Albert and his Mountaintop Farm and Music Studio
I'm down in Fair Hope Alabama, cooling it on the Mobile Bay, at the Grand Resort, visiting Lisa's good friends who moved down here a few yrs ago from Richmond Virginia. I'm sitting here on a computer that is charging me .25 cents a minute, so I'm really hustling through various posts - but, lordie lord, I haven't posted in over a week and know by now my readership must be parched from the inactivity. Well, over the years a few actors, publishers, writers and musicians have bought homes from us and just recently we finished up a house for Albert Hammond, Jr, the guitarist for the Strokes. Here he is with his wingman Gus, as they walk from the house to the studio where they are busy unpacking. Like true musicians, the house is empty, and the studio was tackled first.
The studio from afar.
What was.....
and what was about to be....
I know a lot of people think I'm just a big dickhead steam rolling all in my way - but, in reality, however true that may be, the aspiration of all the brawling and sharp elbows is to enable dreams like a mountain top studio in the woods to become reality, - on budget, on time, and refreshingly unique.
Anyone who has tried to do anything up here in the sticks knows the challenges in the way of timeliness and quality. It don't come easy - and it's not a process that wins a lot of friends.
Oh well, guess I'll have to learn to live with the ramifications of taking my promises seriously. Probably would be more likable if excuses would be more readily accepted.
Toilet Art
This pic was really just to show Erin of the 50's Ranch a few toilets we had in mind for her swanky bathroom, but ended up creating a neat little piece of photograpy.
Springtime
Winter's hard, and winter is even harder when building is your past-time, since cold, ice, freezing, snow, winds and short days do everything to defeat even the most hardy and energetic. Here's Lucas, working on his eating. Soon he will be helping me boss around my subcontractors - I can already hear it, "Don't make me get my Dad!" - sending fear through all that hear it (at least in my imaginings.)
And Cottage 21, which is taking shape nicely. 1300 sq ft, 2 bedrooms, and the last house we have left for sale.
The foam spray insulation we love so much and are trying to incorporate into every home. The building process does not make huge strides forward for the most part, but this insulation is a true advance, and, while pricy, definitely has its merits.
And the Mid-Century Retro Ranch, under the clear blue sky. Keeps getting better with every new detail completed. Within a week we will be painting, within a month this house will be nearly complete. A glorious 950 sq ft.
On the inside we used the exterior siding, stained Tuscon Gold. Really makes the house interesting from many different design vantages. That's Erin - checkin' it out - pretty amazed it will be hers in a few weeks.
The house and views.
And her steel cable railing on the back deck with the big views.
And the Plumber Rich, who is installing the gas boiler this week.
And his helpmate in the basement -
Here's Pete Kestler back in the game - well drilling is his name. "Water when you want it" his logo says. So his big rig is all set up to drill straight down into the earth looking and sounding for water. We hit it after 380 feet - and a pretty good flow at that.
What I like about this picture is how it demonstrates the size of the home - not very big. Which is exactly the way we like it. Cottage 18 rolling right along. 960 sq ft, 2 bedrooms, stream and 5+ acres. That's Pete and Steve, the well drillers. Pete, the owner, builds his own airplanes and flies them around the area.
Well, that's that. I'm feeling a lot of writer's block ever since Lisa cut off my nightly cocktail, hence my irregular posting. Or maybe I'm just recovering from a long winter that required all our attention every morning noon and night.
Hello Springtime.
Feedback from Julia who plays the piano
Julia and Marty bought the Rock House, where Lisa and I lived for 4+ years. 650 sq ft, 1 room, 4.5 acres. Here's a plug for them, and her husband's book.
"It's Julia here from the Rock House. That is slammin' that you got that new award. Congrats! AND that you are selling all of those killer little houses. I love the new little red house. Am dying of jealousy that that is not my house, EXCEPT of course, for the consolation that I have the original Rock House, that started the whole thing, and posesses the Rock House Magic. Still, that little red house is something cool. Also really dig the little white house with the red door. Did anyone buy that one yet? And the new yellow ranch house is AMAZING, of course my all time favorite is that modern number that sold last year. The one that seemed like it was in the middle of a forest. That one was unbelievable. You are on a roll, my friend, and it is great to see someone doing well during this weird time. Marty and I are both employed, thank God, and I am quitting my job on Saturday, hooray! He has a hilarious book that came out last year. You can still get it on Amazon.com, and it was a big hit in Germany. (Thanks Krauts!). It's called "Asshole" by Martin Kihn, and it's really funny. Marty wrote it the summer we were at the Rock House. It's about a guy who thinks he's too nice and tries to be a jerk to get ahead. I just thought I'd mention it as you are also a writer. We didn't come out to the Rock House hardly at all this year, cause I had to work weekends, but that is changing! We plan to be there a lot in the spring and summer. Hooray! Anyway, since we didn't get out to Sullivan County hardly at all, the way I get my fix is to go to your blog, look at the new houses. Glad to see your beautiful homes are doing great, I'm not surprised at all. Hopefully we'll run into you this summer. Best to Lisa and the baby pictures look great.
