MERRY CHRISTMAS 2009 - update -

A year ago XMAS EVE we poured the cement foundation for our "Big House" and this XMAS EVE we stained it... Whoohoo!!! 12 months later and we are finally making progress, finishing the inside of our home.

Lots of contractors and builders crawling around the place this week - the power was off and the water too - so mom and the kids flew to Las Vegas for six days.


We came home to much progress and the builder says we can possibly move in around March 2010. It was our 2nd Christmas morning in the "wee guest cabin" -- and with four of us living here fulltime and six house dogs -- we are feeling the strain. We can't wait to get moved in 'next door' early in the New Year!

Day 10: HOUSE SHELL FINISHED (doors etc.)

The SATTERWHITE LOG HOME crew left at noon today... it took the guys precisely nine and 1/2 days to finish the exterior of our new log home!!! We couldn't be more excited.... and we highly recommend this builder to anyone considering a log home.

Day 9: CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (windows)

The crew added the log corners and windows to the dormers on Day 9. The square posts are being changed out for thick rounds on Day 10. Satterwhite says they will be done "the shell" any day now! Amazing... if we hadn't seen it going up with our own eyes, we would never have believed it could be built so fast after 2 yrs of planning.

Day 6: CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (roof)

The kiddos and their friends get the grand tour upstairs... (while Snoozy watches from below and wonders what all the excitement is about.)

Day 5: CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (2 stories tall)

Amy poses in the enclosed "breezeway" to show us all how big the hallway is.

Heartbreaking... but, yes... the existing "old" cabin and the brand new one had to get notched out for the hallway (library passageway).

Day 2: CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS (8 feet tall)

We are attaching the mother-in-law cabin to the main house with an enclosed breezeway (hallway). The porches and stain will match. All doors will be Texas Stars. The crew from Satterwhite Log Homes thinks the build of the shell will be done in 12 days (weather permitting). Zowie!

Day 1: NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION (4 feet tall)

Wow! We are amazed... The crew turned up today before dawn and by 4 pm, we had 4 foot tall walls.... ! ! ! Holy band saw, Batman.

Log Delivery Today!

A SLAB for Christmas - poured XMAS EVE

A LOG HOME for CHRISTMAS........ "Thank-you SATTERWHITE LOG HOMES!"

We broke ground on the NEW HOUSE yesterday.

Whoohoo!

Now, there's a big hole ready for rebar and foundation...

After 12 months of decisions, we've decided to ATTACH our new log home to our wee guest cabin. We'll maximize square feet that way and the 6 foot hallway will give grandma and teenaged son some privacy while keeping them close when they are visiting from Canada.

With the economy the way it is this Winter, we've decided not to build on the upper 8 acres (and to make the house a tiny bit smaller). The lower 6 acres is fenced, has septic already, and electric poles, so it's easier and cheaper to build on, while we keep the 8 acres and horse barn for an investment and future building ideas. (Yes, we are thinking retirement in 5-10 yrs and yet another designer log house at that time when our 3 kids are off at college.)

We are still trying to sell the house in the city to pay for it all, but it's been under renovation since August. Here's a picture of our 4 BDRM, 2.5 BA, 2 CAR home in the Medical District of San Antonio:

Many thanks to DUSTY at Satterwhite Log Homes for being so patient with us while we decided on our "dream home" plans!

Updates at Highwater - Autumn '08

We have MANY things to be thankful for this THANKSGIVING! Dad has a NEW RED F150 and Mom has a NEW YELLOW PT CRUISER...

"Little Miss Buttercup" and the new go-kart for the girls even have a new carport to sleep in....


The Guest Cabin and swings all got fresh coats of stain early Fall...

PLUS, we have DOG BIRTHS out the WAZOO and MANY RESCUES! 8 litters on the ground for Christmas Puppy Sales, oh my!



We had our first BEAGLE LITTER! ....


and we are full to capacity what with the rescues we've had this month, including BOOTS, a black lab, CASSIE, a basset, and SCAMP, a yorkie.




Sean has been subdividing the outside pens and we only have 2 left to do this weekend. Two layers of landscaping timbers hold in the 8 inches of mulch in the outside runs.

We moved all the mamas so each has private indoor/outdoor access, and even the dachshund pups have figured out the doggie doors, and love to dig in the mulch.


While we still don't have a customer waiting area / pick up room, it's a goal for 2009. We can only do so much in one year.

