Into the Woods....

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We finally had cable restored on Monday evening, which almost didn't happen. I have a huge tree limb about to come down over my driveway(which is why they didn't want to put the line back up) so instead they did a drop line for now.

I have to say the crews that fixed our electricity and cable were all so helpful and friendly. They were from all over the place, having come here to work overtime/doubletime for extra pay.
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In some way I was kind of sad when electricity was restored. There was something very nice about being outside all day, working to remove the tree debris with the help of my daughter (and neighbors, who I rarely get to see otherwise). The streets were filled with kids and pets and people walking and talking well into the evenings. Being actually physically exhausted from a full day of physical activity and therefore falling asleep by 9 p.m. after reading for 20 minutes felt rather nice and is much more satisfying than insomnia due to the stress of an overworked mind.
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I read about this house in Louisiana Life this past week and I am a little obsessed. I tend to whine about how my home, and most homes in Baton Rouge neighborhoods, should have been built the old Acadian Style way..to promote heating and cooling naturally (and LIGHT!) through general orientation, porches, breezeways, ceiling height etc.

"This self-sustaining home near Breaux Bridge borrows from the past to face the future.

Marie Bossard and Tony Adrian live in a green house in the quaint community of Prairie Laurent, near Breaux Bridge. They catch rainwater and create their own electricity.

Imagine having a $0 electric bill and a $0 water bill. Here on 175 acres of fertile land, Bossard and Adrian are pioneers proving that you can go green.

“It has been exciting to carve out a way of life that isn’t dependent on the power company,” says Adrian...“We have everything we need here, the air is fresh, and the quietness of nature is intoxicating. Our driveway is 6,250 feet from the nearest road, so we never hear the roar of cars and trucks.”

Today all of the home’s energy comes from solar panels situated in the side yard, and the water supply comes from the sky. The water is safely stored and filtered through a rainwater-harvesting system. The two major concepts of the house are shading and ventilation. “It’s how people used to build houses in Louisiana,” Adrian says. “The wind comes from the south over the trees and creates a negative pressure to pull air through the house.”
READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE
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Some recent reads...

Last week I received a package from my friend Sarah and this book was among the contents. I started and finished it the same day. Such a wonderful little book..

The Wild Braid
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And I started this book this week, which has been interesting so far...

The Last Child in the Woods
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Back to work for me.
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