tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17752694411294696432024-03-05T04:43:03.604+00:00CobDreams (MutaUnelmia)This blog is about my journey whilst building a natural cottage in South of Finland, using only local and natural materials. The main building work was carried out over three months in the Summer of 2012.
I am currently a professional illustrator and designer, working and living in UK.Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-14518346669847938612022-08-22T16:03:00.000+01:002022-08-22T16:03:01.507+01:00End of an era - The last chapter to my natural building blog<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's been nearly six years since I added an entry to my natural building blog. I'm not sure where the time went but it sure went somewhere. I think it burrowed under a thing called life and curled into a ball, waiting for a fresh re-emergence much later, when the thick ice of busyness had thawed.</span></span></h2><div><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhyfoqOErREsRYHKfcN5PmwxnTeY_LTaWeSXgVVrwUEhuOblRlxKGEvhNw9FbFsRp8RHiuhsAkbAoobrAgZQf4wu07f0TGIV8DJuXHe91R5Pj5AYE5YoJRjBdGKUb0dIBOazp_dUWt8X0PiL_reneRBfIUlK0x8kxqQUrilPsU3w0yd_zIOP2DuGNcw/s1230/20220821_070633-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="1148" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhyfoqOErREsRYHKfcN5PmwxnTeY_LTaWeSXgVVrwUEhuOblRlxKGEvhNw9FbFsRp8RHiuhsAkbAoobrAgZQf4wu07f0TGIV8DJuXHe91R5Pj5AYE5YoJRjBdGKUb0dIBOazp_dUWt8X0PiL_reneRBfIUlK0x8kxqQUrilPsU3w0yd_zIOP2DuGNcw/s320/20220821_070633-01.jpeg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Many things have happened since 2016; my children grew up (my son is 20 this year), I grew older (my right hip has now a severe arthritis and I am waiting for an operation) and also the Covid virus hit the world, and my life (twice in fact). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Over the years, every time I visited Finland, I was thinking about this blog and the followers I had at the time I was building this place. A little story that started from just a personal diary, has had nearly 155,000 views by now, which is beautiful and humbling, but also gives me a sense of responsibility. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">At times I felt that I abandoned my readers, because every story needs an ending or at least some sort of closing, and I regularly receive emails from other builders, who use my cottage build as a reference for their own dream. </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Instead</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> of replying to </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">individuals</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">, I thought I should reply to the community of followers I used to have (and who knows, maybe still have). So this blog post is for all of you, who have been there with me from the start, and for those who are only </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">now discovering this blog.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrnzH_u5EpBHhdWED_qr4p3cZ4mQBblKhG5ZiM5Ja46-h08hZSAc1hk4WFht2dqUwM29LBZTpqNsHNrdVdgoucVkWjmaT1SFGImtjGUEwktSLsn6m1Fl_xOD9yxKl13Zan4ijjoXsLo_WIxmQ7P-3FSjlKGFIeSyqZcNhMe4HqYMBUVXt19oYIpMjxg/s2048/IMG-20220813-WA0004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrnzH_u5EpBHhdWED_qr4p3cZ4mQBblKhG5ZiM5Ja46-h08hZSAc1hk4WFht2dqUwM29LBZTpqNsHNrdVdgoucVkWjmaT1SFGImtjGUEwktSLsn6m1Fl_xOD9yxKl13Zan4ijjoXsLo_WIxmQ7P-3FSjlKGFIeSyqZcNhMe4HqYMBUVXt19oYIpMjxg/s320/IMG-20220813-WA0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Some of you may remember I was pregnant with my second child, just after the first year of starting the build. This event wasn't exactly written into my book of cottage planning (haha), so among </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">fresh</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> mother exhaustion and frequent breast-feeding sessions, I managed to finish the external of the cottage and then kept slowly working on it each Summer when I visited. However, I never really had enough time of focus to sit down and write my blog. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But my Elaman Puu (Tree of Life) cottage is still here and even though I’ve had to give it a lot of TLC since its emergence: the building has seen a decade of freezing Winters and scorching Summers - it still looks as beautiful as ever. Yes, call me biased if you will :) </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikh674lsKsOzYhg2wFcvKgaHh14PjtWEQwhG7X2SmjNv4ItxPGV--DgpTGPqwrdgmUs9AEmkJUhJz-UrPKxmO1yUfxo9UrIq8m3tu_pop3dr0UeI6XDstHEKGaUvUWl4LzyNYQeyz-mYFsSL01PT1sqls5hythsU8ukq3C1exuP1rU_v-zFysQl4FeEg/s1366/20220803_132757-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1366" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikh674lsKsOzYhg2wFcvKgaHh14PjtWEQwhG7X2SmjNv4ItxPGV--DgpTGPqwrdgmUs9AEmkJUhJz-UrPKxmO1yUfxo9UrIq8m3tu_pop3dr0UeI6XDstHEKGaUvUWl4LzyNYQeyz-mYFsSL01PT1sqls5hythsU8ukq3C1exuP1rU_v-zFysQl4FeEg/s320/20220803_132757-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When I first started building this cottage, all I wanted to do was to experiment with different natural materials, I didn’t really think this place would stand the test of time or that I would become so fond of it. However, this little humble natural building ended up being one of the most meaningful things I have ever done. The meaning of building one’s own shelter acquired a very special meaning in my heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Natural </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">building</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> project is </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">the</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> perfect way to force oneself to </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">think</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> creatively and </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">intuitively</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> at the same time. It is also very rewarding to work with one's hands, and to see the result of that labour pretty much immediately. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhD8f-9CTgKkkONEdXV3nSfHORwcLGNz9qyS-4zygcgHqdLGM_PILuie7lUmZcXNXAtQwRRpp4t3YlvxMSHDr_CCsNOk3Es9ClvWV7t-6EnZtK4wmHFclp0CgOhJffvVLMNInh7gv9gaXClboHSxu2E_ELCeb_a_lTmWOqe0jl2zJVYWe1UtNYD26zmw/s2048/IMG-20220813-WA0005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhD8f-9CTgKkkONEdXV3nSfHORwcLGNz9qyS-4zygcgHqdLGM_PILuie7lUmZcXNXAtQwRRpp4t3YlvxMSHDr_CCsNOk3Es9ClvWV7t-6EnZtK4wmHFclp0CgOhJffvVLMNInh7gv9gaXClboHSxu2E_ELCeb_a_lTmWOqe0jl2zJVYWe1UtNYD26zmw/w150-h200/IMG-20220813-WA0005.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you would like to read the full post I wrote about my natural building journey, please visit the artist blog section on my artist website at <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.heidivilkman.com/blog" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.heidivilkman.com/post/artistic-natural-building-design</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I won’t be updating my Cob dreams Blogger site past this post, so make sure to sign up to my newsletter while you are there too!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">About me: I am a professional artist, designer and illustrator, originally from Finland, but have been living and working in UK for the past 25 years. I make magic with images, so if you are in need of a designer, illustrator or a <a href="https://www.heidivilkman.com/design/design-services" target="_blank">freelance pattern designer</a>, you can hire me for your special design project.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I create anything from logos to web iconography to book illustrations, and beyond! I will also offer consultation about your own natural build, so please contact me for details via: <a href="https://www.heidivilkman.com/contact" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.heidivilkman.com/contact</a> - I adore creative process and am good at it – so let me help you to realise that special idea or project you have!</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Hebden Bridge HX7, UK53.743303999999988 -2.01302125.433070163821142 -37.169271 82.053537836178833 33.143229tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-72054983545621032822016-08-26T16:24:00.002+01:002022-05-01T09:57:58.854+01:00Summer Rain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div><p>I am a <a href="https://www.heidivilkman.com/design/illustration-and-graphic-design" target="_blank">professional illustrator</a> and <a href="https://www.heidivilkman.com/post/surface-pattern-designer" target="_blank">surface pattern designer</a>, currently living in the green valley in Hebden Bridge, UK.</p><p>---------------------</p><p>Summer rain is falling on the Finnish woods, sometimes accompanied by sunshine, at other times a bit of thunder and lightning. I don't remember such a wet August for several years, although it pales in comparison to what I am used to in wetness, i.e. English Summers...<br />
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I made an extra trip to my native country and cottage in early June, eager to apply the linseed oil onto the top layer of my earthen floor, so that I could finally stay in my cottage in August. Linseed oil takes a good while to cure and since I applied four coats to the floor, I gathered it would be several weeks until it was dry and hard enough. I knew I would still have to apply wax coat on the floor if I wanted it properly durable and water repellent but that could wait, until August.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTj3a9ZR-pAl0KgEzjd1Ly1c9tQdagID3WL7vZiuzqgSclCTNNIyUM9pW-AgzuB__-fAHUduJ-v4WBWKth-kC6ABKsOTnVR6G7D38Y00El3FNrXGUlsjxYRD5ZINLK3I4fbTs2m4G7mvhD/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTj3a9ZR-pAl0KgEzjd1Ly1c9tQdagID3WL7vZiuzqgSclCTNNIyUM9pW-AgzuB__-fAHUduJ-v4WBWKth-kC6ABKsOTnVR6G7D38Y00El3FNrXGUlsjxYRD5ZINLK3I4fbTs2m4G7mvhD/s320/DSC_0026.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEims83bocHvQp83A_QRwVtnTHSxAklNqwyoVKlRHB8uaX1vARQu7-ae9dUUT8e84TNNMOLHZqJFDB-94j6SK1YkOmMipjs5kL8QyDRku1t35LR1t_Gl0EcnY4EIaULY8V1URBFwM1EYB1JO/s1600/DSC_0072+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEims83bocHvQp83A_QRwVtnTHSxAklNqwyoVKlRHB8uaX1vARQu7-ae9dUUT8e84TNNMOLHZqJFDB-94j6SK1YkOmMipjs5kL8QyDRku1t35LR1t_Gl0EcnY4EIaULY8V1URBFwM1EYB1JO/s320/DSC_0072+%25282%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Now it's August and I have been here for 1.5weeks, working in a very lazy way on my cottage. One of the first things I did, was to make a linseed oil/beeswax mix, which I applied to the now hardened floor with a brush and then rubbing it in with a large rubber kidney (the types one uses with ceramic clay). Two days later the floor was done but remained pretty tacky, so I ended rubbing some of it off with rags. A week later it is still a bit sticky but I have been able to walk on it nevertheless.<br />
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And whilst I was doing this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4h1vu-PSm0bkf9RQu1SD_U4xWxmB6NX1SY3_MZnsyvDp3ygrKr_HPk5Cg7z2u8crqP6mwN-ZSWqBHkzyXNzIbQ9WJivVuJmXBzf6HKPRILYRc00nKgXmRI9X8eIMuBWqLfJp4kgtnslid/s1600/me+floor3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4h1vu-PSm0bkf9RQu1SD_U4xWxmB6NX1SY3_MZnsyvDp3ygrKr_HPk5Cg7z2u8crqP6mwN-ZSWqBHkzyXNzIbQ9WJivVuJmXBzf6HKPRILYRc00nKgXmRI9X8eIMuBWqLfJp4kgtnslid/s320/me+floor3.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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some other members of my family were doing this:<br />
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Afterwards, I would let the floor dry, hoping the tackiness would disappear (which eventually did), although very impatiently and after only few days, I already started planning on when to move in, by buying two foldable mattresses, a tea light lantern and dragging in some sparse furniture...<br />
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So eventually, the space would change from this - to this (you have to start somewhere):<br />
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Few more weeks passed, ever so quickly, in and around my cottage. I am now back in UK writing this and my head is slowly adjusting to the wetness of Britain and the beautiful forests of Finland have changed to a wide landscape of Yorkshire hills and moors. Good time for recapping and reminiscing.....<br />
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Two days ago I left Finland with so many emotions. I had this amazing feeling of thrill, excitement, deep appreciation, but also the notion of fear and anxiety. So much has happened, I had finished my cottage interior, fixed parts of the outside, mainly the primitive 'guttering' on the roof but also mended a tiny hole in the initial waterproofing layer (luckily near the edge and easy fix). We had been working on an outhouse with my father, using leftover materials, like pallets, roundwood, planks, straw. I worked on the building in a very lazy fashion, mindful of my children, who are growing up quickly but who still appreciate my company (mostly). Yet I wanted to have this artistic outhouse, or at least the beginnings of it, to complement my cottage. As what is a summer-house without an outhouse?<br />
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Whilst I did the impromptu designing, my father did majority of the work, apart from roof covering, which I did myself. I give you a few pictures of our progress...my mum's duties mainly consisted of babysitting my daughter Pinja, but of course she couldn't help herself and had to come and check the progress at times. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4Z0DqX0098IikbuWFRqChkZeu_AOY3WGRvtJOHNX81vI72XvB3vwa_zz42m_M3SN7K1wZ6tQ7uIVVFw6p06eVsMiNG6HEMvCfBuokHlORnjWcWbYd545p-f342lxPa_A3kQr67nxag9s/s1600/outhouse.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4Z0DqX0098IikbuWFRqChkZeu_AOY3WGRvtJOHNX81vI72XvB3vwa_zz42m_M3SN7K1wZ6tQ7uIVVFw6p06eVsMiNG6HEMvCfBuokHlORnjWcWbYd545p-f342lxPa_A3kQr67nxag9s/s400/outhouse.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mother handing plank to my father as he is building the roof of the outhouse.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Pinja (3) herself constantly offered to help (Can I help mummy?) and
even though I said it was safer for her to stay away, she insisted on
climbing the ladder up to the roof of the outhouse, which I have
christened 'Huojuva Huussi' due to the way the wooden structure swung
underneath us (without the support of walls). That is loosely translated as a
'Swinging Loo'...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDQJum8ztW4R6ViS-nlIq2AKVzr6N0aELWxqRAgRo-Y23nd60BCUBceRlCGe5KwwRO3o8vAH743QviT5kgjftCu7XKHahsz_LjhIq_iviaLrw3kLHwbr_LP_3PWHZ6jQU4HbOiq7EABux/s1600/me+roof.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDQJum8ztW4R6ViS-nlIq2AKVzr6N0aELWxqRAgRo-Y23nd60BCUBceRlCGe5KwwRO3o8vAH743QviT5kgjftCu7XKHahsz_LjhIq_iviaLrw3kLHwbr_LP_3PWHZ6jQU4HbOiq7EABux/s320/me+roof.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi1gz8FUvDdQa4zpD248NM712HZ6tiAogiai1BE8HPKZb4et421GKXM2J-n0hOee4aqysiMgsdcob8HWDLwVDYUZrVyNmuZDzYuLXT94hxClFOQC0yjBVkluY-K5LJKGXSqWJWaAfXJ4F/s1600/pinja+roof.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi1gz8FUvDdQa4zpD248NM712HZ6tiAogiai1BE8HPKZb4et421GKXM2J-n0hOee4aqysiMgsdcob8HWDLwVDYUZrVyNmuZDzYuLXT94hxClFOQC0yjBVkluY-K5LJKGXSqWJWaAfXJ4F/s320/pinja+roof.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSNSENzIKO8jAqB-SOEPZSjm0C14FI0kuC2kkHhcmBZ2yTXuFkciAyHcdhz0zeDgNjl5ce3OOkUtzY8wHxaV75FbB24scWc_jBB9zU15VEvz6gBjn12Sx9zQIkgKr7Xut1R9eSEO7Szv-/s1600/roof+completed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSNSENzIKO8jAqB-SOEPZSjm0C14FI0kuC2kkHhcmBZ2yTXuFkciAyHcdhz0zeDgNjl5ce3OOkUtzY8wHxaV75FbB24scWc_jBB9zU15VEvz6gBjn12Sx9zQIkgKr7Xut1R9eSEO7Szv-/s400/roof+completed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So eventually the wooden frame was done, the roof was felted (I am intending to make it into a green roof but we had to waterproof it in the mean time for the harsh Finnish Winter) and the rain was guided to flow through a small opening at the bottom corner and along a chain to the ground (which I was happy to notice was functioning nicely).<br />
I am hoping to collect this rainwater into a large container, to use with a solar powered shower which will be positioned at the bottom end of the outhouse, under the long eaves on the left.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTV6CYiEG2q_F7V-Jc0PNgutR61msWZ-HFg7K2bWzsIwZ5ajXJIGm1JaEHMq3hBaWD1u_bOaNHgOzP1240hOQbx0H7AZynLKqylI4Tnh994HsPRPiTer7-23J6lqR4Jn1r2NTRCjKBptQ/s1600/pinja+me+muddy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTV6CYiEG2q_F7V-Jc0PNgutR61msWZ-HFg7K2bWzsIwZ5ajXJIGm1JaEHMq3hBaWD1u_bOaNHgOzP1240hOQbx0H7AZynLKqylI4Tnh994HsPRPiTer7-23J6lqR4Jn1r2NTRCjKBptQ/s640/pinja+me+muddy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to work on the walls with Pinja...she has already smeared herself with clay in preparation.</td></tr>
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I had thought about making the outhouse walls with leftover strawbales, sat on their sides (as otherwise they would take a massive chunk out of the floor area) but reading on a natural building forum one morning, I came across mention of light clay straw. I had heard about this technique but never tried it myself. But suddenly I thought this might be a more suitable thing for my walls. Light clay straw basically means coating loose straw with runny and sticky clay slip and then packing the coated straw into a wall cavity, built with temporary wooden supports, whilst the straw dries inside.<br />
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Since my walls didn't need to be very thick yet I had loads of clay available (in our clay pit) and loads of loosely baled strawbales left, I thought this technique would work well for my small outhouse space. I explained to my father that I needed a supporting structure to make the wall cavity, in which I would then add and compact the clay covered straw. Past fully revisited, I dipped into an icy clay pond (a perfect beginning for a natural pool) and started digging my gray gold aka clay. My brother came to help for few hours, although for some reason he left the muddy clay pond well alone...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister, brother and little critter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwrTY36YWVMTavpWqE7R7CuIag7VJs177_Wde9jixO4QFXMZ5tk8Wi7rPT9gB_1HxSbs2bnG-y9AuC9IndrXtHRW2xEZzLiXRbaUuf079Y09CzyRmtacrUjpV7Jet33752iamZQYA17Qn/s1600/jyrki2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwrTY36YWVMTavpWqE7R7CuIag7VJs177_Wde9jixO4QFXMZ5tk8Wi7rPT9gB_1HxSbs2bnG-y9AuC9IndrXtHRW2xEZzLiXRbaUuf079Y09CzyRmtacrUjpV7Jet33752iamZQYA17Qn/s400/jyrki2.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother compacting the light clay straw into the wall cavity.</td></tr>
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Pinja came along and saw me with a wheelbarrow full of clay. She immediately took off her shoes and stepped inside a bucket full of clay. There is a real joy about getting muddy, at any age, at least for people who haven't lost touch with their inner child. Whilst I was mixing up the straw and clay and getting muddier and muddier, so did Pinja, smearing herself with the runny clay slip until her whole body was gray. Then she would happily potter about the 'building site' helping me to 'squish squish squish' the straw with her feet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKM75uAnyMkmtA9llZf4d_73ddUC4s3JySbE_VRYPsThRsbHhLTzsSpnkqMWJ46Kvt40YPPP8ZBlZ0H-8w60nIcOEVc6oeffo-rvWVxPvIJ1hX4nWWPzSYtU8Or_jEheM3-EPclp87t-X/s1600/pinja+bucket.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKM75uAnyMkmtA9llZf4d_73ddUC4s3JySbE_VRYPsThRsbHhLTzsSpnkqMWJ46Kvt40YPPP8ZBlZ0H-8w60nIcOEVc6oeffo-rvWVxPvIJ1hX4nWWPzSYtU8Or_jEheM3-EPclp87t-X/s400/pinja+bucket.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'I'm getting in mummy.'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-Ml7grZeZ9klGbVTSoE4mVbqDRH5AQUuEQn_KRSXWqfjXBL6gVMI1R8HX3mpnMq3J-tyiAL5WaJVMIN8C_k1hSbVOnWE4i352tPFNjKZfsyHkBixqJC-AAoOAAFDHMEEXu5JaF2KNIl2/s1600/feet2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-Ml7grZeZ9klGbVTSoE4mVbqDRH5AQUuEQn_KRSXWqfjXBL6gVMI1R8HX3mpnMq3J-tyiAL5WaJVMIN8C_k1hSbVOnWE4i352tPFNjKZfsyHkBixqJC-AAoOAAFDHMEEXu5JaF2KNIl2/s640/feet2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy feet :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHA931K_UmqQMwyEsXyUy68KRCxcNr6moMIMCJXZ46soIJF1RjCrlm80fEec8DOOvPdltkAaMgepQijHZVn62EkY-yc0DV_9OtdgAeknmA2XXzB1OvrJxmV9rZol_FOBF-YOkVfF7hx3I/s1600/heidi+works.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHA931K_UmqQMwyEsXyUy68KRCxcNr6moMIMCJXZ46soIJF1RjCrlm80fEec8DOOvPdltkAaMgepQijHZVn62EkY-yc0DV_9OtdgAeknmA2XXzB1OvrJxmV9rZol_FOBF-YOkVfF7hx3I/s320/heidi+works.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am working, whilst someone is watching..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4QDdisBCnPkKF7EzmH5FbAeb7Dy3LcYBq5kNE5pIJpslWF66xybfSL234xmaVmT3YYdY1cma-GQulxvANMANRI4hBbEbIaDieD5P2oCu3nLQ3Cp8OjEBdJ1y_xLoxr9k1hiKM49wQ4fQ/s1600/pinja+bucket2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4QDdisBCnPkKF7EzmH5FbAeb7Dy3LcYBq5kNE5pIJpslWF66xybfSL234xmaVmT3YYdY1cma-GQulxvANMANRI4hBbEbIaDieD5P2oCu3nLQ3Cp8OjEBdJ1y_xLoxr9k1hiKM49wQ4fQ/s400/pinja+bucket2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy as a pig... in a bucket.</td></tr>
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In the end I was so covered in mud, I couldn't operate the camera any longer (without having to constantly wash my hands), so I ended up working the next day too, trying to fill up the rest of the remaining cavity space. This time I worked by myself without my little assistant.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg58ZqIe_ePesikkz93sZvopM0evT-l6T2KK4P1Mt2ugqS7Ne8fKaoJZuO8ziI4tJXGg3fCFr412lCbYVC_1qM2NsarJv21NQhvBjW8cgri1txuoJhnznL39K9qIcNjClT1qrPyW-Y_yl4/s1600/me+making2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg58ZqIe_ePesikkz93sZvopM0evT-l6T2KK4P1Mt2ugqS7Ne8fKaoJZuO8ziI4tJXGg3fCFr412lCbYVC_1qM2NsarJv21NQhvBjW8cgri1txuoJhnznL39K9qIcNjClT1qrPyW-Y_yl4/s400/me+making2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busy at work.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjdeKe2_mAy1BmA585RkaOrCx8M3O9VBEbKUstmaT8UpdfUtaRGdIRGQjHyKTvRNr2hQYxHrupv5JOEPtEiI4y6vizJnI7XkcF9dHybJv6_vKCQX7S8UE866y9L8xqJwlh_qgZV5hBTQn/s1600/mokki+ja+huussi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjdeKe2_mAy1BmA585RkaOrCx8M3O9VBEbKUstmaT8UpdfUtaRGdIRGQjHyKTvRNr2hQYxHrupv5JOEPtEiI4y6vizJnI7XkcF9dHybJv6_vKCQX7S8UE866y9L8xqJwlh_qgZV5hBTQn/s400/mokki+ja+huussi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cottage with the outhouse framework at the background.</td></tr>
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Alas, I ran out of time and the next thing I know is it is Sunday and I am having an Open Day. An article came out in a local paper, inviting people to come and see this wonderful weirdness that my cottage is and without expecting many people, I nevertheless started preparing for it. Since I am an artist, and my art is as much influenced by this landscape as is my actual cottage, I had brought a selection of my forest inspired art to Finland, to sell it in my cottage during the Open Day. Just a perfect setting for my soul art in my soul landscape!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqJXMgcrizkMQ5JM84zJD99oeZ-6bT0Aj-4YF8ZzpBcqEV6Jx6QLMh1-knXNvNesq9vHKR18LsBFl1Yz_0bxRlw4DxTqDgc3DKJU_ZvuuL5DmtBhonqGTDAax4KkBbxVtGn4nF5Aij8xK/s1600/ekomokki.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqJXMgcrizkMQ5JM84zJD99oeZ-6bT0Aj-4YF8ZzpBcqEV6Jx6QLMh1-knXNvNesq9vHKR18LsBFl1Yz_0bxRlw4DxTqDgc3DKJU_ZvuuL5DmtBhonqGTDAax4KkBbxVtGn4nF5Aij8xK/s320/ekomokki.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome, Open House - Eco cottage</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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After so much rain over the past weeks, on my Open House morning, the sun came out and cherished us with her presence almost all day long. So so many people came out to see my cottage, big guys, small guys, women in heels, women in bike suits, children, babies, elderly, friends, lost friends, artists, builders, regular folk. All of them said wonderful things and felt inspired. Some of them bought my art (thank you!) and many tasted my mother's wonderful baking on offer. After running an hour overtime, we finally closed our doors and said thank you - it was fantastic to witness the genuine interest towards natural building - and the way these materials can lend to one's unique ideas and imagination.<br />
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With few people I discussed my plans to run short, natural building workshops at my cottage in the future, during Summer-time when I visit. I already have a few people interested and on my mailing list. This is definitely something I will seriously consider doing, because inspiring people to learn new things and to make with their OWN hands is very rewarding, for them and for me as a creative individual.<br />
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On that Sunday night I felt tired but very happy. I fell asleep inside my cottage, hugged by Mother Nature, with weary eyes but warm heart.... <br />
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In only few days I was to return to UK, and yet again, I realised that three weeks had passed so very quickly. I am already looking forward to next Summer, when I can finish the outhouse and start planning new things....hopefully weird and wonderful things.<br />
