My first house

I bought a house in a small town on a narrow peninsula in June 2022. This will be my journal documenting the many projects already completed since then, and the many more projects to come. Thanks for reading along, I'm happy you're here.

It sits on a 1-acre property with rich healthy soil, big trees, eagles flying overhead, howling coyotes, fruit trees, a fenced-in garden, a barn/ADU, a brand new huge septic system, a well, and an epic open space in all directions with fantastic views for skywatching.

View of the front house, the driveway splits the property down the center from north to south.

My sweet parents have already spent two month+ long chunks of time helping me with the most important renovations to make the ADU livable. The main house was recently renovated so the majority of the work right now will be on the ADU, barn, and outside spaces.

My mom is on the north end of the field next to the plum trees. The field is currently permitted for a house build which would make the main house the ADU, something I inherited upon purchase that I am keeping active. Starting a new permit is a big expense and my existing permit can be altered as needed.

Another view I can't get enough of.

The main house on the left is separate from the ADU that is attached to the barn.

I love a multi-building property, especially with a central courtyard. This isn't that yet, but it has the potential. In keeping with that potential, a few of my dreams for the property include an outside solar-powered sauna with a cold plunge tub and a greenhouse.

View from the southwest corner, with my mom on the far left who is probably picking blackberries. Look at the gorgeous Poplars and Douglas Fir trees! The sellers recently put in a new 5-bedroom septic tank in this corner. You can see where the drain field is by the bright green rectangle in the center.

A hedgerow and trees will go along the fence to the left, where my mom is, as both a privacy screen and a resting place for birds and other critters.

The fence to the right is the southernmost point of the property. The property is square and divided in two, down the middle with the buildings on the east side and the open field/septic field on the west side.

View of the horse stalls on the south-facing side of the barn and the adjacent fenced garden. This area gets a lot of sun and heat bouncing off this south-facing wall in the warmer months.

The compost bin I inherited needed a lot of work. A future project is to move it away from the beautiful poplar trees and closer to the garden.

Fall skies, view to the south.