The Garden House Plans are submitted

I’m so excited to announce that after 8 months of figuring out how to get and make plans for our future home has been submitted to the county for review. It will take 40 business days for the county to review the plans. I figure there will be some changes that will have to happen and they will red line lots of it, but I am relieved that the first step is done. I’m sure we will be able to work on what ever changes are necessary, but right now I don’t know what they would be so I’ll wait. Once all the necessary changes are made and they are approved, I’ll keep you all updated. To me this is the hardest part of the whole process. The not knowing, uncertainty, the research, the feeling of being alone in this, my lack of understanding, the pressure, and the list goes on. I know this is the right path for my family and I so I keep at it with all I’ve got.

Now that the plans are submitted I will concentrate on fixing the driveway. The tube that goes over the irrigation ditch is breaking on the sides. It’s caving in and needs repair or replacement before any large trucks can drive over it. I found out that I don’t need a permit and I can do it myself. So the planning begins. I am analyzing it right now. Only the last 3 feet of it is damaged and mainly because the metal tube on the inside is rusted out. The rest seams fine. So I may just repair the end, but maybe the whole thing too. It may depend on how much pipe I have to buy. If it comes in only long sections then I may have to buy it and instead of waste it I’ll just replace the whole tube. Ripping all that out will be quite the project too. Such fun times, but I need to get on this and have it done by the time my house plans get done being reviewed. This way I’m prepared for the next steps. The first thing after the driveway is fixed will be to get the trash hauled off the property. Can’t wait.

The pressure is on. I need this all to go as smoothly as possible because I only have one year before Lucas gets back from his mission in El Salvador. I need the house done by this time. So yes, the pressure is on to get all this done asap. I do great and even better under pressure. I just hope the builder and crews can and will do the same. :) A lot still just depends on how smooth this plan approval goes with the county. So wish us luck and if your religious, keep us in your prayers.

The front of the Garden House

Moving off Silversmith Trail????

Well ever since I lived in this area I’ve always wanted to live on Silversmith trail because I though it would be so cool to live on a street that fits me and my business. I mean silversmith trail, how could it be better than that? A silversmith living on silversmith. Well it has been fun and I have enjoyed this home on silversmith trail. It has served me well and has been a great place to grow my business. I have been able to start casting here and I have turned the 3rd car garage space into a workshop. It has a sink in the garage too where it has been very handy to have. I do wish it was bigger, but all in all it has done it’s purpose. I will miss this place greatly. This is my second home and have raised my kids here in a memorable way. We have created a garden here that has finally started to produce for us. A grape vine that has finally grown to be very large. An apricot tree that yielded a lot of fruit this past year. We have lots of good memories here.

It’s time to move on. We have always known this would not be our final home. I’ve always wanted some land where I could expand and create a lasting home with more memories. I have been trying to find and get some land for maybe six years now. We even at one point sold our first house and tried to get an acre lot that didn’t work out in the end and so we were guided to this silversmith house. I’m glad we are here. Now the adventure continues as we go for another piece of land. This time it’s 2.5 irrigated acres that already has water, electricity and a 2000 gallon septic tank on it. There is no home on it and I don’t know when or what we can afford to build on the land. I do know that this is our next adventure and we will figure something out even though it’s probably a bad time to build with the prices so high right now. I’m excited. We have done lots of praying and figuring out our next phase in life. We all, as a family, feel good about this decision. Some people might think we are crazy for trading a house for land, but that is what we are doing. I will hopefully start sharing this new adventure as we try and develop the land and create new memories. Even though it will take time, I will start out by having my business there in a shed that I can work out of. I’ll keep you all posted of how that goes. Definitely will not be as nice as here for a long time. I’m going backwards to start moving forwards.

My unfinished backyard