Val, draftswoman just called and told us that she already turned in our building permits (one for house, one for shed) in to the county!
A copy of the plans is on the way to us, and she already dropped off a copy with a contractor friend of hers. WOO HOO!
GB and I made out a list of stuff that needs to be done regarding the land/ house. We divvied it up and put things in order of importance. The level of organization we need to pull this off is daunting in some ways. There are just SO many details- and we haven't even really started yet.
I think that once we secure a contractor, we'll be in a good place as far as the house. But the power system is what really intimidates me. We've got GB on that, since I'm terrified of it. If you're reading this and confused.....
The land is off grid. Power lines are pretty close, and I suppose if we really wanted to, we could shell out some serious $$ for poles and get hooked up to the local power company. But currently on the Big Island we're paying amongst the highest in the state, and the HIGHEST in the country for power. AND.... HELCO (Hawaiian Electric Light C0.) just requested a large rate increase and they got it (it actually went into effect this last week, but still needs complete approval- the increase basically pays for legal and other costs incurred by HELCO when a proposed expansion of a power plant into the conservation district was legally challenged) .
Our bill at home right now is about $250+ - that includes GB's office, but does NOT include hot water, cooking, dryer, etc..... It's very expensive. With the new rate increase I think we'll see another $11 added on the bill (and there was a rate increase just last year as well).
So.... given all of that.... the idea of not paying into such a system sounds pretty nice. Of course we'll be paying a lot up front, but it'll be nice to not be paying into HELCO every month.
Well that turned into a long-winded rant.....
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Satellite Pictures!!!!
Karen and I were playing with Google Earth and found our land. This seems to be taken about a year and a half ago. At that time, I had just finished clearing a chunk of the hau (the brown spot left of the house site which is the white square)
Then we found her folks' place in LA. (We're sure this is accurate).
Then we found my folks' place in NYC. (It is close, but we aren't sure - any error is Google's fault!)
All of these photos are taken from the same altitude, so the scale is approximately the same. Here's with our land outlined.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
House Plans!
GB's awesome parents asked to see a copy of the house plans. Here is the most recent set I have- there have been some minor changes since this, but it's essentially almost complete:
Downstairs. This is mostly patio, koi pond, and one room (TV room). We'll also be parking our cars here.
We are going with a really open design downstairs, since we'll be living on the 2nd floor (better views). We did have to add some walls and things for shear support, so the house wouldn't sway when people walk in it.
Upstairs, main living area. There are 4 bedrooms here- one of which is Karen's office/craft space. The "hole" in the center is open to the sky and to the koi pond below. The rooms basically go around the center opening. The house should be really full of light and gentle winds.
I know it's not the easiest to read these things- esp like this. Trust us that the house will be fabulous! We can't wait!
Outside view
Downstairs. This is mostly patio, koi pond, and one room (TV room). We'll also be parking our cars here. We are going with a really open design downstairs, since we'll be living on the 2nd floor (better views). We did have to add some walls and things for shear support, so the house wouldn't sway when people walk in it.
Upstairs, main living area. There are 4 bedrooms here- one of which is Karen's office/craft space. The "hole" in the center is open to the sky and to the koi pond below. The rooms basically go around the center opening. The house should be really full of light and gentle winds.
I know it's not the easiest to read these things- esp like this. Trust us that the house will be fabulous! We can't wait!
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Bamboo
Friday work day! We've been working almost every Friday- which is an awesome thing, except for the fact that Ra'am is in school- and when he is in a working mode, he's as helpful as an adult.
We planned a mellow day, actually. GB, Luka, Noam and I set out in the morning. We wanted to thin out the big bamboo and then plant some of it. Last week (not written about that yet) we noticed that some of the cuttings we had used as stakes were sprouting. So we set out to make cuttings and plant them alongside our driveway.
It's not easy, dealing with this bamboo.
GB mostly cut (and did a great job on starting to thin out the big clump) and I mostly planted. The guys were there working on the water tank, so in all it was a productive area.
We ended up planting maybe 20-30 bamboo this day. We figure that with this method (basically sticking the cuttings in the ground) that we'd get a 1/4 success ratio. So maybe 4 or 5 plants? Time will tell!
We almost left the o'o bar there. When we retrieved it, it was so boiling hot from the sun. I thought GB looked funny carrying it with his shirt. He wasn't pleased I took a photo of him (click for larger.... warning, graphic finger displays abound)
Luka spent a lot of time running down to the house site. Somehow he just knows that's his place. Of all the kids he's the one who will really be growing up here. He's down there standing near the pile of rocks.... while we all sit in the shade of the mango tree.
We planned a mellow day, actually. GB, Luka, Noam and I set out in the morning. We wanted to thin out the big bamboo and then plant some of it. Last week (not written about that yet) we noticed that some of the cuttings we had used as stakes were sprouting. So we set out to make cuttings and plant them alongside our driveway.
It's not easy, dealing with this bamboo.
GB mostly cut (and did a great job on starting to thin out the big clump) and I mostly planted. The guys were there working on the water tank, so in all it was a productive area.
