Checking in... Memorial Day 2012

Well... here it is, Memorial Day weekend. I am going to try and work but am torn between wanting to give my extremely overwhelmed 4x+ a week, brain time to catch up some more VS taking a break so that I don't burn out. I don't know why but every task, no matter how small, seems so daunting. It's hard not to feel like I am disappointing everyone. Maybe I took too big a first step. I've never been a quitter so I am crossing my fingers and hugging Ryan a lot these days.

To take me away from my quandary, Ryan and I decided to gas the truck up ( $3.89 a gallon with our Safeway card), which led us to the property. Here's a photo or two. We are very humbled by the task ahead and excited to start the adventure.

Second Floor Drawings

Here they are!!


I got Ryan to make some labels for this one. Of course, it site directly atop the first floor.

Second Floor Drawings

I don't like the behavior of the document in the IFRAME, so I am only providing a link here. Next step is the basement drawings and a site plan drawing alsong with all of the Petal stuff (which is on me). Pete, we'll be contacting you pretty soon. Abigail... here is your second floor if you are still liking it !!

First Floor Drawings

I have been waiting for the other floor to be done but am starting to grow impatient. We have had the first floor done for a very long time now, so I decided to bite the bullet and put it up.

The top is south facing. You are looking at, from the top down, the LR then DR, then kitchen. Bank of windows on the south and east walls. Wood stove BTWN LR and DR. Stairs to second floor next to east windows. Doorway out to entryway and then through double doors to get to garage where there is a mud room. Stairs in entryway go downstairs to the train room. The entry way is not in the heating envelope but is a transition area between out and in. The two rooms off the kitchen are a bathroom and a pantry.

Outside dimensions are:     N to S: 50 feet           E to W: 35 feet (not including the garage)

Our first floor plan

April 13-14: Volunteering at Hawks Mountain Ranch

When we get out there, we are getting goats as our natural pasture/blackberry control measures. By golly, we're going to know all there is to know about them and have a clue!!  This year we were gratefully allowed to volunteer at Hawks Mountain Ranch during kidding season. Lisa, our very gracious mentor and hostess showed us city-fied folks the ins and outs of cleaning stalls, feeding, rounding up and most of all, marveling in the awesomeness of the Pygora goat. 

Ryan and ClairBell

We even feel in love with two little ones. I don't have the photo available of the little white boy but this is ClairBell and she stole Ryans heart. An orphan, she had a troubled birth and was not welcomed by her mom once she got better.

The little white guy was abandoned by his mom after a few days and was left. Nothing has ever broken my heart more than watching a little baby goat run from mom to mom and try to get some milk only to be kicked away as if he was poison. He just stood there and looked at the ground before gathering up enough strength to try again with the same results. Everytime getting a little weaker and a little more hopeless.  :(   The photo I took was so sad I can't post it here. Lisa intervened and worked some magic and he is stronger, bigger and doing better.

We had a great experience and feel so much more prepared for what lies ahead and inspired to go back next year.

The little ones are hiding

Ryan feeding the pregnant(?) mothers

We seldome have the opportunity to get photos of Ryan so I am extremely pleased that he was willing to be photographed doing something that he doesn't like to do... getting dirty.  LOL  Sory hun but it is SO true.

I am proud of you and know that you are going to be the best partner that I could have asked for on this adventure.

March 2012 Update

Not much to report I am afraid.  My new job has me working almost every waking hour, including the weekends. Ryan is still working on the second floor drawings but in taking up all of my slack, not much going on there.  We are still on track to turn in our drawings to someone by spring. Since spring starts this week, we have at least three months to get our act together.  Good thing is that my new job pays a living wage, so we are on track to have almost half the property paid off by next February. Which gives us a nice chunk of change to get started.  More when I can...

Our House... the template

We have finished the design of the house and are busy (Ryan is busy) re-drawing the sketches so that we can get them to the architect for a once over and some engineering help.  It seemed only appropriate to show everyone what the house is based upon.

Located on the title space is a photograph of a model of the 1995 Life Magazine Dream House created by Dennis Wedlick Architect LLC.  I spoke to him last year and let him know personally of our project. The initial inspiration for our house goes solely to him and his brilliant design.We owe him and the publishers of Life Magazine the credit for giving us something to dream about. I saved the original magazine in my desk for all of these years dreaming that someday, I could live in a house as unique and beautiful as this one. I can't believe that this might actually happen.

Here is the south face of the home in it's original iteration:

Life Magazine's 1995 Dream House

 

 Floor Plan Drawings:

Downstairs

Upstairs

Ryan and I have spent the better part of the last year thinking and troubleshooting and changing these original plans into something that works for this project and the way that we live.

I will post the finished drawings he as I have them. We assume that the counties architect is going to monkey with them, but we a hoping not too much :)

Cheers  :)

February 2012 Status Update

Here it is, almost spring. We are gettiing ready to make our 12th payment on the property. The way it is going, we will have this thing half paid off by the time we start construction in the Spring of 2013!!  We could not be happier about this development.

Ryan is working on the house elevation drawings and re drawing all of the plans so that we can submit them to the county.  That's about it.

Thank you to all of our new neighbors who are keeping an eye on the property and our fallen trees.  I start a new job on the 27th which is going to do several things for us:  more money so that we can pay this off sooner and I will be able to remote in from home on those "snowed in" days that we are sure to have when we finally get out there.

Stay cool and come back soon!!