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Because one must always keep on planning, dreaming, wondering. Whether everything happens or comes to fruition is another matter. But that is part of the adventure.... the journey from dreaming to living. The reason to get out of bed, to see what/if/when happens. And life always does... :)<br />
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I leave you with few more happy photos. Until next time.... x<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9Jy4qBmyUJA4O4uULrY5Tlq06TmohOXpxsp0_JAyYmzMsxJfgtblKbSyDUYMlUziQ0xgHJxlfy7NJyhGWUa3n-lYOD_lthU7_lbQn4i_YLoVSJ9Fcpr7xMT9537GWTzUvgBlbvhq6oz8/s1600/pinja+inside.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9Jy4qBmyUJA4O4uULrY5Tlq06TmohOXpxsp0_JAyYmzMsxJfgtblKbSyDUYMlUziQ0xgHJxlfy7NJyhGWUa3n-lYOD_lthU7_lbQn4i_YLoVSJ9Fcpr7xMT9537GWTzUvgBlbvhq6oz8/s640/pinja+inside.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talking to Mother Nature</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioG8uvQXtqnQpay0sdArbYwkcjcbXPm0uYMpu8wBUPLWmcOMVbPw5aQ2lJJ-WssQaghWdXJq3up3mHxqixz1xlNrfX1SQDsPcEpdN6hmkoHMB-65yEOUTxCvvt_ld85CVBK4Gc3qbKdyY_/s1600/2016-08-14+14.36.36.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioG8uvQXtqnQpay0sdArbYwkcjcbXPm0uYMpu8wBUPLWmcOMVbPw5aQ2lJJ-WssQaghWdXJq3up3mHxqixz1xlNrfX1SQDsPcEpdN6hmkoHMB-65yEOUTxCvvt_ld85CVBK4Gc3qbKdyY_/s400/2016-08-14+14.36.36.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my daughter </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1pEkDZMLywc_3fa3C9_GsxXlU0uJmPlS5XLPR_KzkhkW-S2cB36FgD-y892sLslg6a4lINaB9CNPtZK3emdWPMLzssSASgysgmHgXSBQyu-DmCWkuTEmvhtSC32do7qMnPLm0o2F728Z/s1600/pinja+ladder.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1pEkDZMLywc_3fa3C9_GsxXlU0uJmPlS5XLPR_KzkhkW-S2cB36FgD-y892sLslg6a4lINaB9CNPtZK3emdWPMLzssSASgysgmHgXSBQyu-DmCWkuTEmvhtSC32do7qMnPLm0o2F728Z/s400/pinja+ladder.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring the Happy House</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9Jy4qBmyUJA4O4uULrY5Tlq06TmohOXpxsp0_JAyYmzMsxJfgtblKbSyDUYMlUziQ0xgHJxlfy7NJyhGWUa3n-lYOD_lthU7_lbQn4i_YLoVSJ9Fcpr7xMT9537GWTzUvgBlbvhq6oz8/s1600/pinja+inside.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
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<br />Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-75072416442948273402016-05-15T15:58:00.002+01:002016-05-15T15:58:38.474+01:00Where did the years disappear? (I am still here.)I can't quite believe it has been so long since I last updated this blog - it's not like I have been asleep for two years, far from that - I suppose the opposite is true; so much has happened that I haven't had the clarity of mind to collect, reflect and write down coherent thoughts....<br />
Not sure how many of you still follow the blog but in some ways I owe it to those who do, to keep the story going, because the story is ongoing - like with any living craft, natural building is not something with a definite end, the building lives and breathes and changes along with Nature and its seasons, so there will always be something to make, mend or figure out.<br />
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In Winter of 2014 it became quite clear that the green roof had a leak in the plastic membrane somewhere along the top. Parts of timber looked wet and had some rot in them. It sunk my heart to watch this rot creep further down the roof, whilst I knew I had to tackle it head on the following Summer, rather than dream about building that wonderfully whimsical composting toilet with the left-over strawbales.<br />
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I had spent what I thought was a lot of money (over £100) on the plastic liner on the roof, under the soil. But of course that wasn't a lot of money compared to the money I subsequently had to spend on replacing it with a much more substantial EPDM rubber liner (about £400). If you are about to build a green roof, please bear that in mind. Mistakes can and will be done but sometimes it is good to learn from other people's mistakes, not your own.... Mind you, I could never find a puncture in the original liner but take it from me, it doesn't need to be a big hole to ruin your beautiful roof.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguey-0Qj5_FrnRBLiKTqcZyTg-LoBty3-y41ru2wdxuQ35zBfYLlqBRmEWrLGQqWcFm3lzu8bkAYdYiLMSlAvWqDvtHnjScL-4JO9ladPdcsdR9YH09whmaj7WjDWvcOBXoa3EJDktxerP/s1600/rolliing+top+off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguey-0Qj5_FrnRBLiKTqcZyTg-LoBty3-y41ru2wdxuQ35zBfYLlqBRmEWrLGQqWcFm3lzu8bkAYdYiLMSlAvWqDvtHnjScL-4JO9ladPdcsdR9YH09whmaj7WjDWvcOBXoa3EJDktxerP/s320/rolliing+top+off.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me removing the soil off the leaking liner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My father taking the rotten timber off the roof.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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So we set to work and I am grateful for my dad for tackling this job, having to re-do some of his initial work. But hey, it meant we could spend some more time working together! And reminiscing all the events during previous summers - and cursing quietly once in a while. It was a bit of a mess, and partly a very frustrating job, but at least we knew that this time the job would get done properly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyAs7-B8eg9p1VoBhMsFaf5wQqQJTSTjNfAghwhWB4LBbW6f3R7iP4s3p24AallacJgP8C0HymyGtDlv2yhx0E1PXSG4ddGkwX7mG4mVBE9_QPHQz6Z22WcbN6MLyCmLHWCIIQbAOM7sD/s1600/dad+on+roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyAs7-B8eg9p1VoBhMsFaf5wQqQJTSTjNfAghwhWB4LBbW6f3R7iP4s3p24AallacJgP8C0HymyGtDlv2yhx0E1PXSG4ddGkwX7mG4mVBE9_QPHQz6Z22WcbN6MLyCmLHWCIIQbAOM7sD/s320/dad+on+roof.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My father taking a moment to inspect the situation.</td></tr>
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<br />I went and picked up the EPDM liner with my dad from a warehouse close-by and feeling its weight (you needed few people to lift it), I asked for my brother and our neighbour to come and help to install it on the roof. Luckily we were blessed with good and dry weather whilst doing this.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking the old roof liner off</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting the new EPDM liner on</td></tr>
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It's amazing how much soil was on that roof. I tried to roll it off the roof in larger pieces around the cottage as if that would somehow help to put it back on, but of course life is not a big fluffy fairytale. Something that comes down easily doesn't tend to go back up as easy. I made a slight effort to at least start refilling the roof that same day when we laid the new roof liner on. Just for moral support for myself if nothing else...<br />
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The next days were involved just putting all the soil/turf back on the roof, and getting some more, as it seemed the Earth had strangely swallowed a lot of it on its way down to the ground. I shifted some of the forest bed onto the roof and planted few flowers, as well as some wild strawberry plants, which were so abundant around the cottage. You need proof? <br />
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But were they worth planting on my roof? My daughter thought so.<br />
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It would take over a week to fill it fully but in the mean time, we were enjoying a lovely weather and I could finally hook up the solar panels I had bought several Summers before.<br />
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But really now I had to focus on what I had originally intended to do, which was to lay and finish the earthen floor inside the cottage. At the moment it had a rough base layer, made with the gray clay from the clay pit round the cottage. Since my son's work efforts had so far been limited to taking a few photos, I cajoled him to work for twenty more minutes by the promise of some sweeties. He set to work, dusting the place down.<br />
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That eagerness to work didn't last very long because pretty soon Eemil and my daughter managed to find something a bit more pleasurable to do....<br />
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and who can blame them? :)<br />
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So you see the round wooden discs on the floor in the last photo - these were something I had been cutting and sanding the previous summer to go into my earthen floor. My father had cut them roughly with a chainsaw and then I had to try to get them thinned and smoothed out (it's no fun getting toes full of splinters when walking on one's floor). Right, so I better get off to work.<br />
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Oh yes, just before that, I would of course need to check whether my dragon still breathes fire. My children particularly insisted on checking out. And making a couple of stone baked pizzas in her belly. I am afraid you will just have to guess whether they tasted nice or not. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLLl6LrMU3XpDIWDHujMavv7t5BCV3qkYEhlYUgOUT9M5YuSdq0ilG-5R7_pB0BQnCl_K9v5n_qXOKnViprxhl3Occ92pZj6YorRMS8dwcQikMAsONgRS9bRT5zAnWHWtbMx4ahjVmF07/s1600/lit+dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLLl6LrMU3XpDIWDHujMavv7t5BCV3qkYEhlYUgOUT9M5YuSdq0ilG-5R7_pB0BQnCl_K9v5n_qXOKnViprxhl3Occ92pZj6YorRMS8dwcQikMAsONgRS9bRT5zAnWHWtbMx4ahjVmF07/s320/lit+dragon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire in the belly</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBB8QoNlczaWOk4tszZUv-NDxZQn64R3odxORwQlddZ0RLh3PzXhUcaviSVgGUE-yfZL8JQnTgRa-GpWRx-DqOl54jOBxhper-4tLL7AQzliBsOo9T855aQKY1TBcNG3V0x81TUdnukCy/s1600/pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBB8QoNlczaWOk4tszZUv-NDxZQn64R3odxORwQlddZ0RLh3PzXhUcaviSVgGUE-yfZL8JQnTgRa-GpWRx-DqOl54jOBxhper-4tLL7AQzliBsOo9T855aQKY1TBcNG3V0x81TUdnukCy/s320/pizza.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3qeg6allSNUrt1AUcUpBF7xszejVEoYfNnaZxfgX25ZYjrbPCf_LUVABak42An9-fAFDV6KLqReX9Wg2WDLT3jWdrs3Vv8j4Znm_URgoGi5_p-ON2Q7wmbS1xg8eSNKXH8pDBCgzU1EG/s1600/pizza+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3qeg6allSNUrt1AUcUpBF7xszejVEoYfNnaZxfgX25ZYjrbPCf_LUVABak42An9-fAFDV6KLqReX9Wg2WDLT3jWdrs3Vv8j4Znm_URgoGi5_p-ON2Q7wmbS1xg8eSNKXH8pDBCgzU1EG/s320/pizza+me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgqVx-GvMVj1sNb1HHY8wIw2w0QXaCGpASoJbmmqPwPEfKXV7a01skb_eeP6maEl_v9QnVRnsQ9D1eGLG6I7iAJboYP9WqqJK5LsXfC7ilOrY4mEc2UmetckiYl18CtLbyt6fPT2HaE7a/s1600/pizza+them.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgqVx-GvMVj1sNb1HHY8wIw2w0QXaCGpASoJbmmqPwPEfKXV7a01skb_eeP6maEl_v9QnVRnsQ9D1eGLG6I7iAJboYP9WqqJK5LsXfC7ilOrY4mEc2UmetckiYl18CtLbyt6fPT2HaE7a/s320/pizza+them.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIf2699RzY9RDIsF2kCSMa7IsPh2uokuho3CF4KZewLqZlsgJn5FXc01NMX_LcEtP2QgBalkJPh3himAV-0gtKz6yOvFfZ7D8TYf8mZdscmezYAghlriDpt4UChQROakk37zHv9H6YB-K/s1600/pizzas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIf2699RzY9RDIsF2kCSMa7IsPh2uokuho3CF4KZewLqZlsgJn5FXc01NMX_LcEtP2QgBalkJPh3himAV-0gtKz6yOvFfZ7D8TYf8mZdscmezYAghlriDpt4UChQROakk37zHv9H6YB-K/s320/pizzas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yum yum</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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It's safe to say, I didn't start working on the earthen floor that night. The next day however, I had no more excuses. Here is the way the floor looked at that point:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZimqJ2w4CKmeRIpS4BLUR8PWMXPUHxVTp889jsQVoVx-l79AmNJAh6DIBaVArY8jtL61Y65tbIdyDpy5nV5YyqP1gnfsGs1ozzb3EsGR1prbYYJ6gxl0lpaVcU3bQvCWFXu3Tdx0j7CM/s1600/inside+floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZimqJ2w4CKmeRIpS4BLUR8PWMXPUHxVTp889jsQVoVx-l79AmNJAh6DIBaVArY8jtL61Y65tbIdyDpy5nV5YyqP1gnfsGs1ozzb3EsGR1prbYYJ6gxl0lpaVcU3bQvCWFXu3Tdx0j7CM/s640/inside+floor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Whilst I set to work, mixing a earthen plaster with fine bagged (powdered) clay I had bought and fine particle sand from last year, my mother did the important job of entertaining my two year old, who otherwise would have wanted to come and lay the floor with me. Which would have meant wet clay plaster all over everything, not just the floor. So the consolation prize was to play with my mound of building sand - and she seemed to be happy with that. Well...mainly...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rYEuCCRlYda65FW4B8pqVu_MCoZadYBpppguD4BGMyBffFViab3u0aYrRlXc9nWeXmCY19Y0Yb1rwOT3fxZFssT-A08Gh9k-lb5ZgVZlzWbnz97uklqkkuD9ndI34Gs2yBI84rq6vio9/s1600/pinja+sand+mummi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rYEuCCRlYda65FW4B8pqVu_MCoZadYBpppguD4BGMyBffFViab3u0aYrRlXc9nWeXmCY19Y0Yb1rwOT3fxZFssT-A08Gh9k-lb5ZgVZlzWbnz97uklqkkuD9ndI34Gs2yBI84rq6vio9/s320/pinja+sand+mummi.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tLaoFJj0szfqEr1djocQCph86BMXR-m6DRP80O2-XPah2_mI0pQ4uPfC2D51PO8LCX_qKYz75DnPaODSN18R4pF-WGRpSjvef_Gd9RGAIqz6lnvKTn9b1U3G768Dl2uogC5uE3K4QeO5/s1600/mixing+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tLaoFJj0szfqEr1djocQCph86BMXR-m6DRP80O2-XPah2_mI0pQ4uPfC2D51PO8LCX_qKYz75DnPaODSN18R4pF-WGRpSjvef_Gd9RGAIqz6lnvKTn9b1U3G768Dl2uogC5uE3K4QeO5/s640/mixing+me.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEemeBVip74cw6Ih59y3cKqcCUzqQgs02cs1aLSRb9QsGVeYJMA1i9tiRSvk_nw-2yrbHVMiJdpmfja_uEwi8haVbqPCNlaSrtp2tpc8Z_W3jtT9AUaPMqhlnvytJgyUumAbeqSZDtBdU2/s1600/mixing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEemeBVip74cw6Ih59y3cKqcCUzqQgs02cs1aLSRb9QsGVeYJMA1i9tiRSvk_nw-2yrbHVMiJdpmfja_uEwi8haVbqPCNlaSrtp2tpc8Z_W3jtT9AUaPMqhlnvytJgyUumAbeqSZDtBdU2/s320/mixing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Mummy, what are you doing?'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGZ7pmT2opWBDuWC39J_rcm1qv_ZOaODSrgWZ9e8G0EzUXMNU8R84tfD18Et9Mi7-FE8DXsMG-u25Pq7sA3dNSVcVhQscbqgG5Cdq0dUPFjVZwchvJw7g79OqfX05fUvwfKZCoXHdmAjA/s1600/pinja+wanst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGZ7pmT2opWBDuWC39J_rcm1qv_ZOaODSrgWZ9e8G0EzUXMNU8R84tfD18Et9Mi7-FE8DXsMG-u25Pq7sA3dNSVcVhQscbqgG5Cdq0dUPFjVZwchvJw7g79OqfX05fUvwfKZCoXHdmAjA/s640/pinja+wanst.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Pinja want to mix it.'</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I don't blame her for wanting to mix it; the feeling of having one's arms and hands deep in mud slurry is just fantastic. No wonder people have meditative and health replenishing mud baths. You really don't know what you have missed until you try. And one can make it pretty much for free!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NPDoFLPgOyxgOWtq7ZjNc49Epj9VRjVfvpinrg0RU3MREWPDpa0PfYzgsydZjEbaz91tVqqzqGRbY8Ij8Za7Yk5P_x4LZVje-ZCJEO1nGn7ehlT-amGkjSr0bLySs4nndjw6JJrwrOzN/s1600/me+happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NPDoFLPgOyxgOWtq7ZjNc49Epj9VRjVfvpinrg0RU3MREWPDpa0PfYzgsydZjEbaz91tVqqzqGRbY8Ij8Za7Yk5P_x4LZVje-ZCJEO1nGn7ehlT-amGkjSr0bLySs4nndjw6JJrwrOzN/s400/me+happy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mud, nature, sun - what more can a lady need? ;)<br />
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Anyway, the plaster was mixed (no straw in this mix) and I needed to start pouring it in place. I had some fairly level pieces of wood as a thickness guide and a few different trowels, to even out the layer. I figured I would need to do a couple of layers, as the mixture was quite runny and the slices of wood I wanted to incorporate into the floor were at least 5cm thick, maybe more. Few photos of the progress here - notice different colours in different batches of plaster, this is because I added varied amounts of iron oxides into the plaster mix, without measuring them out fully - but hey, I am always experimenting, so it doesn't really matter that much. To me that is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rwjdxkTRPtWAOz19Ivf86U6E6XixdgLeH1BFOTJSxOxyyfCWRKSh2Xnir2rkTZ1iquA8hOCaAWcW0jwCN2SJlKPY0ZTsts9lNTSTZtHdkVbN3e_Chcj5Ahbi5XIIgATxKKraCSgVpCdA/s1600/floor+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rwjdxkTRPtWAOz19Ivf86U6E6XixdgLeH1BFOTJSxOxyyfCWRKSh2Xnir2rkTZ1iquA8hOCaAWcW0jwCN2SJlKPY0ZTsts9lNTSTZtHdkVbN3e_Chcj5Ahbi5XIIgATxKKraCSgVpCdA/s400/floor+1.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-143yPXHPqiCRC3rzEcoG7noIhYOIOCC1RshPfWkEfjscsXSzQuRPUPIgn3rTaCGQ8rcfLIreQbubPNw6JCbJg9u3K7-1mi3gXep2tQ7mwLAbHAWnYHhEjr9wKc5YbJCamHlxjqkj75Za/s1600/floor+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-143yPXHPqiCRC3rzEcoG7noIhYOIOCC1RshPfWkEfjscsXSzQuRPUPIgn3rTaCGQ8rcfLIreQbubPNw6JCbJg9u3K7-1mi3gXep2tQ7mwLAbHAWnYHhEjr9wKc5YbJCamHlxjqkj75Za/s320/floor+2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrSi32tC46qCVBgOo1rEDLKQux22leB5rrFN4VL3_WHSaowam-qYg9eGfPBypi1xCBfhCWM5hKqZhn3J5-CZNyxY_mmNguv5LQeRgQa67Ebrg1MmBAvE_AKZ_GZPeXUdZSIZGldPPST-x/s1600/floor3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrSi32tC46qCVBgOo1rEDLKQux22leB5rrFN4VL3_WHSaowam-qYg9eGfPBypi1xCBfhCWM5hKqZhn3J5-CZNyxY_mmNguv5LQeRgQa67Ebrg1MmBAvE_AKZ_GZPeXUdZSIZGldPPST-x/s400/floor3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am starting to incorporate the wooden discs onto the floor in their places.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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On my very optimistic mood some years before I had thought about filling pretty much the whole floor with these wooden discs but when it actually came to making the floor, i started thinking less is more. Less was definitely more in terms of sanity. The way I had chosen or forced to go about making them meant that every single wooden disc was differing thickness, size, roughness, they had funny wonky edges etc. which meant it was a total pain to get them level - in regards to each other and the general floor level. I also had to make sure my final floor level would reach up to the front foor step - somehow it's hard to work backwards from the farthest corner of the cottage to the front of the cottage and think further ahead. My brain must be funny that way but it doesn't do topsy turvy kind of stuff very well.<br />
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ANYWAY, I kept at it, swearing a lot, basking in the sun, mixing the plaster, buying more clay, spreading the floor, sanding the discs, watering the floor, wondering about the meaning of life, getting sore knees, back, arms. Watching dragonflies, digging up ground, finding caterpillars. The stuff life is made of.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexcKhzoI0-0RWpay3YZ8SJqDrfchIZy6stjODhLXswy79AfDaT9dHtTH3voKBJdaLJYSot7B8T3DghQxQR5yZC4Ff_OuAONmXdKKaK1qHqgDXIQNAJlrbBzXEi1-FECK4y7aotIYzNuPM/s1600/caterpillar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexcKhzoI0-0RWpay3YZ8SJqDrfchIZy6stjODhLXswy79AfDaT9dHtTH3voKBJdaLJYSot7B8T3DghQxQR5yZC4Ff_OuAONmXdKKaK1qHqgDXIQNAJlrbBzXEi1-FECK4y7aotIYzNuPM/s320/caterpillar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This biggie turned out to be a caterpillar of a beautiful elephant hawk-moth</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Right, in the mean time, I had moved onto laying the second top layer of the floor. This time I tried to get the colour fairly similar throughout the entire floor. Fairly, being the key point here. The linseed oil I would eventually use to seal the floor would change the final colour anyway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCPRtL63ew2sbw0QAcNmuXzvqKE9QS7hEpukKGGbzf_OVCLbXkwL0nguuj0FCvb-r3IJkF0bVXPjX2xkPo6o9cif7sHZAXvp-GTqbcUO1tYzPgMBZcdzobAlmS2J1s4FVsbc_w_33dq7B/s1600/2nd+floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCPRtL63ew2sbw0QAcNmuXzvqKE9QS7hEpukKGGbzf_OVCLbXkwL0nguuj0FCvb-r3IJkF0bVXPjX2xkPo6o9cif7sHZAXvp-GTqbcUO1tYzPgMBZcdzobAlmS2J1s4FVsbc_w_33dq7B/s400/2nd+floor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So I am working backwards, trying to get to the front-door, whilst laying the wooden discs down. It would have been very tempting to decide 'argh, forget it, I am not laying any more of these stinking discs down' - (I mean they were properly doing my head in!) - but whenever I thought about it, I could see my father in my mind's eye sawing these gazillion pieces of wood at the back of the house, with all the love he had for me... and I had asked him to make me lots....LOTS! Surely I couldn't turn around and tell him I wasn't at least attempting to use some of them. So, defeat is not an option, and we plod on.... frustrated or not.<br />
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In the mean time my father had completed a wooden ladder for me, made from some beautifully wonky pieces and branches of rowan tree. I had placed a few wooden discs in the floor, so that the ladder feet would sit on these discs rather than press/dig into the earthen floor itself. Now I had to try whether I had calculated their placement correctly...<br />
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Fits like a ladder should. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwun3myfrPOiVoSTiyn1Yl4ekt19fwW3eewNM6DyKl9bDmUb6ZPEsYS9JLxPLTELXJcmrXdmZmX970g85ZFabSo_JBEdohMm_EBVmHLNB-iRN3Ib2FSHu1M0m82E0J1v7RLlLvj2fnfcs/s1600/doing+floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwun3myfrPOiVoSTiyn1Yl4ekt19fwW3eewNM6DyKl9bDmUb6ZPEsYS9JLxPLTELXJcmrXdmZmX970g85ZFabSo_JBEdohMm_EBVmHLNB-iRN3Ib2FSHu1M0m82E0J1v7RLlLvj2fnfcs/s640/doing+floor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, I got a visitor! :) Pinja was obsessed about coming to see me and checking out the progress of my work.</td></tr>
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Finally, all that working and reversing meant that I was almost at the front door. End in sight - am I dreaming or is this really happening? Am I able to stand back and never having to lay another wooden disc into this floor ever ever again?<br />
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It was surely looking that way. And I said a few grateful prayers to the goddess of the universe and looked up - didn't look too bad there either. :)<br />
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My floor. My not even almost level, handmade, earthen floor. And a little squirrel who came to say hello.<br />
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I closed the front door to my cottage, prayed for a nice weather and left the floor to dry. It would mean not using the cottage yet again this year, and waiting for another time to finally finish it. So, I ended up looking through the window at the work I had just finished inside. I do love the colour of the floor, even though I wasn't initially sure about it.<br />
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I think my Mother Nature sculpture looks happy enough with it.<br />
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So afterwards, we invited my mother along, took a few photos and did a bit of happy dancing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iVQl2t_liTrpvexqzUAbSHluXzua35dJ1oJ1DQ23dMIS6N6OPS17dPqvPGrGr0vwi5pmexIj7na9jNrCl4Z3c4zsxrSmsb7R8d6AOUVl-pXRmivsbkTKKA9CTYPZwP8a1525tmu_Rtjf/s1600/mummi+pinja.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iVQl2t_liTrpvexqzUAbSHluXzua35dJ1oJ1DQ23dMIS6N6OPS17dPqvPGrGr0vwi5pmexIj7na9jNrCl4Z3c4zsxrSmsb7R8d6AOUVl-pXRmivsbkTKKA9CTYPZwP8a1525tmu_Rtjf/s400/mummi+pinja.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWC0g4t4OY_-QZoCG5qAAFkCUYLDtny-__4kvuS43pLWw1gf4vlN-Xf_1ba6U__xsHVO2Iaw9G1jDtiZLWk7o3PwLb_L5qeCk-Zq05j1VeRXkPOVHwwSIMO-fT-i0m2tmRilN6587kMWP/s1600/pinja+me+dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWC0g4t4OY_-QZoCG5qAAFkCUYLDtny-__4kvuS43pLWw1gf4vlN-Xf_1ba6U__xsHVO2Iaw9G1jDtiZLWk7o3PwLb_L5qeCk-Zq05j1VeRXkPOVHwwSIMO-fT-i0m2tmRilN6587kMWP/s640/pinja+me+dance.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This image is what I leave you with, until next month, when I will yet again be returning to the cottage, to finish and seal the earthen floor for good. So that in August I can actually - and finally - be able to spend some proper time there, on my bare feet, doing more of those little happy dances, with my loved ones. Until then,<br />
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Keep dreaming xx<br />
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Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-458316403703820672014-08-22T20:45:00.000+01:002014-08-22T20:45:48.886+01:00Dream a Little Dream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The rain has ceased for the moment, but it has been battering these grounds for days on end now. After weeks of intense heatwave, the Finnish skies are finally pouring down on these lands, properly, almost restlessly. What it means to me is that I have something to listen to when I press my head on my pillow, pillow which only yesterday found its way into my cottage. Two days ago I helped my father to build a sleeping platform inside my little house, so I could fulfil my wish, to spend a night in my heart space before I go.<br />
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The other night, I carried a mattress and a little blanket up the builder's ladders (the wooden one I am hoping to climb up with is still needing to be built...) and snuggled down, with some celtic music and flickering candlelight. While the rain drops were falling on the skylight above me, I lied down, cozy and warm against freshly sawn wood, looking and smelling and thinking and mainly wondering. How did I get to this amazing point of existence? To be lying here, surrounded by earth, trees, forest, sky, rain - and to know that where I lie has come from my heart; through the love I have for Mother Earth and this landscape I used to play in as a child. The love, which has been transformed, with the help of my family and friends, into this muddy cottage I so love.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4UOUADLBUiTiP1KXPpINUbdgbRxN4W0Yy6Z0G3dDUJhHCecliMEiEm1lF8rYnP6SkVT2UietgPszExhwcys9zASLToIXv-mP0WMHPtbo8R41gAwv-ZVP_BUizJbgmf73dJ2vnWuxB2xb/s1600/IMG_9231+(2)%2B(533x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4UOUADLBUiTiP1KXPpINUbdgbRxN4W0Yy6Z0G3dDUJhHCecliMEiEm1lF8rYnP6SkVT2UietgPszExhwcys9zASLToIXv-mP0WMHPtbo8R41gAwv-ZVP_BUizJbgmf73dJ2vnWuxB2xb/s1600/IMG_9231+(2)%2B(533x800).jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The candles are lit for Luontoäiti / Mother Nature</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG99-2lP89qEGmlgimjg8ptfjr6gS9U0D36ULYAdnzhVcWEYi2nZu9xoanhf09xk-xim06v7a3So7Hfs8kPKBu47_O9lAdOaXE1VLlsNfFF_pInXGaVCdDtswtLNIp6mrJHXiFcC19-ImY/s1600/IMG_9258+(800x533)%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG99-2lP89qEGmlgimjg8ptfjr6gS9U0D36ULYAdnzhVcWEYi2nZu9xoanhf09xk-xim06v7a3So7Hfs8kPKBu47_O9lAdOaXE1VLlsNfFF_pInXGaVCdDtswtLNIp6mrJHXiFcC19-ImY/s1600/IMG_9258+(800x533)%2B(2).jpg" height="426" width="640" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My view for the night.</td></tr>
