25 Years Ago ...

Two hopeful people embarked on a new venture. Harley and Rose had a dream of living in a comfortable home in the quiet of the country. Harley loved the family ranch and all the attending benefits of country life while Rose insisted on enjoying access to the nearby city of Colorado Springs.

The home is designed with passive solar elements such as south facing primary wall and clerestory windows. Here is the journey in pictures.

Harley and Rose select a location and lay out the vision of a home on the property.
The favored property was near the creek bed with all of it's cottonwood tree. Ground is broken according to plan
Friends are willing to help on this new venture.
The walls are poured and then the basement floor is leveled to grade
A walkout basement is the result of careful planning and a south slopping lot. The Basement is ready for the house to be built. The elements of South Windows, Interior concrete for thermal mass and Earth wrapping around the north side are included in the design.
A retaining wall is needed around the East side. Railroad Ties are the selected material for this wall.
The retaining wall is done and dirt filled in and leveled
The home exterior is ready for stucco. While Harley stands by his old Nissan pickup.
Rose sitting on the step of the newly completed home. It looks really good now with the stucco.
The last of the leveling is being done and getting ready to plant an island of trees in the front or South side of the home.
The wind is sometimes strong out here on the prairie so trees are a great idea. Rose learns how to transplant 3 foot evergreens from nearby Black Forest and starts about the task of planting over 100 trees.
While a retaining wall was used on the Southeast corner, on the Southwest corner a terrace gave a wonderful place to plant a garden or shrubs and flowers
The vision begins to materialize as the seasons pass. Sitting on the west porch gives a wonderful peaceful view of Pikes Peak and the mountain range that wraps all the way around to the South
As the years pass the trees grow and winters blanket the whole earth in gentle snow.
Each day carries a new memory. Evenings are graced with the beauty of the sunset.
25 years of labor and patience and today the home is a quiet oasis for the Edwards. The trees provide a wind break and a place for small animals to make a home and provide many hours of enjoyment.

 

A Final Comment

Isn't it amazing what the power of vision can do. From open prairie with a wonderful view 25 years ago to a comfortable country home with trees and flowers and wildlife all around. The city is still close but the city lights are not so close that they disturb the beauty of the stars at night. Each day is a quiet celebration of what was just a dream.

Now they are ready for you to realize your dream also,  Contact us to learn more and to purchase your dream property.