Our Homestead

What is a Homestead? Well the American Heritage Dictionary thinks it is " a house, especially a farmhouse with adjoining buildings and land. Property designated by a householder as his home and protected by law from forced sale to meet debts. Land claimed by a settler or a squatter, especially under the Homestead Act. The place where one's home is and to settle and farm land, especially under the Homestead Act."

The Homestead Act is an act passed by Congress in 1862 promising ownership of a 160 acre tract of public land to a head of a family after he had cleared and improved the land and lived on it for five years.

So this is our Homestead! By the time this home is complete, we would have spent more than 5 years " clearing and improving" the land. It took us about 3 years to find the land, almost 2 years to research the materials and work with Cary Kipp, Architect, to develop the plans. Construction began in early June 2010 and will finish by the end of this year, 2011. Our Hill Country Hacienda is a "farmhouse with adjoining buildings". The 3 "casitas" adjoining the Main House are for our 3 children and their families. Each has a sleeping main room, a second room for study, play, or a growing family, also a kitchenette, large bath and a weekend closet. These "casitas" are designed for rest and privacy.

The Main House is for gathering: A Master Bedroom Suite, Mud Room, Gallery for Art, Preparation Kitchen, Open Great Room for food service, dining and gathering, an Exercise Room, Study for Bill and several bathrooms for our guests. The outside areas are as important for gathering as the inside space: Front courtyard will have a firepit and a prayer garden, the back veranda will hold an outdoor kitchen, bar, 2 TV's and comfortable furniture for gathering. Below the veranda is the swimming pool and another larger firepit...and more important, a beautiful view of the Hill Country, Enchanted Rock and the Texas Sky. Who could ever believe that this would be the result of our efforts when we started this project more than 5 years ago?

Building OUR HOMESTEAD...



OUR HOMESTEAD: a farmhouse with adjoining buildings called OMESA.