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I lied there, in the Earth's womb, feeling totally in awe of how all this came to be, feeling totally grateful for Mother Earth and Universe for letting me build this place; for the lessons, experiences, help, love, struggles, compassion, interest, hard work, motivation - and tears emerged for the sheer joy of being in this place in this moment. While the sound of rain drops mixed with the sound of some strangely random elven music, I looked to my left and saw a fox's eye looking at me. Fox is my totem animal and has had a strange way of appearing to me at times when I need wisdom, self-reliance and confidence. And there it was again, looking at me, slyly smiling. Never mind that the eye was a part of the wooden rail in front of me but the energy was very strongly there. I knew I was being watched over, and it made me feel safe and joyful.<br />
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When I returned to my parents house a few hours later for a night's sleep, I gave a hug and thank you to my father and in the morning, when my mother had woken up, to her also, thanking them for the possibility of being able to build my cottage on their land and for their help in building it. I know with great certainty that this is one of the biggest personal achievement in my life, and has a great symbolic meaning to me, in form of artistic identity, my roots, my relationship with my parents, my future, my beliefs, my loves, my children and the world I want to behold, appreciate and live in.<br />
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Before I got to this point however, I had been working on this cottage for weeks, on most days, apart from some family days off. I had been mixing, plastering, boiling, smearing, stamping, measuring, experimenting, pouring, plastering a bit more, painting, getting confused, wondering, realising, sawing, nailing, lifting, dragging, digging and yet again painting. Don't ask me how many hours, as I have no answer to your question. It is better not to know. And even if I knew, I would only know the answer to a question: how many hours have you loved?<br />
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Since some of you want some proof that I actually did do some or all of the beforementioned activities, I have added some photographs below. They may be in slight random order, because my head has been in random order and my days with the mud get very mixed up, as do the hours of the clock - usually my work is interrupted by baby duties (my daughter is 14mths) or my mother asking whether I still eat food these days. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSioVOXgokVayGC5Ytp8ogpEXB_ptwBY0EU0Ok3l_plgepbt_p15Bl2j0JXv6tkrxnbM1t15-zlGETlStrB1TlRNa3KK8RoXWFNpI1vZpLrq8EpjEzo5RvvSoc4Y3RytK8jLlAb0QVuD5G/s1600/IMG_9003+(800x533).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSioVOXgokVayGC5Ytp8ogpEXB_ptwBY0EU0Ok3l_plgepbt_p15Bl2j0JXv6tkrxnbM1t15-zlGETlStrB1TlRNa3KK8RoXWFNpI1vZpLrq8EpjEzo5RvvSoc4Y3RytK8jLlAb0QVuD5G/s1600/IMG_9003+(800x533).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxmKRHnSP2UIwyl9uZunIbH7kmJNJi4V0FUkR-JblOOk479I8ucQpNVeXo0gtX06bc4eHvcoifbz2iFGKa84kzHjnDQDNiwKNw9Dw5c9xOZK2pMRTfW4rQRQ8xrPot2ynICgSbxqqUcVf/s1600/IMG_9018+(533x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxmKRHnSP2UIwyl9uZunIbH7kmJNJi4V0FUkR-JblOOk479I8ucQpNVeXo0gtX06bc4eHvcoifbz2iFGKa84kzHjnDQDNiwKNw9Dw5c9xOZK2pMRTfW4rQRQ8xrPot2ynICgSbxqqUcVf/s1600/IMG_9018+(533x800).jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lime plastered (with pigment) cob dragon oven</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mother helping out</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My father helping out</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making mix for the earthen floor (wet cob)</td></tr>
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So, after all of this doing, I am left with a cottage which is not finished but it is not far off from that.<br />
I need to patch up some walls, do more painting inside and out, add some details and finish to the earthen plaster - but the main thing missing is a proper floor. I have completed the first layer of earthen floor but there is still a lot to do. The drying process took much longer than I anticipated and very soon I realised that in rainy conditions, I could easily wait weeks for the floor to dry. I don't have weeks. But I do have a place, where I can sleep and be happy. Next Summer I know this place will have a floor and after that any remaining jobs will be mere details that I can attend to whenever.<br />
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This is how I am leaving the cottage for now.<br />
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With my heart filled with love, I know anything's possible when you have faith in your idea - and so much love to carry it through that nothing can stop you. The only thing that can make something happen is you. And the only thing that can stop you making something happen is you. Next time you tell yourself an excuse why something didn't happen, look deep inside yourself and ask some real questions.<br />
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And then - Dream a Little Dream. Just like children do. Until we meet again.<br />
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With Love,<br />
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Heidi,<br />
the Forest Dreamer<br />
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I landed in Finland on Tuesday night, during a heat-wave. This beautiful Northern landscape which enjoys long daylight hours in any case, is now a hot, sunny haven. Well, not a haven for everyone (are we ever totally happy about the weather?) but I personally would choose hot sun over cold rain any day. And apart from a pretty dry and barren green roof, my little cottage seemed to enjoy the sun as much as I do.<br />
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My cottage hadn't been touched for almost a year. I did what I could in the three weeks I was there a year before, with a newborn in tow, but had to admit my defeat when it came to dreams about finishing the cottage.<br />
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This year I am truly and finally hoping to make my dream come true. I have about six weeks. Yes, I also have surplus dreams about building other natural dwellings, including composting toilet, sauna, large cob oven/bench and natural swimming pool but I think it's safe to say this time around my biggest dream is to be able to spend even just one night inside my cottage, before I have to leave Finland again in the end of August.<br />
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Not a lot to ask, one may say and it is definitely doable but I have a lot to do. I am obviously prioritising the internal work and leaving the external work for a later time. My baby daughter is now just over 1 year old and she toddles about, fairly content in the company of my parents, although often wants my cuddles, even when my clothes are covered in clay. But, in many ways it is a good introduction to her about what mummy does and loves doing, with her Hands and Heart in mud.<br />
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I bought English fine china clay i.e. kaolin from a ceramic store here in Finland. 50 kilos of it. It is just a number as I have no idea how much clay I will need. I have all the walls to plaster and a floor to pour. I am using plaster made with kaolin as it's very smooth, plastic and white. I mean there is nothing wrong with its Finnish common cousin, the grey lumpy stuff I have dug from the backyard and used for everything in the building so far - but to be honest, even a simple forest girl like me, does appreciate some finesse in things at times....<br />
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I also ordered fine sand, 3m3 of it. Again, it is just an abstract number, as I have no idea of the amount needed. Plus the truck that delivered it, could only hold three cubic metres. And then I boiled some wheat paste, some random amount, to add into the mix. So there, I have my ingredients for the perfect coat of plaster. Just in time to remind myself there is no perfection. Only perception (as one of my friends puts it).<br />
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Every day I have plastered a bit of the walls, occasionally with the help of my son. Once even my brother showed up for an hour. Mostly I am on my own though, mixing the plaster putty with my fingers, in my own little elven hut. I can only say that it is one of the most pleasurable things, mixing that putty. Feeling the lumps of sand dissolve into the clay slurry, the creaminess of the mix coating my fingers, getting slightly stuck on my palms. Then taking a lump and smearing it onto the rough wall. I could keep on doing this forever I think, if only my skin didn't fall off at the contact of numerous little stones in the wall. My palms are somewhat sore to touch after five days of barehand plastering but my heart is full and I love the work. I LOVE it.<br />
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I feel totally connected to my humanness while working on this cottage, with these basic materials, in this natural way - it is my own personal meditation. I find it amusing that I am smearing very fine English clay over the very rough Finnish one. It almost feels like I am making a full circle with this cottage, including the materials I am using, about who I am, my identity as a Finnish person, who is no longer just Finnish but has some English layers. I am icing the Finnish forest cake with English cream. Maybe these are all layers of myself emerging inside and outside this cottage. <br />
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I bought three different kinds of trowels for this job, but I do not want to use them, even if I could (the walls are way too uneven and sculptural, ha!), because I would miss out on the feeling and touching and smearing and smelling and pulling and pushing - and loving. I suppose I am a bit nuts about the white stuff but it will definitely help me to finish this job.<br />
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After five days I have done most of it. I will have to keep re-misting the plastered walls so I can eventually burnish them smoother when I am ready. My plan is to make a coloured kaolin paint and paint the walls in more natural tone after the burnishing. And then I am hoping to apply linseed oil to the finished surface. And only then I can start thinking about the floor....at the moment my head is definitely in the walls, most certainly also the clouds :)<br />
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I leave you with few progress photos and hope to write again soon. It is hard to find the time and concentration to do this but I know it's good for me to try to share the journey in smaller bits. <br />
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Oh, in the mean time, please remember to dream - because dreams do have the tendency to come true. <br />
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I thought I was going to write about my cottage building journey while in Finland, but life had other plans. Being a mother to a newborn baby and trying to finish my cottage was harder than I thought. Despite of my loving son and my parents helping out whenever they could, despite of the weather yet again being very favourable, despite of all my best intentions, it wasn't going to happen. So many loving arms around my baby girl was a blessing, yet I found it very difficult to replace the required energy withdrawn during the frequent feedings and sleepless nights. At times of despair, when one is completely sleep-ridden and frustrated, it is easy to see oneself only as a breast, not even as a mother, let alone an artist or a creator. I had some of those moments initially but strangely enough, I could still see through the fog eventually, when I relaxed into the environment and situation I was in. Which basically meant that I gave up.<br />
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I gave up trying to finish the cottage. I gave up silly plans. I gave up stressing about it.<br />
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There were many things on my to-do list, way too many for three week stay. So I had to think practically, an activity I sometimes excel in and sometimes am awful at. But really I had to prioritise the work ahead. On the exterior, I knew I needed to do lime-rendering of the strawbale part of the walls, as that was still lacking and another cold Finnish Winter was looming ahead. I also needed to cover up the remaining exposed strawbales with earthen plaster inside the cottage, which I hadn't had time to do last Summer. And I desperately wanted to release the roof from its excess plastic overhangs, which I had left on to protect the cottage better from the harsh elements. Trimming the plastic off the eaves was my very first job, which felt so good, it was like giving the cottage's roof its much needed hair-cut, even though its hair (vegetation) was sadly thin, dry and lifeless. I climbed on the roof and set my toes in what felt like a soft, brown desert. This green roof was dying of thirst, after such a hot, dry Summer! Here I am trying to salvage it, while offering some of the cold refreshment to my son (underneath) as well. :)<br />
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The cottage is situated in such an all-day sunny spot that many plants don't thrive on its roof, particularly in dry conditions. On top of that, we hadn't had time to add enough soil on the roof the previous Autumn, which meant that any seeds planted wouldn't really have enough depth to establish roots or thrive. We added some more compost on the roof and my father did several trips to the forest to pick up different types of mosses and grasses, in order to add to the wig of this cottage. Even some of my mother's flowers and over-grown lettuce somehow found their way onto the roof...<br />
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What a difference a bit of green love makes! My cottage immediately looked soooo happy! As did I!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cottage with a happy green wig.</td></tr>
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Next up was the lime rendering, which needs a fair weather to apply and since that is what we were having, I thought to set to work. Lime also needs time to set properly, and since it's sensitive to frost, I needed to apply it in apt time before the first night frosts arrived. Mixed with sieved sand (a job irregularly done by my 10-year old son Eemil, in exchange for some Lego and few Euros), chopped straw and experimental quantities of red iron oxide pigment, I started applying this on the back wall, which would be most sensitive to the Finnish Winter of frost and snow.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am mixing lime-plaster in a bucket. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son Eemil working.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son Eemil not working.</td></tr>
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On each clear, bright day I mixed and applied a bit more lime render to the wall, every batch being of slightly different quality, consistency and colour. Nothing like making a patchwork cottage. :) Eventually, I reached the baby dragon on the other side, at which point I stopped, as this is also where the strawbale wall finished. The rest of the cottage still needs to be rendered of course, but that is a story for another time and another Summer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wet lime-render at the back of the cottage.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making a bloody (pink) mess :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Job done... for now.</td></tr>
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I then had to replace all the stones I had taken off from around the stemwall of the cottage before lime-rendering. It was an annoying job of almost eternal 'stone rolling' but beneficial in that it hid most of the awful, pink limey mess I had made around the cottage...<br />
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While I was working outside, I had also started touching up the inside of the cottage. The first and most boring job was to cover up the exposed strawbales with an earthen plaster, which was basically quite thick and pretty clayey cob mix. And who best to do the mix than my wonderful mama! With all the stomping experience of last Summer, she eagerly (...I hope...) set to work and watching her do this Summer's first cob dance, it made us both fondly think about last Summer's weird and wonderful experiences.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mum makes me the first batch of cob.</td></tr>
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Of course before this I had to 'dive' into the frog pond, aka clay pit, which strangely enough was full of water (despite of the Summer being so dry!). My son happily followed in my muddy footsteps, even if only to catch the numerous frogs and toads that had made the pit their home/swimming pool. With freezing cold, gray water up to my thighs and my son splashing next to me, I dug up wonderfully gooey clay gloop from the bottom of the pool and thought about Beez, one of my wonderful volunteers, who spent so many mornings and afternoons in this pit last Summer...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Big - a huge toad involuntarily discovered.</td></tr>
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After too many frog discoveries and two wheelbarrows full of clay, I had had enough (of course only for the day). Next job, applying the mix to the wall. Can't tell you how happy I was to get my hands dirty again. Really! Happy!<br />
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First layer of plaster being applied - both on the top row of strawbales as well as few bottom parts of the wall, where some earthbags were still exposed. My knees and thighs really felt the job of bending down and stretching up the following day(s).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plastering over the earthbags in the stem wall - such an awkward, knee and back breaking job!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMP6fcQs7znJSjXiwxO-ADlNk-sgpnkqcvsL5rRcPD5PGzs4fBcWpdezKjA8qf91ggEHprOIXGhFl9_-bk8idDY_HHyFDoggGw0pA4hQLoB3luNAYZwZb5orH5IeFoCJTMl3zh9pLymDz/s1600/IMG_7711+(1024x683).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMP6fcQs7znJSjXiwxO-ADlNk-sgpnkqcvsL5rRcPD5PGzs4fBcWpdezKjA8qf91ggEHprOIXGhFl9_-bk8idDY_HHyFDoggGw0pA4hQLoB3luNAYZwZb5orH5IeFoCJTMl3zh9pLymDz/s400/IMG_7711+(1024x683).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plastering over the strawbales near the ceiling.</td></tr>
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While I was plastering, we started talking with my father about the sleeping platform which I wanted to build inside, to maximise the usable space and to take advantage of the high ceiling in this cottage. My father had cut down a maple tree as well as some younger fir trees and peeled them for me in the Spring. The fir tree logs were really meant for the outdoor toilet I was hoping to build this Summer, but since I had no time for it this time around, we ended up using some of the logs for the sleeping platform instead. Here we are trying out the possible size of the sleeping platform with these logs. The central upright is a part of a maple tree, with some branches left on (not sure if I will keep these or not). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yOO9mcBV2Fq6_mvhoEREbbieCTJNUwRhmwOYCWZd-vj-RXVKwZMk70e_sgC2rzvAYMWIVsp0YOjuRBQxTe4vJ-DEKbXTg_tmLnqzrzrJ0iI2JgJf8ukkgvukbIhyXj77GifSoCMDZwl5/s1600/IMG_7705+(683x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yOO9mcBV2Fq6_mvhoEREbbieCTJNUwRhmwOYCWZd-vj-RXVKwZMk70e_sgC2rzvAYMWIVsp0YOjuRBQxTe4vJ-DEKbXTg_tmLnqzrzrJ0iI2JgJf8ukkgvukbIhyXj77GifSoCMDZwl5/s320/IMG_7705+(683x1024).jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Planning the sleeping platform/loft with my father.</td></tr>
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Our friendly neighbour Jani came to help again for few days, which was great because I didn't really know much about building the platform. While I was entertaining some visiting relatives, Jani and my dad built the framework for the platform with the logs, ready for some planking later. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTNRSNCQO3MrVl33jclT5bswwcEQv1w8PsXIjKmxM5lkQX3-eudf8OvO-OrPhJuGRtsi3XvHTcWJlvf70XjBsLwvmFXijfdWfc-cbWolnG6Dkf1bkIHFjavCSFW179t8Ste8jHZHwrFsu/s1600/plaform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTNRSNCQO3MrVl33jclT5bswwcEQv1w8PsXIjKmxM5lkQX3-eudf8OvO-OrPhJuGRtsi3XvHTcWJlvf70XjBsLwvmFXijfdWfc-cbWolnG6Dkf1bkIHFjavCSFW179t8Ste8jHZHwrFsu/s640/plaform.jpg" width="640" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Platform main frame completed. You'll have to take my word for it :)</td></tr>
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When the platform frame was built and the boys were out of my way I could start thinking about a second earthen plaster coat on the walls. Again all the walls need doing, but I knew I wouldn't have time, so I made a decision to apply it to the strawbale walls, since these are the ones that need more protection from vermins and elements. (Talking about vermins, while I was plastering the walls, a mouse ran out of the cottage from underneath the step of the front-door. I didn't shriek but hoped it would find another home and filled the gaps under the step. I am sure it had had a nice time wintering under one of the earthbags in the wall but I would rather not have a mouse family live inside my cottage with me. In any case, I never saw it again.)<br />
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I made a more runny plaster with coarse sand, runny clay and sandy soil (which I have mainly been using for the cob mix). Our stack of coarse sand was dangerously low but I managed to make it last for the duration of my stay. Next year, I will have to purchase some more, as the sand-pit I originally got it from has now been filled and there is no access to it, which is a great shame in many ways. But it warms my heart to know that part of the landscape (sand-pit) in which I used to play as a child, and which is no more, is now part and inside of my walls...<br />
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Reading a bit of advice on the second plaster coat, I decided to work with two types of plaster, a runnier one for general surface cover and another one, much more sticky and thicker, for sculpting. I had always wanted to sculpt a female form into the wall but didn't quite know how to go about it. I didn't just want to 'stick it on', it would have to form naturally. But the only things that naturally came to my mind were the spirals of a magical, fractal tree, which adorned the cottage already outside and which I thought should somehow connect to the inside also. After all, the cottage is called Tree of Life.<br />
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In the evening, left on my own, I mixed a bit of natural blue pigment with water and started 'sketching' on the walls. It is so incredible how in the middle of all building, any kind of artistic activity feels so refreshing and outright magical. Once in a while I would sit down in a chair and look at the freehand swirls I had produced; did I need more here, some there? Was there a natural flow to it all? And where had the idea of a woman disappeared, as all I was left with were swirling branches of a tree? Never mind, let's forget about the woman and make the tree, I thought - and went to bed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTmKiQUdsscuCvgRFwaC3Gfl6xuKndGHX6AiblnD7Nq28w0shej8Pvdl_6Nodg4EC9v83My8IEgonbcCPg6mf6CdEWlDYYAykkrNYn9tF1DZCv8qxjVXfDvrGUKOd4o9gMIaUZAIfbOKj/s1600/sketches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTmKiQUdsscuCvgRFwaC3Gfl6xuKndGHX6AiblnD7Nq28w0shej8Pvdl_6Nodg4EC9v83My8IEgonbcCPg6mf6CdEWlDYYAykkrNYn9tF1DZCv8qxjVXfDvrGUKOd4o9gMIaUZAIfbOKj/s640/sketches.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawing on walls - with permission! </td></tr>
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The next day I started working on the design. Adding a layer of runny plaster on the wall (which had been hosed down several times in the previous days to create a moist surface to which the next layer would bond - not as easily done as I initially thought), I then worked with the thicker, sculpting cob to add the design and 3-dimensionality on the wall. I just LOVE this part of making, working with cob. Burying my hands deep into a bucket of cob, feeling the grit, the straw, the mud, the earth, the love, the creativity flowing out of brain, through the materials, from my fingers, onto the wall. It's like making love with nature! Pure bliss.<br />
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And soon I was making more tree branches and swirls and strands.... of hair. And then out of nowhere, she started emerging. Not as a whole body as I had thought, but as a huge head....<br />
