Week Twenty-Six: The Little House On the Hilltop Project

HIGHLIGHTS: Preliminary Design Package Done, On to Phase II. Sneak Peak! Junk the Countdown. Inching Along: To Do List.

JUNKED* COUNTDOWN: 17 WEEKS *(Last time you’ll see this particular countdown. See below.)

Twenty-six weeks. That’s half a year. If this were the only thing going on in our lives I’d be rather ashamed at not being further along. But between taking care of Samuel and the nanny being sick and hawking our wares in NYC, house chores and a bunch of family-based travel, Week Twenty-Six and where we are in it is a wonderful half-way point. Not that I know where and how and most importantly WHEN this Little House On the Hilltop Project will end. But halfway sounds just right. So halfway here we are.

The Architects’ Package Today, Phase II Fundraising Tomorrow

Despite some Germ-English intricacies, when I read a statement like,

“The structure acts as an extended skin, sheltering as well as exposing oneself, revealing an intricate relationships with the surrounding land and sky,”

I know these two architects get it. We wanted our Ag building to represent the nature of the entire project. It’s not just a storage and work spot, it’s an expression of the whole kit-and-kaboodle; of us, of the land, of the wine we make from the grapes we grow. It is a great starting point for what he hope to one day have on our hilltop – the winery, and even further in the future and further down the hilltop, our home.

So we have this conceptual design package that not only includes renderings and sketches, but also costs. Which is great, since it adds reality to the endeavor. Now Phase II: fundraising. Since all of our extra earnings above and beyond our meager cost of living have been put into our vineyard and wine endeavor, we have no budget. But I have some ideas. Stay tuned.

TLHOTH Sneak Peak

A fluid form that sits in the landscape, not on it.

Deadline Goes Buh-Bye

Let’s face it. 17 weeks left. There’s no chance to meet that. Anyway, that initial deadline was made with our wine release date in mind (beginning of November), and even that has changed, to sometime this month, which would then be a deadline of 2-3 weeks from today. So, like I said earlier on, I feel we’re halfway into it. And if we can fundraise this year and early next, I see our Ag shelter going up in spring/early summer. I’ll take that.

To Do

You’ll notice there’s more in this list than TLHOTH project – I wanted you to see what’s been taking me so long.

• Brainstorm fundraising ideas for TLHOTH
• Set up that meet and greet FINALLY with Wasco County
• Write our website
• Prepare newsletter content
• Make a Fourth of July Ricotta Cheese Cake; decorate with blueberries and strawberries
• Organize Sam’s #2 Birthday Party
• Bake Samuel’s Birthday Cake (always from scratch)
• Clean the house for Gramma’s arrival
• Find balance