This is a view of our homesite from the driveway. If you click on the photo to enlarge it you may be able to see the stakes and string I've laid out for our garage (on the right), laundry room (center) and house (left). I separated the house from the garage with a 16' x 12' laundry room so I can fit two 12' diameter rainwater collection tanks between the house and garage, behind the laundry room. The two tanks will allow us to collect about 15,000 gallons of rainwater, enough for 150 days without rain (assuming the average 50 gallons per day per person usage). Rhonda's going to have to get over her laundry fetish. (Or else I'm going to have to buy one of those new water-saving washing machines. [I hear ya', ladies.])
Here's a look from the left side, the front of the house will face the right side of the photo. As I was standing and taking this photo there is a road directly behind me that goes from this south end to the north end. You'll see that photo next, below....
You'd actually have to talk a bit to get to and up this road a bit to see this view. It's really convenient to access the upper part of the ranch (refer to aerial photo from previous post). It pretty much runs along the treeline on the right side and is about 20 feet wide as it is now. I'm not sure how much use it will get but I'll keep at least a full-width car lane clear for access.
I got a letter from a company in Houston that wanted to perform a seismic survey in the area and asked our permission to come on the ranch and survey it. They'll bring a mulcher machine that cuts down scrubby small growth and mulches it, leaving a 10 foot wide path behind. They won't take out any large trees and the paths won't be straight lines, they'll take the path of least resistance. When they're done we'll have paths running through the woods we'd be able to drive my Ranger through. We'll maintain the ones we want and let the others grow back in. These machines normally cost $150 per hour to hire and this job is worth around $2500! The best part is they sent me a check for $10 per acre to let them do the mulching and the survey, nearly $800! There's no drilling or other kind of destruction to the land and they won't disturb my homesite. Pretty cool, huh? (Let's hope they find oil!)
hello PnR ranch.This is pennys mum. We love your blog and are looking forward to see your home grow.So glad Buster is o.k.and Chase is lovely. Oil would be a bonus I guess!!!! Hilary&Tony