Signing of the Partition

Ok, So today was the big day. We signed the actual partition on the Special paper....mylar.
The end is near. When mylar is being used, it's a big deal. They can't ask anything more of you once you've signed on mylar. (crossing my fingers) I can see the light. All downhill from here. Trust me, I have to talk like this. It is a wierd world out there. This is me being hopeful, positive, and confident (with one eyebrow slightly raised). Surveyors, planners, title officers, oh my. The next signatures will go to the planning director, county surveyor, and county assessor. Should be completely signed and recorded by Friday / Monday.

Hot damn.

Woodstove

One of our first purchases for the house... I was in our local home improvement store a couple weeks ago and stumbled upon this hot deal. It was too good to pass up. As you know, I was comtemplating getting one of those cool cast iron stoves available in many colors, but after looking at the prices for one of them...I think I'd rather put the money elsewhere.
This one was on clearance because someone ordered it last year and never picked it up. This model / size usually costs about $1,200 - $1,500. The cast iron ones are about $2,200 - $2,600. So when this one said $599. I had to get it. It has a glass door, a pull out drawer for the ashes, and the manufacturer has a great website where you can order parts (different colored handles - no gold please). It is the larger model - can heat around 2600 ? square feet. I called Zach, and yes he did not answer his cell phone, and left a message asking if I should get it. Since I figured his answer would be yes, (and since I'm trying to teach him the importance of turning his cell phone on, keeping it with him, and answering it when it rings!)...I got it.

He loves it by the way. Now if we could just get it out of the truck.... I know, there is no hurry. There is no house yet.

Update on the Burmuda Triangle: I wrote up a quitclaim deed for that piece, had the previous owner sign it (thank god - I sent her some gift cards and a thank you note). It has been recorded and our surveyor is finalizing up the partition. We will have to finalize some things with the county (get another updated title report, sign the recorded partition, get it notarized, have the county surveyor sign it, and the taxation director...). I'll let you know when that is done.

We will most likely wait until spring to begin construction. In the mean time, we'll keep getting ready, making sure we get as many details lined up for the building plans.

My Santa Fe Find...

Here is my great find in Santa Fe. I love it. It was an adventure getting it to fit under the airplane seat in each of my three connections, but it was worth it. It has turquoise on the face of the skull. I'm thinking in the future entry way, or living room.

Luck comes with Higher Elevation

While vacationing in New Mexico this past week, I received an email from the woman who used to own our property (I've only been waiting two months now)... I smiled so big, I probably scared some of the onlookers wiating for their 15 minutes of computer time in the Santa Fe Public Library. She received one of my many letters that I sent out asking for her cooperation in this clouded title effort. I didn't exactly know where she lived but one of my letters were forwarded to her correct address. It was a brief response but all that I needed. I was losing hope. The man (ex-husband had passed away and she is living in another state entirely). Hopefully, within a week or two I will have the necessary quitclaim deed to move forward, or will at least be working on it with her.
Phew.
Yes, I decided to go on vacation. The house project was going nowhere fast and an opportunity to take a road trip with two of my best friends from high school and vacation in Santa Fe just sounded too good to pass up. It was my first time in Santa Fe. It was beautiful, amazing, relaxing, interesting, fun, artistic, etc. I could definately make it a once a year kinda trip.
So, things are looking up. I will post again shortly and show you a picture of my favorite piece of art I brought back from Santa Fe (for the house of course).

Bermuda Triangle - look no further

I've found it. It's here. Stop wondering where the mysterious Bermuda triangle is. It is in our backyard (ok, technically it is the side yard). So, our final survey is almost complete with the county. We have the go ahead from the planning department, and then the surverying department finds out that a portion of land, in the shape of a triangle, belongs to the previous owners still. Apparently we have been paying taxes on it, we never knew it existed, yet we do not have title to it. Long story. Luckily, it is a very tiny triangle, but one that needs attention - Crap.

Good news: I have been learning a lot lately about locating old deeds, going through mortgage notes, researching legal descriptions of properties, and title insurance clauses. Bad news: This stalls things momentarily. Hopefully, we will get this resolved soon and as painless as possible.

Lately we have been preparing some things for construction. We have our driveway approach widened, we moved a couple of fences (to allow for more room around the drive in garage /basement. Today, we spent 4-6 hours in Jerry's and Home Depot stores going over things that will be going into the house. This week we will have a water expert come in and test our water. Our water is a bit on the iron-y side. Prior to building, we need to see what can be done about the water (go deeper with the well, remove some of the well casing, replace the plumbing from the well to the site, new well - Ughh, etc).

It's June eh? Well, we are still full force ahead - we just seem to be moving through jello pudding -with machetes in hand.

We're still here.....

Lots of Things going on but we're still workin' away. Our driveway approach will be done soon (required when developing property). We have signed on with a local contractor to widen and pave our driveway approach (where the main road meets our driveway). About two days after we signed with a contractor we noticed the county trucks going up the road replacing culverts, widening driveway approaches, and paving them....Hmmm. I called all around trying to get the scoop on what was happening. Turns out they are resurfacing a section of the road and we are about 1 mile away from that project... I tried to get them to expand their project...not happening, Crap!! We could have had it done for FREE. Project to cost about $1,200 (I'm foreseeing the realities of the home building process flash before me...).

Zach is getting all fancy with the Auto Cad. 3D drawings, roof trusses, wall studs. He's almost done. I'll post another picture soon. We have also rearranged our bathroom upstairs (master bathroom) again, I think it is a better layout AND we managed to have room for a washer and dryer upstairs in the walk in closet. No walking up and downstairs for clean clothes. Good Stuff.

17 Door Knobs, 10 Interior Doors, 2 Sliding Doors, and 1 much needed visit to IKEA

I have a few more things added to the list. Not the purchased list, but the yes we're sure list. The front door will be a hard decision. And yes, Red is an option, or natural wood. I'll post some options. The door knob type for all interior doors is in the photo to the right ; second row, middle, black-ish (semi-aged bronze), oval shaped. I like it. I kept turning that one at the store (and no, I had no disinfectant wipes with me)...

The above doors are Therma tru brand.

We like both styles and may find more...

Bamboo Hardwood Flooring is a pretty sure.

All the windows/sliding doors will be the low E Viking Brand.

IKEA Kitchen is a for sure. I have a model on my IKEA Kitchen Planner that I'll try to post but I need to try and keep three Base cabinets from floating up the wall. They really want to be wall cabinets. I'll work on that.

Zach has all of the structural calculations done except for the roof. The floor studs are drawn in. He is now drawing in the wall studs, and the window framing. Next will be to plan out the plumbing and electrical.

I'm still moving around the master bathroom to ensure a good layout with the newly decided bathtub addition. Something like this one, but still looking.