Straw Mallow World in KV

It's a clear, starry, starry night as I write, and the reality of winter pinches your lips when you step out into the startling -15 degree temp. Alas, winter has arrived. It's a much-deserved shock to the system after such a warm early winter. More snow is on its way for tomorrow, though I expect it will be merely a dusting.

I finally crashed overnight in our newly-heated shanty in the midst of a snow storm last week. Dave, sadly, was home sick. 'Twas a bit drafty next to the bales that were unplastered on the north side [inside and out], but after I relocated to the south-west side of the loft, I found sleep easily. The radiant in-floor heat feels very luxurious and comforting, though it doesn't seem to be working well in the kitchen area. Dad speculates an air clog; We'll find out soon enough.

We've found that our tub-shower has cracks in it, so we're waiting to broach that topic with our poor plumber this week. He's in high demand, so it's going to be as frustrating to him as it is to us.

Our kitchen cabinets are now in production and we're incredibly excited. Unstained maple cabinets in a shaker style finish, with black iron pulls. The only compromise we've made is on the countertop. We've opted for a slate-look-alike formica - not so eco. But, given the seemingly insurmountable list of tasks ahead of us, we decided to go with it to avoid adding more stress at this point. A maple vanity will be in the bathroom as well.

On a somewhat unrelated note, I'm keen to spread the news of a monthly social gathering in the Valley of folks interested in sustainble living. It's an informal, fun event, prime for making new friends and learning lots. The basis is totally social, so conversations might vary from your latest food craving to the most cutting edge solar heating system on the market. If you're interested in attending, go to the website and sign up as a member to receive updates and meeting notices: Valley Greens.

The image above is of a [sadly] discarded bale on our site, covered in crispy snow-ice.

Plaster work continues, though only about 1.5 days a week. Dave and I are making plans to take a few days off work so that we can organize some plaster parties and make progress. Stay tuned!