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my Mother Nature, with tree branches as locks of her hair.... she kept coming out of the wall, into the wall, forming intuitively along the bumps and curves and textures. It's almost as if I let her arrive, ever so gently calling her through my mind and shaping her with my loving fingers....<br />
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She had emerged and kept growing. I sculpted a little bit more of her every day, staring at the full moon once in a while and then continuing... ;)</div>
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Eventually she had spread her hair over half the cottage wall, all the way from the back of it to the front-door entrance. She had taken over.... it was my homage to Mother Nature, the landscape, my childhood, and the natural materials that had found their way into this cottage and also made all this work possible. </div>
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Strangely enough, my remaining cob mix finished exactly at the moment my sculpture reached the front-door and its final destination (for now). It really was as if it was meant to be. Next Summer I will continue the theme on the rest of the walls (I think), unless another idea comes along and grabs me instead.</div>
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Afterwards, I painted with some ochre pigment on the sculpture, just to see what it may look like with colour. The next plaster coat will be smoother and finer and have pigments added, although I am not decided on the colours, if any, as of yet.</div>
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What still remains then, is the making of a floor, which I have some ideas for. I will most likely make an earthen floor with some wood slices set into a spiral design. All the walls need another coat of plastering. Externally the lime rendering needs to be extended to the remaining cob walls. And the platform needs to be built inside the cottage for us to be able to sleep inside together as a family. I am sure I can finally finish this place next year, at least in a way, which enables me to finally spend some time there, and move onto the next natural project....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIL-UL6ss1-WkmgY5N7WjjeL5d_OosaMvi0uOiVLxG1bGzIYxnwMNHBeOelv5z5MHFUDrJsJZsQNNCdAgCBA_NBcxMlJDMylGUhK30-7A0Tpljrqrwcr_DxtiBKPytNgQgjV08KGa9kCU/s1600/last+cottage+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIL-UL6ss1-WkmgY5N7WjjeL5d_OosaMvi0uOiVLxG1bGzIYxnwMNHBeOelv5z5MHFUDrJsJZsQNNCdAgCBA_NBcxMlJDMylGUhK30-7A0Tpljrqrwcr_DxtiBKPytNgQgjV08KGa9kCU/s400/last+cottage+back.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still unfinished but getting there. At least she is blushing now.</td></tr>
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I have sooo many ideas, so many dreams. I am so in love with mud. I never thought I could be so much in love with it. Having said that, my initial reaction to seeing photos of houses made with mud (cob) was to burst into tears, so maybe that said a lot - of how much this material touched my heart, my creative fires, my understanding of life - what I appreciate about our human existence. To creatively use materials from nature - nature that enabled us to be here and that gives us everything we need every single day - is a blessing. I almost cry when I write this. Thank you universe for showing me how amazing mud can be! Even dreaming about it is (almost) amazing enough.<br />
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Those three weeks I spent in Finland flew by. I was blessed with good weather and I was happy to see my family and for them to see my baby daughter Pinja. During the time in Finland, I buried her placenta next to the forest and planted an alpine pine tree over it. She will therefore always have roots in the place, along with me and of course, we will be spending many good times there in the future, hopefully building together as a family and appreciating the nature around us. I was also interviewed to a Finnish magazine 'Meidan Mokki' and the article comes out within a year, I will post more details of when. In the mean time, I keep bringing up my children in England and dreaming of more natural projects in the future. I have many ideas, very many. I hope to make at least some of them, because working with cob and natural materials equals love for me. And what is better than being in love?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All my loves - and a small pine tree for Pinja.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpGSmNNc04FmUu_6cviS_D6ixfJZnj0DCVwQdUW8Ppnu7w2vOdFcV3-t7kFCMSjnROsL7uWhE55A9A6ACmiYkntl9Yw3e1nNaXik3zH-wWeB7FLKRxT_Cb4wEt2hbeE7Cmf2uY6SDQzkL/s1600/pine+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpGSmNNc04FmUu_6cviS_D6ixfJZnj0DCVwQdUW8Ppnu7w2vOdFcV3-t7kFCMSjnROsL7uWhE55A9A6ACmiYkntl9Yw3e1nNaXik3zH-wWeB7FLKRxT_Cb4wEt2hbeE7Cmf2uY6SDQzkL/s320/pine+tree.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOHRq0kBbC2XQTm8jafa3jQOs8FYLXxXxgEQ2nVzykAIB1V0eNO_zUxS7Uoj8qS-FLFeiU8f1wpxH6Sr0Q-UV59NTEHYAhBBZ7xBvXWe66mn7lHwJiDM7vzeasU2KMkEtF7kXlTrA1T1s/s1600/IMG_7873+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOHRq0kBbC2XQTm8jafa3jQOs8FYLXxXxgEQ2nVzykAIB1V0eNO_zUxS7Uoj8qS-FLFeiU8f1wpxH6Sr0Q-UV59NTEHYAhBBZ7xBvXWe66mn7lHwJiDM7vzeasU2KMkEtF7kXlTrA1T1s/s320/IMG_7873+%25282%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Until next time, we shall meet in dreams, preferably those of the mud kind. The ones I like best. But what ever you dream about, the main thing is that you do.<br />
Thank you for reading.<br />
x<br />
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Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-24925686456273120292013-07-09T11:01:00.003+01:002013-07-09T11:03:56.177+01:00Through All Seasons, The Trees Still Stand.A half a year has passed and seasons have changed. Truly. Majestically. At the moment it feels like a half of life-time has been squeezed into these short months of my life and what has emerged reminds very little of what was there before. In April we packed up our flat, left London and moved up to West Yorkshire with my son, settled as an expanded family in a small arty Northern town and started a new life here, surrounded by hills and forests of green. I can already breathe better, even though my heart is still adjusting to all the changes, as is my son's.<br />
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My baby daughter, Pinja (Finnish for pine tree), was born three weeks ago - she emerged finally - after spending eight extra days in my womb - happily, still inside her watery home, into another one, that of the birthing pool and then - my loving arms. Pinja, the pine tree of my soul, was here with us.<br />
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I kept her placenta and part of the sac she entered this world in, to be taken to Finland next month. Just like when my son was born, I took his placenta to Finland, dug it into the ground at my parents house and planted a cherry tree there. So now I want to do the same with my daughter's membrane. But this placenta will go next to my cottage and a little pine seedling will be planted there, on the top of the membrane, which connected her to me, me to her and both of us to the great cycle of life. Feeding, nurturing, protecting. Just like Mother Nature does to us and has done to me, while I was building my cottage.<br />
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I saw my cottage in real life in February when I visited Finland for a short time. The house was frozen but beautiful, it hadn't suffered that much from the Winter winds, but of course it was hard to tell how gently the Spring thaw would treat the little elven house. This is what I was most worried about; possible frost heaving, cracking, bending. Luckily, there has been very little damage to the cottage so far and at least from the photos that my parents have taken, my Elaman Puu looks as lovable as when I left it in last September. I am so very happy about this, because it confirms my belief that work made with love is strong and durable and also that our relationship with nature is of the utmost importance; if I appreciate it and work with it, it will make all the difference. Seasons will come and go but hopefully my little cottage will stand the test of time and remain part of my life and the landscape it so easily blends into and was born from. If it bends, breaks, or survives, then it will do all these alongside the nature that surrounds it.<br />
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Here is a photo sequence of my cottage in all Finnish seasons:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn 2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter 2013</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring 2013</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer 2013</td></tr>
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After my daughter's passport gets ordered and organised, I am hoping that in about a month's time, I will be standing there, looking at the view in the last photo and listening to the fluttering of the birch leaves (and my heart) near-by. Three weeks is all I have but I am hoping to achieve a lot in this time. Lime-plastering of external walls, earthen plastering and sculpting of internal walls, making an earthen floor, building a sleeping platform, trimming and finalising the green roof, filling in cracks, setting up a solar panel for electricity, firing the pizza oven. And - starting on a composting toilet behind the cottage with the left-over strawbales and some roundwood that my father has yet again kindly cut down from the forest and left to dry for me in the Spring time. It does sound like a lot to do, particularly with a 2-month old baby who grants me very little time and sleep, but then again, time is only a concept - and also, time constraints only exists through one's mindset, and my decision with this cottage is to work with love and natural time. That is the lesson I learnt from last Summer: you can't rush nature as it does what it pleases - and once you surrender to your work, it will take the time it needs to take. If necessary I will continue the work next year, and the next, and the next. This project, like my life, is an evolving one... :)<br />
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If you want, I will be happy to take you on another part of this journey with me next month, when I get my hands stuck in the mud (and maybe my baby's hands too). I will be there and you will be here, but hopefully as a little glimpse of inspiration, I can share a part of my love for the Nature and natural building through these pages and photos. Until then,<br />
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let the Summer winds carry you...... x<br />
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<br />Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-64750523845238685972012-12-30T19:35:00.000+00:002012-12-30T19:36:20.335+00:00Life in the Trees<br />
Time to think. There is much of that in the Winter time, when the days are short and the darkness is such a frequent visitor. It is easy to lose hope of ever seeing the sun again, when the clouds have gathered and rain is pouring down outside and filling the London street gutters with brown water. But in my heart there is love for my little place called Finland and even a littler place called 'Elaman Puu' :).<br />
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When I started building my little dwelling, I always wanted it to be a homage to the nature and trees that saw me grew up and of which some are now standing inside my cottage. Even though they lost their precious lives, from now on they will always be greeted by smiles and most likely even warm hugs when entering this sweet little space. But even in the midst of cold and snow, my cottage looks like it belongs to the earth and to its surroundings, it is a building of nature, from nature, in nature, regardless of the season.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Elaman Puu in a snowy, Finnish landscape. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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It has been snowing a lot in Finland, there is about 50cm snow on the ground by now. This is what my mother tells me, and what I can see from the photos my brother sent me just before Christmas. My tiny cottage has a thick snow hat on and the forest floor is covered in pure white. Everything seems frozen still. Yet, when I look at the photo, I feel such warmth inside. Almost like one of the Moomins, hibernating over the Winter, my cottage is waiting for me, yet it lives in nature's time, as part of nature, patiently watching life and seasons, day by day. I so miss that place, even though there is nothing as in way of work I could be currently doing there, it is far too cold for that. But of course I would love nothing better than sit inside, to listen to the sounds of the cottage and nature outside, feel how different it all is from when I last set my foot inside. <br />
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Apart from few vertical cracks that have appeared in the cob walls, I hear the cottage is doing well. Although that is just judging the exterior, as no one has been inside for several weeks, as the front door has swollen shut. We'll see what happens when I go to Finland in about six weeks and try to get in - will the cottage grant me entry? Or will I only be able to peep through the door hole to my elven nest?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a difference three months makes in this climate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candles on the window sill.</td></tr>
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I must be patient, just like nature is. It knows no constraints of time, it hurries nowhere. The only existence it has is the existence of now, and in that now everything is perfect. My 10-year old son sometimes asks me: 'Mum, why is life so hard?' And I say to him, life is not hard, but we make it seem that way. We worry, get anxious, overwhelmed, stressed, angry - mostly unnecessarily. And when I say we, I mean me as well. The past year has been such an incredible journey in my life, and it seems it will continue as an incredible journey still. There are moments when I think I have just grasped it, seen the meaning and felt the purpose why I am on this planet. Then, life gently kicks you in the backside and makes you return to a state of not knowing, uncertainty and confusion. I know I have the best advice for any situation within me - so close, yet at times it seems so far away from reach. I keep saying: Trust life to carry you Heidi. Trust life. It has gotten you this far, and as long as you live by your heart, it will keep on carrying you. Yet, in my weak moments I sometimes falter....<br />
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A new calendar year is just around the corner. Of course it is only a concept that we have given our human existence, to somehow be able to deal with it better, in more understandable chunks. I am thinking of all the things that will take place this year that we are about to enter. Wow they are big things, much bigger than I could have ever imagined. In fact if I could have ever imagined all that has happened in the last twelve months, I think I would have curled up in my bed, pulled the blanket over my head and stayed in, abandoning all hope. One needs courage to embrace the unknown, despite of all the fear, but finding that courage makes life worth living, and the experiences that follow cannot be found under the cover of one's cozy blanket. So I tell myself......<br />
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In the meantime I will let you in a secret, just like I sometimes do with my precious trees...<br />
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The Tree of Life, the spirit of love and nature, has started a life of its own within me. In February when I return to cottage, I will be carrying a precious nature spirit inside of me - and in the Summer she will see the cottage with her own baby eyes. It will be a while longer until she can take part in the building work - but I know that from the very first moments of her life, this cottage will be a part of her, just as it is part of me. X<br />
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Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-34467719993823136102012-11-07T10:29:00.000+00:002012-11-07T10:29:52.268+00:00Autumn WindsWhilst November rain is licking the windowpanes of my chilly London flat, I think about my little cottage by the edge of woods, wondering how the Autumn winds and freezing Finnish nights are treating my earthen baby. Even though the Fall in UK has been busy for me, making all kinds of crafts to stock up my Etsy shop <span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TaikaEarth" target="_blank">TaikaEarth</a></b></span></span>, my curiosity and longing to see a glimpse of 'Elaman Puu' has grown each and every day. Last week while I was talking to my mother I couldn't wait any longer, so I asked her to take a few pictures and send them to me. Here is what I received...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cottage in the beginning of November. The seasons have changed but it's still as beautiful as ever.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping Baby Dragon - she is hibernating over the Winter to be re-awakened next Summer.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The last weeks and months of my life have been quite tough and emotionally draining, but when I saw the photos of my cottage, the biggest pixie smile imaginable on this side of our galaxy appeared on my face. Ah! I LOVE this place with all my heart ❤ I wish I could have teleported myself next to it and given it a big squeeze. And after that pursue to squeeze all the trees in the forest. And the mosses. And the rocks. And you get the point.<br />
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The next time I see my cottage in person will be in the middle of snowy, freezing Winter. I can already picture the view in my head, the green roof covered by a thick snow hat and the baby dragon patiently waiting. I am hoping I can spend some time inside of my tiny house regardless of the cold, and recharge my emotional and physical batteries. As I will be needing them later on in the year. Not only because of my plans to finish the cottage but also because of... something else that will require a lot of focus, love and courage. But I can't tell you yet, I promised the tree I will keep it as a secret.<br />
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When I reflect back on the past Summer, in many ways I feel it was a dream. Not a dream I slept through but which I actively participated in. However, the end result is the same; an enchanting, personal story that is somewhat surreal but totally magical. And of course like the best of stories and life itself, it is not finished yet. The trees of my life have many more stories to tell.... maybe even some secrets... ❤<br />
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<br />Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-87641565496354382772012-09-03T22:01:00.001+01:002012-10-06T10:06:30.639+01:00A Labour of LoveApproaching the last few days of my stay in Finland, a loud, annoying clock started ticking in my head, making me realise just how surreal this build and in fact the whole Summer had been. When I started, I had NO idea how long it would take to build a cottage like this. When I started, I had NO idea how to build a cottage like this... So, realising I had gotten to the point of: two more days and 'almost finished', I started to get a little bit nervous amidst gentle exhilaration.<br />
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It somehow felt worse to have <i>almost</i> completely finished the cottage, rather than almost completely not finished it... And SO little to do... ahem... that was the loud mental mutter to myself, although of course, in reality there was still so much to do. Then again, I had often said to people asking that I would have been mad to count the hours that have gone into this build. Not only because it would be insane - but also because it wasn't a job I needed to force myself to do - it was a labour of love. Who counts the hours one is in love? <br />
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When I say love, I mean it. I have had less than five days in total during whole summer, when I haven't 'felt like' doing it. And those five days have been mostly affected by illness and physical exhaustion. And even those days, it hasn't been days, but hours - maybe 30 minutes when I have thought about giving up. I scream a little, cry a little, throw a short childish tantrum - and continue. And the smile returns. Every time.<br />
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There is magic in the earth, of the Earth. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with the almost finished Elaman Puu cottage before my return to London on Sunday.</td></tr>
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On Friday night, we had few celebratory drinks inside the cottage with my parents and our neighbour Jani (and his wife and daughter), who has been so wonderfully helpful throughout this build. After midnight, when everyone else had gone to bed, I went back to the cottage and sat down on one of the chairs, in this dim, candle-lit space. I realised it was the first time I was seeing and particulary, feeling, this space properly. And what an amazing feeling, to run my eyes along the rough, organic forms of the cob, smooth textures of the wood, rough spiky straw protruding out of the plaster on the strawbale wall. I could smell the earth, straw, wood and tar.<br />
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I felt completely covered by Mother Earth, like sitting inside a soft, natural womb of a kind. And there I had thought, that I had given birth to this cottage. Whereas in reality, it had probably just as much given birth to me...</div>
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Soft whisperings of nature. Raindrops on the roof window. Wind blowing through some gaps in the still unfinished top of the cob wall. And the warmth of the night inside this wee house of mine. There aren't many words to describe that feeling - that suddenly everything I had worked on for over 2 months, on almost every day, was there, around me, to be experienced. I had dreamed this cottage into reality, just like I had thought would happen. And why? And how? With a lot of help from one's friends, and more particularly, my tirelessly loving parents and our neighbour, who selflessly worked on my cottage, when we needed it most. Plus all the other friends and people, who found it worthwhile and interesting to come and lend a hand. I am grateful and moved beyond mere words. You know you are in my heart (I hope) - and in my cottage. :)<br />
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Previously happened:<br />
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My friend, Michelle, arrived from London to rescue me from a total forest lunacy after a day alone working on the cottage. Which was as well, because I realised that a joint energy is a good energy, as long as the joint energy is good energy haha. There were some sillyness, some drunkenness, some sogginess - but also steady progress every day, probably much more than I could have mustered on my own alone. Once in a while, Jani, our neighbour, popped round to fit the door he was working on and help me to get some more sand and rocks from the nearby sandpit. Forever grateful to him, I don't think Jani realised quite how much he helped by 'not having a clue about what he was doing', as he himself put it. :) <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jani fitting door he was building into my very asymmetrical doorway.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle plastering the strawbale wall with earthen (cob) plaster.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bored of stacking up the last remaining cob wall, I also continued some cob sculpture over the doorway and over to the 'dragon wall'</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle in the clay pond, scraping the bottom of the near bottomless pit... :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jani balancing on the roof top with the skylight.</td></tr>
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Many muddy days later, I had built up a fair amount of the last remaining cob wall, Michelle had finished plastering the exterior strawbale wall with the first coat and moved indoors to continue work there. My parents eventually returned from their summer house and my father started to install pieces of windboard and insect netting in the gap between the strawbale wall and the roof. My mum was mixing cob, I started lime/clay plastering the exterior wall and just in time, Jani arrived to help to fit the skylight window on the roof. As luck would have it, Jani happened to have an experience of installing similar roof domes as a job at some point in his life, so we were in for a chance...! On one Wednesday evening we started work on it after a lot of wandering and wondering by myself, my father and our neighbour. First we stripped off the tarp off the roof, laid some old rugs, cardboard and underlay down, to cover the wooden, at times sharp, planks from piercing the waterproof layer (pond liner) that would go on next. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, my father and Jani wondering what to do and how to do it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Jani spreading out the huge (8x8m) pond liner onto the roof, over a underlay. What a job!</td></tr>
