FAST!!

Testing samples of plaster on straw bales to see how well it bonds, as well as see how well it holds up against water.Click on any image to enlarge. クリックすると拡大できます

Picked out this beautiful piece of wood (below left)for our kitchen counter. Other pieces of wood will be used for the deck, the sink in the utility room and a few other counters/shelves.

Stopped by Sakai's and saw how much progress they have made with the maruta posts and the old recycled beams. They are almost finished and are planning to transport to the property around July 15th.


Meanwhile, the foundation is established at the property. Things are moving along.......FAST!!

TOTORI

This Pension is about a 3 minute walk from our property. I FINALLY met Takahashi-san (AKA "Totori") yesterday on my way to have a meeting with my builder. He is a diehard snowboarder who runs this pension and spends more than 100 days/season up in the mountains. He is from Kansai (Osaka) and often goes to Kansai to do some work in the summer. He is a skilled builder/carpenter and I look forward to his advice and maybe help with a few projects we will have after the main phase of the house build is completed. Of course, I'm looking forward to hanging out with him in the mountains, too!!! I am sensing a very good friendship in the making here! (click on image to enlarge. クリックすると拡大できます)

泊まりますか？

Will you stay over? Here are a few options of where you can stay with some recommendations from me below each picture. Click on any image to enlarge. クリックすると拡大できます *A* GREAT Onsen (Hot Springs) and lunch/onsen special.
*B* Campsite and Cabins. This is about 5 minutes by car from the property where we are building. Cabins are booked out for the 7th ~ 10th, tho.
*C* This lodging is VERY close (5 minute walk) to the property.
*D* Campsite at Asahidake. Beautiful nature and this log cabin toilet was built by my main builder, Sakai-san.
*E* The Visitor Center near Asahidake. Great place and study up on the local fauna and wildlife.
*F* Asahidake Ropeway. The easy way to get up closer to the peak and/or just take a 30 minute walk and go check out the crater and fumaroles.
Here is the picture side of the campsite in Higashikawa that is an easy 5 minute drive from the worksite (property where we are building) or 20 minute flat bike ride.
Here is the detail side of the campsite in Higashikawa that is an easy 5 minute drive from the worksite (property where we are building) or 20 minute flat bike ride. I have already called and found out that all the cabins are booked out for the straw bale workshop weekend, but there is plenty of space for pitching a tent (camping). No need to reserve a space, either. We'll have a space there from Thursday, the 6th, so we'll find a good spot so everyone can pitch a tent nearby.

始まった!! Here We GO!!!!

Feel free to click on any image to enlarge. クリックすると拡大できます

土壁 (Earth Plaster) ワークショップ

北海道の東川町で　土壁ワークショップ　＆　パーティスケジュール
(scroll down for the English version of this post)

外壁と内壁のプラスター(土壁仕上げ)は，両方ともそれぞれ３回ずつ行います。１回目は「スクラッチコート」，２回目は「フィルコート」，３回目は「ファイナルコート」と呼びます。ワークショップでは，土壁を乾かす時間も足りないし，電気配線，水道関係，棚やカウンター取り付け，家電設置を行うのには十分ではありません。ですが，参加者のみなさんには，できればそれらの知識も身につけてほしいと思い，どの回に参加していただいてもいろいろな説明を行いながらワークショップを進めていきます。ワークショップの開催日程は下をご覧ください。
　４回目のワークショップは特にエキサイティングです。これはいわゆるオールマイティ・ワークショップとも言うべきものになりそうだからです。このときのワークショップでは，外壁や内壁の最終仕上げ，今までのまとめ，「niche」（ニッチ）という壁のくぼみ作り，壁に埋め込んだ作り付けの棚作りを行います。もちろん，なにかしら問題が起こる可能性はあり，ワークショップを延期する必要が出てくるかもしれません。でも，私達はできる限り，スケジュール通りに作業が進むよう努力します。もし変更点が出てきたら，みなさんの予定が変えられるよう，すぐにお知らせします。では，こちらがワークショップスケジュールです。toby@weymiller.comまで，どのワークショップのどの日に参加していただけるか，連絡ください。その後またこちらから詳しい内容についてご連絡いたします。

