Trees, Stars, House and Me

Not just beautiful, though--

the stars are like the trees in the forest, alive and breathing. And they're watching me.

 

~Haruki Murakami from Kafka on the Shore

 

The fans are up and look like stars to me!  They look small in this photo, but they are big!  They will push down the warm air (if it ever even gets a little warm on the coast.)  During the winter the sun will mainly shine through these windows. This area is what they call "banana belt" and that means we get a little more sun.  Or a little less fog than other parts of the coast.

This redwood tree supports one corner of the cupola.  The cupola is done in a pale purplish white.  During the day it looks nearly chalky white, but later in the day it takes on the blush of sunset.

And the custom made doors finally got here from Washington! It was good to see them installed.  It took a while, but worth it in many ways.  It is hard to see, but these doors open out a little more.  They are protected by two walls and a gable.  The "meadow area"  has Bishop pines and alders saplings now.  In 2004, the area was clear and level.  Even the small redwood to the far right is now about 20' taller. Over eight years, nature reclaimed and healed this clearing with native plants of the area.

Nature reclaims quickly if left alone. 

The lesson which life constantly repeats is to 'look under your feet.'

You are always nearer to the divine and the true sources of your power than you think.

The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive.

The great opportunity is where you are.

Do not despise your own place and hour.

Every place is under the stars.

Every place is the center of the world. 

John Burroughs from Studies in Nature and Literature