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?