Boy, I gotta tell ya I’ve talked about all the disadvantages of D&L’s strawbale-and-earthbag extravaganza, but the one thing it does right it does very right indeed: It is a fantastic place to be during a heat wave. I walked in there yesterday afternoon and it was a dry 75o, and it felt like an air-conditioned library. Outside was a glaring 98o, and in the Lair a breezy 95o when there was a breeze. I built the Lair to be open to any breeze and it is, so it cools down well after sundown. But the loft is no great treat to be in until sometime after ten. This being the high desert, of course, nights cool off fast after that. If you fall asleep without blankets you’ll wake up later clawing for them.
I went to D&L’s to ask D’s help with the rest of the Lair siding, and he readily agreed. So tomorrow we get busy again and really should be able to finish getting the last of the sheets up in just a couple of hours. Then it turns out I still need some flashing, and there’s a little caulking around the loft windows (more high ladder work, but not too bad) and we’re ready to paint. Yay! I normally hate to paint, I must tell you. But I’m looking forward to this. The outside of the Lair will be – well, maybe not done done – but no longer naked and embarrassing.
