An Exploratory Paddle down the Estero

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Idyllic launch where Estero Americano meanders along ranches below Valley Ford

Over the weekend I made an exploratory paddle down Estero Americano to the coast. The tides are in a similar phase as the dates of our planned Expedition, so I wanted to make a trial run to see what the CCA students might expect in terms of timing and conditions as we begin to plan our voyage. With minimal preparation or provisions, it took me just under 2 hours to paddle a yellow 12′ plastic kayak about 6 miles one way without stopping. For the first leg, the narrow slough winds through grazing meadows and marsh, rife with ring-necked duck, egret and coot. se puede tomar ivermectina en la noche

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I chased a flock of ring-necked duck to the open water

Before opening up to a broad channel where I first encountered a light but steady headwind, the water was a still, copper brown from agricultural run-off. The open chop revealed floating stands of kelp and sea weed, indicating the beginnings of a tidal surge from the sea after early rains. Sea gulls, hawks and heron displaced the ducks and the water took on the frothier, oxygenated blue-green of the sea. About half a mile from the coast I heard the roar of a beach break, bucked a weak tidal flow, and encountered frolicking otter and curious sea lion. ivermectin dose covid 19

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first glimpse of the beach break along the Pacific, where the Estero drains at high tide

I beached the boat about 1/4 mile from the mouth where Estero Americano seasonally drains to the Pacific and hiked to scout the shoreline for natural shelter from wind and wave. My tide log showed that the six and a half foot high tide had just peaked, but waves were still washing over the dunes into the brackish waters of the Estero. I spent about an hour exploring the dunes and climbing rocky cliffs to get a glimpse of the shoreline before the fog rolled in, signaling my departure. ivermectina comprar mercado libre With a slight tailwind, I paddled back to the launch in about an hour and a half, despite my muscle fatigue and the enclosing fog. Continue reading “An Exploratory Paddle down the Estero”

Shed Metrics

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My Shed Chair concept was inspired by fences built by local frugal farmers

I’ve been paying particularly close attention to the vernacular forms of Sonoma County’s family scale agriculture- the fences, coops, crates and outbuildings associated with our region’s numerous orchards, ranches and vineyards. My friend Cindy Daniel is in the process of realizing an innovative, hybrid retail/cafe/event space in Healdsburg called Shed, for which she has commissioned me to design furnishings.

I’m truly inspired by her vision for an energy efficient, two-story, seasonally open-air building sited along Foss Creek, housing a ground floor garden center, deli, community ‘larder’, cafe, and upstairs restaurant and space for events and performance. ????? ???? ???? ??? Shed will be a modern interpretation of the time-honored General Store or Grange, featuring the artisanal foods, goods and services of local purveyors. The building, an ultra efficient pre-engineered metal structure is designed by Mark Jensen of Jensen Architects in San Francisco. I’m honored to be working closely with such a visionary team, and have been enjoying developing a language for the furnishings that resonates with Cindy’s sophisticated take on Sonoma County living, and bridges the high modernist utilitarianism of Jensen’s building. moxydectrin for ivermectin resistant scabies

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1/4 scale model of a dining chair and table concept I’m developing for Shed.

The major challenge of designing furnishings that range from retail display to dining has been in inventing a structure system that allows for low cost flexibility, durability and variability, while telling a story and making a memorable, unique experience. ivermectina para animais serve para humanos The furnishings need to reinforce the Shed ‘brand’. As I research ready-made systems to appropriate for retail display, I’ve begun to experiment with chair and table concepts, knowing that it will be easier to have these inform, rather than be informed by, the look/feel of the ready-mades. ivermectin pferd kaufen The dining furniture is sure to evolve, but I like the basic idea of a chair that stacks into a sculptural column when stored in the space, and a table that transforms into a low, Japanese style version, using the chair’s cushions for seating. ????? ??????

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The upper portion of the Shed Table concept converts to a low version, using the chair’s cushions for a more ‘Eastern’ dining experience. ?????

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Micro-Expedition, Session 7

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Jack and Willey made a lightweight building jig for their shallow kayaks

We’re at our half-way point in the semester and the majority of the class are on track to complete their projects with time to spare before we make our voyage just before the winter solstice. Everyone was fully focused and hard at work in the benchroom during our last 6 hour session, and the mood remains productive, light-hearted and cooperative. It actually works out well that some students are a little further along because they are able to give a leg up to the students who need it. buy stromectol uk To keep spirits high, I brought bagels and cream cheese for the students, who quietly munched as we started things off with the first of a series of discussions about Expedition logistics. why is ivermectin not being used for covid I plan to make this a regular practice. ivermectina para que sirve 6mg

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Luke and Susan laminating scarf joints on their kayak panels

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bamboo fiber cloth is stretched over the scarf seams before resin is applied

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Peter has the backbone nearly set up for his ‘Deadrise SUP’

To follow the progress of Micro-Expedition, the Atelier Studio I am teaching this semester as Visiting Wornick Professor of Wood Arts at California College of the Arts (CCA), please click here and scroll down.

