Blog du Wren

My ShBang 2012 Anecdote

Sh'Bang 2012, if you ask any of the attendees, was a huge success. The video and picture* evidence only serves to reinforce. I don't have any pictures of my own, however, since I was busy racing my soapbox derby car, giving tours of the property (being sure to highlight my cabin!), and encouraging people to go down the new water slide*. But I do have what I consider a wonderful anecdote from the festival which is my contribution to the collective recorded memory.

This year, like the 4 previous years, I built a soapbox derby (using the same pallet, actually, that the previous 4 years' cars have been built on). As you may remember from years past, my car building skillz aren't so , so I brought in a little help on the final touches*. put together a pretty dang good car such that I made it down the course 3 times, including one time over the jump! (I did, however post the slowest time which I attribute to my caution rather than the car's ability. (Slowest Time did, however, win me a nice Mallard gift certificate!))

Well, whether it was from taking the jump* or from pushing the limits of my little pallet car, the back wheel was bend pretty good so I decided to opt out of the head-to-head and death match races. Lebn, however, looked like he was itching for a trip down the course. I told him if he wanted to fix the wheel, he was welcome to give it a go. Off he went to find some tools.

The head-to-head racers zipped by in pairs much to the delight of the crowd. Keeping count in my head, I realized that there was only one pair left to come down the hill, so it must be Lebn on the pallet car. I got in a good viewing position and waited. Soon, a car rounded the bend and came zipping by. It's a welded car without a nail or wooden board in sight. But no Lebn. He must have bailed or wrecked earlier up the course, I concluded, and started to walk away. But as soon as I did, around the corner he comes.

But wait, the car looks a little funny. Is it missing a wheel?!? Sure enough, the once tricycle has lost one of its back wheels but Lebn is still coaxing it along by heavily leaning to one side to keep it from dragging to a stop. What determination, what cleverness, what ingenuity! The crowd starts to cheer.

As is so often the case, determination, cleverness, and ingenuity is sometimes packaged with, well, let's call it overambition. The cheering of the crowd grows as it becomes evident that this cleverly-driven hobbled car is going to take the jump. Fortunately for posterity, photographer Peter James was there to capture the . Unfortunately for Lebn, tri-cum-bicycles don't really carry speed like their unhobbled relatives. He doesn't quite clear the mud pit and tumbles to the ground.

Not content to let it rest, he hops back on the doubly damaged machine and limps it across the line. Only later does the full damage report come in: a broken collar bone for the fearless rider. Alas. But, even 3 days later he reports that despite it all, he's "still smiling".

Thanks Sh'Bangers for a great weekend and great stories! The Quarry wouldn't be the same without ya'll.

Wednesday September 12 2012

File under: quarry

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Completely Stoned

Last week, I placed the last stone in my cabin (aside from a few pebbles to fill the cracks when grouting). Things are coming along and it looks great (if I do say so myself)!. No more scouring the Quarry for suitable rocks, hauling them down the trail, and pounding on them to get them to be just the right fit. And after a couple more grouting sessions, I'll be able to chuck the mortar mixing equipment too. After more than 2 years, it will be nice to reach a phase complete.

But I'm on a mission to get this cabin* finished. It wasn't but a day after putting in the last stone that I started in on the sills* and the central post*. I hope to get a few of the walls framed in this week and the roof rafters on by Soap Box Derby (a.k.a. ) time*. The plan is to have a roof suitable for keeping most of the rain off up by the time rains come.

It's kind of a funny thing, how excited I am about this pile of rocks. I'm constantly thinking about it (where can I get some cheap but nice windows?, I better find some gutters sooner rather than later, what am I going to do about the floor?). If you are anywhere near the area, stop by and I'll give you a tour. Until then, here's another or .

Sunday September 2 2012

File under: quarry

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Craft Time at the Quarry

There's something about being at the Quarry that just makes me want to build stuff. First it was the Dream Comes True Pavilion, then it was my cabin (which is coming along very nicely. Expect a post soon), and now it is necessary this and thats. Seen here is a coat hanger Della and I made for our clown pod. Super fun! Also for the clown pod, I made this snazzy to get up to the lofted bed. I split a log of alder and notched in some steps. I suppose it could have been a little bit taller, but it does its job.

The other projects I've been working on directly relate to the cabin. I found a great cherry log for a center post. We and are letting it dry out a bit. It all feels very woodsy. Then I built a frame for these , which will go on the north wall of the cabin.

It turns out while I might not be the best at it, I really enjoy working with my hands and the quarry is the perfect place to do it. Yeehaw!

Sunday August 26 2012

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Quarry Tour...Kind Of

I talk about the Quarry all the time, or at least it seems that way. I'm either talking about my or some event that is about to happen or has just happened. But I realized that I've never done a more general post, so many of you don't really have an idea of what it's like out there. Well, I recently had to go out and take a bunch of pictures for a prospective quarrior so I thought I'd present said pictures in this here post. Hopefully that will at least partially orient all ya'll who have never had the opportunity to come out and visit (and maybe kick you in the butt to do just that.)

The (pictured above) is where most of the activity goes on. There's the , the airstream , the , the yoga/music yurt, and the . Usually, the convoy of [live-in] school buses, ancient RVs, and gypsy trailers are also parked out in this general area which makes it the hub of activity.

