Saturday was a bittersweet day as we finished up a few things, did a thorough clean, and took pictures of the completed house.  As the last remaining students leave Bluff, our minds are filled with reminiscences and pride.  But, we’ll get to those reflections later.  For now, a few photos of the completed house.

hallway

living area... and curtains!

stove - southeast corner

kitchen

movable kitchen island

shelf detail

loft area

bedroom closet/stair

view from southwest

view from west

water collection at studio

It’s bonus week, and we’re still working hard.  Tomorrow will be a short day so we can take time to enjoy the sunshine and river.

Colorado University students joined us at the Scorup property on Tuesday, they have spent the week touring Bluff, interviewing potential clients, and visiting previous projects.  We’ve enjoyed the time getting to know the next Bluff group and passing on our infinite wisdom.  INFINITE.  Like, how to turn on the stove;  How to avoid the morning breakfast rush;  How to get the dogs to stop bothering  you;  Where to find food in Bluff;  Where to find the sweet hiking & camping spots in Bluff.

AND… what happens when Mitch spends too much time with a group of people in one semester.

safety first!

Several projects in progress, coming along slowly but surely.

studio sink, done.

gutters, done!

water catchment system, almost complete

prepping kitchen shelves

kitchen shelving, complete!

stove & hearth (done! pictures to come)

Two more “last days” to come, with lots of small things to complete.  Final product… coming soon!

Lindsay (and sometimes Trent)

its extra credit week down in bluff and we are starting out with a small group.

the house is so close to being done.

first on the to-do list – another coat of stain on the concrete floors

finish the plumbing. the sink and toilet are working in the bathroom!

still working on the kitchen sink and counter backsplash.

we also built and installed a bench for the bump-in of the studio.

in general, we are just enjoying our last days of Bluff.

-erin & lindsay

We still have a little bit works to do, 6 students came back to Bluff and will stay 10 more days to do the works. And 8 more students will come back soon.

Dbb 2010 program is over.

This is how we left from Bluff.

With so much luggage and so many memories…

Friday was the last official day of the semester and it was magical….in every way.

Janet’s blessing over the house:

God bless this house

May its doors be opend wide to friends love ones small and tall, may its windows catch many sun.

May each room resound with laughter and may the walls shut out troubles and hold in warmth and cheer.

May this housebe filled with joy in the morning and sweet dreems at night.

May it be a home where love comes to live

Thank-Q sooooo much

Janet, Merlin, Gibb & Holli, Sailor Dustin, Dillon & Dasjon

Janet gave each student a piece of pottery in thanks for their hard work.

We began the day Friday with a traditional Navajo house blessing ceremony, and ended it with a Bluff students end of the year celebration.  During the celebration the students came to a consensus on the official house name.  Studio 23 represents the number of students plus 3 instructors primarily involved with helping construct the house and pottery studio.  Students also recognized 5 of their peers for exceptional work during the semester.  Leadership: Erin Schoop , Craftsmanship:  Judson Kemsley,  Work Ethic:  Trent Smith,  Creativity:  Bryce Johnson,  Most Improved:  Maritas Contreras.  We also recognized Hank, Mitch and Atsushi for all that they have done for us this semester.  The night ended with an official Design Build Bluff Washers Tourney.  (it’s like horse shoes)  The winners of this epic match of strength, determination, endurance, fortitude, and trash talk were:  Trent & Bryce.

Washers Tourney

Living Area and Kitchen

- Lindsay & Jonathan -

remember this? its a simplified plan of the house and studio.

Here was today’s to-do list:

Bathroom-

finish concrete vanity. check.

judson ready for detailed finish work

_________________

test bathtub. check.

we later poured water on linsay to test the tub

_________________

tile backsplash. check.

mallory & melina cutting tiles

_________________

Kitchen-

pour counters. check.

install cabinets. check.

view of the kitchen from the bump out

_________________

bedrooms-

install flooring. check.

jonathan problem solving in Janet's room

________________________

sand and stain flooring. check.

trent finishing holli's bedroom floor

________________________

loft-

sand OSB floor. check.

bryce working the sander

_________________

studio-

touch up plaster. check.

atsushi on counter

we hiked down quite a cliff to see Poncho House on the Reservation

Rainy and cold, it was still worth it.

just enough time to take some pictures and do a quick sketch

jonathan searching for perpetuity

It was a wonderful opprotunity to see the ruins, hopefully it does not snow on our next hike….