Report from the Mountain





Greetings Survivors of Letters to the Architect

Barak maintains that Letters to the Architect should live on even if we have to change the name since the loss of Bob Harper. In the two weeks before his death Bob called me twice with answers to unresolved questions, and practically his last words to me were,"I hope you get the porch roof built before the hurricanes hit Vermont.The tower needs to be cross braced to the main house." I have the materials for the porch posts on hand, and main beams are ordered, and we will do our best.

We had a hiatus in Vermont building that lasted a month, while Louise was in the hospital for a week with a 1-2-3 knock-out of Lyme disease, a second tick born disease I can neither pronounce nor spell, and pancreatitus, which left her unable to keep down food, liquid. or medicine. It was a couple of weeks before she could even imagine holding a skill saw or hammer.

Last weekend we returned and finished the plywood on the gables of the guest tower, and got the door in . This weekend we had a visit on Saturday from Barak, Jenn and Baeden, as well as a driveby visit from Daina and Eric, so with much help and an eleven hour day we got the tyvek on and the nine windows installed in the tower. We had to cut the long weekend short to fetch Chris at JFK on his return from Alaska and Seattle. Tomorrow, being Labor Day, will be appropriately named for packing the truck to return him to Nork University and the second year of his Masters. Tuesday we return to work. I am working on a house renovation in Orient for the sculptor Richard Serra with the design work coming out of the office of Richard Gluckman. It doesnt replace the loss of Bob Harper's friendship and guidance, but I do love the lucidity a good architect brings to a project.


We love the prospect from the sleeping loft of the guest tower. Four pieces of blocking at the eves over the bed and the screens installed in the windows, and it would be inhabitable....well until the frost and snow anyway.

Best to all of you, BSB

Posted by Bennett at 8:05 AM EDT | post your comment (0) | link to this post
Updated: Monday, 6 September 2004 8:11 AM EDT