Barn Befores

So here are a few pictures of our future home on the range. As you can see, it's just shy of livable in its present state. I'm driving up this weekend so we can lay out our renovation plan, and then, depending on how far a hundred bucks gets us, J may or may not be able to camp inside come next week. He's not real worried though, since he's been RVing in the driveway for several days now and thinks he can easily do another month in that lap of luxury. I wonder if he could just drive the Airstream right on into the barn? Talk about the best of both worlds.


There She Is: The Magnificent White Beaut (until we paint her red)



A lot of imagination is needed to see what we see in this photo.

Front doors and downstairs. Bugs and small critters may be a problem given these doors don't quite close.

Downstairs. And tractor oil stains, which I think we'll keep. Adds character.

 Though we are free spirits, we've decided that we do, indeed, need more than a few wall studs separating the bathroom from everything else. Especially since the kitchen will run the length of the same side of the room. That could get really awkward.

So far, the raddest part of the barn: the upstairs oil drum heater. I know it's easy to assume it's just decorative, but it's not.

Upstairs. My favorite part, besides the heater? The lonely sink on the left.



Upstairs front view. When it grows up, it wants to be my writing room.






We Got It!

We are officially landowners in Templeton, CA (next to Paso Robles)! Well, barn owners, too, but once I post photos of our will-be barn home, you'll see why I don't add that in with exuberance just yet. Yet. But once we're done with that puppy, I'll splash it all over this blog like a gigolo splashes on aftershave.

Out with the Old, In with the ????

Last porch-sitting at 513 Goldenrod (notice knee brace...still)

Our pod and old ford truck loaded up.
 Ours is the tiny place between the two big ones.

First, J and I officially moved out of our Corona del Mar beach cottage at 8:00 pm last night and it was incredibly bittersweet. We had three amazing years in that home together, and will miss it dearly, along with our landlords, believe it or not. ;) They are worth staying alone! But, we set this date so we would continue to pursue our dream of working on and owning our own land, so off we go.


Second, we just opened escrow (yesterday morning!) on a 5 acre property (with main house, barn, pool, spa, chicken coops and lots of animal pens) in Templeton, CA, and if it closes by May 18 - not an easy task - it's ours! Here is the driveway, one of the pastures with one of the chicken coops, and a few of the current residents:

Third, I'm staying with my parents until the school year is over and until my other knee rehabs from surgery in June. J and both dogs head up to the trailer park in a few days. If we get this property he will only take up residence there for a few weeks. If we don't, it could be months. Ah, the adventure continues...