Offices for T Bailey Construction and Fabrication

Another article on recent local Olson Kundig building from Inhabitat features this office for wind energy manufacturer T Bailey Construction and Fabrication in Anacortes, Washington.   Powered by renewable energy, the design was inspired by wind turbines.

Design Will Save the World

Photo by Benjamin Benschneider/Article by Ana Lisa Alperovich

A little pre-fab at Sol-Duc Hot Springs on the Olympic Peninsula by Olson-Kundig Architects posted today by a favorite blog of mine, Inhabitat: Design Will Save the World.  Their name pretty much says it all.  Built with structural insulated panels (SIPs) to enable it to be prefabricated off-site.  A good thing, because this reduces waste while maximizing respect for the area, in the words of writer Ana LIsa Alperovich. Four steel columns raise the shelter above ground for minimal impact, while protecting the building from the occasional floods of the nearby river. At only 350 square feet the steel-clad interiors are made from wood, contrasting with the rugged patina of the exterior that will continue to blend and evolve with the surroundings as time goes by.

It's 49 degrees inside!

Woke up this morning to the sounds of earth-moving equipment outside my window. An excavator was digging a huge hole in the parking strip next to our driveway to make way for the "Hole Hog" which would soon be tunneling ten feet underground, making its way from the street to the gas meter recently installed near our front door. The guys from Potelco have the street blocked off and more white trucks arrive hourly. If only Nick were still six years old--he would be in heaven!

The oil ran out sooner than we expected during the cold snap two weeks ago, and though we made arrangements to have a gas furnace installed to replace the ancient oil one, it turns out that Christmas week is not a good time to run out of anything. We've been without central heating for the better part of a week
and it will feel good to feel my toes and fingers again, and as much as I love wood fires, the campfire ambience is not wearing well. Smokiness has permeated everything.

Piper had been missing all the snow from last year, and even more, she missed the campout festiveness of being without electricity that attends wintry weather from time to time in these parts. Careful what you wish for! Though we have had electricity, being without central heating brought the family closer together in many ways: three in a bed heaped with blankets, the cats are much more affectionate, we take care of household chores with alacrity because movement=warmth, and the fact that it's warmer outdoors makes it much more fun to walk the dog. Here's to hot soup and warm sherry and lots of baking.

Bellevue food challenge II

Here it is. Menu for one week. I'm also wheat-free.
But is it $7.00 a day? Which according to the challenge is what a person receives on food stamps. Very roughly I could live on under $6.50 a day, shopping at Trader Joe's and PCC/Whole Foods (for meat)

Breakfast appx. 1.50 per day
Steel cut oatmeal 2.99 (21 servings total)
Walnuts 4.29
Dried cranberries 2.99
lil bit of milk, brown sugar

Lunch appx. 1.00-1.50 per day
brown rice 3.99
tofu 1.19
greens 2.29
lil bit of soy sauce

Dinner appx. 3.56 per day
steamed greens 2.29
lil bit of chicken or beef 6.59, 4.95
polenta, quinoa or corn tortilla 3.99, 2.99
or
refried bean burritos 1.09, 2.99

Total: 6.31 per day

Plus some extras listed below which I haven't figured out how to work into the total. I'm still working on that part.

Shared Drinks
tea
half n half 1.49
Simpler Times lager (6 cans) 3.99
Hogue fume blanc 6.99

Shared Condiments
lt sour cream 1.49
hummus dip 2.19
yogurt 2.99
salsa 3.29
olive oil

Shared Fruit and Veg (appx $5.00 per person/71 cents per day)
3 lb apples 2.99
large yogurt 2.99
peppers 2.99
sugarplum tomatoes 2.99
snow peas 2.19
lemons 1.29
romaine hearts 1.99