My compound

I have some undeveloped land up in the NC mountains that I inherited from my mother. When I say undeveloped, I mean it. No roads go close, but I'm going to work on that. Soon.

So, I've been fantasizing about what I'm going to do with it up there. I know I'll never have a bunch of money to really go crazy, but I should be able to plop a yurt up there one day. Just for the summers. I won't winter there. I've been fascinated with yurts for a couple of years now. Go check out www.yurts.com and see if you don't think they're pretty cool, too. So, my yurt obsession was formed on the internet, but last October, I actually visited a place that has two yurts (a little excessive, don't you think? since I haven't got any yurts).

Very soon after STBX and I split, my friend Ms. Woowoo took me to a Wild Woman home blessing--at a magical place in the mountains of SC--and among the many blessings I found there, were the yurts. I got to go in. They're as mystical as I'd imagined--and, they're really not that expensive.

I've always loved tent camping, so the yurt wasn't at all far fetched for me. But then I started thinking about bugs and vermin. I'm sure it's not a problem, but it seems to me that bugs and vermin could penetrate my lovely yurt. So, I've kept thinking.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of church camp at Camp Linnhaven, which just happens to be around the bend and across the hollow from my property. There's a rustic two story lodge building, where we all met that is just so gorgeous. So, I've decided to include that in the compound.

What I'm thinking about, is building the lodge/pavilion--like the one at Linnhaven, but only one story (or maybe with a little loft...just a little one). In the pavilion, there will be a basic kitchen and a glorious bath--modeled quite extensively after Ms. Woowoo's. It will also have a large covered deck area (the frequent showers are called mountain sunshine and happen just about every afternoon). And there will be a large gathering room, with a fireplace, lots of squishy sofas for reading and relaxing.

Like this:



You'll notice the pavilion is missing a bedroom. That's because I'm going to have it--and a yurt! How cool is that? I'll move all the bedroom stuff into the pavilion for the winters, and then the little vermin can run wild through the empty yurt until I come back the next April. Win win win.

You might remember that I've referred to the Highland Games as the great house party experiment. That's because it's the first time I've ever taken people up there. The place only has two bedrooms; but I took a few more friends than that. So, everybody but me (hey, I was going to stay in the tent, but DD's friend didn't feel comfortable sleepng in the same tent with the DS, and I couldn't make him stay in the house all by himself, could I? It wouldn't have been motherly). So, I invited a bunch of people and told them to bring their tents. And we set up a tent village. Like this: (can't find the picture, dammit).

Anyway, everybody seemed to have a pretty good time and nobody died or anything, so I'm considering the entire thing a success. And this is important because that's the way I'm going to do it at the compound. After I get the pavillion and the yurt up, I'll (I say that in the general sense, you understand) also install platforms scattered closely, but privately, around, and my dear and wonderful friends can come see me and stay in their tents. Most of my friends really enjoy camping anyway, and with the advent of those double stacked air mattresses, it's not a hardship. There will be electricity available at each platform, and the pavillion will have all the amenities. So, I'm thinking it's going to work.

Here's some of the ideas I've been gathering. There are a few on magazine pictures I need to scan to add to my file, but here's some of the stuff I'm considering.



Some of you may recognize PW's farm's kitchen. It's basic, well designed, and more functional than any kitchen I've ever had before. So, I'm shanghaing it. I think PDub and her MIL would approve.

I'd also like to incorporate bottles into the fireplace. Kinda like this:
It's pretty and it's green. Andy hey, maybe they could be bottles actually consumed during the construction process.

And, I've always wanted to include garage door walls in the pavilion (even before I knew it was a pavilion). I've been seeing them in magazines over the past few years, and at Logan's our favorite dining establishment, they have this:

It's only a weird coincidence that PDub's sister has them in her house in Austin, cross my heart. But I swear, it's weird how these coinkydinkys keep popping up.


I'd love to have your thoughts on stuff to add. I definitely want it to keep it very simple, very green (I already have a source for the composting toilet) and very welcoming. I'm definitely going to have an outside shower (or two) because showering al fresco is one of the world's most delightful experiences. So, don't be shy. I need help.