| 11 December, 1999 |
We visit a construction site where Chip Conaty is stacking the outside walls of a log home with the same size
logs as we plan to use.
It all seems so much more real when you see it first hand!
|
| 26 November, 1999 |
We meet with Chip Conaty to discuss the plans so that he can generate a construction bid.
|
| 20 November, 1999 |
We meet with John Marek (Marek Custom Homes) to discuss the plans so that he can generate a construction bid.
|
| 17 November, 1999 |
We meet with Philip Garcia to discuss the plans so that he can generate a construction bid.
|
| 27 October, 1999 |
We receive the construction bid from Pressley Walcik (Walcik Construction).
Since this bid exceeds the entire budget and does not include the railroad Station,
the septic system, or other essential items, we will be soliciting additional bid(s).
|
| 16 October, 1999 |
We go to the Austin County Fair with Bob and Pat McDaniels.
This, of course, has nothing to do with building on the Double Luck, but it does
have something to do with re-learning about life in the country!
|
| 13 October, 1999 |
We visit the Glass with Class showroom to look at
outside doors and windows.
We hope to customize the front door by etching the Double Luck logo into the glass panel.
|
| 9 October, 1999 |
We meet with Pressley Walcik (Walcik Construction) and visit a few of his job sites.
He is given a set of the final plans so that he can develop a construction bid.
|
| 2 October, 1999 |
The final final drawings are back from
Old-Timer Log Homes.
We will be working with change orders from now on!
|
| 11 September, 1999 |
We met with Bob McDaniels to return the changes to the preliminary set of final drawings.
Old-Timer Log Homes is now working on the
revisions.
The main change we made was to convert the four front windows on the first floor into two box windows.
Marsha wants to have window seats.
We also specified railings for the porches, and have definitely decided to keep the stone chimney!
|
| 6 September, 1999 |
The preliminary set of final drawings have been returned from
Old-Timer Log Homes.
We met with Bob McDaniels to review them.
These drawings contain some interesting surprises that will likely become permanent.
For example, the pitch of the roof over the shed dormer has been changed so that this portion of roof begins at
the main ridge.
This looks a lot nicer!
In addition, a stone chimney has been shown, while we had been planning to use a direct vent gas fireplace.
But the chimney looks so natural on the house that we are strongly considering keeping it!
|
| August, 1999 |
No individual events were significant enough to make this list, but a lot of research was done towards the
selection of exterior doors, windows, roofing, flooring, cabinets, and other details that will be needed before
construction begins.
|
| 15 July, 1999 |
We meet again with Bob McDaniels with mark-ups for the final set of preliminary drawings from
Old-Timer Log Homes.
|
| 3 July, 1999 |
The Last Chance beer and barbeque party is held at our house in Sugar Land.
The next party will be at the Double Luck!
|
| 23 June, 1999 |
We meet again with Bob McDaniels to review the latest set of preliminary drawings from
Old-Timer Log Homes.
I will not say that this is the beginning of the end, but it is definitely the end of the beginning.
That was the final set of preliminary drawings.
Next, we will go for a preliminary set of final drawings!
|
| 5 June, 1999 |
We meet again with Bob McDaniels to review the latest set of preliminary drawings from
Old-Timer Log Homes.
This set shows the walk-way that will connect the
Double Luck Farm House
and Double Luck Garage.
Because of the large number of changes that have been made to the Garage design,
we decide to go for one more set of preliminary drawings.
|
| 16 May, 1999 |
We meet again with Bob McDaniels to review the cost estimates.
The estimate for the Double Luck
Farm House is unchanged.
The estimate for the Double Luck
Garage, however, is determined to be unrealistic.
Some compromises will be required for both the Garage and the
Double Luck Station
in order to match the dream to reality.
|
| 14 May, 1999 |
We meet again with David Bell to discuss construction of the
Double Luck Station.
The initial cost estimate is higher than expected.
We may have to postpone construction until the cost for the
Double Luck Farm House
are solidified.
|
| 8 May, 1999 |
Those nine fence posts that survived last weekend?
They are now laying on the ground.
|
| 5 May, 1999 |
We meet again with Bob McDaniels to review our markings on the preliminary drawings for the
Double Luck Farm House.
The drawings are being returned to
Old-Timer Log Homes so they can produce the next
iteration of preliminary drawings.
A lot of questions were answered; a lot of new ones were raised.
There must be 20 million details!
Wouldn't it be nice if they were to cost no more than a penny each?
(Please do not shatter my dreams and fantasies.)
|
| 1-2 May, 1999 |
| 1 May, 1999 |
|
In an act sometimes called "sweat equity", we remove 19 of the 28 fence poles surrounding the future
foundation for the Double Luck
Station.
The remaining nine will be a lot easier after a good night's sleep. |
| 2 May, 1999 |
Unfortunately, we did not get one.
Our first night of sleep at the Double Luck leaves something to be desired; some people
call it an "air mattress".
The nine fence poles survive for a while longer.
|
| 28 April, 1999 |
Met with David Bell again to continue discussion of the
Double Luck Station.
|
| 24 April, 1999 |
Met with Bob McDaniels to discuss the preliminary drawings returned from
Old-Timer Log Homes for the
Double Luck Farm House.
Also met with David Bell, a contractor, to discuss construction plans for the
Double Luck Station.
|
| 17-19 April, 1999 |
| 17 April, 1999 |
|
A large pile of brush is gathered for disposal and torched, producing 20-30 foot flames.
Ants choose this moment to foul the switch controlling the pump on the well.
So, who needs water when there is plenty of fire around?
Realizing that insurance is unlikely to cover the total destruction of the Piney Creek subdivision,
Larry panics and digs a fire break. |
| 18 April, 1999 |
|
The fire is still smoldering; Larry is still
panicking. |
| 19 April, 1999 |
The well is repaired.
Oh, sure!
Now there is water!
|
| 28 March, 1999 |
We select Old-Timer Log Homes as the builder for
the Double Luck Farm House.
The conceptual plans created using 3D Home Architect Deluxe
are submitted for development of preliminary drawings.
|
| 14 March, 1999 |
The doubleluck.com domain name is registered, creating the
Double Luck web site and e-mail address.
|
| 3 March, 1999 |
The computer software is upgraded to 3D Home Architect
Deluxe Version 3.0.
|
| 27 February, 1999 |
We discuss our plans with a representative of Nostalgic Log Homes in Brenham, Texas.
|
| 5 January, 1999 |
We discuss plans for building a log home with Bob McDaniels, a representative of
Old-Timer Log Homes.
We begin using 3D Home Architect computer software to
formulate detailed plans for the
Double Luck Farm House,
the Double Luck Garage,
and the Double Luck Station
.
|
