May 2 Tour

We opened our doors on May 2 to share what living at White Hawk is like.  Despite predictions of thunderstorms, we enjoyed a warm, fun day of chatting, wandering the land, and listening to tunes by John Simon.

We want to provide more opportunities for you to stop in and see us.  Check here and on our homepage for upcoming tour dates.  As always, you're welcome to schedule a private tour.

Digging and Construction Progress

Everyone is digging, it seems.  Joe is getting ready for our asparagus to arrive.

Greg is digging holes for the black locust posts that will support his grape arbor.

And now, an exciting installation in our saga, The Birth of a Slab!  Plumbing roughed in, ready for insulation...

Insulation installed

The grid for the pex tubing
(Pex tubing is what the water will flow through in this radiant heat system.)

Kerrie and Rob install the pex tubing.  Kerrie does beautiful tile work, by the way.  To see more of Kerrie and Rob's work, see visit the Creative Constructions blog.

Time for concrete by Everhart & King Brothers.

Et voilà!  We have a slab.

Joe and I love the thermal mass of our slab next door.  It's cool in the summer, holds the heat in the winter, and keeps our utility bills low.  There's a lot to be said for living on top of a rock!

Catching Up

My photo album tells me there's lots to share, so here goes.

The moon at 6:42am on April Fools Day.

Biking on White Hawk Lane.

Greg and Marty's hoop house is full of greens.

Sue and I like to toss rocks into the seasonal streamlet that runs into the pond.

First crocuses at number 7!

The porch at number 7 is currently littered with toys, but we'll be clearing it out to make a stage for John Simon to play at our May 2 tour.

On Easter Sunday, White Hawkers and friends attempted archery for the first time.

Busy day on Monday!  The first shovelful of dirt got scooped up at 8 White Hawk Lane.

Then I had lunch downtown with Susan Cosentini of New Earth Living.  She's a creator of the Aurora Dwelling Circle currently under construction in Ithaca.  We consider our living options to be quite complementary, since the Aurora Dwelling Circle offers an urban, walkable, predesigned option, while we offer a rural, land-rich, open design option.  We look forward to working collaboratively to share the experience of community living.

By the time I got home, George Van Valen's crew had made a lot of progress!

Then students from the Cornell University Sustainable Design project came for a tour.  

Formerly the Cornell University Solar Decathlon Team, the group is now considering three kinds of projects:  international humanitarian, a local home or community center, or a prototype high-tech home.  

On Friday, the forms went up around the future foundation of number 8.

I'm pleased to announce that the daffodils are starting to pop!

Joe has been working on clearing and marking a trail around the village.  Much of the tromping down has already been accomplished by the deer.

Along the way, you can see springtime ramps

and White Hawk's tiny waterfall.

Today, plumbers Deb and Mike installed the sewer and water pipes that will be in the slab at number 8.

And this just in from Saratoga Springs:  Jules and Steven are busy prepping their home for showings.  Jules' new passion is vacuuming walls!  All fingers crossed for a quick sale.  After more packing, Jules, Steven, Emma, Devin, and Liam will become very familiar faces at White Hawk.

Spring has Sprung!!!

It is official! Sound the trumpets! Spring has arrived at White Hawk!
Ask me how I know this to be true! Well, it's because I have come out of hibernation. The shorts are on and the sun is shining!

One sure sign that spring has arrived at White Hawk is the arrival of the Killdeer! These spunky birds love our drainage ditches and raise their families there. It is really such fun because part of their nature is to "lead" any predators away from their nests by running in front of them, then veering off to the side and faking a broken wing! So, every person, bike, or car coming up White Hawk Lane is greeted by this ritual. It's quite special :)

Another tell-tale sign that spring has arrived is all the humans gathered in the playground! It was such a beautiful day for swinging, sliding, climbing, and smiling!

Julie, Dmitri, Sue, Steve, Arvelle, & Sylvanna - Just ASwingin'

Julie & Sue pushing Dmitri


Steve helping Sylvanna climb














Sylvanna sliding and Arvelle watching

Our resident scarecrow, who is hilarious. Yesterday he was dancing and today he

looks like he's watering the weeds!