Preparing for the Holiday Rush

We didn't see much progress on the construction this week, and the House was not open for tours on Thanksgiving Day, so it was quiet. But you can tell that it's a holiday weekend -- there are cars from all over the US here today. So far -- Virginia, District of Columbia, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.

The Wisteria Shop, now located in the Carriage House, is being decorated for holiday shopping. They have published a new brochure highlighting their new line of gift packages -- very cool. The packages are boxed in archival boxes with metal edges. Check them out at The Wright Gifts.

North Lot Progress and An Upcoming Announcement

Today's pictures are of the great progress on the north lot. All the pallets of tiles and bricks that were there last week have been moved, and the ground has been leveled. Obviously the driveway to the garage is going in. What a difference this will make for the neighbors -- no more mud and broken, blocked-off sidewalks! The south facade is completely changed, what with the wall being moved back into its original spot, and the brick retaining walls being almost finished. What surprises me is how the house seems to be so much closer to the sidewalk than it used to. It is so different from looking at the old photos of the complex. Just imagine how it will be when the construction fence comes down and you can really feel a part of the house and gardens.

I found out today about an exciting event being planned for next summer, to come right down our block. Stay tuned for more information and photos -- even the Martin House folks don't know about this one yet, I'll bet.

So far today (Saturday) we've had visitors from New Jersey, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Ontario. I also saw a car with Arizona plates around the corner, but I don't know if they were visiting the House or not.

Cooper's Hawk, Not Peregrine Falcon

Correction -- the bird I saw was a Cooper's hawk, not a peregrine falcon. A neighbor has some amazing videos of this hawk, which has set up shop in a pine tree down the street for the last four years. So, even though the construction continues unabated, wildlife still flourishes all around us!

Construction Updates and News on a Visitor to the Neighborhood

After drilling all the geothermal wells, construction workers are now digging huge trenches and laying in some kind of flexible dark-colored pipe. Maybe they're connecting the wells and running them to the powerplant in the house. New shipments of roof tile and bricks were received this week. I'm uploading two photos -- one of the new materials, and one of the construction workers "in the trenches." It's funny how we focus on the mud and mess, and forget sometimes to just stare at the structures and enjoy their serenity.
As I approached the northeast corner of Jewett Parkway and Summit Avenue this morning, coming from the Park, I noticed the bird feeder just inside the bushes at the corner was swarming with sparrows. All of a sudden, from behind me over my right shoulder, a peregrine falcon swooped down and dive-bombed the bird feeder. The entire corner exploded with seemingly hundreds of sparrows flying away in fright. I couldn't believe how that bird buzzed that feeder. The falcon failed to grab any of the smaller birds, and went on to land high atop a tree just to the east. There he sat, eyeing that feeder. I've seen red-tail hawks in the Park, but never saw a falcon swooping like that in our neighborhood before. Keep an eye out for it -- it's gorgeous!