Owner-Builders Build a Strawbale House in an HOA development that leans green. Should be interesting. Passive solar, photovoltaics, solar hotwater and maybe a little Permaculture; stay tuned.
Today at work I read this post from RV-Dreams. Yes, I do occasionally read websites at work. Sometimes it's the only thing that keeps me there. But today it almost incited an immediate letter of resignation.
It followed on the heels of this postfrom the one, the only, Dooce.
Death to the man Power to the People Viva la Revolucion Why be Normal Remember, remember the 5th of November Live Free or Die
Find the Open Road
Friday, March 14, 2008
I have been Flamenco-ized!
I love Flamenco! I watch Flamenco movies, I walk around the house practicing arm and hand movements, I listen to Flamenco music and choreograph movements in my head, I love the swishing skirts,I golpe, plante and tacon down hallways (even though I look somewhat spastic), I love the power. I Love Flamenco! When I grow up, this is who I will be:
More Earthen Plaster FinishingWhen I repaired the plaster on the south wall back in November, it was better but still not where I wanted it. Being the south wall of course it gets the most sun and that means that any plaster work done will dry very quickly and the thinner the layer, the faster it dries. Not always a good thing for plaster. It dried with some pits and cracks that could cause problems down the road. When I got up Saturday morning it was cloudy but not threatening rain, the perfect day to work on this wall so to work I went.I mixed up a fine clay with a small amount of sand. To that I added water mixed with Acri-Soy purchased at Originate. This is a bit of an experiment to see if it makes the wall more weather-proof. I know some purists out there will say that with a good plaster this wouldn't be necessary but I'm not a professional plasterer so purists, get over it. I will also use this on the west wall. This mixture goes on like a thin latex and application is not a neat process. The stuff flies everywhere. Once it had time firm up a bit, I polished it with a disc cut from a whipped topping container and the finish is smooth and beautiful. The Acri-Soy did not change the color of the clay, which was a concern. We'll see what happens in the summer monsoon.
Friday, March 07, 2008
I've enjoyed watching the progress of some folks building an earthen oven in Cochise Co. It's made me think of how much I enjoyed our oven, both the building and the using. Unfortunately we never got a picture of our oven but it looked very much like this one.
A beautiful day in southern Arizona, perfect for plastering. The west wall with the sculpturing has been calling to me and today I responded. The clay bamboo had never been finished and had worn down by our summer storms. It now has a second coat and the whole wall is ready for a final coat.Before and after photos.
Various stages of plaster completion. I had a little trouble with the mix this time and I'm not sure why. It was soft and dusted when touched. Simple fix, old-fashioned paste: water and white flour 1:1, pour into hot water, bring to a boil and cook until thickened. Did the trick!
Now it just needs a final very thin coat to even the color.
I like pretty things, I like cool things, I like recycled things. I like to make those pretty, cool, recycled things.
Mom of 2 amazing young men.
Wife to 1 husband.
RN at a Birth Center.
Artist, builder, healer.
More Earthen Plaster Finishing When I repaired the plaster on the south wall back in November, it was better but still not where I wanted it. Being the south wall of course it gets the most sun and that means that any plaster work done will dry very quickly and the thinner the layer, the faster it dries. Not always a good thing for plaster. It dried with some pits and cracks that could cause problems down the road. When I got up Saturday morning it was cloudy but not threatening rain, the perfect day to work on this wall so to work I went. I mixed up a fine clay with a small amount of sand. To that I added water mixed with Acri-Soy purchased at Originate. 
This is a bit of an experiment to see if it makes the wall more weather-proof. I know some purists out there will say that with a good plaster this wouldn't be necessary but I'm not a professional plasterer so purists, get over it. I will also use this on the west wall. This mixture goes on like a thin latex and application is not a neat process. The stuff flies everywhere. Once it had time firm up a bit, I polished it with a disc cut from a whipped topping container and the finish is smooth and beautiful. The Acri-Soy did not change the color of the clay, which was a concern. We'll see what happens in the summer monsoon.
