Tuesday, February 27, 2007

NEW PLOT PLAN


Rec Center is old Guest Cabin

Monday, February 26, 2007

THEY REALLY WERE CABINS !!!


Original Guest Cabin


Original Main Cabin

Sunday, February 25, 2007

HOT TUB


You may have noticed the current plan for the Guest Cabin includes a Hot Tub. I would appreciate knowing your opinion.... who is for it? ...who would or would not use it?... who is against it? Please use the comments section below.
Thanks!



FRANK IV's SUGGESTION


Saturday, February 24, 2007

NEW BARN ..... DECORATED




Thanks to Alessandra, Cristina & Francesca !!!

NEW BARN





Thursday, February 22, 2007

MEETING

I met with Rick Whidden today. He is the guy who is handling the Special Exception process. Application deadline is March 7 to get on agenda of the May 8th hearing date. ...... a little progress!

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

LATEST HOUSE PLAN

STATUS REPORT

First, I have a new guy in Sebring handling the zoning process which is necessary before doing anything.

Then, while I may go ahead with the barn (given the enormous pressure I am under), my plan is to do a large farm improvement project after the company is sold (i.e. “next year”). That would include not only a new Guest Cabin (that term may change) but a new dock, new fencing, a new entrance gate, skeet shooting range, horse riding field, possibly an enlarged garage/storage and anything else that would bring the place up to where we want it for the next thirty years or so.... but keep the traditions and old "farm feeling”.

The new Guest House is designed to match the existing but is still thought of as a second house. ... even though it is quite a bit larger that the Main House. Admittedly as that design grew I began wondering if it should be even larger and become a new Main House. Jinjer, for example suggested it include a “rec room” so there would be a place to send the kids on cold and rainy days.

The way I have it, however, keeps the relative coziness of the Main Cabin and the Guest Cabin - with it’s split bedroom wings - can house several families and provide ample room for larger indoor dining events. Since the porch in the old Guest Cabin was never used I have designed only a small porch in the new one.

I think, the way I have the new house designed, the farm will work well for various sized groups from small to large sometimes using only one house or the other and sometimes using both.

With the new ATVs the garage is now very cramped so I am thinking about enlarging it or adding a carport.

What else ....

The fill was brought in to raise the shoreline and eliminate some soggy areas there. The canal was filled as we had excess fill available from the pond we dug and I believe that someday we will want to bring the driveway in between the two houses. Also the canal was an eyesore in my opinion. It was either dig it out again or fill it.

As we improve the fields, fencing etc I would like to work on the east shoreline somewhat.

I don’t think we need any more beach but I do plan to trim back the bushes on the east end of the island lakeshore to improve the view from the Guest Cabin.

I am thinking it is time to really upgrade the dock. It would be made of some of the newer simulated wood products and include a permanent roofed area at the end for shade as well as an open area for getting sun. I am also thinking about a roofed boat storage with boat lift. That would also solve the garage storage problem. Also a new slide either on the dock or in the lake would be on my list.

WELCOME EVERYONE !!!


Fifty six years ago - January 15th, 1951 - Elkcam Farm was purchased by the Mackle family. Four generations have now enjoyed this place that God surely made. The purpose of this Blog is to keep you up to date on the planning that is going into keeping our little peace of Paradise for the next fifty six years and the next four generations..........Enjoy!