The equipment is here!

The day has come. I am so excited to see this phase finally underway. It makes the 'in-between-times' seem not so long after all. The road grader, dozer and roller have arrived and the sod is being removed as I type.

Once the sod is removed and the area has been laser-leveled, the soil will be moved around to fill the low areas and then compacted. Then the soil will be covered with crushed rock, compacted and graded for drainage. This should take about a week to complete.

Also included in the project is a new main driveway and culvert as well as a two-tiered seating area along one long side of the arena. When all the dirt work is done, then the footing will be delivered and spread. The only thing left will be the perimeter fencing and gates. We have planned on using a lodge-pole style four-rail fence.

Stay tuned for the hay shed and paddock shelters...

Phase Two Begins...

Construction of the outdoor arena is starting. How exciting !!! We decided to start the outdoor arena before the barn so that I can begin training the horses at home. The horses will be getting new shelters built in their paddocks. Plus, phase two will include the construction of a new hay/storage building. Woohoo, I can hardly wait to see the equipment rolling into the driveway.

Back at it...

I have not posted for quite some time, but I do want to get back at it. Some pretty big mile-stones have been achieved this past year.

The first baby horse that I bred and foaled, "Regalo", was started under saddle. As I assumed, there was absolutely no issue putting a rider on her back. After 15-mins., she was being ridden walk-trot-canter in the round-pen. I had help with her training by several friends and Regalo just seemed to blossom into the most beautiful, most graceful horse I have seen in a long time. She just seemed to float when she moved.

I started to have Jennifer, the trainer, show Regalo at horse shows. Jennifer had asked me, "How far do you want to take her?" I answered without restraint, "All the way. I want that neck ribbon!" I should have known that Regalo would be great, but after her first show and winning both of her large classes; the wheels were set in motion. EVERY SINGLE SHOW she was entered in, Regalo brought home the blue ribbons (1st place). Her scores were phenominal, the judges comments were fantastic, and the crowd of spectators were always buzzing about "there's that mare", "that's the horse I want". Before long, I would hear people calling her by name when they spoke. The year of showing was nearing it's end at Championships in September 2009. It was at the Oregon Dressage Championships that Regalo won. And with that large championship ribbon around her neck, Regalo did the 'Victory Gallop' around the arena with a large crowd watching and cheering her on. I was in tears and overcome with emotion. She did it! Now on to Regional Championships (5 states).

At the Regional Championships, the classes were bigger than any others before. The competition was fierce. It was the best-of-the-best and she needed to shine. And shine she did. Regalo was awsome but she missed the first place by mere tenths of a point. Regalo brought home third, but I couldn't be happier. She ended up getting the "high score" championship award for her breed through the Hungarian Horse Association. She was also the highest scoring Hungarian Horse nationally at her level for the year.

Now the heart-stopper...
We returned home Sunday after the championships and Monday Regalo had two appointments to be seen by prospective buyers. The first people wanted to think about it; the second folks didn't bat an eye and bought her at full asking price. My heart sank, but I knew it was what the ultimate goal was. Regalo now lives in sunny
California. I think of her often and only have her ribbons, pictures, and memories to sustain me. Her wonderful smell is beginning to fade from her show blanket. This will be a tough one to get over, but I have another 3-year-old in the wings to get ready. She will have some pretty big horseshoes to fill.

So with the sale of Regalo behind me, the goal is to begin the second phase of the building process, the barn. So a new chapter begins. I have started drawing the plans and mapping out every detail on paper. I am also getting ready for winter weather, taxes, and training a new horse. I hope to keep up with this blog, but we'll see.

Until then,

Johnna

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IT'S DONE !!!

OK - - things got real busy, real fast. I have not been able to keep you up to date with the progress. I will try to post at least just to have a diary of this production. As I had thought in the beginning, I have been transformed. Don and I had been two-years and two-months in our RV. What an absolute relief to finally have room to move and not be stepping over everything.



We are barely moved in and now I have to concentrate on catching up on the financial end of it that I put off for most of last year.



I have paused many times to give thanks to Jesus. I always said that I could do it, but honestly I had doubts at times.

