And so grew a house.

The walk up from the road.

Eric had mixed a batch of mortar for raising our stone columns, so I snagged some of it to install the threshold. The top of the bricks will be flush with the finished earthen floor, when it's poured in October.

I didn't notice until uploading this photo how perfectly the branch in the background completes the arch.

We repurposed this lumber from an old, dismantled bookshelf to use as an exposed interior lintel. I anticipate this being my favorite nook in the cottage, once a desk goes in.

Our cob.

This shower glass will be sculpted into a series of arched windows with cob.

Below the glass, there are blocks of rigid styrofoam. This is so that the glass has a soft bed to sink into when the cob settles over time. To prevent any cob from getting under the edge of the glass, I stuck straw between the blocks of foam.

Eric has begun to raise the interior columns for the arches.

A morning look over the northwest corner, into the building.

Who is on the wall?

WHO IS ON THE WALL?!

Danielle! Bale-hop-cobbing. Michele is the lady who dragged me into this project. And of course Eric, master-cob-trimmer.

With the threat of rain, tarps are draped over the walls, making it look like a forest sculpture poised for a dramatic unveiling.