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After what ended up being hours, during which the sun set and mosquitos woke up, we struggled to spread out the liner and danced on a very slippy surface, trying not to damage the expensive piece of plastic. Then Jani set out to install the roof window onto a wooden frame he had previously made, to fit the skylight. With sharp pair of scissors in my hand, I cut a hole into the middle of the plastic, for where the window would go. No turning back now... <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jani installing the skylight.</td></tr>
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While I kept looking away while Jani was balancing barefeet on the windowframe with a gaping hole underneath him, he kept on steadily working, swinging an electric screwdriver in his hand. A beautiful sunset by the way.... eventually it was all done, we retreated off the roof and went to check the results of the work inside - amazing - even though the sun had set, the remains of the light entered the cottage through this wonderful dome - making it into a very different, more open space - a success!<br />
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In the next few days I was lime-plastering the walls, the front-door was finalised and fitted, gaps filled and finally, also the last cob wall reached the ceiling height. Not perfect, not even fully level or built, it was good enough - I could now even light my cob dragon oven, without having to worry about the smoke coming indoors over that gap in the wall. And that I did...<br />
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The last thing I wanted to start before going home, was the green roof. I wanted it to be as natural and forest-like as the rest of the cottage. I bought some blocks of turf from the shop and went scavenging for moss and berry plants (including bilberry and lingonberry) in the woods near-by. Slowly, lifting the pieces of forest floor onto the roof, it started taking shape. Would need an awful lot more trips to the woods to fill the almost 50m2 of roof space, much more than I had time left to do. But luckily, my parents, my brother and even Jani said they could do that in my absence. Which is really wonderful, and necessary, for the protection of the tarp (from UV rays) as well as the integrity of the roof itself.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginnings of a green roof</td></tr>
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I am not at all sure if the forest, the way I would like it, wants to live on top of my roof. I love the plants that are there, because they remind me of my childhood and trips to the forest. How I used to lie on the mossy bed and watch the ants trail. Eat and pick bilberries and grin at the taste of sour lingonberries. But, we will see, only time will tell - such is the story of this cottage it seems...<br />
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So, I am back in London, with a slightly heavy heart, knowing there are still cracks in the walls, gaps in the cob, unplastered strawbales, final lime plaster missing, internal floor undone, green roof unfinished etc etc. Yet, at the same time, my heart is also heavy with love, because I feel immensely happy that I managed the build even to this point, fumbling in the dark, in the unknown, in the mystery of leap of faith.<br />
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To inspire and to be inspired, one of the fundamental riches of being a human. I am so very inspired by nature, in everything I do I try to bring out and express that love. I am moved by people's comments when they say they are inspired by my story and my cottage - because in a way, that creates a full circle. From nature back to nature. The same loves resonates through people; the smells, the shapes, the organic forms of nature. The joy. The beauty. The playfulness within. It gives me hope that people can learn to re-connect with the same nature in a way, which makes them think. How precious it is. How we need to preserve it, in order to enjoy it. We are all part of it regardless.<br />
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I may be lucky enough to return to Finland in a month to finish few more jobs before the harsh winter begins. It would make me feel more at ease. I worry about my baby, like any mother would. On the other hand, it is not my baby and it seems a bit preposterous to assume nature couldn't take care of its own better than I do. I know the cottage isn't going anywhere, but of course the winter winds may treat it unkindly and scar its pretty face. Perhaps I just need to accept this and continue where and how the nature leaves my cottage next Spring. All I know is that however it all goes, this is one of the best things I ever set out to make. And probably like all mothers, I will love this child as long as it lives....<br />
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Thank you for following my journey - I leave you with a dream... xxx<br />
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<br />Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-27408538630290816012012-08-23T07:50:00.000+01:002012-08-23T09:41:39.901+01:00A Dragon In The BellyThe rain is pouring down, then eases into drizzle, then picks up strength again - and I listen to the drops hitting the roof of my parents' house, making nature's music. There hasn't been many days this summer I have heard that song, fortunately, the clouds have often parted or disappeared altogether and the sun has said a friendly hello to me and the other people working on the cottage. In fact while everyone else in Finland has been complaining about the awful summer weather, for most days I have been basking in the sun in this forest corner of my childhood landscape. For that I am thankful. <br />
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My son flew back to London last Friday, along with few of my tears in his blonde hair. It was lovely to have him around while I was building, to share the experience with his child's eyes and heart. For him to see how much this place and this cottage I am building means to me. A seed of love planted in his heart, for trees, nature, Finland, Earth and universe itself. Next time we return, I am hoping we can already sleep inside the cottage and see the stars through the roof window. Or at least have a nice cup of hot chocolate in there, which is more likely if it's below -20C and Winter...<br />
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Before my son left for UK, I had also a class of local primary school (same where I used to go as a child) children visiting the site and cottage. Their teacher, Teija, had visited the place earlier and so I had planned and organised some natural building activities for the 11-12 year old children, including digging the clay pit, mixing cob and building with it. Those children not wanting to get muddy, I put out paints and brushes to paint some stones and pebbles, to integrate into my cottage, possibly as part of my dragon, inside the external wall surface. Even though the group of children were girls by majority (19/4), most of them were very keen to jump straight into whatever was offered to them, some spent most of their time in the very muddy pond, or excitedly jumping on the cob mix, after screaming: yuk, disgusting! :) Some of the children were so keen on the activities that they didn't want to leave, and a few asked if they could come back again. All in all a good day - and I hope that another couple of seeds of Earth love were planted inside small big hearts x<br />
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On Saturday my volunteer Beez (Carla) left also, so suddenly it was quiet again. My mother tried to fill Beez's boots by making some cob mixes for me and my father was working on the strawbale wall and the top plate, trying to get it ready for plastering, which should really be done as soon as possible. On top of all that, my parents were going away for their summer house, so it was going to be only me, myself and I working on this project for several days... But, just as the sun and luck has so often shone on this little cottage, on Sunday my lovely London friend, Michelle, asked if I needed any help with the building work. Did I? Well, just maybe perhaps. So, Michelle is arriving to Helsinki tonight... :) <br />
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Last week while Beez was working on the cob side of things, I was re-stringing bales and building the wall up with my father. Here are some photos of the progress.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6bsAYhrTzAbGHnZNujmOg8mwkJGkzS25PsaQQ7krkadgPH76HyKU4-hLUDXSKX_4YZaMW97WWLaM2VUc0lmmZPIpe4WOE9oLR9fVZHkVRklAtMtELoEeu7VxrWN41zZ9gCTwRjLgX5RY/s1600/strawbale+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6bsAYhrTzAbGHnZNujmOg8mwkJGkzS25PsaQQ7krkadgPH76HyKU4-hLUDXSKX_4YZaMW97WWLaM2VUc0lmmZPIpe4WOE9oLR9fVZHkVRklAtMtELoEeu7VxrWN41zZ9gCTwRjLgX5RY/s320/strawbale+side.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My father made a square window frame for my round window frame (as it is easier to secure and install than a round frame.) </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5dDoHEqJwW1hblYHz2EmgmV7VAbKCaUJRqlpB70dJP_Ce3eZFRADv7sx-HFCqOzNnUiroYCgQH7ET1FerxiIsS7XVbe42wsLxROnML98Kc027rgNTX4wfqhAyebTaUZmH_hxL_AKdjPx/s1600/from+inside+oven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhywXzZXDo2e5CXOxj3rZcpy9TKOd2_j0fS-g975T841aGZCHu99cy1aKhZeSNKbUneypu7O-NDqxJ5wQxSGblNacx1ybh41IAozkJaTVtHbiI4H3qW4R2lpQYhw55SF0eBNKmdDJbDVWK/s1600/inside+cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhywXzZXDo2e5CXOxj3rZcpy9TKOd2_j0fS-g975T841aGZCHu99cy1aKhZeSNKbUneypu7O-NDqxJ5wQxSGblNacx1ybh41IAozkJaTVtHbiI4H3qW4R2lpQYhw55SF0eBNKmdDJbDVWK/s320/inside+cottage.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Internal view, with the top plate in place. However, since there was so much space at many places on top, we managed to put full or half bales on top of most of the plate. My father then secured them with long stakes from the very top (he had to temporarily remove some roof planks) to the rest of the wall.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As luck would have it, my father found a round, thick glass from his shed, which had been sitting there for ten years at least. Our neighbour Jani, cut the glass to size for my window and voila! My father then fixed the round window into the square frame and yesterday I filled the gaps up with bundles of straw and cob. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cottage seen from NE with completed strawbale wall and the cob oven and gap in the wall above and around it, which still needs to cobbed to the ceiling height before I leave.</td></tr>
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Once the balewall was standing, I needed to start cobbing the remaining wall next to it, including the cob oven; which I thought would become a dragon's head. My very first experience of cob - was building an oven in Kate Edward's workshop in Norfolk almost a year ago. Now armed with the snippets of information (oh how we forget!) remaining in my brain and Kiko Denzer's great book: Build Your Own Earth Oven, I set out to work, to finally wake up my dragon....<br />
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Sometimes, when I work with clay (or other natural materials), I have very little idea of what I am doing. I may have a seed of an idea, I may even know what I would like to do, but what the clay in fact becomes, is very much up to organic process, intuition, if you will. So, I started making the oven form with sand and strawless cob and realised that this form cannot make a head, because it just isn't meant to be a head. What could it be? And when I run my fingers on the shape, almost as if blind, I realise it is becoming a wing. Well, dragons do have wings, so...<br />
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The whole process of building the oven is too lengthy to describe in detail here, but I am happy to say the work was successful and I have since then lit few small fires inside the oven, to help it dry out. Since the oven is on the North-East side of the cottage and only gets limited sunlight, it is quite useful to speed up the drying in that way, before I leave for the Winter. I was even hoping to get a pizza fired in it before next weekend, but that may be wishful thinking, as I don't want a proper fire lit inside the oven, before the dry strawbale walls are plastered securely.... <br />
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Yesterday, working alone on the cottage, with only music as company, I continued sculpting the rest of the dragon, including her head, to which I formed nostrils and to them, just as a curious test, pierced few narrow channels all the way through to the fire pit. I then lit up the oven and waited anxiously - and suddenly - and ever so gently, few swirls of smoke started flowing out of my baby - a dragon is born!<br />
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Sculpting the rest of the dragon is still under way but judging by size, it is a baby dragon. In a way this is quite apt; since this cottage IS my baby and I am a baby of this forest. I took my first steps within about 20m radius of this cottage and in many ways my own dragon came from this forest. In fact we all have baby dragons inside of us, just waiting to be born, awakened and breathe fire. The magic within... :)<br />
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I am here only for another 1.5 weeks and there is plenty to do. Strawbale walls need to be (lime) plastered, green roof set up (well, at least covered properly), cob walls built, front door finished and fitted (our neighbour Jani is working on that), wind boards installed and stone facade continued. This is only the exterior work and I am not even considering the interior work here, as I am assuming I have no time left to finish it this time around. But we'll see... now that the dragon has awakened, anything is possible!<br />
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Until next time -<br />
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<br />Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-54010802898415427542012-08-14T21:09:00.002+01:002012-08-14T21:28:00.670+01:00Time is speeding upThe more I do, the more there seems to be to do - but at the same time I can see real progress and bright light at the end of the tunnel. Luckily the tunnel I am walking in, is not dark itself but a happy natural alleyway (at most times) that is encapsulating me in its organic embrace...<br />
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Days turn into nights, nights into vivid dreams, Tuesdays into Fridays, everything gets mashed up in a strange, abstract way, which bends time and my understanding of it. Only particular appointments and pre-planned schedules root me back onto a 'normal' human time. Big events like the cordwood (or cobwood) reaching the ceiling height, windows going in, getting a front-door frame, installing a roof make me realise that real progress is taking place - a livable space is being built, which I will eventually inhabit. I have no silly dreams about the timescale of when that will happen; when will everything be finished - because I know slowly but surely that day will come. It will most likely not be this summer, unless a miracle takes place - not that I don't believe in miracles - but I am not pressured to fully finish this build in three weeks - the time it takes is the time it takes... the day I can step inside, close the front door and look around me and see a finished space, may, in fact, never happen. My cottage was always going to be a journey. Why should it have a particular end-point, a date of completion? Isn't life a flow, a wave, a spiral, a continuous shifting of energy?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQXnNCqum8ZgAH491ZOYfolU61wbHRJMQiQYHfEg5w6Mi1crha1LrcBnNhyphenhyphenLgaLC1HnYVTXNhgnGdHG-YKOsWP02_M-Fd7_Xb7EU8xm8z0qe5aQ1GD_Jw_AUOi-0qmVLONnta-aqZsBur/s1600/carla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQXnNCqum8ZgAH491ZOYfolU61wbHRJMQiQYHfEg5w6Mi1crha1LrcBnNhyphenhyphenLgaLC1HnYVTXNhgnGdHG-YKOsWP02_M-Fd7_Xb7EU8xm8z0qe5aQ1GD_Jw_AUOi-0qmVLONnta-aqZsBur/s400/carla.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beez (Carla) making a cob mix.</td></tr>
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My lovely new volunteer Carla, or Beez, as she likes to be called, came last week from Grimsby, England, to help me with my build. She learnt the ropes pretty quickly and the cobbing side of things has really progressed since, she has been working hard on digging clay, making mixes and cobbing walls. I have also been cobbing with her but because of the extra help, I have also had some time for designing, re-stringing bales, mortaring stones and acquiring the most annoying summer flu, which would have been a disaster if I had been here on my own. While writing this I am still ill and struggling to breathe and talk (I have asthma so flu makes it worse) but slowly starting to feel a bit better, which is good considering I have a full class of local primary school children coming over on Thursday to try out a hand in some very muddy natural building.<br />
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On Friday I will also be parting company with my sweet little son, who flies back to London to be with his father for the rest of the school holidays. I will miss him dearly but being on my own will give me time to fully focus on the build (read: most likely go insane) for the remainder of the time I am here, until early September. And for him to have fun with his father and friends that he has been missing while in Finland. But of course, he has had lots of fun, through his explorations in the nature and forest, finding toads, lizards, dragonflies, ants, butterflies, birds and other wonderful little things. Inspired by nature just as much as I am, he is one of my greatest inspiration - him and his wonderful child's way of being and seeing. When I look at him jumping around, trying to catch grasshoppers, I can feel my own inner child jumping around with him (when I am not physically joining him). To build this cottage is only possible through my connection to my inner child, cherishing little pleasures, living in the moment and having no fear. Or having the fear, but doing it anyway. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKOvy3DBYQc8c4Yx5A62_KO2BYIgS7Ph-Q38jWin-KJCSKBrtgZMAzi0wY8hKAfzHn1NjlsMlWlFrQhVZemR-pQEcjesaZN21fNKYL0-S9b7sDekSv1VIlQAnsobNqd7FYbJVDgmhsDON/s1600/eemil+through+hole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKOvy3DBYQc8c4Yx5A62_KO2BYIgS7Ph-Q38jWin-KJCSKBrtgZMAzi0wY8hKAfzHn1NjlsMlWlFrQhVZemR-pQEcjesaZN21fNKYL0-S9b7sDekSv1VIlQAnsobNqd7FYbJVDgmhsDON/s400/eemil+through+hole.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son on the roof looking through the skylight.</td></tr>
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Since photos are said to be worth more than thousands of words, and it will save me some time to keep writing them out, here is a sequence of things in pictures that have been going on at the site throughout the week. As usual, I find it hard to remember what happened in the week, so I refresh my memory by looking through the pictures, and sometimes even through my Facebook updates... as I said, time speeds up and blends into one and my flu filled head doesn't seem to retain a lot of coherent information. Not sure if things blending together is a good or a bad thing, but it often happens when I immerse in my art... <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNEuWvwdgjmJK08TDPdo9-C2LNw_YDOMSCO7n8r1vtPX1zLuqZpYKhNmOK396fBB9Ex_iArz_XfCyK29AisfNlQUGrB1TfVGqRajAppz5diTWOTynMwDEulAsDlPFo1ddz9TKgCcZKwJd/s1600/progress+friday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNEuWvwdgjmJK08TDPdo9-C2LNw_YDOMSCO7n8r1vtPX1zLuqZpYKhNmOK396fBB9Ex_iArz_XfCyK29AisfNlQUGrB1TfVGqRajAppz5diTWOTynMwDEulAsDlPFo1ddz9TKgCcZKwJd/s400/progress+friday.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friday's progress from outside.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oaKesMbuPtn988iEfEpMVRXmALVt_tqMx9i5EoPbZFtbLu5gut9ZJf7Sx1nnek5IdfJnHIlYeR6kYopUz-gerKawaQ2bkboEgCfeAAsXyhEmI9Y4e2m9NZRcblNYjqJV5D9ahjdf2n7X/s1600/inside+progress+friday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oaKesMbuPtn988iEfEpMVRXmALVt_tqMx9i5EoPbZFtbLu5gut9ZJf7Sx1nnek5IdfJnHIlYeR6kYopUz-gerKawaQ2bkboEgCfeAAsXyhEmI9Y4e2m9NZRcblNYjqJV5D9ahjdf2n7X/s400/inside+progress+friday.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fridays progress from inside - I inserted four pieces of red sandblasted glass I made in the Spring.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljPfByYKmuD2ez98oLNocEFZgSToZVmRqrs18-y9637w1VJ60r5Lk9btNWKBmRaGtwpTcjINBtfEsAHHeQ8GkEgCqjksLbveHP5MjuZsGmwjdUXmi0kfSmRRxo4JmipTc_mvbdTecejzb/s1600/red+windows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljPfByYKmuD2ez98oLNocEFZgSToZVmRqrs18-y9637w1VJ60r5Lk9btNWKBmRaGtwpTcjINBtfEsAHHeQ8GkEgCqjksLbveHP5MjuZsGmwjdUXmi0kfSmRRxo4JmipTc_mvbdTecejzb/s320/red+windows.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandblasted (water) glass pieces inserted into the cob over the window.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvSquCAmaYasEan9FERHBcUwiC53nHT_de7xV3UvUcEbfvRKQtubtsat-nOwjLhKqSmI-yDRmTeqnB0AOJTuQxfAI5a5IZKoeyGs_GhdRh1miT_YJVvw83ukrJj2hycStb3YceG6-t_9G/s1600/window+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvSquCAmaYasEan9FERHBcUwiC53nHT_de7xV3UvUcEbfvRKQtubtsat-nOwjLhKqSmI-yDRmTeqnB0AOJTuQxfAI5a5IZKoeyGs_GhdRh1miT_YJVvw83ukrJj2hycStb3YceG6-t_9G/s320/window+detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Detail of one sandblaster glass piece with a spiral shell form</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We started piling up the strawbale wall in the weekend, which is taking time while I am restringing the too loose bales.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalL8D-cHEShlgwddilfqaOVZ2-4Lm1TO4KxPj-A7mZr_VvcyfvM8p7ormhPpCBzFZF2_RFjUMh5Wj-DUNeAux0WLZ0o8DqDyQRmfTxA16N5k4RDM3SHB8LjVfHGLq0XsLXr7ijQW7GZED/s1600/cob+shelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalL8D-cHEShlgwddilfqaOVZ2-4Lm1TO4KxPj-A7mZr_VvcyfvM8p7ormhPpCBzFZF2_RFjUMh5Wj-DUNeAux0WLZ0o8DqDyQRmfTxA16N5k4RDM3SHB8LjVfHGLq0XsLXr7ijQW7GZED/s320/cob+shelf.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cob (shoe and hat) shelf with a blue bottle at the entrance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SP3Y_DeaYkgTyhRfJmyHsGuHFOJHD2ESnwyYjsfOGArsLGLxnYxmPcwvbfjXdkkYs2_Ppgj9-IcOaI7OIRM912hjQqhWF_gU444EvdehsO1pjp4oI44y69nDh1DBYJwrEOPx5omOii3H/s1600/teepee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SP3Y_DeaYkgTyhRfJmyHsGuHFOJHD2ESnwyYjsfOGArsLGLxnYxmPcwvbfjXdkkYs2_Ppgj9-IcOaI7OIRM912hjQqhWF_gU444EvdehsO1pjp4oI44y69nDh1DBYJwrEOPx5omOii3H/s400/teepee.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son was getting restless, so I built him a quick teepee around one of the birch trees, with a view to the building site. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLN4YpeLuh-0Rxa7d6F3XHWtqF7rUtJSljU0kOFnaDWSM5qERCI_LN9gJsu5Cr-o_KeX-Lq2CzzQcrAc97dP8lPBY5ZrTnHl_UghuQB7luc5zB1DIeLUb3avXgNwqZAjbHEV1jD9THupo/s1600/jani+ovi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLN4YpeLuh-0Rxa7d6F3XHWtqF7rUtJSljU0kOFnaDWSM5qERCI_LN9gJsu5Cr-o_KeX-Lq2CzzQcrAc97dP8lPBY5ZrTnHl_UghuQB7luc5zB1DIeLUb3avXgNwqZAjbHEV1jD9THupo/s320/jani+ovi.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jani planning the doorframe.</td></tr>
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Our neighbour, Jani, came to the rescue once more, and swiftly built me a
doorframe in few hours from bits and pieces we and he had. I am very grateful for his help, and it feels great to 'step inside' my cottage, even though like most men, he was
struggling to make 'wonky' (but I think he's enjoying the process of
allowing it to happen) :) My job is now to cob an arch over the
doorway and attach some natural wood forms onto the uprights to make it
all look more organic. Notable maybe is that the door height will be about
170cm, which is tall enough for me, children, childminded adults and
hobbits. And that's about the only kinds of beings, who are allowed in this building. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJMGlwJh1vdtkibgV9LdkocCCjBxvffY85KWJNWfGqckwIRPeQ-ygx90P7Xxv-WIlvB1il3n5GSDj1h4QfcxTkf5AdH1F1uEHBnBJFQEY5fR7Gst8BlAgYyl0rQ15-I0MSgRvD6HCqeuF/s1600/internal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJMGlwJh1vdtkibgV9LdkocCCjBxvffY85KWJNWfGqckwIRPeQ-ygx90P7Xxv-WIlvB1il3n5GSDj1h4QfcxTkf5AdH1F1uEHBnBJFQEY5fR7Gst8BlAgYyl0rQ15-I0MSgRvD6HCqeuF/s320/internal.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carla reached the ceiling height with 'cobwood' part of the wall on Sunday, so she is now cobbing other parts of the cottage. This is the internal view from the cottage this morning. At the background there is also a glimpse of my brand new doorframe.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzcy8MFPTTs51sdkfVW4hPSzu15FrZ7INV2ev2Xct3TF1OvuSmjLr7zJZPGWUAy8zDYSutqUBqCfLr8h5mpp5w93WwVhIuhN5cJuq83mbWq5P-JCP23oTVa2Vkd1JPnmcEyX05SJ-O4QE/s1600/monday+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzcy8MFPTTs51sdkfVW4hPSzu15FrZ7INV2ev2Xct3TF1OvuSmjLr7zJZPGWUAy8zDYSutqUBqCfLr8h5mpp5w93WwVhIuhN5cJuq83mbWq5P-JCP23oTVa2Vkd1JPnmcEyX05SJ-O4QE/s400/monday+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last progress photo from 'behind' the cottage, taken last night - my father was working on a wooden window frame for the strawbale wall as well as attaching wooden stakes into the rows of bales with me. I am struggling to get six rows of bales on top of each other, so may have to settle for five and figure out how to fill the top gap later - yes, the joys of making the eaves all wonky and different angles. I can only blame myself... but hey, I am not blaming!</td></tr>
