October 2011 Status Update

Ryan and I are re-evaluating where we stand money-wise at this point. I was up for a job that had a good wage and got pretty far in the recruitment, so far in fact, that we started thinking that I had it in the bag. Alas, it fell through. :(    This sets our timeline back probably a year or so. That's not the worst thing in the world. In fact, it gives us more time to plan the house. We expect to break ground in spring, 2013. 

Currently we are:

• Continuing to process the felled trees. (Expected completion summer 2012)
• Finishing work on the first floor design and starting on the second floor.
• Paying off the property as fast as we can in order to be able to start buying the house systems. The first system will be the water cistern. 

Future posts will continue to focus on the Petal Requirements and details of the systems that we will be using to be in compliance with the Petals.

One last note:  We have decided to get animals (mentioned earlier) to maintain the yard and provide rich compost and fertilizer for the garden and grounds.  As well as provide fiber, companionship and to create a peaceful, farmlike setting full of wonderful chores and experiences that seem to have gone bye-bye in recent times. This will be good for Shaelyn (our city-raised, soon to be 7 year old) and the new neighbors child. None of our neighbors have farm animals and we understand that at least some of them are looking forward to animals in the neighborhood.  A barn has been added to our plans to facilitate these animals.

The animals we are getting are 2 or 3 Pygora Goats from Hawks Mountain Ranch.in Gaston, OR. We were hoping to get a pair of friends that were having a hard time getting adopted but I am proud to report that Chip and Ralphie have found homes.

This is a brand new baby Pygora

This is Brinn. Isn't she gorgeous??

And  one, possibly two, Llamas from Sijama Llamas out of Mulino, OR

Here comes the Rain!!

Not too much to report this week. Ryan is off of vacation and we have both had to work so we haven't been to the property in a few days. Yesterday it started to rain which I am excited about because our 1000 gallon rainwater tank at the house was almost empty. If we get occasional rain, it will fill the tank and then we will hook it up to the washing machine until next summer. Rainwater makes your clothes very clean.

I hope that everyone is enjoying the weather. We hope to build our first fire tomorrow night and catch up on some TV. Tuesday is our 5 year wedding anniversary and we want to visit a Llama Ranch that day to get some information about what Llamas need as far as space and accommodations.

More to come as I have time to put it here. Thanks for visiting!!