From a beautiful fall walk on the North Crestone Creek Trail. We made it to about 10400 feet where the trail opens up and the mega boulders provide a magnificent perch from which to gaze.
Up the Creek
Roses
At our last residence the first plantings were 4 roses, one in the back yard and the rest in the front. Very important as roses are a major ingredient in rosewater; and aren’t rose baths essential?
What a surprise it was to see the Crestone area has roses and there is a rose garden in the courtyard formerly hidden by the old office. These beauties are being transplanted around the property as we plan to build a Health & Fitness Center at their current address including a gym and other goodies.
Approximately 8000 Pounds
Dan of Mudslinger Masonry out of Saguache added the natural stone cladding to the Temp Cast core. We were all surprised the cardboard would be embedded forever.
Tshering and Ling left the embedded stone which sits just below the oven facing the hot prep area. This stone contains a “seed symbol” that is the essence of a mantra associated with an important 6th C teacher, Guru Padmasambhava. It is pronounced “Hung”. This syllable signifies a power that dispels delusion. What will be first cooked inside?
wood each, 12 hours apart.
Here is to us enjoying scrumptious food and drink basking in the warmth of the hearth.
The Last of the Demo
Apparently the old BTA Office which was also a hair salon came from the POA at some point. The roof trusses continue to serve out in the valley and the walls are interred at the dump.
Going Up?
The clock tower is getting attention. The idea is to have stairs from the mezzanine up into the tower. From a yet to be built floor we’ll be able to see for miles.
In the below picture you can maybe make out that there are 2 floors in the clock tower. These no doubt provide torsional strength needed for these winds.
Forest Green
Moses Troyer of Troyer’s Coating Systems at work waterproofing the roof and the result. Much more economical than anything else, it also is fast and with the scheduled recoat will never need to be replaced. The BTA is moving to copper roofs and the forest green is a nice complement. We bought enough of the product to cover the proposed additions containing the health center and expanded kitchen entrance and are looking forward to starting the build once we get a green light from the association.
Nearly June Folks
The roof extension over the mezzanine is nearly framed and sheathed. That’s fantastic. No fantastic is our plumber fell though. We are meeting with another this Wednesday and remain hopeful. Here are some photos showing the progress.
Perspective
We continue to narrow down choices on what is going where. Next up is a meeting with the electric company to see just what is available. Current service is 200A, the transformer has 400A. EV chargers and 180 degree dishwashers amperage totals add up fast.
The Kitchen Takes Shape
Neika is here!!!!! We are so happy our friend from totally back in the day is in town to share in the Sage’s makeover and add her marvelosity. Neika brings experience as an Executive Chef along with other superpowers including the ability to facilitate a project or process getting from here to there. She arrived on the evening of March 17 and we presented The Plan to Michael Bertin on March 21 at 2PM. We were back and forth, in and out, marking and moving all weekend. Total fun.
And so with further ado and no gilding the lilly, check out the kitchen plan!! We had such a great time. In this masterpiece one can find the Chocolate Studio, Bakery, Coffee/Gelato/Soda Fountain, Bench seating in the old office, the to be build central table, stairs to the Mezzanine, Hot Food Prep, Cold Food Prep, Wash Room, Walk In Refrigerator & Freezer, Waldo, Mop Sink, 4 Hand Wash Sinks, a Vegetable Wash Station, Hot and Cold Pickup Locations, 4 Speed Racks, the Masonry Heater, Dry Storage (with the standalone refrigerators), and, at long last, where the Mechanical Room will be.
Inventory is well underway, appliances are being reviewed and given attention, and what is needed being itemized. We may have located a combi oven in Taos. Fingers crossed.
Strong Bones
We are moving along. The photos below show the continuing work on the mezzanine. Yesterday materials arrived for the west side of the roof extension which is going to have a lower ceiling than the mezzanine.