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This is the way the cottage looks at the moment. Carla started cob plastering the earthbags in the front and adding some more cob over the windows. On the other side of the cottage I have started building the base for an experimental cob/pizza oven which will sit inside the wall and have an opening only to the outside. Continuing with this, is my task for tomorrow, along with building up the strawbale wall, which needs to be finished for plastering, ideally as soon as possible. As usual, after a day off, I am itching to get my hands muddy again - I leave you with a photo from Monday that Beez took of me outside the cottage. Until next week. x<br />
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<br />Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-20834725116048345222012-08-08T19:05:00.003+01:002012-08-08T19:05:40.490+01:00Art - at last!In the last week, I have been mainly building up the cob walls, both the cordwood cob part, as well as the cob entrance on both sides. Because of the wooden logs used, the progress with the cordwood cob wall has been quickest and is now missing only about 40cm at the top and the last few logs from the actual design. Somehow I just started to run out of steam and ladder height about a week ago while building it and was desperate to do something else. In fact that something else was why I fell in love with this project in the first place: art! That is not to say designing and building in itself isn't creative, because it is; imagination, intuition and planning is required with most tasks to do with this build - but - some sort of magical, childlike and immediate joy of creating shapes, forms, stories - with cob, the magical material - was still gravely missing from all the fun!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCdDdgiylZREyIMt__ZZx8K649ZRCLmdEGnVJia0tjPmFNsralkQj__2WKrDPIru49b-6WnurH2RpOR83G9iIWl_Jx_tVJ2msNOzK5H9FJ7xO8jmd-LDND0SIwLgS0fBXEkiVHCo4kiNN/s1600/wip+tuesday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCdDdgiylZREyIMt__ZZx8K649ZRCLmdEGnVJia0tjPmFNsralkQj__2WKrDPIru49b-6WnurH2RpOR83G9iIWl_Jx_tVJ2msNOzK5H9FJ7xO8jmd-LDND0SIwLgS0fBXEkiVHCo4kiNN/s320/wip+tuesday2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cordwood cob wall, windows and the cob tree design.</td></tr>
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Natural builder Paul Lynch from Inkoo came round last Thursday to bring me some heavy-duty baling twine in order for me to crack on with the re-baling. We also talked about the technical aspects of the build and I got a bunch of tips from him on how to proceed with the strawbalewall. Sometimes it actually helps to talk to a person, who has some real life building experience, although my experimental approach to this cottage is in many ways something Paul hasn't done in his own work before either. Which for me makes it a bit daunting but also a bit more interesting task - taking the risk of 'learning as I go along' seems to be the name of the game with my little earth dwelling. :)<br />
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On Friday a friend came to cob with me for few hours during the day and in the afternoon it started raining, after many days of dry and hot weather. My parents disappeared inside the comforts of their house and I stayed under the tarp with the cob mix next to me. Right, should I keep building the wall or maybe start sculpting? Didn't have to ponder on that question for too long...<br />
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Even though it was getting a bit dark, I set to work,grabbed some sticky cob and started forming shapes out of it with my eager fingers, that have been in love with clay for several years by now. Admittedly, cob is a bit different than pure pottery clay but it has a lot of similarities. With the mental image of my magical tree design I started working the now fairly dry surface of the cob wall, first scraping and roughing it, then re-wetting it, and then finally adding my spiral forms of fresh cob intuitively to it. Listening to music and raindrops on the tarp above me, I zoned in to what I love and know best; creating. Art. It was just what the doctor ordered - I felt so happy! :) After several hours, I finally tore myself away and stopped work for the night. But I had started something - even if some bits would fall out (while drying), I had the beginnings of the cob design there. One thought also came to my mind, that maybe this cottage will be called 'Elämän Puu' - Tree of Life. It sounds wonderful in both languages and has many layers of meaning to me. Trees give us life - they definitely have given me life. This cottage has the life of many trees within. The tree I am sculpting is a metaphor for my appreciation for natural trees as well as the trees of my imagination that twist far and wide, creating new ideas, new pieces of art. Both kinds of trees (the real and the mental) are absolutely crucial for my creative work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWzwHK1-xRFC1HpcMDfh8vmSD8h9afSeVMHwVUMSZZjjj2p2E2aHe4RTFItMG7H8IXQcdnLjlRFMwlmQjb5qTIIKv14_raFdmnC0DWCiaBdCjLKhX4PlTaRsulFoBc2NNxVdUiayVzf_w/s1600/cob+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWzwHK1-xRFC1HpcMDfh8vmSD8h9afSeVMHwVUMSZZjjj2p2E2aHe4RTFItMG7H8IXQcdnLjlRFMwlmQjb5qTIIKv14_raFdmnC0DWCiaBdCjLKhX4PlTaRsulFoBc2NNxVdUiayVzf_w/s640/cob+tree.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The initial cobbing I did under the tarp in the rain.</td></tr>
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This is why I came here really :) - I know I needed the walls first but I suppose I didn't think that decorating and sculpting would come so far down in the list of things needing doing - otherwise I might have been put off... However, I have learnt so much about the structural and technical aspects of the build up to this point, which I didn't even consider to be learning, or, to be that interested in. But, my heart is creative, filled with fuel of imagination, so I am happy I get to do this finally - the decorating now feels like an icing on the cake, and a very tasty one too!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj386_T0OsqfDai3tlaB_blB1UKpmnRQnJC-CXHeiwG2noo5lLsjE4Qwdx51n2a3IeVnMlGf8XhR7OyaXGb5mL2Knu4y1C2deTJfAJm4uWvrG0YQX7kkh4dHCd4lBXnnLMa96K9rNC_wCpR/s1600/progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj386_T0OsqfDai3tlaB_blB1UKpmnRQnJC-CXHeiwG2noo5lLsjE4Qwdx51n2a3IeVnMlGf8XhR7OyaXGb5mL2Knu4y1C2deTJfAJm4uWvrG0YQX7kkh4dHCd4lBXnnLMa96K9rNC_wCpR/s640/progress.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Cobbed Tree of Life - work in progress from yesterday, with natural stone facade integrated into the design.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Yesterday I started organising the natural stones I had piled up for the stone facade, which I am making to hide the earthbags. Call it fake if you will, but I think it will look nice, and definitely nicer than just putting lime plaster over the earthbags. Although if I run out of stones, that is what I will have to do anyway. But as long as I have enough stones, I will use them to hide the bags and to integrate the stone covered stemwall into the design somehow. When I intially designed the Tree of Life on paper, I was thinking about the Ta Phrom temple in Angkor, Cambodia, which has been taken over by giant trees. There is something really wonderful about this contrast between man and nature, the differences and destruction but also the harmony and beauty of nature. In a way I want to achieve something similar with my cottage; to show my dependency on natural world and materials to make this dwelling but also to integrate those materials with my personal and unique artistic vision. Something that is of and from nature but filtered through my human hands into a unique form. I suppose that is consequently my overall artistic statement too... :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQu_wnV_ZPwWBQ_kV9ktwx8vNX_VeVdWnWW-5tLZzuqZ5Xvi9rbUUUtG8P_eXsiBCFJG3bp41PMxl035Uaf4dqv6S5QcmgwCbAZrNZ_WV3XAnzcVoEcNtCBCsWm3xZNb2q-i0UJpIsdBTY/s1600/image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQu_wnV_ZPwWBQ_kV9ktwx8vNX_VeVdWnWW-5tLZzuqZ5Xvi9rbUUUtG8P_eXsiBCFJG3bp41PMxl035Uaf4dqv6S5QcmgwCbAZrNZ_WV3XAnzcVoEcNtCBCsWm3xZNb2q-i0UJpIsdBTY/s320/image5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta Phrom temple overtaken by trees in Cambodia.</td></tr>
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Meanwhile, elsewhere: My father had finished the decking on the roof, so he picked up some 150mm wide lumber for the fascia boards, sawed them to size and attached them into the eaves. It is all looking good now and apart from the skylight window, which I am still trying to find as cheaply as possible (but to fit my wonky roof surface), everything is pretty much ready for the installation of a green roof. I even had my large 8x7m plastic sheet with underlay delivered the other day.<br />
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I have also been re-stringing my bales, and consequently started the first layer of a strawbale wall, set on a layer of birch bark and a thin layer of cob. I dipped the bottoms of the bales into runny clay and stick them onto the wet cob, with some steel rebar ends buried within that were sticking out from the earthbags (I used rebar instead of barbed wire to attach the rows of bags together). Now, some days after the clay and cob has dried onto the bales, the first row of strawbalewall feels very solid indeed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birch-bark layer on the stemwall.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cob layer on birch bark.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bales dipped in runny clay and set on the cob.</td></tr>
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I ended up using eight bales in the strawbale part of the wall, and after measuring, I may be able to squeeze six bale rows to make the height required. It will be a very tight fit and still be left with a gap at the top of the bales, as the wooden structure with the roof is angled so that it is impossible to fill the wall space snuggly with full bales alone. I also had to learn how to make a half bale with a long 30cm upholstery needle my mother had stacked away from her working days. I added some copper wire into one end of it to make a bigger loop and using the tips Paul gave me, managed to successfully create two halves of bales, which I will be needing on every other row in the wall. Small victories like this always seem like huge victories to me - just like managing to successfully insert the window panes into their frames, that had a week earlier been attached to the cob wall. Sounds pretty mundane to most people but it could have gone very wrong - if the frames had become twisted and distorted - however, I now have functional windows - with glass! :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLt_vVzdbREZ8A8wLwTnWcZhIQGZLUTQUpjh1HVozMb8jVF8ZmYImfysePXIMo7QDSAycm16zGdKukWvGXNljl_OK7VKj_B_lf7t9_psRB2Ktpql1VhsltWBVF3MYWjh0A5dg_5hFI26qX/s1600/wip+tuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLt_vVzdbREZ8A8wLwTnWcZhIQGZLUTQUpjh1HVozMb8jVF8ZmYImfysePXIMo7QDSAycm16zGdKukWvGXNljl_OK7VKj_B_lf7t9_psRB2Ktpql1VhsltWBVF3MYWjh0A5dg_5hFI26qX/s400/wip+tuesday.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is how the cottage looks after yesterday.</td></tr>
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A local reporter came to do a story about my build, which came out in the local paper in the weekend. The ex prime minister of Finland, Matti Vanhanen, who happens to live very close-by, had read the story and contacted me to say he was interested to come and see the build and volunteer on it (as I had advertised for volunteers). Despite of his busy schedule, he found some time to visit us on Monday evening and we had a nice chat and I could introduce him to my little house, while my loyal cameraman, Mikael, was filming our chat. It is great to see that there is a real interest to natural building projects as well as alternative art even on higher levels :)). I may still see Mr. Vanhanen helping out at my building site before the cottage is finished... until then, the work continues.... tomorrow with the help of an English woman, Carla, by my side. I am now starting to feel this cottage may actually get finished!! :) <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The story about my build in the local paper.</td></tr>
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<br />Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-22877830617316381062012-07-31T20:10:00.001+01:002018-07-02T20:03:09.684+01:00Fingers in the loving mudI returned to Finland last Wednesday and the work started the next day. As usual, I was eager to pull the tarp off the cottage, just to see it was all still there. And it was. As usual, I was eager to get started, even though my fingers and hands were still a bit achy from the last time; it must be the repetitious movement of cob loaf making...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU-GXmP-yDquPqUXKNMHNq4jqFP_ZBsQI7SaXEMmyAAjraZ0sWDYXp4nPKbVa-njtzGy2PzebjuC-0vnMrTvoSOICmSFxFijPMHUF09ETPPs4PeomqEZ161KM143F8FJuFXs2n4TG1XBP/s1600/cottage+wide+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU-GXmP-yDquPqUXKNMHNq4jqFP_ZBsQI7SaXEMmyAAjraZ0sWDYXp4nPKbVa-njtzGy2PzebjuC-0vnMrTvoSOICmSFxFijPMHUF09ETPPs4PeomqEZ161KM143F8FJuFXs2n4TG1XBP/s400/cottage+wide+front.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the cottage last Friday. I started on the cordwood cob wall and continued on the other cob walls.</td></tr>
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When I came back, my father was suffering from a flu, so he had to take a day off from building. But on Friday, busily blowing into a piece of tissue, he climbed back onto the unfinished roof and started hammering the planks to place. Over 300 metres of lumber and countless hours later, today, my father finally finished the job - wahey- thank you dad! It looks great to my eyes and the smell of new wood is lovely.<br />
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Now the next thing to do with the roof is to attach some fascia boards to the eaves, and set up the green roof. I have already ordered the plastic sheeting (8x7m), which will have an underlay and some carpet and styrofoam sheets as insulation (which I had available in any case). Over that I will add some soil and shallow-rooted plants, including different berry plants, like wild strawberry, lingonberry and bilberry, which are native to the surrounding forest anyway.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son and niece walking on the cob wall :)</td></tr>
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Since last Thursday, I have been working on building the cob and cordwood cob walls. My mother has been mixing the cob with me, and occasionally also my son - and even my 8-year old niece was joining the muddy fun. It is lovely to see big and small people getting their hands and feet dirty - stomping on cob with bare feet initially makes most people tickle, me included, so a lot of giggles ensued. However, it's a long and slow process to mix and build with the stuff, so children find it hard to keep at it for a longer period of time and I can't blame them. Plus catching frogs and lizards is more fun! My mother keeps asking me from time to time: aren't you bored of the work yet? And somehow I just can't lie to her and say: no, not yet. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muddy happy children.</td></tr>
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Our friendly neighbour offered his time and help once again, so I asked if he wanted to set the windows into the south wall, where I had left an opening for them. Jani put braces in the wood frames and set them in the cob shelf and each other with pieces of screws and wood (also poking out of them to use as 'keys' for catching on the cob). After I piled some cob to the sides of the window frames, they feel really solid and are not going anywhere in a hurry. Now I just hope they haven't twisted too badly for me to be able to get the actual glass in at a later point. But it's a lovely feeling to have windows! Such a small thing, yet makes the cottage look like a real dwelling somehow.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am cobbing behind the newly installed windows (that were given to me second-hand by our family friend)</td></tr>
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A lot has happened in less than a week, so I am intending to write this blog at least once a week to keep you updated about what's happening, particularly since I will be in Finland until the beginning of September this time around. By then a lot has to be done and as expected, work is slow. But I am very happy that in the end of every day when I take a photo of the cottage and pull the tarp back on it for the night, I can see progress. I can see nature. I can see love. And I can see myself as a little child. And the little child in me now as an adult.<br />
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And many times, even when I am picking up cordwood logs, inserting bottles in the wall, sculpting shelves or just designing in my head, I feel so very blessed and lucky to be doing this - and to be loving this. I hope this photo says it all. :)<br />
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Here are few more photos of the happenings of the week. More to follow in a week. Tomorrow I will take a day off and take my son to a big amusement park in Helsinki. I realised that the only way to keep sane is to stop work once in a while, rest my body and remove myself from the site. Otherwise I will just longingly gaze out of the kitchen window and answer the cottage siren's call (to work)... :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Internal space - I love the colour of the wood in the evening sun.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cottage after Saturday's work. It is starting to take shape.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A big blue bottle (slightly broken at the top) my mum gave me and which I inserted into a cobbed shelving in the entrance. It creates a lovely colourful light in the wall opposite (see right).</td></tr>
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These photos were taken tonight, after the day's work.The weather's been mostly great, although at times too hot and humid for pleasurable working. But, I am addicted to the work and regardless of the weather, keep plodding on. With my hands in the loving mud. With my loving hands in the mud. I shall get there... :)<br />
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<br />Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-12448868072290481332012-07-17T16:27:00.000+01:002012-07-17T16:29:03.141+01:00The beautiful smell of wood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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While I am building my cottage, it seems that it is my heart that is mostly in control. For the last 2.5 weeks I have worked and worked and worked, and even though my body is very tired, my heart has only grown fonder of the place I am creating, together with my family and some occasional visiting volunteers. When I sit inside the half-finished structure and watch the long blades of grass and hay sway in the wind, with the forest behind them, lit by the summer sun, I know I made the right decision to let my heart be crazy and free...<br />
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Now back in London again, for a short, 8 day respite, I realise that while in Finland I am so consumed by the act of working with my hands, that it is difficult to use that side of my brain, which forms coherent meaningful sentences about what's happened... i.e. the reason for not updating this blog for a month! It seems I always need to come back to my little London nest to regurgitate what's going on inside of my head, yet by the time that happens, my head is usually overflowing and the thoughts are often an abstract trickle down the stream of subconscious alleyways... :)<br />
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The main thing to say is: I am happy. I am happy how it has gone, how it is looking, how much I have been blessed by the help of others and especially my father, whose input in the cottage has become immeasurably important. Even though he never had much faith in himself to be building something so unusual like my cottage, and felt really out of depth to start with; together we have pondered on my design, the choices and funds I have available, the materials we use - with that, he has managed to build a wonderful wooden structure for me, tirelessly working, even in his retirement age, on the top of my roof, while the rain showers in the last few days soaked him through. It brings a tear to my eye, honestly, even though as a typical, modest Finnish man, he is the last to take much credit on his work. Or speak about it. It has also been lovely to hang out as father and daughter, something I don't normally get much chance to do, and maybe, to be honest, never really have. Men are often doers, not talkers, so it's been nice to have a point of interest, which is doing, but doing with a meaning that doesn't require too many words.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My father working on the roof yesterday.</td></tr>
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It hasn't been plain sailing of course, sometimes I have even been sad and distressed, wondering whether I really have it in me to finish this little place and whether I am able to find a balance between 'getting on with it' and mindful creating and decision making. Plans change, because things don't work out, volunteers are suddenly unable to come, pains take over the body, strange chemistry between people makes atmosphere tense, materials cost more than expected or are not available etc etc - the list goes on and on. But for some reason, when I look out of the kitchen window at my parents house, I see this little unfinished house under the tarp, standing in the sun, wind and rain, born from my dream, on my childhood land. How could I not love it? How could I not build it? Never thought I could love a pile of wood, mud and sand so much! :)<br />
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I am adding photos from the last 2.5 weeks here, with some captions to detail the process that the cottage has gone through since the last time you read this blog. Apart from the last day, I took no days off, and even though I worked on the cottage constantly, at times, it was hard to see any progress. Yet, when I myself look back at the photos I have taken, it is very plain to see that a lot has happened in quite a short time (four weeks). A piece by piece this little earth tree house is coming along. I have no idea whether it will end up looking like the one in my sketches or dreams, but that is the beauty of creating: the neverending wonderment of life unfolding and changing the outcome of every moment, every day. It's an organic process - so I will see when I get there. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQGb5x1jNwD5tRKlyxaoZaClGO1WOlPGDiP5oMhTeTaUVclTzDLQ1wDWzI3VTFxLAtSD5Zf797McGqd3RGXwfXFh2pxxbTJLGLqX6xqHHFmbEkaHvuY52UESApMkRPPme4smy7SxGts9V/s1600/building+site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQGb5x1jNwD5tRKlyxaoZaClGO1WOlPGDiP5oMhTeTaUVclTzDLQ1wDWzI3VTFxLAtSD5Zf797McGqd3RGXwfXFh2pxxbTJLGLqX6xqHHFmbEkaHvuY52UESApMkRPPme4smy7SxGts9V/s400/building+site.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what I went back to in the end of July. My father is peeling logs from the forest for my cordwood cob wall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from inside the cottage, while I was filling the earthbags, with earth, sand and clay. I love this view, looking out to the sunny green. This will also be the view from the two windows, which will sit on the wall in front.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where I got to by Sunday, before my German volunteers arrived.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nora and Mathias working on the earthbag mix.</td></tr>
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Nora and Mathias joined the build from Germany for about 4 days. For
them it was a different kind of experience as they had never done any
natural building. However, even in the heat of the sun, they seemed to
get into the swing of things pretty quickly. It was great that while
they were doing mixes and completing the earthbag stemwall, I could then
dedicate some time to planning the reciprocal roof with my father. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small reciprocal roof test model we made with branches in the woods. Just to see if/how it works, before attempting to move the 4 metre long roundwood poles on the roof... it was lovely to discover it does work :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twin birch trees that my father checked to have some internal rot and promised for firewood for Jani, his neighbour, as long as Jani would take them down and that I could take the bark off them for my use.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our friendly neighbour, Jani, sawing the trunk into manageable pieces for me to remove the bark from.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0tSBYYrXtaw2kDpE2NDcqBDx9AXtgfwgeCDTS5gM-xMfOjEvmRHkqKJ9EWIn7_w9AVZ2S9wFv-1v0vU3SRlBteIY0YKddKN97LMjVMT1ambQNa3nW1WbnD61YzRntewnQ85lXdgp51EE/s1600/birch+bark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0tSBYYrXtaw2kDpE2NDcqBDx9AXtgfwgeCDTS5gM-xMfOjEvmRHkqKJ9EWIn7_w9AVZ2S9wFv-1v0vU3SRlBteIY0YKddKN97LMjVMT1ambQNa3nW1WbnD61YzRntewnQ85lXdgp51EE/s400/birch+bark.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is some of the bark I removed from the birches. The better quality ones I have put under a weight and use for crafts and the ones with more 'scabs', I am using over the earthbags, underneath the cobwall and strawbalewall, to create a naturally waterproof barrier to prevent moisture from the earth and bags wicking up to the walls above.</td></tr>