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Wowhaus Projects Update

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‘Rockfish’, one of two monumental fish sculptures to be installed at a new library in SF

Ene and I have been preparing to install two major wowhaus public art projects we’ve had in development over the past year. ‘Abundance‘, which consists of two monumental, ceramic tile mosaic sculptures honoring the significance of ‘feeder fish’ to the marine ecosystem, will soon be installed at the Ortega Branch of the San Francisco Public Library, sited near Ocean Beach, within view of the Pacific. Ene recently met on site with Mary Chou of the San Francisco Arts Commission, who commissioned the project, to finalize location of the sculptures as the new building nears completion. success of ivermectin for demodex mite folliculitis

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Community members help Ene determine the location for our two large fish sculptures

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materials used to make patina at Berkeley’s Artworks Foundry

Having selected final sites of significance to Oaklands urban watershed, we’re nearly ready to install our ‘Stepping Stones‘ project, commissioned by the City of Oakland Public Art Program funded through Measure DD Bond Program, which was approved by voters for Oakland watershed improvements. We have been working in collaboration with the Environmental Services Department of the City of Oakland. ivermectin manufacturer usa The project consists of five relief sculptures, cast in bronze, depicting ‘stepping stones’ one might encounter when crossing a stream. ivermectin cream otc The individual sculptures vary in size, but each one features animals native to the region seeking refuge on or around the stone, which has water flowing around it. The stones will be installed in various configurations on sidewalks with heavy pedestrian traffic, where creeks have been diverted underground. Ene recently met with the incredibly skilled artisans of Berkeley’s Artworks Foundry, who cast the sculptures, to discuss patina before the sculptures are installed.

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a sampling of patinas to consider for the ‘Stepping Stone’ sculptures

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the artisans of Artworks Foundry cast the sculptures and are now adding patina

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Micro-Expedition, Session 6

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Estero Americano meanders westward towards Bodega Bay from Valley Ford.

I’m proud of the progress the students have made in constructing their craft in anticipation of our voyage on Estero Americano. They’ve been working like a true Atelier, dutifully helping each other cut, mill and shape their stock, and the little boats are nearly ready to frame up. stromectol merck canada As we approach the middle of the semester, we’ll begin to take stock of the final project, a 2-3 day paddle down Estero Americano to the Pacific Coast. how do i dose my rabbits with ivermectin Each week for the remainder of the semester, we’ll spend about an hour planning the trip, addressing issues ranging from safety and food, to clothing and shelter, natural history and project documentation. ivermectin use in mexico city can i use ivermectin as my only dewormer in a dog kennel

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I’m hoping some of the class will stay an extra night to see the lunar eclipse. para k sirve ivermectina 6 mg

Weather provided, we plan to leave the weekend of December 18, paddle to the coast, set up camp, with the majority of students returning the following day. ivermectin for ticks on horses I’m hoping a core of students will want to spend an extra night to see the lunar eclipse on the full moon of December 20, which rises just before sunset. This week, I plan to make an exploratory paddle on the Estero, which should be navigable after the recent rains.

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House of Tree Progress

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House of Tree is right at home among the redwoods, catching October’s afternoon sun

Ene and I stopped by the site of my House of Tree Project on our way to Occidental’s farmer’s market. Richard and Tom had left for the day, but we climbed up and were excited to see the building’s exterior envelope complete- windows and doors in place, cortens steel roof installed, and rough cut siding nailed up. ivermectin rural king I was happy to see the quality of wood comprising the siding, tight-grained heartwood, over an inch thick, milled on site from redwood trees felled to build the structure. Richard and I decided to combine vertical, over-sized battens for straight runs, and 10″ wide horizontal clapboards above and below windows, to exaggerate the building’s framing. ivermectin dosage for humans in south africa Next week the guys will focus on building the staircase, which will wind up below the house, making two landings on the way up before finally landing on the back deck. how much ivermectin to use for a rabbit with ear mites My client returns next week and I’m sure he’s going to be thrilled.

To follow the development of my House of Tree Project, click here and scroll down.

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Micro-Expedition, Session 5

apples and pears

In reverse of the cliche, I brought my students a peck of our own freshly picked apples and pears today, fuel for the challenging work at hand as they begin to construct their boats at full scale. It’s been a bad year for apples along the Sonoma Coast, after an unusually cold and damp spring and summer, but the late, sparse drop has produced some sweet, robust fruit. I’m hoping the warm weather of Indian Summer will hold out at least until next week, when we plan to make an exploratory paddle in rented kayaks along the shores of the Bay near CCA‘s San Francisco campus. Before the class progresses too far in executing their craft or planning the actual Expedition, I’m eager to see how they behave as a group on the water, and how they respond to the forces of wind and tide about which we’ve been speculating as the hulls take shape.



Lukas Nickerson, my TA, demonstrates how to tie a bowline knot

Over the coming week, I’ve assigned the class the task of learning to tie a bowline, the ancient, enduring, all purpose loop knot associated with maritime craft, climbing and rescue. The knot is easy to tie, easy to untie, and is virtually unbreakable when bearing a load. I think everyone should be able to tie a bowline, but feel strongly that it is a minimal prerequisite to voyaging on the water in any capacity, second perhaps only to swimming. I left Lukas and Jackson with the charge of teaching the rest of the class, hand to hand, which is the best way to learn the knot. My dad first taught me how to tie a bowline as a kid, and I re-learned when I needed it to survive as a deckhand aboard an Alaskan salmon seiner.

To follow the progress of Micro-Expedition, the Atelier Studio I’m teaching this semester at CCA as Visiting Wornick Professor of Wood Arts, please click here and scroll down.