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.