Karen's gone back to work as puppy sales have been down and the kennel expenses have gone up. She's loving her job in the Children's Department of the New Braunfels Public Library!

Sadly, we had to sell both horses, as hay went up to 11.50 a bale and they were eating 380.00 per month. Still haven't got the foundation poured for the "Dream House" but the plans are drawn professionally and finalized. We're ready to start just as soon as the trees get cleared.

KENNEL INSIDE - "SIDE A" - FINALLY GETTING CEMENT RUNS

Well, it's been over a year since we started, and the inside is still not done. Tomorrow we start with the cement dividers on "Side A" -- pens 1 thru 7.

We have 3 dachshund litters due Aug. 22nd and 2 litters due Sept. 1st so we really MUST push the contractors now. They have been less-than cooperative in the Texas heat all summer... It's been 103 degrees F daily the past two weeks and some days the thermometer has read over 110!

HOLY HOUNDS IT'S HOT!

You can see the blue tape and blue tarps. There is a TON of cement dust when the epoxy floors are sanded. Poor doggies shall have to spend the day outside.

HAPPY SUMMER!

We spent a lovely July 4th at Highwater with our puppies and all the puppy customers who came to pick up their babies this week.

We've been bathing 3 litters and watching them go to their new homes.

PENS INSTALLED INSIDE KENNEL - "SIDE B" COMPLETE

Finally got the cement curbs done and the custom gates welded inside the kennel building on the right side - "Side B". The brand is American Kennel Club, but we had to have them cut and modified. Don't they look professional?

The doggies are really happy and love the air-conditioning & non-slip green floors too! It is a relief to finally have the kennel functioning for doggies and customers (if only on the one side).

NEW PORCH SWINGS (Mother's Day Gift)

We got 2 new wooden porch swings! Aren't they great?

New Street Sign

Puppy customers were getting lost, so we had this sign made up for the main street.

7 KENNEL RUNS COMPLETE

Here is a photo of Pens 13 & 14 complete with:

-a combined play yard

-pine bark mulch

-gutters/gates/hoses

-army cot inside +out
-skylight

-shade strips in chain link

-AKC side panels

-railroad ties &

-green anti-slip epoxy paint for the cement.

Cherry, Tigger, Nilla, Nipper and Bonnie are VERY happy in their pens. The way it's set up -- one cement run is always clean and dry while the other is in use. Then, when we hose one side down, they have a dry run next door to escape to. It's brilliant and was Sean's master plan!

One day soon, the hoses will not be in the runs -- but rather strung up from the ceiling on pullies like at mechanic shops.

HERO'S HOMECOMING!

Hero was delivered this weekend -- and moved into the freshly completed barn where he has his own stall with a nameplate above the door.

He gave Angel lots of horsey-kisses thru the mesh divider! He spent the rest of the weekend checking out the corral and pasture. What a darling! Hero arrived just in time to celebrate Easter Sunday. He got apple-flavored horse cookies and 1/2 cup of sweet feed to celebrate. He needs to fatten up!

SPRING BREAK '08 AT THE LAKE

CHAIN LINK SOLUTIONS

Amy, Jenna & Karen spent hours weaving green plastic strips into the chain link today. We are trying to provide shade and privacy for the doggies.

HILL COUNTRY LIFE

Moving has been SUCH hard work, we decided to kick back and have some fun this past weekend.

Sean and Jenna have a new Hill Country hobby. . . RIDING DIRT BIKES!

Karen and Amy have a new Hill Country hobby too. . . RIDING HORSES!

Introducing "HERO" -- Karen's new Palamino Gelding. He is 9 years old and has ground manners to die for. Such a gentleman, even city slicker mamas can ride him. At 16.2 Hands, he's a BIG OLE BOY.

You can see that 8-YR-OLD Amy has NO FEAR! She discovered a new musical talent that had everyone in awe. She is now officially our family's Horse Whisperer and Pied Piper. . . she had Hero following her around like a Golden Retriever. Amazing!

Who knew that life on "the farm" could be SO much work and SO much fun at the same time?

KENNEL CURBS - PART DEUX

Here is our SECOND set of curbs. The first ones had to be shaved off during the cement slab re-pour. Our new mason is MARVELOUS! Meet Kevin Alexander. The AKC mesh pens will be attached once the cement cures. Now, we won't have to worry about cross-contamination and doggy waste. Thanks, Kevin!

