The key to abundance is meeting limited circumstances with unlimited thoughts.
– Marianne Williamson
Limitless
Apple Cardamon Bread
Last Saturday I made a galette with the nectar of the Colorado Gods – praise worthy palisades peaches. Today was bread making day. Paul raised the question: “How about making a galette with our house sprouted seed and grain bread?” “No” “Why?” “Because for a galette you use pastry dough”. After a bit of back and forth I warmed up to the idea. We’d use local apples, cardamon, cinnamon and maple syrup for the filling and Apple Cardamon Bread was born. I’m certain y’all will love it! To be transparent, we snacked on it all day: we couldn’t help ourselves.
Structurally Speaking
The Rumor Mill: Volume 2
The remodel we call The Southern Roof Expansion involved moving the clearstory windows and increased their size, giving additional light and a second floor with views of the mountains and valley. This work was unanimously approved by the Baca Townhome Association (“BTA”), local HOA, in an April 2022 member meeting vote and completed on time in June 2022. With the exterior erected we looked forward to focusing on its finishing and the interior to open for service that fall.
Coincidently in June 2022 the BTA stopped our progress and demanded a paid consultant be brought on as the BTA representative. We like & respect the individual chosen and agreed, but the BTA ‘dropped the ball’ on following up with a time or cost budget per the BTA’s own review process. Plenty to tell of that some other time. As we were stalled, we moved on to repair and remodel a local home hoping it would sell later that year and provide money for finishing the restaurant. Alas interest rates rose, the covid real estate boom faded and we were lucky to find a renter for over the winter.
Another consequence is the interior stopped receiving attention because our newly onboarded structural engineer required as built plans drawn and time to look over everything. He knows about the local histrionics and after a walk through emphasized there is no reason to suspect the “building is going to fall down”. One area needing additional support is a 30’ span of 11 7/8” BCI Joists, fixed with posts. The second and other issue is the potential for the columns cantilevering, ameliorated by adding 2x4s as shown below. Yes there are more details and this is temporary. The Mezzanine will eventually be divided from the Main Dining Room by a wall with windows and structural sheathing: problem solved.
Unfortunately the BTA has repeatedly communicated to members the building is unsafe, encouraging a negative perception of our project and us. Why have they done this? Who is telling you such statements? Has that person spoken with either of us? Don’t be like the BTA – consider reaching out if you hear tales.
Now or Never
Suddenly it was decision time and we chose go; Alberto has a long job starting soon. Here is the day’s work:
Carpentry today included relocating the east facing window of the Mezzanine northwards to allow for the not fully framed 3’ door providing passage to a yet to be built exterior staircase. An interior staircase is located on the west side.
We think the dark gray looks terrific and have imagined a number of colors. The HOA color is not what we would ourselves choose for the building.
Scaffolding Comes Tomorrow
It’s feeling like fall. There are a few things we want to accomplish before it gets too cold. We’d planned to wait until the exterior was complete before we stoccoed, but the weather is not helping our progress in waiting, the restaurant is en route to opening and it will be great for the building to look more finished; so, onward.
Alberto wants the whole building ready before he starts. This means getting the windows in properly, covering over everything, and then giving him a call. Alberto is generously supporting the effort and ultimately the community by graciously loaning us and helping set up scaffolding. We really appreciate his generosity. I told him it was just Mary and me and I can’t promise how fast we’ll be. We’re hoping a few people who want to see us open this winter will consider our 110% pre purchasing offer so that we can get Alberto and his team here sooner.
I went on a ride today, which was spectacular. Along the way down I met Dale and re=met David also enjoying the trail. Holy smokes that upper section got some loving attention. I too perform trail maintenance now & then and would always join you so do let me know!
Measuring a Community’s Greatness
The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.
= Coretta Scott King
We honor you who walked the talk. Immense gratitude to one of the greatest civil rights leaders of our time.
Four Corners Fitness
The large, southern dining room has been divided into the East and West Garden Rooms which are separated by a pair of the original 3 foot wide glass doors. The Main Dining Room will be a much different environment with a beautiful masonry heater, clean open space and lots of elbow room.
Why did we separate the main space into 3 individual spaces? For many reasons we’ll elaborate on in future posts, but the biggest reason is while the dining area can accommodate 183 people, it’s a rare night/event that will see that many in the Sage. The West Garden Room is going to house Four Corners Fitness, a health and fitness center.
Four Corners Fitness will have weightlifting and cardio equipment, its own restroom and shower, and pass though to service area for smoothies and grab & go. Access via interior or exterior doors. Concrete floors with hydronic heat.
The name is inspired by our proximity to one of the sacred mountains in the four corners. Do you know which one?
At Crestone Healing Arts Center
At the time I was focusing on having a record for Teyuna. I didn’t know how precious these moments would be and it brings to mind the importance of being present in any moment. This is a group of people who will never be together again, one very precious soul is no longer physically here. Miss you Sandy.
The Rumor Mill
“The Board wants to make it absolutely clear that it is not the BTA…preventing Paul & Mary from completing and opening a restaurant They could have opened the restaurant right after purchasing the Sage.”
= Baca Townhome Association 7/19/2024
We start the rumor mill with a sentence from a multi-paged letter sent from the homeowner’s association adjoining what residents lovingly knew as the Sage. We’ll make this short and sweet. There’ll be more to come and eventually you’ll know the whole story.
Just one of the ways the BTA prevented us from completing and opening is by blocking our new kitchen entrance.
Background: the existing structure’s door was so low Paul hit his head on it and itself was falling apart. After we tore the original kitchen entrance down the BTA blocked us from building it back presumably because they were worried about an overall net 192 square foot footprint expansion.
This footprint expansion would enable replacing the plumbing much easier, faster and far less expensive. To be precise, the plumbing of the Sage had to be replaced in it’s entirety. Firstly the health inspectors immediately informed us we’d have to add several handwashing sinks and we soon found there were only two working drains in the kitchen: all others were completely blocked by rusted-out pipe. Replacing an entire building’s plumbing is no easy task and if you check out our blog https://sageshearth.com/the-sages-blog/ starting in March 2023 you’ll see just how involved the process has been. We want to keep this light and positive, so all we can say is we’re having as much fun as we possibly can all things considered.
From Beneath the Bricks
We removed the forced hot air heater and are putting in radiant heat, one of the things we’re doing to make your experience at the Sage’s Hearth comfortable and relaxing. Also, in consideration of a lower carbon footprint we’ll eventually install a methane digester so food scraps can be made into fuel to heat the hot water.
This Scrabble tile was found under the bricks and dirt when prepping the floor for insulation & pex in the main dining room. How did it get below the bricks?
It has been an adventure getting this far with many unexpected twists and turns. Support is needed to get us to the finish line. Are U the 1 who’d like to help? We’re offering win/wins. Two ideas we’ve launched are 110% in credit for pre-purchases and a fun invitation to immortalize your support in the Sage’s Walk of Fame and also join us for scrumptious dinners when the time comes. Each $1000 has your name forever etched in a brick and many tasty perks. Something you’d specifically like to see us offer? Let us know!
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