Great Room Addition update! Work continues on the Great Room…this is basically a “one man show” as Kelly is building this mostly by himself with some help here and there when something takes two to lift, hold or set into place! This man is amazing! Of course…some design ideas and features are upon my request! ~wink~

Got the walls up and two doors. This is a shot of the framing for the subflooring and some of the subflooring that’s been laid. In this pic you can see the door that leads out to the Railroad Tie Deck which is the view we want to capture from inside the Great Room...all y'all that have been out to the Silver Spur enjoyed many a day and night visiting on that deck enjoying the view, the fire pit and some good eats!

This next pic is to show the 2 tiered level, which we designed to make the most of the view into the back pasture. In California years ago and also in Colorado, typically a Great Room had one of two things, an amazing view and/or huge ceilings in a super huge room. To the left is the other door which opens onto what will be the new patio/dance area for parties! Where the two chairs are will look out from a "deck view" to the back pasture.

This pic shows a view from that upper level where the chairs were, looking towards the wall where the huge picture window will go. The Great Room in our last home was in Colorado and the view was of Pikes Peak and the Front Range. With this Texas home, we are focusing on the green pastures, stock pond, arena and trees which surround the property. The two tiers make the most of that view which is on an elongated property.

We are keeping within the Texas Style with timbers inside the house and the outside will be styled after the Western Buildings of the 1800’s that you see in Western movies. Once this subfloor phase is completed, the picture windows will be put in. More to come…so keep checking into the Bunkhouse Blog!

What Are We Talkin?

So, tell me, what are we talking about? Let me know by commenting on my blog. I’ve had lots of folks calling me asking me a lot of questions about ranch life, from poultry to pets, horses to heifers, you name it and I’ve probably heard the question or at least the info that’s been looked up on the internet.

For years there has been an almost “cult like” frenzy in survivalists, Hobby Farming and the like. And is it any wonder? But so much is hype or hysteria that once folks “get into it” on whatever end they choose to, they begin to realize that it’s not anything like they thought and as they try to go larger or “full scale” so to speak…it becomes more than they bargained for or even understood. That’s when I get the calls to find out what we’re doing over here at the ranch and how do we handle this or that situation.

 I’m learning too, remember, as I continually meet with Ranchers and Farmers who have much sage knowledge but do not do internet. We are losing what they have to teach us, without the hype but with all of the wisdom and experience! So often what we do here at our humble little Hacienda Ranchita and what we know is not something we write about or even think much about. It’s what we’ve been raised with and simply DO! ~smile~ If anything, my hubby & I will be talking and remember something of what my Mom taught me about living on the farm and what my Grandparents taught me about the old ways of life. Or, what his Daddy or Mama taught him with their experiences of growing up in the country, living off the land and working to feed the family with their livestock, making some money on the side just to exist.

We are all learning here and I’d like to give y’all some of the information…pass it down, that is, before we, too are no longer here. Seems many folk can just post whatever they want on the internet…true or false and an awful lot of what I’ve read or looked up is mostly those trying to reinvent the wheel as they experiment. But, mostly it isn’t age old advice and knowledge as all of those (nearly, me, too) are not too much for the internet…those 10-20yrs. older than me are not posting. That’s why I am asking if we can all learn a bit more from our elders, or at least, those who have taken over for Mama & Daddy or Grandma & Grandpa. Because life is just that…learning! ~wink~ Just sit yourself down with a cup of Cowboy Coffee (Y’all know what that is, right? If you throw a horse shoe into the coffee pot and it stands up…it’s done!) or if it’s evening maybe a  beer, put your boots up and let me know what y’all want to talk about, how does that sound?

Btw...this is a picture of my Great Aunt Mary on my Mom's side...she is in her 90's here in the mid 1970's. Gotta love it...in her 90's & clearing land!

 

 

Great Room Addition!

It’s been a long time coming, folks, but we have finally started on the Great Room at the Ranch! The first part to any remodel and addition is any tear outs that need to be done and that’s MY department for the most part…it’s what I love doing! There are many jobs too big for me these days as age creeps up on me, but my hubby always lets me know that there are tools of leverage that can keep me going and give me the advantage to do what I enjoy and yes, he and the boys will do the big jobs! ~smile~ I am well blest with talented folks in my family who are able to see a dream and fulfill it! Here is the old closet area under the patio, Jessie took the antique doors off and we are keeping them for decorative use in the Little Bunkhouse as we get it set up.

As many of you who’ve been out to the Silver Spur know that we’ve had to make do with a really bad looking patio area that’s been the entertainment area of many a good times here at the Ranch. We learned well from rodeo friends in Colorado how to dress up anything, we had whole rooms there in tents that serviced the Cowboys, Stock Contractors and other VIP’s. We’ve used all of that experience here at the Silver Spur as we’ve had Wedding Receptions, Fall Festivals and Summer Parties here under the old patio area which we’ve decked out in furniture, hay bales, saddles, boots, spurs and flowers to make it fun and functional. Had even used tarps and the grill to keep it warm during winter!  That same area is now getting most of the old materials torn out and new materials put in and it will be totally enclosed but I hope to also keep it Festival Friendly by putting in double glass doors (or sliding glass doors,  not sure yet) which will open out onto the RR Tie Deck on one side where the Fire Pit is and on the other side, another set of double glass doors which will open out to where we will build a new veranda to dance under!

By remodeling and enclosing that old patio area and making it into a Great Room, we can extend our fun times into many seasons or inclement weather! I want to capitalize on the great view into the back pasture that everyone has enjoyed off the deck and from the old dining room area. A couple of large windows placed just right should do the trick! So many of you have commented on the gorgeous view into the back pasture either from the deck, the old dining room or while watching Jessie’s students ride, that this is something I am excited about opening up!