MEET "ANGEL" - WELSH PAINT MARE

We couldn't move to the country and not get our youngest daughter the PONY OF HER DREAMS!!! Here is Amy and Angel -- bonding. Angel is a 13 hand Welsh Paint Mare -- and VERY stout. Amy got a new bridle, reins, halter and lead rope in NEON pink! Oh my. Somebody should've told mom the "tack" and food cost more than the horse.



Here is Daddy renovating the barn for two horse stalls and one hay / tack room. Oh yeah, and the wee exercise corral cost more than the horse too. Ha. That's what happens when city slickers move out to the country.

A PIG NAMED "WILBUR"

Meet "Wilbur" our new 6 month-old pot-bellied pig. He is such a good pig! He oinks and runs to us when he sees us coming. He thinks he's a basset hound as he was raised with one. You can see he lets the dachshund pups climb all over him & chew him.

He will "sit pretty" and shake a hoof for grapes. He'll do ANYTHING for grapes! He figured out the dog doors in the kennel the first day he was here and can even open the dog food container with his snout! My, we are sure enjoying living on a farm! (Perhaps folks think this is the funny farm?) Ha.

Wilbur LOVES bacon. Kinda sad, huh>?

SETTLING INTO THE LOG CABIN

Here is a photo of Amy and Twinkie -- watching movies together. Although there has been freezing rain and we have 3 foot trenches all over the property (waiting for electric and plumbing conduits), we are settling in at Canyon Lake. The girls sure like their new school! Sean finds the commute to the Zoo a cinch -- so long as he leaves before 6:00 A.M. (ouch)!

MOVING DAY - JAN. 7th

We were just exhausted by the end of Moving Day, but the kiddos got up for their first day at their new school cheery as chipmunks!

MOVING THE TRAILER - JAN. 5th

Here is Karen happy to finally see her kennel office arrive! We're calling it "Mellow Yellow" -- but the kennel office was easier to find and buy than it was to move up to our 14 acres!

Many thanks to Cleve & Eva for keeping Mellow Yellow in such good shape when they lived there!

Thanks to Daryl & Tina and their whole crew for rolling, measuring, delivery and all the heavy lifting. Thanks to Kevin (+ his kiddos) for creative driving of the blue tractor. Thanks to Patrick and Paul from Countryside for site prep and gravel road base. Thanks to Walter the electrician & the tall dark and handsome plumber who arrived this morning to hook up the trailer's bathroom. (Amen.)

We could not have done any of this without you!

NEW YEAR'S EVE @ THE CABIN

WELCOME HOME!



We spent 3 nights at the cabin over New Year's. It was a little chilly, but fun! We unpacked the kitchen and watched some movies since the satellite TV isn't hooked up yet. Our new electric fireplace sure is toasty!









The teeny restroom:



The cozy master bedroom:

INTRODUCING "MELLOW YELLOW" -------------- The Kennel Office

"All she wants for XMAS is a single-wide!"


Yippee! It's a 2 bedroom - 14 X 56. New black appliances and a washer/dryer (for dog blankets) and dishwasher (for dog bowls).

This will be our temporary "puppy house" for whelping & grooming area. The small bedroom will be a playroom & homework area for our kiddos.

We're calling it: "Mellow Yellow" and it's being towed to Highwater the first week of January.

A Cabin For Christmas

The guest cabin is finally done! Thanks, Paul...






We are moving in over the holidays. Our daughters start their new school on January 8th. Horray! Most of our stuff is already in storage.

Debbie Engel was our VERY FIRST visitor. http://www.debbiesdachshunds.com/ to see her pups.

It's all pretty exciting now!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

STAIRS, FURNITURE, + OTHER NEWS

THE WATER WELL GETS DRILLED:


Finally! . . . 8 MONTH wait for the well driller guys. Unbelievable. Turns out the new well is pumping 15 gallons per minute (whatever THAT means) . . . Sounds good, anyway. Septic is next.

* * *

SPIRAL STAIRS FINALLY INSTALLED:

Interior of the cabin is coming along . . .

The spiral stairs will have pine treads to match the walls.
The queen size sleigh bed gets delivered Dec. 1st.



We chose laminate flooring in a terra cotta (fake tile) pattern. It goes in next week. The kitchen counters to match go in this week.