The New House!

Well, we finally did it. As of January 13th, 2006, we are now the proud owners of a 2000-sqft log house with a 60-acre estate located in beautiful Trout Lake, WA!

The quick summary:

• The log house was built in 1977 by the previous owners, The Clausens.
  
• The majority of the house is on the main floor, with only the master bedroom and bath occupying the second floor. There is one guest room.
  
• A Lindal Cedar "Great Room" addition was added in 1991
  
• The second floor of the 2-car garage is currently unfinished. Other outbuildings include a garden shed and large machine shop containing all of our newly-purchased farm equipment. You'll probably hear more about the equipment once we figure out how to use it (or even what to do with it!)
  
• Approximately 30 acres of the property is planted in coniferous trees. Originally, it was intended to become a Christmas tree farm, but the market didn't cooperate. So now it is rows of 20-year-old conifers that are managed under a state Forest Stewardship Program. (More on that in future postings)
  

The property even comes with a name: "River Ford Farm", named after a particularly low-bank section of the White Salmon River on the west side of the property. According to local folklore, the Yakama Indians used to cross the river at that section to gather huckleberries on the other side.

Since we plan to be here for quite some time, the photos below will only scratch the surface.


Just to give some perspective... the pink outline is our new property! Just under 60 acres total. This aerial photo is from 2003, so it is fairly recent. As you can see, lots of farmland around us. Trout Lake is an unincorporated section of Klickitat County with approximately 800 residents.


On the threshold of our new house!


One of the happy home-owners exploring the new lands.


Our 1977 log house! In the back you can partially see the Great Room addition that was added later.


A view down the fire lane through one stand of trees.


"The front yard". The house is visible just to the right of center behind some trees; the garage is to the left of center, also behind trees. The circular driveway runs between them.


"The front yard, pt 2" Here you can see the house again, the circular driveway, and the great garden patch in the middle surrounded by cedar seedlings.


Here's a view of the "back" of the house, consisting primarily of the Great Room addition.


Great Room via the Dining Room. Of course, it'll all look different once we get our furniture.

So much to do!

- Mike (& Corinne)