Windows arrive

Windows arrived today, Ivy sets the greenhouse windows.













Closeup of one of the double hung windows in the office/guest room wing.













From the dining room is the bale cutting table in the foreground, the mountains in the background with a fresh dusting of snow. They are calling out to all skiers, "skip work today, come up here"

Stackin bales

The first straw bales went in the dining room. Here Ivy stomps one down.












Here is our window frame or buck. We place it between the side bucks, level and screw it, fill it with insulation, cover it, repeat the process on the top and we are ready to install the window.








Here is part of the dining room wall. The bottom bale is wrapped in Tyvec to protect it from moisture. We also use Tyvec under the windows.

The straw man cometh

Part of our straw delivery arrived this afternoon. Adam Drake and his brother Matthew brought it from the San Luis Valley CO. We unloaded 250 bales into the garage.








Adam's daughter Emily reminds us how incredibly fun it is to unload a trailer full of straw.












We finished up late in the day. Another trailer is coming tomorrow morning.

A good week

It is a great week. Mild winter weather returned to Taos. Jackets came off by 9AM. Electricians, plumbers, roofers and carpenters worked in perfect harmony. It is almost as if the house is building itself. The ceilings are in, rough electrical is done, plumbing vents are almost done. Tomorrow we will finish decking the roof so the ceilings will be protected.



Clerestory from down in the kitchen. The ceiling is done, can lights and fan fixture are in.











We decked the clerestory roof put on the lookouts and facia .

Wiring it up

Brian sets up a viga on the clear story.


















Today was a busy day with our crew, electricians, the phone & internet guy and the plumber showing up.
Here we take an afternoon break after putting up the clear story.



Suzie goes over the placement of lighting with one of the electricians.

Clear story

We build the clear story, a raised ceiling above the kitchen. We set the vigas on top to match with those below.












Getting them up there was a bit of a challenge.















Here is the view from the kitchen.

View from the top

Latilla ceiling in the entrance way is almost done.













Entrance way from the top, to the right is the dining room. The ceiling is finished and the trusses are up.










We cover our work with plastic and wrap it up for the week. The sun is setting its time to go home.

Ceilings go on

In the main entrance way Eric & I cut the latillas in a herringbone pattern. We will put all the ceilings directly on the vigas then put up the trusses and deck the roof. It is much easier that way. (as long as it doesn't snow)









In the dining room Ivy & Brian attach the spruce tongue and groove ceiling to the vigas.












Eric & I installed the spruce tongue & groove ceiling to the vigas in the living room.

Vigas in the sky

The crane came today and we set our vigas that will become the ceiling detail as well as a roof support. Some of them were over 20 feet long and they all are heavy.

Here one comes from the sky,








we grab it and set it in place























we strap up another one and get ready to place it.

more vigas

Vigas continue to fall from the sky














we set them in place













at the end of the day they are set and we cut them to length.