We ended up planting maybe 20-30 bamboo this day. We figure that with this method (basically sticking the cuttings in the ground) that we'd get a 1/4 success ratio. So maybe 4 or 5 plants? Time will tell!We almost left the o'o bar there. When we retrieved it, it was so boiling hot from the sun. I thought GB looked funny carrying it with his shirt. He wasn't pleased I took a photo of him (click for larger.... warning, graphic finger displays abound)
Luka spent a lot of time running down to the house site. Somehow he just knows that's his place. Of all the kids he's the one who will really be growing up here. He's down there standing near the pile of rocks.... while we all sit in the shade of the mango tree.
Stuff's Happenin'
Well I am THRILLED to say that we are almost completely done with our house plans!!!!!
It's been a difficult week in that regard. We've been working with Val, the draftswoman pretty much daily the last week.
There were so many decisions to make- esp regarding the foundation and the technical stuff.... we had pretty much figured out the design of the house awhile ago- it's the engineering things that were making us crazy!
But now all is good.... plans were dropped off at the architect she works with yesterday and we should have them back (with hopefully few changes) this coming week- including plans for the shed. YAY!
On another positive note, the water tank is in full production. They poured the bottom of it, and Friday the guys were there doing the mesh/rebar for the sides. They're probably going to spray the concrete on Tues (Karen does a little happy dance!).
It's been a difficult week in that regard. We've been working with Val, the draftswoman pretty much daily the last week.
There were so many decisions to make- esp regarding the foundation and the technical stuff.... we had pretty much figured out the design of the house awhile ago- it's the engineering things that were making us crazy!
But now all is good.... plans were dropped off at the architect she works with yesterday and we should have them back (with hopefully few changes) this coming week- including plans for the shed. YAY!
On another positive note, the water tank is in full production. They poured the bottom of it, and Friday the guys were there doing the mesh/rebar for the sides. They're probably going to spray the concrete on Tues (Karen does a little happy dance!).
Friday, April 06, 2007
A blah work day for Karen
We got a very very late start to this work day. Despite me being the really "blah" family member, I somehow insisted that we get out and get some work done on the land (what was I thinking???).
The major good thing was the state of the soon-to-be water tank
We had Kairos along with us, and thought we'd finish laying out the geotextile (erosion control blankets). We figured it would take us about 2 hours to lay them- and unfortunately we almost always underestimate how long it'll take to do these things.
Our plan was really to take the kids down to the river to do some prawn catching.....
We drove into town to get supplies- the blankets and some more nets for the prawns. GB was too cool, talking on the phone while we shopped.
We made it to the land probably around 1pm- pretty late. GB set right to work on raking and getting the ground ready. I was shovelling and complaining like it was the hardest work ever. It was a really complainy day for me. I know I was driving GB crazy.
The kids busied themselves by throwing rocks and trying to hit a hollow piece of bamboo at the bottom of the hill that made a huge noise when his (which we discovered when Luka of all people hit it).
We discovered that the bamboo we had used as stakes a few weeks previous, had sprouted.
Luka started falling apart- ready for a nap.... and then we realized that we didn't get the pins that tack down the blankets. So I took him for a drive and to pick them up and GB put the boys to work.
Eventually kvetching me returned from town with a napped child and we completed the job. Phew. Now we're just waiting on a bunch of plants to stick in the blankets. Then this project will be complete!
Though it was already getting late, we did go down to the river. GB, Noam, and Kairos went out hunting for prawns. The water was cold, but they managed to catch about 11 of them- enough to have Kairos' family over for dinner and cards, and for everyone to have at least one.
On the way back to the car, Luka "helped" GB carry the bucket full of crustaceans by holding the rope ; )
The major good thing was the state of the soon-to-be water tank
We had Kairos along with us, and thought we'd finish laying out the geotextile (erosion control blankets). We figured it would take us about 2 hours to lay them- and unfortunately we almost always underestimate how long it'll take to do these things.
Our plan was really to take the kids down to the river to do some prawn catching.....
We drove into town to get supplies- the blankets and some more nets for the prawns. GB was too cool, talking on the phone while we shopped.
We made it to the land probably around 1pm- pretty late. GB set right to work on raking and getting the ground ready. I was shovelling and complaining like it was the hardest work ever. It was a really complainy day for me. I know I was driving GB crazy.
The kids busied themselves by throwing rocks and trying to hit a hollow piece of bamboo at the bottom of the hill that made a huge noise when his (which we discovered when Luka of all people hit it).
We discovered that the bamboo we had used as stakes a few weeks previous, had sprouted.
Luka started falling apart- ready for a nap.... and then we realized that we didn't get the pins that tack down the blankets. So I took him for a drive and to pick them up and GB put the boys to work.
Eventually kvetching me returned from town with a napped child and we completed the job. Phew. Now we're just waiting on a bunch of plants to stick in the blankets. Then this project will be complete!
Though it was already getting late, we did go down to the river. GB, Noam, and Kairos went out hunting for prawns. The water was cold, but they managed to catch about 11 of them- enough to have Kairos' family over for dinner and cards, and for everyone to have at least one.
On the way back to the car, Luka "helped" GB carry the bucket full of crustaceans by holding the rope ; )
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