Wow, it finally feels like winter. We’ve had a ridiculous number of mild days thus far, and it decided to snow a couple days ago, but only immediately after a 60+ degree day. Hrmmm… for some reason, it’s hard to turn one’s mind from wandering to climate change…
We are faring much better this winter (in no doubt due to the warm days), but I actually want some cold to test all of the changes we’ve made to the house this summer!
By the way, click the panorama image for a larger version!
The newly tiled (and styled) cob house
We’re finally back in Gobcobatron! The tile floor is done…. for now. (Yea, we still have to seal it with linseed oil, but April and I are waiting until next spring to be 100% certain the floor is dry… we’re not taking any chances.) The difference in the house is dramatic, especially when you combine the look of the terracotta tile with the newly lime plastered walls. I am really liking it.
In this post I’ll provide a simple explanation of how we laid the tile using clay and sand grout and clay adhesive. Read More
Wow…. this was too awesome not to mention here. Today, a wild bee swarm made a home in my cob wood shed. We’ve got some empty hive boxes stored in there, and over the past week, I’ve noticed a lot of bees coming and going through the door of the shed.
And today, a great big ol’ swarm came buzzing through the village, and gathered at the entrance of the wood shed — they were moving into the hives stored inside. It was truly an amazing sight!
Here’s a little slideshow of the sequence of construction activity on the Wabi-sabi kitchen. It’s from fall 2009 through the present. Notice that we’re up to the timber frame (and that’s why we need help from inspired carpenters, timber framers, and builders alike!) Here ya go:
The front garden gate
I got back home recently from traveling. Of course, we arrived in the middle of a snowstorm — we got a good six inches or so. I always love how the land looks in a fresh coat of snow — such a stark difference from all of the green life of the spring and summer! Here’s a few photos from around the house…
Yea! Check out these super nifty panorama photos of the interior of the cob house! They’re assembled by Jess Ahlemeier (thanks, Jess!). Be sure to check out the large version of the above photo here. I love to see all the little details of the house in one shot. This photo also gives a good impression of just how large the interior of Gobcobatron is, too.
I’ve been enjoying the addition of the completed mud room to the house. It makes for a convenient place to kick off shoes, hang up jackets and other items that don’t clutter the house, create a better transition inside, and it gives us a tiny extra boost in the storage department! Click ahead for a few photos of the final room.
The latest look of Gobocobatron
Here are some interior and exterior photos of my cob house, GOBCOBATRON at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage. These are the latest photos since the cob house has gone through a few renovations and design changes since it was “completed” in 2009. The home is built entirely of cob, with a living reciprocal roof, and terracotta tile floor. The house does not have any electricity.
Enjoy!
(Updated with latest imags: February 2013)
Hi there, I’m Ziggy. In 2008, I launched The Year of Mud while building my first natural home. This website is a collection of personal stories and experiences building with clay, straw, and wood over the past 15+ years. A few of the things that get me fired up are natural plasters, timber framing, & Japanese architecture. In 2012, we started offering Natural Building Workshops, so you can learn essential hands-on skills to build your own natural home.
