Yes, going all the way from building a clock tower to caring for the little things like the furniture. It is indeed fascinating.
As for cooking - yes, to me it is very akin to the process of making art, maybe even more grounded and important. I saw a small documentary about Toumani Diabaté, a fantastic musician from Mali, and he said, *in Mali you are always a farmer first, and a musician second."
P.S I'll write you. Maybe we can talk tomorrow or in the weekend.