However, this page is supposed to be about the home, not the hobbies!

In December 2004, I began building a pole barn.  It was only a few short months later until it was completed.  So, there is a 30' X 56' "play house" (workshop, office, storage) on the property!

Plans are in the works to retire the "temporary" mobile home and get a house built.  Sandy and I are doing homework, and the plans are down to two finalists (until one of us looks at that doggone book of house plans again).

Being in a business where I am in and out of several houses a day.  I am quite positive that I will act as general contractor and build the house myself --- with a little help from my friends!  More on the house as plans progress.

A tiny bit of progress was made toward plans for the house.  The Owen County Building Department has answered many of my preliminary questions.  The first step is always the health department --- that $75.00 fee has been paid, and the septic system has been inspected.  One major hurdle out of the way!

The house plans have been ordered!  We chose something simple, as "serviceability" is one of the major considerations.  If you are curious, here is the plan that we decided on: http://www.familyhomeplans.com/plan_details.cfm?PlanNumber=34600

We had a contractor stop by for an estimate on the basement.  I had perhaps $10,000.00 in mind, thinking that perhaps we would have to go to $15,000.00 to get what we wanted.  Was I ever wrong!  Our quote for a 28' X 36' basement came to $30,000.00!  I do believe that we will have to wait for another year.

With the economy in the gutter, we have postponed the house.  Instead we have built an apartment in the pole barn.  The poor old "temporary (12 years ago)" mobile home has seen better days, and has been retired.  Our plans are to have it removed in the spring.  Meanwhile, our new home is in the barn!