SNOW!

We have been having a blast this week. It has snowed almost 4 days in a row. I am loving the adventure of it. It makes me glad we moved up on this mountain. Where we are renting is about 4000 ft and we ended up with about 12 inches of snow. It's raining now so it is melting quick. Where our property is its about 5100 ft and I would say there was at least 3 ft of snow there. We did drive out to Lockwood valley and went up the dirt road where a neighbor had been using his tractor for plowing. We couldn't get on our road but I ran out to the shack for Jerry's snowboard. We had been storing it out there and we needed it for our trip to Mammoth next week. Check out the pictures on flickr for a better idea. I wish I could post some here but it takes forever and a day.

Happy Anniversary the 6 year editon

We made our yearly trip to San Luis Obispo to celebrate our anniversary. Its hard for me to put into words how important this trip is to me and I am so glad we made it. This year was almost a no go for the trip. We have been working on saving money and we have been really stressed about the drilling of the well. The trip almost got postponed. The thought of not going really stressed me out. We we went and we left the kids behind with family. So got a chance to go to some old hangouts then we went wine tasting with my maid of honor Nicole and her fiance, who we met on this trip. Another highlight of our trip was meandering through Barnes and Noble without children. I bought books on building a greenhouse and organic farming. We had a great time reminiscing about the past and planning for the future. And it was wonderful to see those little smiling faces when we got back.

The well drilling has started and they got down 140 ft before it started snowing. I guess it is supposed to snow on and off all week. So I don't imagine much more will be done this week. So far we are getting out some gravel and some clay. Cross your fingers for us.

Steph's Owner Builder Site

I may have to change my blog name to this.

I would say we are getting into planning now.

We are on the well drillers list.

We have met with an architect we still need to meet with draftsmen. We have a floor plan we like we just need to make it into plans.

I have scheduled a meeting with the solar & wind power guy.

Plus my newest thing is SIP's.

I am trying to figure out which bank will be our lender, comparing interest rates and payments and affordability.

I am reading the owner-builder book, the everything homebuilding book, the building and affordable home book and a couple others all simultaneously.

I am learning that the Ventura County fees are just another way to nickle and dime you in the beginning of the whole process.

We never said this would be easy but what an education I am getting. It is kind of fun all the while my brain feels like it may explode.

Jerry is working a ton of overtime and I get to be the project manager. Wish me luck.

we're moving on up...

A quick post from me. I am so busy because moving takes forever. I quickly updated my flickr and sent out an email to every one's email to update on our move. We had a yard sale to day, oh my, I never knew yard sale-ing was such and aggressive sport. It almost makes rugby look tame. I don't want to do one of those again any time soon. But we sold a ton of stuff (junk) and it made our move lighter. I don't know when I will be posting again so, rest assured I will have lots to talk about when I am back.

Oh what a day

Today we recorded with Ventura County and now own 5 acres. Woo Hoo!

Today we took pictures of our house to list it on Monday. Oh my.

Today James and I butted heads over and over again. Probably because I was busy trying to make my house sparkle.

Today James helped me bake cookies that come from a bag. He picked the frosting color.

Today James and I had Hash browns and cookies for dinner. We each had our selected beverage of choice to go with it, too. Mine came from grapes his from apples. Very nutritious.

Water

We found it!! We found water on our future property. Now my head feels like its going to explode. I have a long list of things I need to start doing. Plus we need to get our house on the market soon. Sooner than we thought. Our realtor thinks the sooner the better. We originally thought June now its sounds like now is better. I will keep you updated.

More on Lockwood Valley

Lockwood Valley - Google Maps link

If my link works well, you can click on this map to see Lockwood Valley road and its distance from I-5. Zoom in a little more and you can see Adams Trail intersected by Mountain Lilac Trail and Curtis Trail in between those two is Chuchupate trail. The lot we are looking at is on Chuchupate. For fun check it out in Satellite but you really have to know what you are looking at to figure it out.

For even more fun I will share my worry list with you:
1. finding water, its quality, quantity & how much it will cost to find it.
2. Palmdale's sliding real estate values.

Now this list is only 2 items long. There are other worries, however these two are enough to keep me busy for now. There are other worries but they are currently in the back of my mind. They will come forth once we get our current house appraised and see its value. Then Water. I keep telling myself if its meant to be then it will work out. If not, well we will move on to plan B.

I am getting questions about why Lockwood valley. Here is the best summary I can offer you. First off for those of you who don't know anything about where I grew up its harder for you to understand. Scott valley - Google maps link. Now when you check out this map. Most of you won't recognize much, except for Oregon. Of course the exception being the people in my life who have actually been there. Its so hard explaining where I grew up to people, but imagine growing up in a bubble. Where you knew your neighbors and most of the people in the town. Where you don't have to lock your doors. Where kids had to do chores (manual labor). Where you raised animals for their purpose (eating, 4h, money). Not only the small town feel but the aesthetics of the town, mountains, snow, creeks, rivers, stars at night, snow in the winter, and sun in summer. Everyone waves to each other as you drive along in Scott Valley, they do that too in Lockwood Valley. Kids where I grew up we given responsibility and for the most part they were able to handle it. Now I know that you can get into trouble anywhere you grow up and parents have a larger part in raising kids than where you raise them. But now that I am a parent I sure want to find my self a bubble to raise my kids in.

We obviously have to live with in a certain radius of LA because of Jerry's job. I don't want his commute to be any longer than 1.5 hours. Because then I will worry about him driving. So what we did is find a small community just over an hour from where Jerry works that we can afford. We can find other nice larger towns to live in but I stay at home and plan on staying at home to raise my children. Some people I know would rather have convenience and shopping close by. I grew up with Yreka 40 minutes away and Medford ~1.5 hours away. I am used to driving to get to places. Now at this moment Target is 10 minutes away, if that. I love target but I need to go less often. I will gladly give up close shopping for raising my children in a small town.

5 acres has a lots of space for playing and chores. They are going to learn that steaks come from cattle, hams from pigs, eggs from chickens and fruits & veggies from the land. They will even participate in growing these foods. As a parent I only wish I can raise well rounded, responsible, polite, good kids. The only way I know how to do that is to raise them as I was raised. Lockwood Valley is as close to that as I can get in Southern California. There are many places and people I want to have near me but we cant have everything. Jerry and I have to try and find the best fit for us at this time. We are truly hoping that everything is meant to be and will work out like it is supposed to. Hopefully Lockwood Valley will be our bubble. Pray for water!

So Many Decisions

So I think we are moving forward with the lot on the hill. Now we have to start making some major decisions. If we find water in escrow we will own land!!! It sounds crazy huh? Then we have to find a contractor or builder. We have to pick out a house to build that we want to live in until forever. With that decision you have to think sq ft, rooms, bathrooms, layout, etc. There are a few things I know I want - huge laundry room and a few things I can live without -formal living room.

Plus we have to pick a loan, figure out when and how much to sell our house for, where we will rent while we are building, what to do with the dog. Needless to say when I am up nursing at night I start to think about all this stuff and have a hard time falling back to sleep, and we haven't even put in an offer.

I will take any advice from anyone who wants to offer it. Wish us luck.

lot 1 & lot 2

We are looking at two lots right now in Lockwood Valley. Only time will tell the outcome of this adventure in real estate. But Jerry & I have a good gut feeling. Here are a couple of pictures taken from the Back seat of the car. I was sitting in between two car seats so the pictures are not the best, except of the kids of course. We may even drag some family out there with us. Anyone with any advice on building your own home leave it for me. I am very excited yet very nervous.

lot 1


lot 2 hill part

lot 2 flat part

Hannie in her seat

James picking his nose