CLOUD HOUSES GETS UTILITIES 2008-11-7

The access drive pushes up; the water and electrical lines are pushed under; the pad for the foundation pushes in.

Looking south from the house site, the temporary electrical panel and the red water spigot stick up on the left.

Here they are on the right,  as we look north at the foundation pad. All the debris in the pit is from the drill probe. It went down 30' until the GeoTec engineer said, "That'll do!" So now we know how deep our four piers must go.

Charlie, transfixed by the view out to sea, momentarily breaks from task of laying out strings for the pier locations.

CLOUD HOUSE GETS SERIOUS

FINALLY, after 18 years of design, (with the last 5 years pursuing  permitting as well), ground was broken at the site near Otis, Oregon.

From the main road, an access road to the house site was cut in, which  also served as the landing zone for the BIG TREE. Sadly it was listing to port, directly towards the house site, and prudence said it best be removed before the house got in the way.

Too tall (175' or so) for my 35mm lens, so,  top and....

bottom.

The tree man, Kevin Zook, with tree climbing gear on, confers with Aaron (left) and Ken, our ace site clearing and excavating team.

Kevin climbed 3/4's of the way up, taking out some limbs as he went. There he tied a rope, which was strung to the back bumper of his truck. He decended to about the 2/3's point, and, as his son, Justin, applied tension on the rope, he topped it.

The rope was re-tied to the new top, Kevin came to the ground, and cut again.

Again Justin pulled on the rope...

and, slowly, gracefully, and right on target, down it came.

Kevin bucked up branches and the trunk,

Aaron moved pieces towards the road...

as he chatted on the phone.

The based measured 7.5 feet, and ring count went over 225. Could have started out about the same time the USA did.

SEATTLE JAPANESE GARDEN KAMI CALMING CEREMONY

On June 16 2008 a ground breaking ceremony, of sorts, was held at the site of the future Garden Gatehouse Village.

Reverend Barrish of Tsubaki Shrine in Granite Falls, Washington came to perform the Jinchinsai, a Shinto rite which is done prior to breaking ground for buildings. Respects are paid to the kami of the land about to be disturbed.

Bamboo poles held rope and folded paper at the building site. A mound of sand is placed to the side of the portable alter. The ceremony follows a series of moves:

bowing

clapping

waving

reading

pouring sake

burying an amulet, which later will be buried under the building.

Also a folded white paper amulet will be placed in the attic, together they, along with this ceremony will ward off disasters and misfortune during and after the construction.

Next, a cake with rendering of the Village on it was served with tea,

followed by a stroll through the garden to see the iris in bloom:

ZCY GOES TO WORK

The walls may be rough, and the steel may be exposed,  but Zhichunyuan has been put to work!

From the College's arboretum gazebo, Judy Koenig orients a tour group to the Garden.

On to inside ZCY, where one can gain an understanding of the completed courtyard's size if not feel. 

However, that "feel" can still be sensed over at Songmeiting. Although the plantings around it are now minimal, the design and materials of the gazebo give a glimpse of what the completed gates and walkways of Zhichunyuan will be.

CLOUD HOUSE CREEPS

Construction of Cloud House in Oregon DID take a giant step forward with the issuance of the Building Permit.

Now if I could JUST figure out what all the pieces of paper and red line notations all mean... I DO know that "2190" is the street number and they require that the big orange card be posted so the inspectors can find the place.

A second step was lining up an excavator to clear the site and cut in the access road. He hopes to start that by the end of June. Will see....

SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN RECEPTION ROOM

While construction of Zhichunyuan pauses, promotion of the Garden continues.

The Reception room was open during South Seattle CC's annual Tea and Tour. The room has numerous Chinese items as well as information about the Garden design and construction.

A pair of doors anticipate the opening of the Garden.

And hard hats wait for visitors on HHT's: Hard Hat Tours, an opportunity to visit Knowing Spring Courtyard while under construction.

404 MBATH WORKS

It's not totally finished, but at least it is functioning!

Zhufeng is practicing towel flamenco as I look down the hallway from the bedroom to the bath. The biggest missing piece is a sliding door which will go between the two floor rugs.

Looking at the left side of the vanity, with three medicine cabinets above, and four storage cabinets above them! 

The right side, with jon and towel warming rack to right.

And peering in the shower...