Monday, November 9, 2015

Woke up at dawn to crashing thunder, it started pouring! A little over 6/10". It smells fresh, starting to rain again right now. There are so many good and gratifying things about this after such a long and horrible dry spell…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u7YY-jQ0XU

Love the Rain - Toots

https://www.rt.com/news/321063-china-93-grandpa-gym/
"A 93-year-old Chinese man is putting millions around the globe to shame by staying in shape and in excellent health. Dubbed ‘muscular grandpa’, he hits the gym on a daily basis and has even become something of a local celebrity.
Shen Hua likes to keep fit and it has become part of his daily routine. At three o’clock he heads out to do his hour-long workout, which includes chin-ups and various the upper body exercises. One might think there is nothing particularly extraordinary about this desire, except for the fact that Shen is 93 years-old!
A latecomer to the world of fitness training,  he only took up his ritual once he turned 70. For the last 20 years, there has been no stopping him as he does at least 10 standard chin-ups and suspension training, which helps to develop his physical strength. He also mentions that by doing high intensity exercise, this helps to slow his aging process, the People’s Daily reports.
Before becoming a fitness fanatic, Shen worked as a salesmen and was never interested in taking part in sports…"

Chinese ‘Muscular Grandpa’ in Fantastic Physical Shape at 93 yo

Friday, November 6, 2015

Yogan and Menthé, carpenters from France, who have been featured in out last two books, stopped by here yesterday on their way home. They have spent the last 3 months hitchhiking and working on the west coast (Northern California up to Orcas Island). Kindred spirits, these two have had a wonderful time, working with a variety of people, trading work for room and board.

We'll be posting photos of their projects in the near future.

French Carpenters Stop by Shelter On Their Way Home


106-Year-Old Steel Bridge Over Mendocino County Creek

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Here's the local influence for Sea Ranch home design. Perfect. Farmer architecture.

Too bad most of the houses (over 600 of them) out there turned out to be such clunkers. Why do so few architects ever get it right?

The best thing about Sea Ranch is the landscaping, by Lawrence Halperin; he left it completely au naturel.

This is at Stewart's Point on Highway One.

Mendocino County Architecture

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Sweat (A La La Long) - Inner Circle


Mendocino County (California) Barn