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<br />
Building the roof was one of the bigger decisions I took but I figured it would make life so much easier later on. It is nice to be non-dependent on the weather when building, to have some shade from the sun (the site is very sunny) and also, to properly 'feel' that one is actually building a dwelling, rather than some elaborate wall structure. It is so very true that the minute the reciprocal basic structure was completed, the cottage was officially feeling like a cottage, finished or not. It had dimensions!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZQEOdL9BIy6krNRKo5Ep2J6BUqu9LvO_ZMO0YSg8FYf_1FzKKdPtDdF9Nlrd3CQ-71sB8Ds0RYoCSpmmfv6w6E2nb5dQf_WIAOSQ3cD4ha6d4zAuZBeYYPlJL20WeaxINJ0wXV8MKwi0/s1600/me+and+nora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZQEOdL9BIy6krNRKo5Ep2J6BUqu9LvO_ZMO0YSg8FYf_1FzKKdPtDdF9Nlrd3CQ-71sB8Ds0RYoCSpmmfv6w6E2nb5dQf_WIAOSQ3cD4ha6d4zAuZBeYYPlJL20WeaxINJ0wXV8MKwi0/s400/me+and+nora.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how we started the roof, with one top of the felled birch trees
in the middle as a 'Charlie stick', on which all the roundwood poles of the roof would
rest, while piling them on top (after which the charlie stick was
removed). To be honest, even though we had tried the design out in small
scale, it was at times pretty hard to imagine we would ever manage to
make a working roof using this method. In the end, we ended up shifting
and shoving the Charlie stick around a bit, to change the dimensions of
the central skylight hole (which was tiny at first). The fact that the
cottage is not a complete circle also made it more tricky to get the
spacing between poles right. With my forgotten maths skills, I attempted
to calculate the angle that the poles would have to lie in, so that the
roof wouldn't have too steep a pitch for a green roof, yet have some
space underneath for me to build a sleeping platform on.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqMAlJezp0CO58V_s_dXyI50lLqzgHbIx1uv1aQgqv9iLSvG2tTA2JriA4sXSUZS7CLXOLIAs72bV3OWHBEWPegCi-k8QtYm2mg_3C9XGqLK9oD30Q2kjBX2ads0FsakGIsdmxZ881y-x/s320/roof.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, we managed to build the structure in the end. To the primary eight poles, another 16 secondary roof rafters were added. An interesting choice, to provisionally tie the poles together that would have some give, as well as grip on the slippery wood poles, was to use strips of real leather from my mother's abundant fabric stash. But hey, it worked! :)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34oooOr4ZwYZtYx-4b5f_LHd_zLy-vB7hyphenhypheni5nTWT1xi4NOh3aY8f4qQH_BYud2GArdWbFzTfuEqcC8AZKKm0jmViAIyWQfUiIdLLZz3xtWijJtcHHWH5cG-0m9WGU-Dj4heEKroh9speY/s1600/cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34oooOr4ZwYZtYx-4b5f_LHd_zLy-vB7hyphenhypheni5nTWT1xi4NOh3aY8f4qQH_BYud2GArdWbFzTfuEqcC8AZKKm0jmViAIyWQfUiIdLLZz3xtWijJtcHHWH5cG-0m9WGU-Dj4heEKroh9speY/s320/cottage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how the cottage looked after a hard working Friday. What a beautiful weather too. A glass of wine and I felt very happily tearful looking at this sweet little fairie house. :)</td></tr>
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<br />
My volunteers left on Saturday, but of course for me the work continued. I continued building the cob wall, which Nora and Mathias has started and tried out where the windows would be and how they would be set into the wall. Even though covered under the tarp, the earthbags were drying fast, and I hammered metal rods through the five completed rows of bags, to increase their overall, uniform stability (as I decided not to use barbed wire, which is normally used for this purpose). I had decided to make 5 rows of bags instead of the original four, because I thought they will raise the wall further off the ground for the strawbales particularly. In the end, we ran out of bags at the end of the wall. I counted how many we needed. 10. I knew how many I had left in London (which I didn't take as I didn't think we would need them): 10.<br />
Nothing like a meticulous guesswork at planning stage.... :)<br />
<br />
Because I was now working on the cobwalls on my own, my mother felt sorry for me and came to help. She found it hard to form cob loaves crouching down on the ground but wanted to help to make and mix the cob for me. It's not rocket science exactly (after all, my mother just said the other day while mixing: good god, one could be pretty much braindead and still be able to do this job) - but I must say that after few days of mixing, my mother managed to make better and stronger mixes than me - so I generally just concentrated on building the walls and thanking the universe for my mother! This also includes the heavenly blueberry pies that she kept making, while disappearing into the kitchen from time to time. :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1_nQnDY3nNo6EsNdodBMsE2evJdAQqRh7GCnrCQy22IHAqJd4-GQOjr9p29EiYdpxwE5ied4j6z-65XXnRB_H1EWyznwaTcqnc_Rx-SC28pv7u30bNs8y6cVMe2y7tyrmvlyffR2CVkQ/s1600/bilberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1_nQnDY3nNo6EsNdodBMsE2evJdAQqRh7GCnrCQy22IHAqJd4-GQOjr9p29EiYdpxwE5ied4j6z-65XXnRB_H1EWyznwaTcqnc_Rx-SC28pv7u30bNs8y6cVMe2y7tyrmvlyffR2CVkQ/s320/bilberries.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mother sorting bilberries she picked in the woods around the cottage. The bushes are brimming with blue - and you can see the thrushes and other birds like them too - judging by their deep blue poo...</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8OcrUyp_K4CXdIVL1G5U9BRsWR93XzADjq8e_44Relovj1Bq4DQwI_YSjrgySv78AYzS-3fK5cA4TPIbkwXXam7KZs0tmNlhiLSDTQy3JdyQsyPo4d2OnI1wKjtcpPjuH5NNLGgAHIUe/s1600/moss+mandala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8OcrUyp_K4CXdIVL1G5U9BRsWR93XzADjq8e_44Relovj1Bq4DQwI_YSjrgySv78AYzS-3fK5cA4TPIbkwXXam7KZs0tmNlhiLSDTQy3JdyQsyPo4d2OnI1wKjtcpPjuH5NNLGgAHIUe/s200/moss+mandala.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Forest Mandala I made from the wild flowers and moss from the woods.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABtkzYCghSWgCzIerSTc6yhUFjvcxqomlxfBtbi36jZL7FmH_2H5TKnvvHMqVRhK2R7dpWDDhy9hYdpmDoeNwy98Ex43Q-RgbG9f3XRUSdBt8EvD70gWzgd_wRQfc0ICPgUdcMh17BNO2/s1600/oak+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABtkzYCghSWgCzIerSTc6yhUFjvcxqomlxfBtbi36jZL7FmH_2H5TKnvvHMqVRhK2R7dpWDDhy9hYdpmDoeNwy98Ex43Q-RgbG9f3XRUSdBt8EvD70gWzgd_wRQfc0ICPgUdcMh17BNO2/s200/oak+leaves.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some beautiful, young oak leaves in a tree (or rather a bush) next to the cottage.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMSeIaoxEMVBHI9ktUHUyqempQ_owNGJMbZjOmL96zJ-uBQUZeZDCgXhI38JYoxInmGGSXzf5dvc4sTB4L0Mb-aePLudFi_lJ42XenmHrzeaU0e40G0HUmBTutAbJTGPFn4Jy5Jwy0zFH/s1600/feet+in+mud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMSeIaoxEMVBHI9ktUHUyqempQ_owNGJMbZjOmL96zJ-uBQUZeZDCgXhI38JYoxInmGGSXzf5dvc4sTB4L0Mb-aePLudFi_lJ42XenmHrzeaU0e40G0HUmBTutAbJTGPFn4Jy5Jwy0zFH/s400/feet+in+mud.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My feet in the mud, on a cloudy day under the tarp.</td></tr>
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<br />
So, a lot of mixing, stomping, forming, patting, poking later, I was still working on getting few centrimetres added to the cob walls....in other words, slow going. While my parents enjoyed their 42nd wedding anniversary and took a break from helping me, I decided to try my hands on mortaring the base of a cob/pizza oven with natural stones I had picked up from the close-by sand pit. Not really knowing what I was doing, I started piling stones on one another and slapping some sand/lime putty mortar in between them. After two half days, the result wasn't pretty but was still standing, so who knows, it may end up being an oven one of these days... :) I am still yet to find a good place for rocks and stones, without having to buy them, as I am intending to cover the whole external earthbagwall with natural stone (for visuals and rain protection). Well, things seem to have a way of sorting themselves out, so maybe my stone pile treasure is also waiting for me at the end of a rainbow somewhere...<br />
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Here are some photos of the last week's slow cobbing progress:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MzP2RysSjkeaKMgNWf1YwGiDYXnOANq24awdXz_JC8gx7FgnvLgQkA1fTGT2ppNtxXefNY_N7uPotq7mT8yNj6e5rgWwAPKrgL49YyZfaFmM2i8BkpMSSpB2kXYy3PSV9hj7Qwdtl9LE/s1600/work+in+progress+monday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MzP2RysSjkeaKMgNWf1YwGiDYXnOANq24awdXz_JC8gx7FgnvLgQkA1fTGT2ppNtxXefNY_N7uPotq7mT8yNj6e5rgWwAPKrgL49YyZfaFmM2i8BkpMSSpB2kXYy3PSV9hj7Qwdtl9LE/s400/work+in+progress+monday.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginnings of the entrance and cob walls, the other wallspace will be for strawbale (North and NE walls)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFUDv2XbQFUnt8PAx_9_3dAqXzu_GvrnIWB_8Z8LNMhXVkiPW26Tlnt9u_DOeuf06M8zCK3hptMN9UZJNWY_WZz8ZTb4gW0OL4IlVJQsAnY8Z668YNWU9Wye6j_v2ZuhAJul5rtNvfgxW/s1600/me+and+dad+at+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFUDv2XbQFUnt8PAx_9_3dAqXzu_GvrnIWB_8Z8LNMhXVkiPW26Tlnt9u_DOeuf06M8zCK3hptMN9UZJNWY_WZz8ZTb4gW0OL4IlVJQsAnY8Z668YNWU9Wye6j_v2ZuhAJul5rtNvfgxW/s400/me+and+dad+at+work.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Here you can see a bit of the natural stone foundation around the to-be cob oven. In the clay base of the oven, I am using a normal cob mix, without the straw and some ceramic leca-gravel added for insulation. All this is trial and error type of building, guided by what I am feeling could work rather than any professional understanding or skill... we shall see.<br />
My father is sawing the planks for the roof, which all need to be individually measured to match the 'organic' design, shape and pitch of the roof. Thank you dad for your love, endurance and patience. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib92eo8Ik0q7Rv9V-eJ6P-eUkQ4D-UnrNeC1SF4qAapGd8wuBYFCRt4CA7gSBbZ0qASfyeFg_VtvExG73g53VSkfMTtc3SDTVIDFvDLrt_Kiixf8bimyZ3UA-aaT3AEz0PkDGn2mYBSq2h/s1600/heart+stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib92eo8Ik0q7Rv9V-eJ6P-eUkQ4D-UnrNeC1SF4qAapGd8wuBYFCRt4CA7gSBbZ0qASfyeFg_VtvExG73g53VSkfMTtc3SDTVIDFvDLrt_Kiixf8bimyZ3UA-aaT3AEz0PkDGn2mYBSq2h/s320/heart+stone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTIEc55gTDR2uyYR48f9L3IAWQ3am6ne6gh74lDJVzc0pcgK4fYqDn3cfvp81qcKJ6zRpamZBm20BKxwu9Ge3p23SyDrHfINJeXuzo2WDSIe73k9PaV16KF5kRuKZ9sFCDBC_AgrWGMjd/s1600/wip+monday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTIEc55gTDR2uyYR48f9L3IAWQ3am6ne6gh74lDJVzc0pcgK4fYqDn3cfvp81qcKJ6zRpamZBm20BKxwu9Ge3p23SyDrHfINJeXuzo2WDSIe73k9PaV16KF5kRuKZ9sFCDBC_AgrWGMjd/s640/wip+monday.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how I left the cob wall yesterday. I have started to extend the cob over the earthbags and it makes quite a bit of difference visually. I have no idea whether it will actually hold, since the earthbag material is quite slippy, but I have tried to poke it in with a 'cobber's thumb' ie. a piece of root I am working with for a tighter fit.</td></tr>
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And below is the progress of the beautiful reciprocal wooden roof being built. I have so far bought 200metres of lumber to cover the area and I will need to buy some 70 metres more to fully cover it. I had seen some photos of people only loosely covering the spaces in between the roof poles but thought that despite of the added cost and time factor, the roof will be stronger to take on the heavy snowloads in the winter if it's tightly planked together. One of these, MuTu- moments, which in Finnish means roughly 'I feel it through', rather than actually knowing it. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgbknK-27bSw8QihdqSiwyq_M_zKJwqXTYAVlHHmlDpfUIYyMRL2hT-qAedMBDN-jk1wqcE0FWV9YvCMUZ1cHesyPr9gHcLn_flK-5WPhJmMrBpunsTfbG5c4llisMVMu7WT3mD-3L0Vg/s1600/roof+and+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgbknK-27bSw8QihdqSiwyq_M_zKJwqXTYAVlHHmlDpfUIYyMRL2hT-qAedMBDN-jk1wqcE0FWV9YvCMUZ1cHesyPr9gHcLn_flK-5WPhJmMrBpunsTfbG5c4llisMVMu7WT3mD-3L0Vg/s400/roof+and+wall.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The roof being decked out, I very much like the look of it.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXn6RrK4k-lR4YdJQmAJeDScoyyeJ265SltArbM3IK0apF2l4qX3uhnV7k0KJsYbbZvUQsy8HO2n2igmwLHNHdjD4vRDcy5pNjDTcwNJr27fuJzzZUSa5mpHqtljfB0aq6E4kUkEcik7p/s1600/roof+inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXn6RrK4k-lR4YdJQmAJeDScoyyeJ265SltArbM3IK0apF2l4qX3uhnV7k0KJsYbbZvUQsy8HO2n2igmwLHNHdjD4vRDcy5pNjDTcwNJr27fuJzzZUSa5mpHqtljfB0aq6E4kUkEcik7p/s400/roof+inside.jpg" width="266" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of the roof.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikro2RW-SZ8Ukg2VmwXF_OyiBVj0IMSS7egoj4jMw2jLQXKY-koA0Wpb7a1DVMm2l63q8m1NUDbg8Cwru-n4YgcSk_pcJpN3zd_W80evBxHaqBOOdfggX1Md3xvxDql8KjdMFs11eyuA7Y/s1600/roof+inside+wip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikro2RW-SZ8Ukg2VmwXF_OyiBVj0IMSS7egoj4jMw2jLQXKY-koA0Wpb7a1DVMm2l63q8m1NUDbg8Cwru-n4YgcSk_pcJpN3zd_W80evBxHaqBOOdfggX1Md3xvxDql8KjdMFs11eyuA7Y/s400/roof+inside+wip.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me thinks it's pretty - and the fresh wood smells delicious!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My father in the process of nailing planks in.</td></tr>
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Right, here we are, after another period of working in the forest, I have the foundation, the beginning of the walls, the basic roof structure. I still have to: fix the design of the cordwood cob wall and start building it, place the windows in the South wall and 'cob them in', finish all the walls, make a door, re-string 60 strawbales, order plastic for the roof, build the green roof, build base and top plate for the strawbale wall, complete the oven, make space for the round window, build the stone exterior stemwall, lime-plaster exterior walls, make internal floor and all internal work, including building a sleeping platform high up towards the roof. And this is without any actual design aspects which I am so keenly been waiting to work on... In fact, I have pretty much given up on the idea of finishing this cottage this summer. I mean, it may be possible but - I don't want to rush it, hurt my body in the process and get stressed. I didn't set on this journey to have a sour face.I set on it because the thought of this cottage made my heart pound and jump with joy. The journey has begun but is far from finished.I hope to finish it with a smile on my face and the forest in my heart.</div>
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In the meanwhile, the forest of my childhood looks as pretty as ever, even with a threatening thunderstorm in the distance. I love this place. The more I love it, the more I live it. The more I live it, the more I fall in love with it. It pays to go away, in order to return. Sometimes it's the only way - even for a forest fairie. x</div>
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<br />Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-80306428101399091212012-06-14T20:49:00.000+01:002018-07-02T20:04:43.722+01:00Back in London, I am now attempting to collate my thoughts and experiences from the last two weeks in Finland. I still remember the feeling sitting inside the wooden skeleton of my to-be-cottage yesterday, in the warm sun, hearing the little insects all around me, the busy bluetits, pretty blackbirds and one tireless cuckoo somewhere in the forest. My mood elevated, I was thinking: I can actually sit inside this thing! It is a THING - not completed, not even close - but - it is a shelter! Built with my very own hands, and the hands of my family members. How special is that...!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWxxVtQ6gokmHlwPWDpApL2-r_7VPt3flOCIqE7qQMQaMHNeZyPcNEQu5buqgFW4Ga8TiqQtiBeUiY1gR6KmbmN6Z2k_B6QXdS2RMRR-v_hBP6WRe5pCJ1m8DXQvEK4SQA5uiF5PNzVE1/s1600/cottage+wip2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWxxVtQ6gokmHlwPWDpApL2-r_7VPt3flOCIqE7qQMQaMHNeZyPcNEQu5buqgFW4Ga8TiqQtiBeUiY1gR6KmbmN6Z2k_B6QXdS2RMRR-v_hBP6WRe5pCJ1m8DXQvEK4SQA5uiF5PNzVE1/s320/cottage+wip2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My work in progress cottage covered by a tarp, ready for my next working trip to the forest.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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It may not look like much yet, but has so much heart for me already. When I flew to Finland two weeks ago, I really didn't know what to expect. In some ways it was, and still is, much like guesswork. I have lots of ideas but have no ideas on how long it will take to make them into reality... :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The site in the Spring time, after the foundation hole has been dug and some large tree stumps removed from the area.</td></tr>
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The foundation trench, or rather a big gaping hole, had already been dug when I got to the site. It was about 70cm deep and I could see that the bottom of the foundation was partly on hard clay, partly on sand. It wasn't sloping quite enough downhill to my liking, considering that I wanted it to be able to drain well in case of a heavy rain.<br />
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The first few days in Finland I spent ordering and buying tools and supplies, opening builder's accounts at local hardware stores and thinking things through. The gravel ended up costing much more than I expected but I did order about 18tonnes of it, because most of the soil in the foundation was replaced by it (and sand). Maybe I'm daft but it somehow made sense, to improve drainage, stop moisture from getting to the walls, roundwood poles or the floor.<br />
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In regards to the other main building materials, I was lucky that just around the corner from my parents house, there is a disused sand-pit, where we used to play as kids - I got permission from the elderly owner to take some sand for my building needs from there. My parents' friendly neighbour was kind enough to help us out with his pick-up/trailer combination to get the sand from the pit to the site. Even the heavy rain showers and us workers getting completely soaked, didn't stop us from shoveling the sand, tired, on a Friday evening. Just a small problem, which sauna will ultimately cure... which seems to be the thinking with most Finnish ailments. :)<br />
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I have added a compilation of photos here, to show you the progress so far. I have tried to write captions for the photos instead of writing the entire story, because it would take me the other two weeks I have in London and not get anything else done! I still have a life you know... ;)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawbales were delivered, only for me to discover that they were far too loosely baled! Many bales fell apart when we were transferring them to storage. Which means in order to use them in my cottage wall, I will need to re-string most of the bales (those that are used in the cob mix obviously do not matter).</td></tr>
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Regardless of the first setback of the poor bales, I set to work and started working on improving the drainage of the site. Here I am, shoveling away, with my son showing me his Lego creation in the latter photo. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I dug a drainage channel from the foundation trench downhill, for the rain water to run away from underneath the house. 8cm perforated drainage pipe was installed at the bottom of it.</td></tr>
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After the digging, we started filling the hole with all that gravel. Wow, the amount of work involved, particularly as the gravel was located about 50-70metres away. I feel my biceps have definitely grown! :) I hired a light-weight compacting machine, which I used regularly over the gravel, to compact it nice and tight. Much better result than doing it by hand, although it was not exactly any easier on my muscles.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round and round we go :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A digger came for the 2nd time to dig a clay pit in the woods. After excavation, this pit was covered with tarp until later use and will become a natural swimming pool in the future (well, I would like to think so at least).</td></tr>
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Because I was too worried about the quality and strength of my strawbales, I consulted few professional natural builders and decided to build a wooden structure for my cottage- so rather than using the bales as supporting walls, I would have the wooden skeleton to support the weight of the roof. As it happens, Charlie Jespergaard from the Natural Building Company, whom I visited in Fagervik during my first week in Finland, showed me how the bales could be re-compressed, re-strung and in fact used as I had initially intended, but I still decided it would be less risky to build the wooden frame and use the bales more as an infill material.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuMdz45F1pmFT-hmQu2NKTJmayKG08s78w_tm67E_XosLHV7_XD8mM9t7hgl93dEjwRkGRLxjv53ZrMrpLLX3LvdEToUk-6h0zzARe0xCR13hL3sqbRcjDkyxnfxRXOLAM6VMJLg96CFH/s1600/carrying+log.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuMdz45F1pmFT-hmQu2NKTJmayKG08s78w_tm67E_XosLHV7_XD8mM9t7hgl93dEjwRkGRLxjv53ZrMrpLLX3LvdEToUk-6h0zzARe0xCR13hL3sqbRcjDkyxnfxRXOLAM6VMJLg96CFH/s400/carrying+log.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am fetching one piece of wood to be used in the wooden frame structure. These logs my father had cut down from the surrounding woods a few months earlier and peeled and stacked them up to dry.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwTqfBdGvhORd1GHMac8X2r9zfpg8_F4IhYyHuCMYZ0QgAFdbqk-pk9JtX7ZZO4JxfnxX3FHsg7w4bX4tqmPVqfcKk0qFxzic7mTx8gY9lsPlifj_StizHMiqIPI39C__ps1vj1QYM1yg/s1600/family+and+logs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwTqfBdGvhORd1GHMac8X2r9zfpg8_F4IhYyHuCMYZ0QgAFdbqk-pk9JtX7ZZO4JxfnxX3FHsg7w4bX4tqmPVqfcKk0qFxzic7mTx8gY9lsPlifj_StizHMiqIPI39C__ps1vj1QYM1yg/s320/family+and+logs.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Measuring the wood poles to correct size.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wfgy7ezIXBFwMqcbCbqJ1GdFshxRVTvlkYIotn5OTd3NEjp2NOnmSFcmlSWvYwHfxue2KWb7UA84b1CkjSOsdRgj3UPO5yHhHf53yYyHMnptQmKsUT93mKjh9C3Uxtr_ASCI__kRPALz/s1600/father+cutting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wfgy7ezIXBFwMqcbCbqJ1GdFshxRVTvlkYIotn5OTd3NEjp2NOnmSFcmlSWvYwHfxue2KWb7UA84b1CkjSOsdRgj3UPO5yHhHf53yYyHMnptQmKsUT93mKjh9C3Uxtr_ASCI__kRPALz/s320/father+cutting.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My father cutting the poles with a chainsaw.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQByXXCrQhkX5nvBei1P0g3jXZcsMD8es35awflDS7HqtN6LZS1HZZvgm7yVVWXLyNAECJFAfdpdMuCTO-b59loyjHNGZnTUUM1B0kikB7lvO-4bbDURohkx6sPJhAgK6EwKqYfoX4iy2f/s1600/duuni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQByXXCrQhkX5nvBei1P0g3jXZcsMD8es35awflDS7HqtN6LZS1HZZvgm7yVVWXLyNAECJFAfdpdMuCTO-b59loyjHNGZnTUUM1B0kikB7lvO-4bbDURohkx6sPJhAgK6EwKqYfoX4iy2f/s400/duuni.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am placing the roundwood poles in their final positions. The shape of the cottage won't be exactly round, more like oval shape, with a larger gap between the logs in the south facing wall, to accomodate the window frame or frames (as I haven't decided which way the windows are going to lie, vertically or horizontally...)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsR0CbGwGKxfYs-clY-UthyfFWVRVXtEP_iieEb13zSEM1f_GHe4s3hAbk3rWYFq_1brwg2iuBpnhoWKWE1y2qtps8izHDtEGTfVJV200Di2lAsIAHOaplmvuIH2Hz4WdJUiNOu-W8jIey/s1600/wooden+pieces+dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsR0CbGwGKxfYs-clY-UthyfFWVRVXtEP_iieEb13zSEM1f_GHe4s3hAbk3rWYFq_1brwg2iuBpnhoWKWE1y2qtps8izHDtEGTfVJV200Di2lAsIAHOaplmvuIH2Hz4WdJUiNOu-W8jIey/s320/wooden+pieces+dad.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My father working on the wooden frame. We used Tony Wrench's book 'Building A Low Impact Roundhouse' as a rough guide and reference book. My father was a bit unsure about the whole procedure at first but after a day or so, he really got into it and the quality of his work improved massively. I am very proud of him and happy to have been able to have worked and assisted him. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The completed wooden structure (without roof obviously).</td></tr>
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</td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3Tq3ZBLfXAKXOFa5CwQwzprJMxdc3HbiBpkGuKRpEfK2cpNVxYDipBas6p1jH_GKtdZtspHrPOkSjlCPofeoohpH0hVC2j7fgvX_fBMdtX5hiPOtpPw7EL9P-gwSKr6_WaorWsyXhJqH/s1600/wooden+skeleton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3Tq3ZBLfXAKXOFa5CwQwzprJMxdc3HbiBpkGuKRpEfK2cpNVxYDipBas6p1jH_GKtdZtspHrPOkSjlCPofeoohpH0hVC2j7fgvX_fBMdtX5hiPOtpPw7EL9P-gwSKr6_WaorWsyXhJqH/s320/wooden+skeleton.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwovBdkoHFPeKkhYzVM9-UyGliNaUJy7DKWRSg9bD8Pqhhy6DksDDBie8qEicERw6d_D05NAAYX7lR2sKqVYblrZoRL26cHaZ7rwGdvw_E2m4tWE5wpcRIv3gSfertQVRjfwRY6YQcuyg/s320/tarring+logs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am tarring the logs that were used in the wooden frame. We
attached the ends of the poles onto watertreated wood panels along with
some tarred roofing paper and then the 'legs' were set onto compacted
gravel base and more gravel was spread over them and compacted well (the
ends of the logs are therefore not in direct contact with soil and
hopefully never too much water either, to prevent them from rotting).
