SURVEYING THE LAND

Today we mucked around our new property in the rain.

Sean was acting like that dude on the TV commercial, testing his cell phone for reception. "Can you hear me now?"

Well, I couldn't. We had zero bars. And I got hopelessly lost in the trees.

We hung windsocks up to mark the way for the lumber delivery trucks expected soon. Our van got stuck in the ruts of our "driveway" for hours. Sunk to our knees in mud. Gross!

PHOTOS IN THE RAIN

Okay... a quick update:

We hired a company to do the topographical survey today. We break ground on the kennel in less than a month. The cheque cleared for the deposit on the cement. And the logs are being cut this week for the Guest Cabin.

KENNEL FLOORPLAN SKETCH

There shall be 10 dachshund pens + 4 labrador pens!!!

Sean designed this plan after 31 years designing exhibits and enclosures for various zoos across the U.S.A.

THE GUEST HOUSE - "TRAILBLAZER MODEL"

This is the Guest Cabin - AKA: "The Trailblazer" - it's only 680 square feet (if you include the loft).

We hired "Real Log Homes" of Texas to build it.

EXTERIOR DESIGN - 3 GABLED CAPE COD

THIS IS "THE ASHLEY" PLAN.

We're having a library built instead of a formal dining room and an indoor movie theatre 12 X 12 in our detached log-sided garage.

We're adding 4 bay windows. We're adding 2 bathrooms upstairs in the loft for our two daughters. And, a see-thru river rock fireplace from the left of the greatroom into our master bedroom.

360 Degree wrap-around porches with "Y" posts and railings will finish the look.

OUR NEW KENNEL NAME

After 15 months seeking a "subdivision" with no Home Owner's Association, we could scarcely believe our luck. Doggies are not welcome in most neighborhoods due to the barking. We found land with ZERO RESTRICTIONS. What luck!

Having operated as "Leon Valley Kennels" for 3 years, we've decided to call the new kennel "Highwater Hills" -- in part due to the creek that tends to flood the bottom two acres, and in part because we've gone through "HELL & HIGHWATER" to get here.

Our Dream Home & Kennel

For many years, we've said: "Come Hell or Highwater we're building a log house."

Then, we went thru Hell & Highwater to save the funds, find the land, and a decent elementary school for our kids.

So...

FINALLY....

We bought six acres on our sixth anniversary, March 18, 2007 , up in the Texas hill country on the north side of Canyon Lake.

We're having a log home built, and a guest house, and a 14 run indoor/outdoor kennel.

We couldn't be more excited!