Heather Smith

WE get resumes! haha…that always depresses me.

I know they are talking about putting the highway underground…but there are politics involved of course. That area needs SO much…every time we park under the viaduct I look up at it and wonder how sturdy it is.
Wanted to add…the best thing about this whole thing is an LA gave a presentation to 1000 people!

Good advice. Yes, for us we were in a different situation…literally had NO work and couldn’t find work that would support our family. Amazingly, we survived…if I understand correctly you have no rent right now though? Big props to food stamps and medicaid for us that first year. 🙂
Also, Jon did take a part-time job that he does at the…[Read more]

Douglas,
We are in Idaho so yes, you can just purchase a contractors license and of course all the necessary insurances. That seems really crazy in CA…Jon is a RLA but he could still be and was a contractor here before that. For us the RLA offers us a few more opportunities but not much at this point.
Maybe it is time to move? Or see if you can…[Read more]

I didn’t read where it said there wasn’t flat areas…or even benches?

Yes, I see what you mean. However, in an area that is rarely sunny…people generally seek out any bit of sun they can find. haha. Also, I think they were trying to include the uses of the area which are heavily used by the ferry system, cruise ships and cargo ships. I would LOVE to go lounge on one of those slopes out over the water in the…[Read more]

Also, would LOVE to see pictures of some of your mixed media projects (“steampunk” concept)…that sounds really fun!
 

Mark,
That is really good information. Yes, we do plantings right now…and at this point the mark up on materials and labor is our largest money maker. Jon and I were reading what Andrew had written and wondering how that would work in our smaller/mid-range market. We definitely are higher end(for this area) and are learning to shy away from…[Read more]

People do hang out there…a lot of people live on the islands and ride the ferry over…they work in the City, shop at Pikes Place and I imagine would lunch out in this area. Right now, there are big piers that no one sits in at all…but you do see tons of people sitting on the lawn up by Pikes Place. Seattle has very little green space…[Read more]

I am from just north of Seattle and can attest…that SOMETHING needs to be done…I kind of like it! I like big ideas. In many ways this idea would meld very well with the SAM park just north of this location…I wonder if they were attempting to tie it in.

Thomas,
I really, really think that you could make more money working for yourself. I know I sound obnoxious…but considering your commute and hourly wage? You have the skills to make MORE then that. You are in a much larger market then us and we are making it. Have you thought of doing design/build? We are still learning the ropes of self…[Read more]

So I shouldn’t delete the Nigerian prince’s emails? Drat.

Mark,
What kind of services do you offer other professionals?

Interesting to think of Andrew. Will ruminate on this.
I wonder if we (the profession in the broad sense) are so busy trying to keep our ego intact and prove our worth that we actually hobble our own potential for working relationships. I like to think that landscape architecture is an inclusive profession but know that there is a lot of…[Read more]

At this point I don’t care what people call us as long as they pay us well. 🙂 Personally, I AM a landscape designer…legally. I don’t know why it is demeaning as you say…just be better then the guy that didn’t get a degree.

Didn’t see this before…we lived in Paonia before we moved up to Moscow. BEAUTIFUL! I looked back at the mountains as we left and thought, “There goes the most beautiful place I will ever have lived”…and that is saying a lot as I lived a summer in Glacier National Park.

Have to laugh about the automatic censoring on Land 8…I have had it do this to me several times and was confused at first. haha.

I think the hardest thing for us is redefining success and going with the eb and flow of self employment. A couple months ago I was having a hard time since it was winter here in N. Idaho and we don’t have consistent money. We don’t mind the hard work aspect, it is the insecurity of self employment. But we do recognize that our potential is…[Read more]

I agree…I think concrete is probably the way to go. Or wood edging.