THINGS ARE GOING VERTICLE!!

My oh my, I just can't believe how fast this portion of the process is. Trusses already. I must sound like a broken record, but it's really true.

And the REAL blessing is ... during the last two months, we have endured hurricane winds at 80 mph; endless rain, and bitter cold. Our water pipes, which are more than two-feet underground, froze; and we have been out of power three times, the longest was for eight-days. However, when we started framing, God kept us in His hands. The power was restored the day framing started, there has been no rain, no wind, and temps in the mid-30's to the upper-40's.

This wonderful weather lasted until the sheeting went on the roof two-and-a-half-weeks later. As soon as the roofers finished laying the felt paper, it started to rain. Our hard work was spared. It rained all weekend, and on Monday the sun came out for construction again.


The shingles are on and the windows are going in. It is now Friday and still no rain. The crew can't believe it. This is truely unusual for WA.

Taking Shape

It's really quite remarkable how fast things start to take shape. Once the lumber was delivered, it was literally just days and the first walls began to rise. My framer had told me during his interview that [they] were just a couple of old guys. He warned that they are not the fastest framers, but that they would get it done right. I felt alright with this as I was not the fastest general contractor. Which I soon realized my first mistake. I didn't get the windows ordered in time. The windows were to be installed into the walls before they were lifted (single wall construction). This means that other than the plywood on the walls, no other material is being used that would cover the flanges of the windows. We have planned to put 'board-and-batt' siding on the buildings. More of a barn look.

In order to financially manage our project, we have decided to phase the construction. This building is phase one of about six phases. This is the "people portion" of the barn. The back side (left in picture) has no windows as it is planned to be connected to the "horse portion" of the barn. Phase two will be the house and/or horse barn, then the covered arena located behind the barn, and the final two phases are two additional wings of horse stalls on the barn.

There's alot happening and my contractor duties are calling me back. So I will close for now.

Johnna

Actual Ground Breaking Day.

I honestly can't believe that this is really happening. I thank God everyday for his blessings.

I have been dreaming of owning a large piece of property with an equestrian facility since I was a child just learning to ride. I have been clipping pictures and drawing plans for about seven-years. Now, with the love and support of my wonderful husband, Don, my dream is becoming reality.

Don has been a real trooper. I don't think that he really knew how hard things were going to get when he took that leap of faith with me. In December 2003, I retired my position at the police department to persue this dream. whoa!! SCARY!! It was October 2004 when we sold our home on five-acres in Olympia. We still had not closed on our new 28 acres in Yelm. Can you say "homeless". SCARY-SCARY!! We moved into a fifth-wheel trailer which was parked in the driveway of some friends. They even accepted our two dogs and four horses with open arms. Bless you Jay and Kim! Finally we closed on the property in November but still had no power, water, septic or fences for the horses. The rush was on to get moved because I was also due for two major back surgeries in a few months in February 2005.

I scurried around and got the fences built around the entire acreage, the neighbors on our south property line let us run a garden hose so that we could water the horses and fill our RV tank. I also got temporary power installed. On Sunday, February 5th 2006, we finally moved to the property. On Tuesday February 7th, surgery began. whew!

Well not much happened for many months because I've been in physical therapy and trying to recover. Don had to stay home from work for three-months to take care of me and ALL the critters 24/7. This San Diego surferboy has really become an accomplished horseman.

After I finally got the finances and subcontractors lined up, now construction is underway. Thank you Lisa and Howard for your help and support. I wouldn't have had the courage without you.

I didn't know that I could be this excited about digging up the dirt with huge diesel powered equipment. Now I have a small insight into why men like large, power-driven tools. lol I start to smile when I can see the tractor-trailer rigs pulling down my street because I know they are coming to my place.

I felt I needed to document this and wanted to share my experiences with my friends and family. Just so you know, I don't have a contractor, and my building is one that I designed and had an architect draw up. I have been from total tears to pure happiness often. This journey, I'm sure, will transform me (hopefully for the better). Check back often as I will be updating as things progress. I hope you enjoy the journey too.

Thank you Jesus, you believe in me.

Johnna