This is not a photo of a UFO.

This photo was taken in Kirkland, Washington at 5 pm on November 17.

I had an appointment with a client to re-stake her custom Lindal design on the site so that her civil engineer could verify the house location for permitting purposes. The builder would meet us on site for the siting at 4 pm.

The breathtaking site is two converging ravines with huge mature trees that are totally covered with ivy, as is the ground itself. I often joke that I am certain the Keebler elves live there. I designed the house to overlook the ravines, “floating” just above the ground with major views south and west.

Coming from three different locations, we got into our cars at about 3:30 to head over to the site. With minutes, it began to rain, the winds picked up, and the power went out in the areas I drove thru. We were racing against darkness. With no traffic lights during rush hour, it was a long trek, and by the time we all arrived at the site, it was totally dark, and the rain was pelting.

We unanimously agreed in great humor to confront the “elven wilds.” I held the compass and house plan with the critical dimensions marked in red, the builder carried wooden stakes, and the client shone the way with her cell phone flashlight as we slipped and slid over fallen tree limbs and slippery ivy. The builder was amazing, scaling the Ivy in total darkness. Laughter punctuated the darkness as we measured, staked, adjusted, and re-staked.

Mission accomplished. Six corners properly staked (with the diagonals checked). As we climbed out of the ivy like soaked elves), one of the neighbors (lights all out on the street) ventured out to find out what was going on in the street… two Beemers, an enormous pickup truck, flashlights, and laughter. When he asked who we were and what we were doing, my client said confidently "I'm building a house here, and my architect and builder are here to stake the house out."

Another rewarding experience a client will never forget. Go, team Lindal!