外壁ワークショップ１（スクラッチコート）
９月５日（土）～６日(日）　午前９時から午後５時まで
・ どちらの日もポットラックランチ

外壁ワークショップ２（フィルコート）
９月１１日（金）～１２日（土），午前９時から午後５時まで
・ どちらの日もポットラックランチ

オールマイティ・ワークショップ（外壁３回目，内壁１回目・・・その他いろいろ）
・ ９月１９日から２３日（５連休）
・ 初日９月１９日はお昼の１２時開始
・ 最終日９月２３日はお昼１２時に終了
・ 毎日ポットラックランチ
・ 外壁は仕上げの「ファイナルコート」
・ 内壁は１回目の「スクラッチコート」
・ ストローベイルハウスの概観（ストローベイルのこと，電気のこと，水道のこと，床のことなど全てにわたってふれます）
・ 装飾的なニッチ，棚，窓の周りの仕上げ
・ どのようにこの家を建ててきたか，そして最終仕上げの工程はどうなるのか，説明します

内壁ワークショップ２（フィルコート）
１０月３日（土）～４日(日）　午前９時から午後５時まで
・ どちらの日もポットラックランチ

内壁ワークショップ３（ファイナルコート）
・ 未定


オープンハウスパーティ
・ １１月１４日(土）（わたくし，TOBYの４０歳の誕生日）
・ お昼１２時ごろから～？（寝袋などを持って来てお泊まり下さい！！）
・ ビール
・ 日本酒
・ ゲーム
・ 音楽
・ 楽しいこと　がありますよ！！　


Plaster Workshop & Party Schedule　in Higashikawa, Hokkaido

For both the exterior and interior plastering of the walls, there will be 3 coats. The first coat is called the, “scratch coat”, the second is called the, “fill coat” and the third is the, “final coat”. Each workshop must be discussed with all parties and planned out so there is ample time not only for the drying of each coat, but also for things like electrical, plumbing, custom shelving, countertops, installing appliances and so on. With all that said, our schedule of plaster workshops that we will be hosting is listed below. We are especially excited about the 4th workshop that will be an “all mighty” (comprehensive) workshop which will include an exterior phase, an interior phase, a summary of everything to date and also some custom wall work as we make and apply niches, custom shelving and so on. Of course, there is always a chance of a problem arising and the need to postpone a workshop. However, we will do our very best to stick to this schedule. If anything changes, we’ll let you know ASAP so you can attempt to change your schedule. Without further ado, here is the schedule. Please RSVP to toby@weymiller.com to which workshop(s) you would like to attend and we will send you more information.

Exterior Plaster Workshop #1 (“Scratch Coat”)

September 5th~6th(Sat-Sun), Times: 9:00am ~ 5:00pm
• Potluck lunch on both days

Exterior Plaster Workshop #2 (“Fill Coat”)

September 11th & 12th (Friday~Sat), Times: 9:00am ~ 5:00pm
• Potluck lunch on both days

“All Mighty” (Comprehensive) Workshop (Exterior Plaster Workshop #3 and Interior Plaster Workshop #1…..and MORE)

• September 19th ~ 23rd (5 day holiday)
• September 19th, start at 12:00pm (Noon)
• September 23rd, finish at 12:00pm (Noon)
• Potluck lunch every day.
• “Final Coat” of earth plaster on the exterior.
• “Scratch Coat” of earth plaster on the interior.
• Overview of a straw bale house (all the stages up until the present, the straw bales, electrical issues, plumbing issues, flooring, roofing, etc)
• Using art as we build custom niches, custom shelving and window sills.
• Explain and do a comprehensive summary of how the house build will be completed over the next few months.

Interior Plaster Workshop #2 (“Fill Coat”)

October 3rd ~ 4th, Times: 9:00am ~ 5:00pm
• Potluck lunch on both days

Interior Plaster Workshop #3 (“Final Coat”)

*TBD (To Be Determined)


Open House PARTY

• November 14th (Toby’s 40th Birthday)
• Times: 12:00pm (Noon) ~ ? (bring sleeping bag and stay over!!)
• BBQ
• Beer
• Sake
• Games
• Music
• Fun!!

Thinking about color!

Although we have pretty much decided the colors for the exterior of the building, we are now looking at colors for the interior walls. This article in a Sunset Magazine I found was interesting. Feel free to click on any image to enlarge (and be able to read the article or see the colors better). クリックすると拡大できます

The 6 color samples on the left are all beautiful and the green sample on the above picture is nice, as well. We will look/research a few other places, think about what type of image or environment we want for each room, pick a few colors and then start testing what we can do with earth plasters.

Of course, this article is about "paint" and we are using earth plasters. However, the effects of color are still the same. :)

"Build Me a Home IPA"

After each day of the workshops, we will have nice, cold home-brew (ji-beer) for anyone helping (and who isn't driving). We have started the brewing now. This will be very good tasting beer!!