an off-grid wimberley cabin story.... the end
we had the idea to buy some land near wimberley several years back. while hiking around some land for sale, we found this GIANT oak tree. it was in sad shape, cedar trees were choking it. we bought the land, saved the tree.
I started near the tree and slaughtered cedars, also cut a driveway... it was a lot of work with the chainsaw. we needed a safe place for the kids to play while we played lumberjack.
I drew up the little screen room below using sketchup.
(scan of old print) kat approved and I got to work...
and at some point, we decided to make solid walls instead of screen...
one was built and it was good, so we decided that if one was good, two would be better. kat made the drawing above. but after we got the pier and beam foundation we decided to make the second cabin longer (no porch). and then we built a bathroom with composting toilet...and attached a tool shed... everything worked according to plan, but it was a case of cabin sprawl. it wasn't a cohesive design. that, and the lot next door now hosted a mcmansion complete with pool. and, swimming pool often hosted pool parties with loud thumping dance music... it was no longer the peaceful country retreat we sought. in fact, the wimberley city limit had moved and we were now inside city limits. so we moved out.
pics from our last night at the wimberley off grid cabins.
rewarded ourselves with a trip to the leaning pear.
the saturday night special is always good. an over zealous plate clearer took kat's meal before she was done. she had taken #2 son to the bathroom and returned to a plateless setting...
bandera county quail, chicken fried!
daughter loved the chicken pot pie and it's puff pastry hat.
the best part of the meal came last! kat said that was the best cheese cake she ever had and I sure loved the spicy ancho chocolate terrine.
daughter is enjoying her "teen skills" class at school. making a bag for her iphone or nintendo 3ds
the stars are SO bright out there. we laid on the porch and stared up for a while, for the last time. we'd seen flyers for a "barn party" that night and we could hear the live band till nearly midnight. the band sounded good, but just secured our decision to move out to our other wimberley property, that is really out in the country.
kids enjoyed sprinkle donuts from wimberley donut company. the asian family that runs the donut shack took a keen interest in my family.
we've had to spend a great deal of time on paperwork, contracts and such. I often say "I didn't marry an attorney so I can read fine print". we have a routine, she reads, makes notes, scratches out lines etc. I make my own notes and patiently wait till she says "sign here and initial here..." example of my contract notes below.
cabins are sold and we've moved on and out of town.