Saturday, February 23, 2013

Ground Breaking

Rain, Rain Go Away
Please Come Back Another Day!

The saying from yesterday!

The official ground breaking day was to be Friday, February 22, 2013!
It was raining to hard to officially break ground!

So... I thought why don't we break ground un-officially!
Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 3:00 pm
Ground Broken at our front door!





 A reason for applause!




Ed and I added both a handful of soil from the garden
at our current home in NE Portland.
A house and garden that have brought us such joy!




Sharing with Lori and John!

Another Saying:
Mi Casa Su Casa!

My house is your house!






Monday, February 18, 2013

Christmas Eve Day - 2012

Our gifts to each other for 2012 was...
Our Dream Home! 
And one other gift -


Fortune Cookie I received the night before Santa brought me - 


 Rubber Boots!

We spent the day planning the location of
our home on our property.


Needless to say we moved the location many times!


 I somewhat felt like a pioneer choosing my homesite in
the Willamette Valley of Oregon. 
It was very exciting to help stake our home.
However, may not of been as accurate as Ed wanted.



John to the rescue!


Enjoying lunch on our future covered front porch!

In a few days we will be officially breaking ground!





Saturday, February 16, 2013

Floor Plans

In selecting our home Ed and I studied many floor plans of houses.

Then there was the one!
Meritage

In fact I shared this floor plan with Ed prior to our meeting with our builder.
During the meeting with Mike Willcuts,
 he mentioned a new floor plan they had just received.

Surprise, it was the floor plan I loved!
Meritage

Also, the name of a Bordeaux wine blend!


One of our early mornings.
Ed making a few changes to the floor plan.


Sharing the floor plans with our niece, Kate and John.


After lunch, now to Coyote Loop!


And enjoying a glass of Meritage at our fireplace!





Thursday, February 14, 2013

Coyote Loop

When we first drove thru the
there were 6 remaining home sites available.



 3 parcels of land - 3 homes already built.
As you know our dream was to build our new home!

Only two remaining lots! Want to be our neighbor?
So... which lot? Number 5, 6 or 10?

The # 5 lot was to large for me.
#6 is my "lucky" number which I was drawn to.
It has a beautiful background of trees on this lot.

Then there was #10.
Three-sided entry to the lot.
Wide open space - reminded me of Colorado.
Sunny garden space for my cutting garden.
Formation of the Loop.

What sold it for me are the views.
Growing up my Dad, Henry always talked about the view.
The ability to see out, dream and explore.

In the mornings I will be able to have my coffee and watch the sunrise
while sitting on my back patio or in my "craft coloring studio".

In the evenings I will be on my front porch
 watching the sunset while sipping a glass of wine.
 Oregon crafted wine of course!

Lot #10 is perfect on NE Coyote Loop!









Monday, February 11, 2013

Lori and John

 Ed and I cherish our relationship that
 we have with Lori and John! 



Lori and John have been with us on the first day at
The Stables at Coyote Run when we toured with Chandler.
Also, at our planning meetings,
 staking out the home on the property,
walking thru our future neighbors home, 
and giving us their thoughts on building and decorating ideas.


A gift to Lori and John, now shared with Ed!
The Coyote chair made by Ed's Father, Cliff.
John had Cliff autograph the chair - now it is timeless.
Do you think Cliff knew where our home would be located?


John standing on our future driveway between the Oak trees.


Ed and John enjoying Bloody Mary's with bacon swizzle sticks.
Location: Red Hills Market in Dundee.
Just over the hill!

 Lori and John are
Loving, Caring, Considerate, Giving, Sharing and Funny.
simply... Kind!

It will be exciting and fun to have my
 Sister and Brother-in-law - Lori and John 
share in the building of our new home!



Friday, February 8, 2013

30 plus days in 2012!

Why are these days important?
After searching the internet for years looking at houses and land
I stumbled upon this website: 


Perhaps I googled; one story homes with pole barn, not sure.
It peaked my interest when looking at the homes.
Also, that Ed could have a barn that he spoke about  -
of course a shade of red!

Within a few days we drove to the properties.
Funny part is Ed did not want to go that day - he wanted to work on his Abarth!
The strength of a pretty good wife made him drive to Newberg.
Stables at Coyote Run peaked his interest and mine.

One week later we met Chandler Willcuts!

Our Broker at Willcuts Company Realtors

Remember, as I wrote in the first blog post for our dream home -
Family and Friends are very important part of our lives!

Chandler showed us two homes and one that was under construction.
As we toured with Chandler we discovered that this was a family company.
Three Brothers - Marc, Matt and Mike. 
Chandler's Dad and Uncles!
Our brokers and builder's!


The importance of family!

We were out there many times the next few weeks...
driving the "loop", walking the "loop" and meeting our neighbors in the "loop".
(more about the "loop" in future blogs)

Ed began meeting with Marc, Mike and Matt.
Lot choice was decided and house plans were presented.
One of my favorite parts of building a home is looking at house plans.

After 30 plus 4 days - we signed the agreement!
Lot # 10 was SOLD! 




Our future homesite! 
Celebrating with Chandler and his Dad, Marc!


December 14,2012!
Let the building process begin!



Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Dream Home!

         For years Ed and myself have been envisioning our Dream Home!    
On our road trips we would talk about our dream house while 
we were driving in different parts of the United States.

First thought - where?

We thought where would we like to live and retire in 10 years?
Would we want to move to a warmer climate, perhaps in the desert - 
 Las Vegas, Nevada or Palm Springs, California?
Perhaps a mountain location - Bend, Oregon or Denver, Colorado?
Perhaps a historic town in Southern Oregon - Jacksonville, Oregon?
Or along a golf course in Charbonneau in Wilsonville, Oregon?

Ed and I visited all of the areas many times the last 3 years.
We would drive neighborhoods and tour homes.

On our last "road trip" we realized that there is
No Place like Home!
Where we have built our lives in the beautiful Northwest!
Most importantly being close to our family and friends!

Second thought - what type of home?
We knew we wanted primarily a one - story home.
Perhaps one with a Red Barn and a little land.
A home in the wine country.
Perhaps we will build our dream home.





Our Dream has come true!