old cedars. The room will have a wood paneled vaulted ceiling and one of Sue's decorating heart-throbs are 'flowing chandeliers', so she will select that overhead adornment.

Master bedroom, French doors to lead to balcony overlook.

Master bedroom & bath. Vaulted ceiling to be wood paneled and fitted with chandelier.

 

GUEST BEDROOM - The guest bedroom is the second bedroom on the first floor. I plan on using a bright, sunny color scheme for this west-facing room at the back of the house. It has a walk-in closet and shares a bathroom with the common area.

Upstairs guest bedroom & bath.

OFFICE & STUDIO LOFT-TEA ROOM - The northeast corner of the house is a two-story, granite tower. On the first floor will be my office space. A somewhat-small room with a bay window that will accommodate a computer and triple monitors along with bookshelves lining the wall and have room for a couple of file cabinets.

Up the twisty-winding stairs with three landings leads to the loft. The actual use for the loft is yet to be worked out; thoughts are an art studio for me to develop my painting and drawings, a sewing room, or a reading room catching the morning sunlight and will be a nice space to take a morning sip of tea. On good days I can throw open the door and step out onto an eastward looking balcony. The loft's balcony is a great place to survey my land from on high.

 

Stairway to loft above downstairs office.

Looking down into office from studio loft.

 

Sunlight Loft with door that opens to balcony.

MUD ROOM & LAUNDRY - When one comes in from the north porch door, to the right will be the mud room, a place with shelves, a large broom closet and a bench to have seat and remove one's muddy boots. The laundry room has a window that lights up the utility space.

Mud room with laundry in back. Broom closet and connection for large basin sink against wall.

BASEMENT

BASEMENT GUEST ROOM - The downstairs guest room was an idea that took shape as the house was being built. The new idea is that this will be a comfortable space for paying guests, anticipating using it as an Airbnb rental. At the base of the stairs is a kitchenette with a refrigerator, microwave, sink and cabinets along with a 4-person dining table and room for a loveseat and coffee table for the comfort of our guests - paying or non-paying family and friends.

The downstairs guest room will have a large bathroom with a 2 or 3 (!) person soaker tub, a large walk-in shower, a double vanity and a separate water closet for the toilet. I will tile the bathroom in pebble tile to give the effect of bathing in a forested stream. Perhaps I'll use a waterfall pattern surrounding the shower to enhance the bathing in a stream feel. 

 

Downstairs guest room with forest & brook view.

 

View into downstairs guest room.

Water closet in downstairs guest bath.

Soaker tub for 1, 2 or 3 guests. Walk-in shower behind tub.

Private kitchenette & lounge area outside downstairs guest room.

BASEMENT WORKSHOP - Half of the basement will be dedicated to a workshop and storage space. One can enter the workshop by a second stairway that drops from behind a hidden door in the kitchen pantry. At the base of the pantry stairs I will have a wine cabinet build into the wall. I hope to have plenty of friend come visit who will share a bottle and stories with us in the near future. 

We will have a freezer in the corner of the basement workshop and various power tools around the walls and a workbench for woodworking and maybe lapidary and/or jewelry crafting (?). It will be separated by a locked door from the guest kitchenette and lounge.

Basement Workshop with stairs up to pantry and kitchen. Wine cabinet behind stair landing.

Basement workshop with French doors.

Wine cabinet on kitchen stair landing.

Looking into private kitchenette and lounge through door connecting to workshop.

Little House in the Big Woods: Ex-siding Developments

 April 9, 2022, the chilly afternoon rain turns to slower-descending, fatter blobs of slushy sleet precipitation, which becomes a light snowfall that Sunday Evening. 

 

Gnarled and neglected limbs of an old orchard apple tree blossom for spring.

This frosty white coating matches the apple blossoms that appeared the day
before on the gnarled remnants of the old orchard sharing the 10 acres upon which the house is being resurrected. Wild plum and legacy apple blossoms shout spring, the sky laughs at the earthbound holder of seasons and showers snow upon their audacious life-promises and chills their delicate hope of a warmer season.

The snow melts away by late Monday morning, making conditions good enough for the 2-man siding crew to finish their task of measuring and cutting the cement board siding and mounting it to the OSB sheeting that has hung bare on the skeletal studs for far too long this winter.

The siding crew is well experienced at their craft and they cut and fit the trim around the windows and do a fine job trimming my unique, yet difficult round portals. They are finished. And when they leave, my structure has become a house, a house wrapped in a skin which gives the appearance of home.

The turret will be clad in stone, a fine salt and pepper granodiorite quarried and shipped from Hardy Island, British Columbia. Once the stone facade is on, I will select the siding paint to coordinate with the stone exterior; a light gray to pick up the quartz and feldspar with black trim to accentuate the biotite and ferro-mag minerals in the granite. I wish I could afford to make the whole house out of stone.

I will paint the siding myself. I figure I will save $4,000. I have the time to move a tall ladder around and roll paint onto the siding - that is I will have time to paint once it stops snowing on me and my apple blossoms. 

Ship-lap cement board siding is installed, awaiting granodiorite cladding on the turret

East-facing arched entry to double doors

South side off of kitchen and dining room. Deck yet to be added.

Back (west) side of house, over looking a small brook and moss-covered alders

North side porch and entry