| | WE NEED HELP RENAMING THE RANCH **click here for photos
 It's a long story but we can not keep the name "Twin Creek Ranch". The original Twin Creek Ranch is in Vernon and so we need another name. We would like to play up two key factors; 1) that it is connected to thousands of acres of cattle drive land for trail riding (at least until developers decide what to do next ) and 2) it is up on a hill with a spectacular view of the city and lake. So Keywords would be something like, "Sky" and "Lakeview". No need to put "Fong" in the name, chinese horse ranchers basically look funny when you think about it. Well here's a picture to show you what I mean:
This project can be described in one word; "inspired". I can't explain the deep conviction I have for making this Ranch beautiful. When I stepped onto it for the first time, I told my realtor that "I must have this property. Talk about losing all negotiation power (well I knew it was a foreclosure meaning I at least had to buy out the first mortgage holder). I think when words come out of my mouth, I almost have to follow up with action.
 The electricity is on and soon we will have one working toilet and one shower. Josh is going to have to move in here because my other lake homes nearby will all be rented to guests in the coming high season. Today Mel brought up some folding chairs, and with our Verizon cards we were able to actually work on laptops from the top of the mountain.
So the construction crew starts Monday. Hammers and powertools will echo throughout this hillside and with each new day, progress will be made. I like the part where they roll up the construction dumpster. That's like the first thing that happens in a project. There's going to be about 14 tradesmen onsite in a coordinated rollout plan. We should be done in late August, which is about when we will return again.
 We've got some cool plans. We're putting in a dumbwaiter to transport groceries from the garage to the kitchen. I really really wanted to have a residential elevator but all of the cross logs wouldn't allow it. But knowing how crazy it is carrying groceries up stairs, I just knew we would love a little hydraulic dumbwaiter to the kitchen.
Also on the ground floor we are going to have the coolest hang-out area. It'll be another private theater but with a full commercial kitchen next to it. This home will actually have two full kitchens, one on the main floor and one on the ground floor. The ground floor will open directly to the infinity pool. So you could jump out of the pool, go straight to the kitchen, make fajitas and then watch the Super Bowl in HD 7.1 DTS sound. Since this home is nearly 5,500 sq feet, we have over 2000 sq feet on the ground and main floors, each level basically being a great room. It is exciting to decorate.
 The only drag of course is the expense. I wish I could get over being cranky whenever I get a new estimate. But the secret is out now - I didn't want to say this prior to the auction but I got this house at nearly $800,000 less than market value. (it was appraised at 1.6M back in early 2004, and I got it for a little over $1M crazy cheap for 12.5 acres of lakeview property and a 5,500 sq ft home). And that was without all of the custom granite work, architectural upgrades like the theater, etc. that we're going to put into it. So I have to keep remembering that when I feel like I'm getting nickel and dimed to death. CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM TODAY
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| | Posted 6/17/2006 4:17 AM - 41 comments
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