Broke Ground

Well, reality is finally settling in.  Closed on our construction loan last Wed. and I spent the last five days on site doing a multiple of things.  Bought a few required items such as this trailer and lawn tractor.

This is one durable little lawn tractor, I really put it to task.

The Coastal Bermuda grass was just too long (should have cut in Sept) for this little tractor although it is 21HP, so I hired a fellow to help.

Then on Monday, my dirt contractor, David Martin brought in the heavy equipment to start the ground breaking.  Unloading a bulldozer.

The excavator that make easy work taking down the large old oaks that had to go.  Two were completely dead and one had been struck by lightning and was dead through it's center.  David made a big pile to be burned later.

I did a few things like gather up all the old iron I have found on this place.  Unfortunately, an old plow I found last summer has gone missing.

Also brought in a Porto-Potty and put up a mail box.

Saw this long horn and it's calf on a drive to Lindale, Tx witch is about 15 miles away.

Next week, David will be building the pads for the 30x50 pole barn and the house.  The barn  should look just like this.  It is called and RCA or raised center isle.  It will sit about 75 feet off of the house.

Some miscellaneous pictures from this week.

Another Step Closer

Well, the construction loan closing is taking longer then anticipated.  Supposedly this Friday.  This past week, my good friend, Mike Tixier, came to visit so I enlisted  :)  him to help me move the travel trailer to the property.  A day up, stayed the night in the trailer and the next day we had breakfast at the Dinner Bell Cafe in Van and visited a local hot rod shop.  Here is what we are leaving:

Here we are on our local county road, Van Zandt County Road 1508

Just picked a spot close to the planned construction site.  I'm real pleased with efforts this past spring and summer with liming to lower ph, herbicide (to kill the goat weed) and fertilizing.  The Coastal Bermuda grass looks real healthy and is about a foot tall.  I'll have to think about cutting it soon.  Mike used a weed eater to mow the grass around the trailer.

 Pond was looking good, but a bit low as far as water level.

I love this old Post Oak.  There are actually about a half dozen of these through out the property.

Outside the Dinner Bell Cafe

 Hot rod shop in Van.  Real friendly folks.  They invited us in for a look around too.  Plan t5 omake future visits for sure.

All locked up

and back to the steel and concrete we all know as Houston.