I’m in Vermont again, this time to teach the first two weeks of Yestermorrow’s upcoming Certificate in Residential Design & Construction. I’m so glad to have tacked on a few days at the front of the trip to work at HELM’s office, visit a house I helped design, participate in the Vermont Lu’au, and catch up with dear friends.
On Thursday and Friday I worked from HELM Construction Solution’s global headquarters in Brattleboro, Vermont. It was awesome to walk downtown to the HELM office from the home of the friend with whom I was staying. I’d lived an hour’s walk from downtown when I lived in Brattleboro at Punalu’u so I usually made that trip into town by e-bike or car and it was really great to see it at a walking pace. My colleague Hannah was working from headquarters one of the days as well, so I enjoyed collaborating with her and Mel, one of HELM’s founders/owners.
Friday evening I headed up to Punalu’u to help prep for the Vermont lu’au. I arrived just as the imu was being filled with the ti-leaf-wrapped pork, so I was able to help cover the fire so the food could slow cook through the night. I enjoyed catching up with friends as night fell.
On Saturday morning I visited Dragon Den, a house I helped design when working at Graphite Studio. It was wonderful to see my former clients, who were an absolute delight to work with, and to be inside the space we’d co-created (along with Mathes Hulme Builders, of course!) Our clients’ 3 year old - who was just a hope when we first met and was in utero for most of the design process - was downright gleeful about showing me all the fun features we’d designed into the house: the secret door separating the two kids closets, the aerial silk hanging from the living room ceiling, and the hidden bookcase door that the family has dubbed “the Magic Portal.” I’m so delighted with how the house turned out and grateful to this family for holding their commitment to whimsy and magic throughout the process.
The rest of Saturday was dedicated to the Vermont lu’au: making sushi rice and haupia, joining everyone for a magnificent feast, a singing circle lead by Cara Mia, and, of course, catching up with old friends and neighbors. One of the highlights was when Cara, dressed in a pink gown, brought out the matching guava cake, with her song Crazy playing on full-blast. (Listen for this one! It’s gonna be an anthem!) What an event!
This morning I walked The Loop with a friend before having brunch with a couple other friends. Then I headed north on Route 100, one of my favorite drives and a lovely time of year for it. I stopped at a glass blowing studio along the way and enjoyed a glass blowing demonstration and a visit with the artist, Bob. Arriving at Yestermorrow I greeted the staff, settled in, and connected up with my co-instructor Alex Stoicheff to finalize our lesson plan for the week. Then I joined in Yestermorrow’s annual fundraising gala, enjoying the last-day-of-August weather as I visited with instructors, board members, staff, donors, and friends.
I’m looking forward to meeting our students tomorrow and kicking off a great week of learning, teaching, and exploration!