The tar smells wonderful, although I must admit, whilst applying it, the
smell was slightly OVERWHELMING! ;) I could have used concrete and
steel posts with the wooden poles to avoid all this hassle, but I don't
want to pour concrete into my sacred space (which this for me is, as a
place where I grew up as a child)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SpfZZY66mtgE8ASDG_9x83vphuAAfgn0gvyfzD5kJnydiSPsPDkel91VNKxzUzLfjK63m6qXlQBnQpm7jHAa1UuSshJBG5lBDILj993NvAqQ2gZ8NdxhI4-UXXn4cJLn_WFLPB9J31kP/s1600/me+tamping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SpfZZY66mtgE8ASDG_9x83vphuAAfgn0gvyfzD5kJnydiSPsPDkel91VNKxzUzLfjK63m6qXlQBnQpm7jHAa1UuSshJBG5lBDILj993NvAqQ2gZ8NdxhI4-UXXn4cJLn_WFLPB9J31kP/s320/me+tamping.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While my father was working on the wooden frame, I kept on filling the area around the wooden poles and compacting the gravel and sand that was added in the central area (which is to become the internal floor). The wooden roundwood poles are the internal dimensions of the cottage, which will be about 3.70-3.80m in diameter.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOoDRjObDRQZ7cBH6aXbkg3nnS4qUViG-rQ8737Y3qMSY6LHUoY9zfp78GNFj93-_uQzfNpXkIjeWdAE8mEaQhrz_56jTujcKB1OgtP-erBHEfE7n5HF2ml94VUgzlxtIj_4e9pOZpkW4/s1600/peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOoDRjObDRQZ7cBH6aXbkg3nnS4qUViG-rQ8737Y3qMSY6LHUoY9zfp78GNFj93-_uQzfNpXkIjeWdAE8mEaQhrz_56jTujcKB1OgtP-erBHEfE7n5HF2ml94VUgzlxtIj_4e9pOZpkW4/s320/peace.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peace!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkr69Bkc1nX-XiiK1toJNfufhYGcGs7YQCp4-hCWK1ryENJfYBjQmFVdmpr1lE7qUwYYxyy28o9ISpwl-tQCczinrj4J1PEq32MOPacqjve35OAJH3Qftfy_qJ3WLOIqpR9BhuwnxMnA2F/s1600/moving+log.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
When the wooden frame was joined to form a uniform, stable structure, I had only few more days left in Finland. This meant that the whole structure needed to be covered, to be protected from elements but also to enable me to keep working in dry conditions underneath. To be honest, until then it had only rained briefly on few occasions but the idea of attempting to build cob and strawbale walls in rain, with swarming mosquitoes around (there are many!), didn't appeal to me too much. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcwl8cL4GFev0gsm7NQhqXADfr3Nao4I0j2250pAu59achriXr4CPhL9kmrLC8a_19bDxzA_AfATMS_lpM0M8ADmSJbXTOLZSzadcLa9A_zxr3REiSJa2HgxYw55MfaDdl2wZOGxG7aDF/s1600/getting+tarp+on.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcwl8cL4GFev0gsm7NQhqXADfr3Nao4I0j2250pAu59achriXr4CPhL9kmrLC8a_19bDxzA_AfATMS_lpM0M8ADmSJbXTOLZSzadcLa9A_zxr3REiSJa2HgxYw55MfaDdl2wZOGxG7aDF/s320/getting+tarp+on.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing to get the tarpaulin on the structure.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7iIWzWNJRxIqjrly0F1rBX2xjB1hJ7Ny0t90g4iTB-2eLuJ1ViHx5600SqWjfcm85Cg6gSg9NCwJaALCbBNYprIxAlRXgvq29Lsn7r4Rpu0_-z-bDlTh1devYheX_XTykIhHvGQ5WiQE/s1600/getting+tarp+on2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7iIWzWNJRxIqjrly0F1rBX2xjB1hJ7Ny0t90g4iTB-2eLuJ1ViHx5600SqWjfcm85Cg6gSg9NCwJaALCbBNYprIxAlRXgvq29Lsn7r4Rpu0_-z-bDlTh1devYheX_XTykIhHvGQ5WiQE/s320/getting+tarp+on2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am on the top of the ladder, trying to maneuver the massive blanket of plastic on this thing (with my brother and father)!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNCmQQ1QNXaNuQ0qv1-pDerbNNJc0-vaDndxmeCrPBxMeyd7NrWdyqRzjb2v7vEeqXzDAGw7QV11YXbV7zMA6BY8p0A5qFgiFe2WZQizykP39Wa9-pv-OdbAw5BIeuZsLwPI1ZhM-mcGn/s1600/progress+tue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNCmQQ1QNXaNuQ0qv1-pDerbNNJc0-vaDndxmeCrPBxMeyd7NrWdyqRzjb2v7vEeqXzDAGw7QV11YXbV7zMA6BY8p0A5qFgiFe2WZQizykP39Wa9-pv-OdbAw5BIeuZsLwPI1ZhM-mcGn/s320/progress+tue.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started filling the first rows of earthbags with gravel (the same that
was used for the floor).There will be in total of four rows of bags in
the stemwall, on top of which the cob, cordwood cob and strawbale walls
will be built.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4V112pCPlEViPHKuXk62xcC4xxqesHZG8wM33jd-CyoqZ44uOTnpHNJ7QWggKQ14KpLogJQWU0AcTnFMJYha45beVC_hitsqCKl5015x7bZfa1hoIMiVdJw9DYwu4E2xT1-jXi_zLlDA/s1600/cottage+wip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4V112pCPlEViPHKuXk62xcC4xxqesHZG8wM33jd-CyoqZ44uOTnpHNJ7QWggKQ14KpLogJQWU0AcTnFMJYha45beVC_hitsqCKl5015x7bZfa1hoIMiVdJw9DYwu4E2xT1-jXi_zLlDA/s320/cottage+wip.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I managed to fill the first row of bags, almost all of them with gravel. When that run out, I filled the remaining bags with clay/sand/earth mixture, which I left to dry and harden under the tarpaulin, while I am away. This will also give me a good indication of whether the mix I used has a good ratio and consistency for the remaining earthbags.</td></tr>
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So, here we are. There is so much else to say and write but I am still quite exhausted from the first episode of build and want to focus on the next time I get to go there. I have done some video filming also and my friend and regular cameraman Mikael will come and visit me in the next few months to do some dedicated filming of the progress (with me included in the footage, which doesn't hugely appeal to me as a director...)<br />
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I am so very grateful to my family in Finland, who have worked so hard on this with me, particularly my father, without whom getting to this point in the build would have been incredibly slow, difficult, maybe even impossible. But, I still believe, as I have done before, that nothing is impossible where dreams and heart are involved. Not with me, not with anyone. Even though this cottage is far from finished, it is incredibly satisfying to be able to work with one's hands - and see, touch and smell the results.I kid you not, it may be one of the best experiences in the world!!! So, please try it, if you haven't... :)<br />
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A few days ago, on the last evening of my first two weeks in Finland, I poured a glass of red wine for myself and went out to the cottage, sat in front of it and watched the forest in the evening sun, with my giant wishing tree and its leaves fluttering in the gentle breeze. I was so loving the look and the sound of it. It brought a tear to my eye to think that I am allowed to be here, to dig up this earth, to use this wood, to work with people I love, to listen to these birds, to participate in nature, to feel gratefulness, to witness beauty, to feel with all my heart, to learn, to appreciate, to be grateful, to be human. To be part of it all. Part of nature.<br />
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That is all I ever could have wished for. Thank you tree - for listening to me.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My giant wishing tree (aspen) in the background, as seen through two conjoined birch trees.</td></tr>
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<br />Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-42353804910271183392012-06-08T21:43:00.002+01:002012-06-08T21:44:02.892+01:00In Finland. The time has come, finally, for me to start work. And it has started. These were my plans. My sketches, my ideas:<br />
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This is the reality, the now, working on these ideas:<br />
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The weather has been good, hardly any rain, mild, mostly sunny - mosquitos and midges are the only nuisance. And my failing muscles, but I am expecting some improvement on that front over the summer.<br />
I have felt guilty for not being able to write this blog on a daily basis, but there are so many things to think about, so many things to do, that in the end of the day, writing a piece of anything is the last thing on my mind. However, I shall try. Because it's good for me. It's good to think, reflect, take a step back, find a perspective.<br />
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Next week I will return to London for two weeks and immerse myself in my art once again. I miss my life in London, even though I thoroughly enjoy my time in the forest. But as I already knew, my heart is in two places, maybe, my heart has no particular place, it is a traveller by heart. I suspect many of us have a similar dilemma, challenge or a blessing, however one wants to see it.<br />
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I am so very grateful to my parents and my family and everyone who is helping and supporting me with this project - it is my dream but it is not a dream I can achieve on my own. Some days, I admit I cannot see the cottage in my mind's eye and wonder what the hell am I doing here. But most days, I can see it - and feel it. I am getting there.... it is a journey after all. I shall be back here soon, very soon....... :)Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-48841778448817906122012-03-19T18:05:00.000+00:002012-03-19T18:05:13.768+00:00The wheels keep ever so slowly turning...It's been a long winter for my young old bones and my cottage dreams have been buried under the deep Finnish snow. When I visited there last month, this is what the future building site looked like:<br />
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Sometimes it is hard to imagine how anyone can survive these conditions. :) Don't take me wrong, I was brought up here and love the snow for few weeks when I visit, but to endure the cold, dark and snow for months on end, requires particular patience. Perhaps I never really had it, since I always dreamt of foreign lands and eventually moved to slightly warmer climates (if you can call UK that!) almost 15 years ago. Looking at this scenery of my childhood, I can just about picture my little Earth Tree House in the midst of the snow and trees. How cold! Or, how cozy! :)<br />
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The circle of sticks I placed for my planned build in November are still just about visible under the 70cm layer of snow. But, as the seasons change, also my plans have changed...<br />
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During my visit in wintery Finland, I met up with Paul Lynch, whose Natural Building Company in Inkoo builds and renovates natural and traditional buildings in Finland. Paul drove me around some strawbale houses they had built through workshops in the past years and introduced me to some interesting people, who are all part of the natural building movement there. It was very exciting, though somehow very strange as well, to be sitting in a very traditional Finnish wooden log cabin in the middle of a forest, sipping coffee, watching a snow blizzard outside and talking about natural building with an Irishman, Englishman and a Dane... it almost felt like home...! :)<br />
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After our discussion and all the information Paul gave me, I was completely overwhelmed to say the least. There was this huge fear in my mind, wondering what have I gotten myself into... I don't know anything about building. I don't have any money... real skills... I don't even live here! I could see myself just ditching the whole idea and saying: I can't do it!<br />
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But, while driving back from Inkoo to my parents place on snow covered roads with horizontal snow whipping against the car, the powdery scenery put me almost into a dream-like state... I thought, yes, maybe I can do it. Maybe there is a way. I will have to take in what has been said and feel my heart, what is that saying. And my heart as usual, was jumping up and down, shouting: yes yes yes I want to do this! I just have to do it in a way, which is not going to break my back, my bank or my brain. Or my heart. I wouldn't want to start a project I couldn't finish, and that was Paul's one concern, that even though my plan wasn't big, it was huge enough for a beginner, building slowly with cob and in limited time (max. three months). What if I build a tiny one, less than 10m2? First I thought it's like giving up, but the more I thought about it , the more it started to make sense. I would need less materials, less time, less money, less help, less brains... hahaha... well, at least the right side of my brain would be able to play more, because the left side wouldn't be so bloody worried about everything...<br />
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Yes, I will build a tiny house, with what I have, try out everything, make a lot of mistakes, have a laugh, enjoy, connect with my heart and nature and complete it to a point where by early Autumn, it will withstand the scenery in the photo above. And then continue the following year. And then the following year. And every year build something else, maybe something bigger, maybe something smaller... <br />
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So, today, my flights are booked. I start digging the ground on the last day of May, which is accidentally quite meaningful, as it always used to mark the last day of school and the first day of long Finnish summer holidays (2.5 months). The last day of May was always full; full of magic, happiness, sadness, anxiety, memories, excitement. It is funny that I start the build on that very same day, many many many years later, as an adult, probably going through those same feelings in a way. I am very much trying to get my head around different things I need to buy, and how to avoid buying some of them. Luckily I have my cob already (in the ground), the strawbales, few windows and all the wood I will be needing. There are many things that I am completely clueless about and which create terror in my mind, yet there are many things that I know aren't as important as my mind makes them to be - people have been building little huts and houses for thousands of years - I am one of them and I have a lot of love and enthusiasm for this build.<br />
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I am so grateful for the advice I have been, and am continuously, given, as it means I don't feel completely alone in this, even though in many ways it is my lone project. I am hoping I can meet and work with people through the summer, who are interested in the same things than I am (and maybe even some who yet aren't). In a way the natural living and building is a beautiful movement as 'natural' will always be a choice people are drawn towards instinctively, maybe now, in this increasingly commercial and hard world, more than ever. If I can help for my part to bring some awareness to it, I will gladly do that, if only to show that yes, you can - and yes, you should. It is a positive thought to carry inside.<br />
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In the evening, when my chattering mind has gone to sleep, I lie quiet in my bed and return to my heart, and know that whatever happens, I must at least try, because, in a way there is no other choice. The forest that was my playground as a child is now going to be watching me play as an adult. So, if the build becomes only hard work and no play, I will stop. I owe it to the forest to live the build through my inner child, some twenty odd years later. I made a promise to the tree. But shhhh - don't tell anyone! :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and a snow buddha I built :)</td></tr>
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I will aim to write this blog a bit more often from now on. If you are on Facebook and want to follow the process there, please join my group The Earth Tree House. Many thanks for reading! Namaste xxHeidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-28062981189797610362011-11-11T14:02:00.000+00:002011-11-11T14:02:21.305+00:00Visiting My DreamOn Tuesday I returned from a short trip to Finland, where I dug up the soil in the forest next to my parents house in order to find out whether this whole project is viable or not. Not finding enough sand or clay in the ground would mean that the whole point of building ecologically and economically is lost - and my dream - well, it would remain just a dream... so it was important for me to test the soil, digging while all fingers and toes crossed - not very easy as you can imagine... <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digging test holes up to 80cm in depth</td></tr>
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To begin with, I had a dream. A dream about where the hut will stand. So I marked it out roughly and started digging. My father was pretty certain that I would only find sand, this is because the house they built, in which I spent my childhood in, was built ten metres away on a sandy soil, even at 2-meter depth there was only sand, no clay. Which of course is a better scenario for building foundations on, because groundfrost doesn't really affect foundations in a sandy soil, the opposite of which is true for clay-heavy soil. Having read that the frost line in Southern Finland is at 1.5metres and not intending to dig my foundations that deep, I was relying on finding a sandy spot to build my dwelling on.<br />
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So enthusiastically, I start digging, and after lifting the dark topsoil aside, I discover this really lovely rust coloured sand beneath, just perfect for using in a cob mixture. So happy. My dad's watching me and saying, 'I told you, it's only sand there.' But I am determined to go deeper, just because. Yeah, I am a stubborn taurus too. And all goes well, until in about 50cm depth I hit something hard, and grey. And there I discover the other stubborn matter called clay, which is so incredibly packed and solid, that digging becomes impossible.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clay - no go</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Not good. My dad is surprised. So I move two metres up the gentle uphill and start making another hole. The same story repeats, except this time I find the clay in about 70cm depth. Another hole. Another hole. Another hole. Here I am inspecting one of them...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking for my gold (and eventually finding it)</td></tr>
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After a few days of digging, the ground within 10-15 metre radius is full of several holes and I realise that the hut location (of my dream) wasn't quite as exact as I had thought. But eventually I do manage to find a spot which fills the criteria - lovely golden sharp sand and no thick clay at least up to 80cm depth - wahey!! We change the positions of the posts with my parents to roughly mark the outline of the area and I take a deep breath. There is one young fir tree in the way of my hut, but as I venture to the grocery shop, on my return dad is holding a warm chainsaw in his hands and the fir tree has fallen...<br />
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One issue is that there are many large tree stumps from last year's felling close to my marked area, the thick roots of which crisscross the soil deep within - all that has to be dug out with some form of machinery, as there is no way I can manually shift ancient silver birch stumps without breaking my back and losing faith in life and this project. But that's a worry for next summer - I have enough for now.<br />
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Then it's soil testing time. I dig soil samples out of the pits into glass jars and mix them with salt and water, shake vigorously and let set overnight, to see how much sand, clay and silt is in the ground. It is fairly quick to tell this by colour and texture alone - and even though the tests show varying amounts of clay and sand, none of the samples would make good cob on its own, so I realise that I will have to make some experiments. Getting hands dirty time..<br />
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Lower down my parent's plot, I find a really wet, swampy bit and start digging. The exposed muddy clay is making moist kissing sounds as I dig, which is funny but doesn't make the digging easier. My mum has an idea of making a natural pond out of my future clay hole and I think that sounds fantastic. Anyway, I eventually find a really lovely clean clay few metres away and slight excitement fills my heart.<br />
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Now I have: a) lovely, rusty coloured sand b)sticky, grey clay in abundance c) some oat straw <br />
- and that's all I need for making cob! <br />
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Getting a big tarp out, I make a mixture of about 1 part clay to 3 parts of sand and mix it altogether using my feet power, turning the mix inside the tarp fairly often for even consistency. I just love the colour of this mixture and it feels almost magical to be mixing something so basic to make something so fantastically interesting! I am again in love but hey, loving nature is easy, particularly as it doesn't argue with you! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixing cob (sand and clay)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdTp-V2cYLFeRYj8QFeDnAkmz7TzgvoG69IwXpVjQaNDXWpB9ix8Vy1NtzS92voPL-e_7MD2JhMAt4-wsQH8GgWap2gMC8uqVdymzyTED4-Q6v2Uh_xx-S3q-Vp2a_fxei3Awnp3-41sc/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdTp-V2cYLFeRYj8QFeDnAkmz7TzgvoG69IwXpVjQaNDXWpB9ix8Vy1NtzS92voPL-e_7MD2JhMAt4-wsQH8GgWap2gMC8uqVdymzyTED4-Q6v2Uh_xx-S3q-Vp2a_fxei3Awnp3-41sc/s320/IMG_1690.JPG" width="240" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding straw</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsUPzqCyY0Fq4y9dVQ5v0ef5imq7Y1em21xDxkDrU8NRsbLGiCvGf2_yYd4_JBuy8MIPh7P55LMJU3S1DpwDKxHnUBo2LJsGWWZcSjNhdak4nfE58v3U3iWL6oh5GO3rwQZAo-m8a6Z9j/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsUPzqCyY0Fq4y9dVQ5v0ef5imq7Y1em21xDxkDrU8NRsbLGiCvGf2_yYd4_JBuy8MIPh7P55LMJU3S1DpwDKxHnUBo2LJsGWWZcSjNhdak4nfE58v3U3iWL6oh5GO3rwQZAo-m8a6Z9j/s320/IMG_1692.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing the cob dance</td></tr>
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I add some straw my mother had bought few weeks previously and jump on the mixture, digging my heels in, getting all my frustration out, dancing to a silent tune inside my head, thinking about doing this over and over again for two months and the slowly descending madness that follows.... it is truly a lovely, warm feeling!<br />
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As I do my silly moves and look totally ridiculous, even my 8-year old niece warms up to the cob, gets wellies out and jumps on the pile (she had initially looked at me very disapprovingly), so we do a little jig on the mix and she has a chance to get her hands and feet dirty. I keep turning the cob mixture around with the help of the tarp, which is the best way to do it when one is working alone, and finally, I can see it - the perfect mix. I grab some of the stuff, form it into a ball and throw it on the ground. The ball flattens a bit due to the mix being slightly too wet but doesn't break. Me thinks that's purfect!<br />
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I shift all the mixture into a wheelbarrow and I suggest to my niece that we make a little sculpture with it, since it doesn't keep (due to the straw being in it). In any case, I might as well experiment how easy it is to build with this and perhaps even how well it survives over the harsh Finnish winter - the ultimate test of fire (or ice rather)! My little animal lover niece says I should make a cat and I agree. I start building the cat on top of a tree stump but quickly realise that the cat is taking the shape of a bear. Well, considering my niece doesn't mind and bear being the national animal of Finland, I let the hands do their work and the result - a hybrid of a mole, cat and a baby bear... Good fifteen minute effort though, playing with the cob, and of course I was over the moon about how easy it was to build and sculpt with the mixture. Now it's up to the nature to take care of the rest...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDDlDRPMnee3Yh83jD48dhlJq2YQEjtFD9_dlspUjJ8ML9CZ0c56AqpufQ3KmfzkvPNLwY3CyuJPgZDErXTjdh2Y1yMdhxL2WBp3qP0DLzRweQ-HnGyBIz23Auae9O1A_mnXx0wMH6u5X/s1600/karhu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDDlDRPMnee3Yh83jD48dhlJq2YQEjtFD9_dlspUjJ8ML9CZ0c56AqpufQ3KmfzkvPNLwY3CyuJPgZDErXTjdh2Y1yMdhxL2WBp3qP0DLzRweQ-HnGyBIz23Auae9O1A_mnXx0wMH6u5X/s320/karhu.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My animal cob sculpture</td></tr>
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After these busy five days, I sigh of relief - I now know that the project is possible, as far as cob is concerned! THE JOY!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZuq-fQImWp3RuBhvzFAqbYlivgT-d7kcFWP1CCnHLKm6dWjqXTI97AzaVGMkiWlc-cnQWLGvqrVChB7BZRUg4xdDxEfc1fdrx-DZoGDHjBAktE-L7jJcsQmOfHGYfTfrtaaAiHyjRVDf/s1600/me+and+shovel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZuq-fQImWp3RuBhvzFAqbYlivgT-d7kcFWP1CCnHLKm6dWjqXTI97AzaVGMkiWlc-cnQWLGvqrVChB7BZRUg4xdDxEfc1fdrx-DZoGDHjBAktE-L7jJcsQmOfHGYfTfrtaaAiHyjRVDf/s320/me+and+shovel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-13021000329701981232011-10-25T20:48:00.002+01:002011-10-25T20:52:42.219+01:00Getting a morale boostLast Saturday morning I wandered into the well hidden Meadow Orchard Project in North London and was greeted by a happy, smiling organiser Linda from Cob in the Community and a number of chirpy volunteers ready to take part in the eco-hut build. Chatting with people, many originally from other parts of the world, yet all excited about the same thing, the weather being so sunny and lovely, I couldn't help but smile most of the day while working on different things; mixing cob, making earth plaster and carrying straw bales.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TJnTEOOLOnSfP75-U9uhq-Sct45ji40uukyI14UYn1xf_0HEf-04U86sqebk3kYnTuIPZYlwuHufj2X8BMpIjgOuPRf61x3jI2GZaRFqohzz1NKPjRqeBhb_qjSzs4BlThOClrkixR-Y/s1600/linda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TJnTEOOLOnSfP75-U9uhq-Sct45ji40uukyI14UYn1xf_0HEf-04U86sqebk3kYnTuIPZYlwuHufj2X8BMpIjgOuPRf61x3jI2GZaRFqohzz1NKPjRqeBhb_qjSzs4BlThOClrkixR-Y/s320/linda.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda working with a volunteer.</td></tr>
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I told Linda and the rest of the group about my own eco-build plans and she was really brilliant in answering all my questions about different issues and techniques I should be considering. That's all you sometimes need to get a real morale boost, a friendly face to talk to, whose heart is in the same place as yours! I will definitely be back in North London to watch the progress and take part in this wonderful project, as in my opinion learning is best by doing and even better when done with a lovely bunch of people all pulling together just for the love of it all! :) <br />
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Strangely enough the to-be Meadow Orchard meditation and community eco-hut is very similar in design to the one I am planning, so it will really help me to visualise my cottage and understand how to best tackle the building process. So excited about stumbling on this Meadow Orchard project - a truly lovely coincidence!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working on the Meadow Orchard Eco-Hut</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding Earth plaster/slip onto the strawbale wall</td></tr>
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In about a week's time I am flying home to Finland and there is a lot of sketching, research and mental preparation to be done before then. I have bought and read few more books, including Tony Wrench's 'Building a Low Impact Roundhouse' and Nigel Dunnett's 'Small Green Roofs', as well as 'The Straw Bale House' by Athena Steen. All worth a read, but I would still say that there is one book above all others: 'The Hand-Sculpted House' by Ianto Evans, which I have found most useful and inspiring out of the many books I have bought on the subject. His is a truly wonderful book, which covers not only the technical aspects of cob building but also the spiritual side of it all, including how to best respect the land and environment as well as considering the natural cycles of the Earth, all things, which for me, as a learning, spiritual entity, are really important.<br />
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Sometimes the first snow falls quite early in Southern Finland, even as early as October, which for my inner child is lovely of course but for my soil testing purposes I am hoping for a mild, nice autumnal 'digging weather' for next week. I will report back here with photos and few video clips after I return on what my excavations into the land of my childhood reveal. Until then, sweet (day)dreams! :)Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-29647560653247778442011-10-18T10:53:00.000+01:002011-10-18T10:53:46.835+01:00Recovering and making plansI have been ill for over a week now with what started as a little cough and a sore throat and then developed into an acute bronchitis so irritating and painful that for a day or two I lost the will to live. While I was unable to do much else than think, all kinds of fears started to take over, like: 'Am I really crazy to believe I can build this cottage? On my own? How is it all going to happen, practically? Time-wise, money-wise, health-wise? I am just a silly dreamer with no building skills...' Listening to all this nonsense floating inside my head, I finally ended up sticking my head deep into some inspirational books; trying to flush out the negative thoughts, because that's all they are, thoughts. <br />
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Yesterday I got a course of antibiotics from my GP and am slowly starting to feel better. I only have about two and half weeks before I fly to Finland to stand on the land where I am intending to build next year. And by then I want to have some plans, some drawings, not just to show my parents but also myself. I want to be able to sit down on the ground, close my eyes, meditate on the smells, sounds and sights and see the cottage as it will be standing around me, in a year's time. So that whatever feels right, I will put in the plans and whatever doesn't feel right, I will take off. And then I will get the shovel and start digging....<br />
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Waiting for my own recovery and spending too much time in front of the computer, I discovered about The Meadow Orchard Project in Haringey, North London. They run all kinds of environmental courses for the community and are also building an eco-hut on their premises with cob and straw bales. As it happens, for the next two weekends they are running eco-build courses, so I am intending to volunteer this coming Saturday for their project, which will be a great opportunity for me to help a community as well as learn more cob-building skills and gain invaluable insight into my own project. I may even take my son along to do some mud dancing...<br />
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I will be adding sketches and blueprints for my cottage here soon, even though they are bound to change in the coming months. However, I still feel it's interesting for me and for others to see the entire process of the project, from some random thoughts to actually making something touchable. After a dark week, I am starting to see light at the end of the tunnel - my spirit is hearing the beating of my heart more than the fearful mutterings of my mind. I just have to follow my heart and go with the gut feeling, because as always, it never lies.Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1775269441129469643.post-17562613178577727702011-10-02T21:20:00.016+01:002011-11-11T14:54:58.239+00:00The Dreamer In The WoodsAs the Autumn sun sets behind my urban London garden, I start writing this blog about dreams and about making those dreams into reality. I am hoping that my story will inspire someone to follow his/her dreams, heart and intuition - as in my own humble experience, it is the only real truth you have at any given time.<br />
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Depending on how one looks at it, this particular story starts about thirty-seven years, or alternatively, about six weeks ago, when I returned to London from a two week summer holiday in Finland, my mother country, where I lived for the first 23 years of my life, before moving to UK (where I still live).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forest of my childhood</td></tr>
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I originally come from a small village in Southern Finland, which, even though only half an hour drive from the capital city, Helsinki, is a rural area of sleepy countryside, filled with open fields, small lakes and deep forests. In that environment, I grew up as a care-free child, roaming freely with my older brother and our friends, crossing streams, climbing trees and stealing apples from abundant trees. My love for the nature was nurtured by trips to the forest with my parents, to forage bilberries, lingonberries and many delicious wild mushrooms.<br />
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From early age, I would find it very comforting to listen to the trees, the restless fluttering of their leaves, the creaking of their ancient bodies and feeling their breathing between my small, extended arms. I particularly liked one tree in the small plot of woods my parents have, an old aspen tree, which seemed too different and big for the forest in order not be special somehow. I named the tree my Wishing Tree and started using the tree as nature's confession box, circling it ritualistically three times, making it wishes, telling it secrets and asking it advice that only such a wise, old tree could have an answer for. This for a young child seemed completely natural thing to do and I can't remember minding about the fact that the answers never came out in the form of human language. I now think that guided by a child's intuition, I consulted this totem tree, which in turn let me silently meditate and listen for the answers within. And of course that is the best advice anyone can give you, whether a tree or a person.<br />
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Over twenty years and many many travels later, I sit in my crammed London bedroom, surrounded by my art, my ideas, my photos, my memories, my films, my crystals, my scribbles and all kinds of scattered parts of my life in random order - yet in my mind's eye I am back in that childhood forest, next to that beautifully stocky wishing tree, sitting on the mossy floor. I tell the tree that next summer I am going to make a full circle and come back home and once again, consult the magical aspen about the truths that lie within.<br />
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With a lot of courage and a bit of luck, this time next year, a cob-hut, built with the soil beneath my feet and the wood from the surrounding forest, will stand at a viewing distance from that wise, old aspen and when I look out of the window, I will be able to say hello and thank you to the tree that knew all my dreams.Heidi Green Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468184890347695760noreply@blogger.com0