The "Back 40" is where the quarry is, in all it's . The only water access point is at the entrance, where there is a dock, a tightrope, and rocks for jumping off. Much of the rest of the Back 40* is undeveloped* at least in terms of living space. There are, however, lots of hidden treasures. The often hosts events and in a few years of letting the grass and fruit trees get established, it will be a paradise. Then there is the Dreams Come True Pavilion, Bluff 69, the Soap Box Derby course, the Meadow*, and more.

It's only now, putting this post together, that I'm realizing how big a project documenting the place well enough to accurately convey it is. Perhaps this post can serve as a start. In the future, I'll try to augment this more pictures and explanations. Until then, come visit us, and be sure to bring your bathing suit!*

Monday April 23 2012

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Spring Back to Work

The Northwest winter got me down more than usual this past year. For one, I didn't take a trip to warmer climes*. But that wasn't that bad. I kind of enjoyed staying put for a while, getting into routines and doing the indoor things that people in the Northwest do in the winter.

No, the real reason winter was hard was because I've been brimming with excitement to work on my cabin at the quarry, but the prospect of outdoors work out there in the winter is less than desirable. So instead, I've been scheming, researching, collecting materials, and lots of day dreaming. But now that the weather is warming, I'm rarin' to go.

Today was merely a pre-game, an equipment check. I stopped by for quick peek so that the next time I stop by, I'll have everything I need and make progress. The goal is to get all the stonework done by mid-May at least, with the thought that the framing and roof will come together quickly thereafter. If all goes to plan, I'll be sleeping in it for festival season (Circus Campout Aug 17-19 through Soap Box Derby Sep 8.) Needless to say, stay tuned to BdW for field updates.

Tuesday March 27 2012

File under: quarry

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Quarry Fools Event

I'm sure you have all heard me talk ad nauseam about the [Lookout Arts] quarry, about the finances, the structure, the plans, and the history. Well, if you haven't gotten enough, I invite you to come to Quarry Fools Day! It will be a day of food, fun, celebrating, and learning. There will be talks on master plan, ownership structure, financial reports, and all the other seemingly tedious but actually really interesting stuff on the nitty gritty of the quarry. It will also be a chance to ask questions, suggest direction*, or even buy yourself a share or two [hundred]. Schedule for the day can be found .

If the shareholder/details stuff isn't so much for you and you just like to have fun, maybe you just want to show up for the . It's free, it's open to all, and it'll be a hoot! There will undoubtedly be lots of hanging out (and probably dancing and juggling) afterwards too.

I hope to see you there!

Wednesday March 21 2012

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One Seasons Work

Back in June, I posted about starting my hermit cabin in the woods out at the quarry. Well, I didn't find as much time to work over the summer as I had hoped*, but I got a pretty rockin' start.

As you can see from the janky panorama picture above, I've got 3 walls started (although barely, in one case), which gives me a pretty good idea of the footprint. The back wall is above waist height almost everywhere which feels pretty good. The two-sided walls are going quicker than I thought (since it is essentially building two walls (one outward and one inward facing)). I've only been able to devout chunks of time in 2 and 3 hour increments, and it still seems to be plodding along.

All in all, while I wish it was going faster, I'm super pleased with what I have so far. I can't wait for next building season (or, if I'm lucky, to find another pleasant weathered work day this year*). Oh, and since it has been a tradition on my other stone projects at the quarry, here's my + project.

Monday October 17 2011

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HDR Quarry Pic

I didn't take this photo. I wish I did. Bootstrap took it and then did whatever it is he did to make it look like this. He told me a little about it: wide angle lens, panorama stitched together, and HDR* magic.

For those who can't place it, this a picture taken from the jumping cliff at the [Lookout Arts] Quarry. Bootstrap says it was taken February of 2010, so you can see the water level is a little lower than it is currently. And you can see the roof to the woodshed is still standing. (It sure is neat to be a part of something so much that I can date things that way.)

Anyway, it's just a super neat picture that I wanted to share. Enjoy!

Monday October 3 2011

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Soap Box 2011

Thanks to Luke for filming and putting this together!

Tuesday September 13 2011

File under: quarry, video

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2011 Soapbox Shbang

Yep, folks, it's that time again. Time for the Lookout Arts Quarry's annual fundraiser/ridiculous-fest called Off Road Soapbox Sh'bang. And this fourth annual installation of derby racing madness promises to be even better than years past. Each year, the quarry gets a little bit better with improved access, additional features, and new areas uncovered. This year, more carnival games will be the new attraction for some. But for most, the non-OSHA approved water slide will be feature of the year*.

But the real draw is homemade derby cars being powered by gravity and creativity alone flying down the hill, over jumps, and avoiding swinging hay bales all vying for the coveted golden goggles. In between heats, music and circus will occupying the various stages and last year's super-well received Sideshow will have it's own tent (complete with oddities, sword swallowing, and more!).

Hopefully you are all sufficiently enticed to make a plan to come check out the quarry and all the antics we can pack into one day. The big day is this Saturday, Sept 10. For more information, directions, etc., check out www.lookoutarts.com. I hope to see you there!

Tuesday September 6 2011

File under: quarry

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