A Start

Save the Date: A Barn Raising

Healdsburg, California

Friday, July 3^rd – Sunday, July 5^th

Dear Family and Friends:

On July 4^th, 2009, we are hosting a good old fashioned barn raising at our property in Healdsburg.

In Italian, the word “tutti” means all, everybody. Since I don’t want to keep calling the property “Healdsburg”, I’m throwing this nickname to the wall to see if it sticks. As my family knows, my mom was affectionately called “Tootie”, a nickname given to her by Ali, evolved from our grandpa calling her "Toots" (after the Tootsie Roll), which later became "Auntie Toots" to Karen, and finally "Tootie". The idea is simply about family and friends all coming together.

I've borrowed the second idea, one of a good old-fashioned barn raising, from my friend, Karin. I imagine Grandpa Benke would love it! So, we are having a weekend party, campout, and building a tent cabin (www.sweetwaterbungalows.com). I am working to clear space, have running water, and anything else I can get done between now and then - electricity is a long shot, though there will be a generator for the well. I'm working on facilities - a composting toilet or porta-potty, but it could be the woods.

Bottom line: However far we get, we’re doing it anyway. This weekend may prove to be only for the grittiest. It’s okay to stay undecided until the last minute to see how far we get, or to go all in and ask for some thing you would want for your ideal weekend. Consider your suggestions solicited and your company welcomed. You can help with building the tent cabin, evolve the vision for development, read a book in the sun, play with the kids, help with the grilling. Anything goes.

We will definitely be tent camping, Ernie and Bridgette will be coming in their tent trailer, so feel free to do something similar if you want – however you like to camp.

I will try to keep this space updated with progress, in order to help with your decision. I'll be frank about Matt and my concerns, the safety protocols we get in place, and so on. I imagine we will all be there sooner or later, in various configurations, but want to include this first group - our family, our mother's group friends, and our neighbors here in Oakland. Please feel free to come up for an afternoon, a meal, a night. I am working out the details for meal planning based on how big of a group we will be.

Ciao!

Dawn