From Blueprint to Blessings. Where Are We Now?
An Update from the Heart of the Ranch (and a Narrow Escape from a Glass Corridor)
There’s a moment in every big build when the dust settles just enough for you to pause, look around, and whisper… are we getting close? That’s where we are now. Somewhere between the blueprints and the blessings. Between what’s finished, what’s next, and all the unexpected in-betweens.
Construction: In Progress, But Glowing
So where are we really?
Electrical – still going strong
HVAC Phase One – done
Plumbing Phase One – wrapped up… ish
And by “ish,” I mean we’ve added more pipes than we ever imagined. Water lines stretching from the house and barn, to the lake, to the ponds. Thinking ahead. Planning for the animals, the gardens, the what-ifs and the wouldn’t-it-be-nice-if-we-hads.
This July has been strange. A lot of rain… blessings from above… leaving our pastures still lush and green. We’re grateful. And slightly suspicious.
A wide, sunlit view of the Essex Ranch pastures after heavy rains… lush, green, and glowing under a clear sky. The land stretches toward the horizon, dotted with trees and glimmers of water in the distance, quietly capturing the beauty (and mystery) of an unusually vibrant summer.
Windows, Doors & One Very Memorable Corridor
A quick walkthrough of the newly finished glass corridor… the one that now connects the main house to the garage. It’s filled with natural light, framed by sweeping views of the ranch, and somehow even more breathtaking in motion.
We’re thrilled to finally see most of the windows and doors in… and both glass corridors are now complete.
Let me tell you about the day we accidentally trapped ourselves inside it.
It was late afternoon. Shon, Ladybird, and I were excited to see the newly completed glass corridor that connects our master bedroom to the guest house. You can already feel how magical it will be… the light, the views, the design. So naturally, we stepped inside.
And then… the door closed.
And didn’t reopen.
Everyone had already left for the day. Everyone, that is, except our newly hired ranch hand (and beloved family member), Angel. He was out on loud equipment, completely unaware of our plight.
I’m not saying I panicked, but let’s just say I had 911 hovering on my phone. The idea of calling emergency services to report that we’d locked ourselves in a glass hallway? Not exactly how I wanted to introduce myself to local first responders.
Eventually, Angel saved the day (thank God he had phone service), but I’ll leave the blame game up to the jury. Was it me? Was it Shon? Was it Ladybird’s tail? We may never know. But I do know someone now double-checks the door before stepping in.
(Again… depends on who you ask.)
The now-infamous glass corridor—trapping rookies, capturing sunsets.
The Stone That Speaks
The stonework has begun, and it might be my favorite part so far.
We searched for a long time to find something that felt right. Not too perfect. Not too polished. We didn’t want our home to feel trendy… we wanted it to feel anchored.
The hand-cut Chapel Buff stone we chose gives the house an old soul… one that says, “I’ve always been here. I belong here.” It adds warmth, weight, and a timeless character that blends beautifully with the glass and steel.
Shon had a very clear vision: nothing too uniform, too modern, or too flat. We mocked up several samples. The hand-cut stone stood out instantly. It’s rugged, grounded, and quietly regal. Exactly what the house needed.
Next up: soffits, and then the roof.
Chapel Buff, 50/50 light and dark mix—texture, history, and soul in every stone.
Fabric, Tile, and the Joy of Details
Beyond the build, we’ve been diving deep into the fun part… tile, wallpaper, more stone, more tile, and so many fabric swatches.
It’s a swirl of choices and possibilities, and honestly, I love it. It’s where the vision becomes real, and where the little things start to whisper the bigger story: texture, color, comfort, intention.
It’s all in the details.
The Wild Things Are Watching
This was supposed to be a simple ranch house. A place to get away, reconnect with land and family. But somewhere along the way… it grew. And it’s still growing.
The barn pad has been poured… one baby step closer to welcoming the animals we’ve dreamed of. Until then, the land is far from empty.
There’s life all around us. And lately, I’ve felt it watching us as much as we watch it.
Some deer don’t run like they used to. They pause, curious, observing. I stop to admire them, and they stand quietly, doing the same.
For Shon’s birthday, I gave him trail cameras. Best gift ever. The footage has become our favorite form of entertainment… watching the animals live their lives. The zoomies, the standoffs, the way the fawns mess with the turkeys and the squirrels try to act like they run the place. It’s like a wild preschool out there… chaotic, adorable, and strangely organized. And it’s perfect.
There have been so many fawns born lately. I love their clumsy confidence, their big-eyed wonder. Watching them reminds me of us… trying to find our footing on this land, learning how to live here, to belong here.
And maybe… we already do.
Caught on cam: fawns, zoomies, and Ladybird’s four-legged neighbors living their best lives.
From Vision to Belonging
Every week brings something new… another piece of the puzzle, another sign that the land is letting us in.
This is more than just a house. More than a ranch. It’s a becoming.
From blueprints to blessings, and all the wild, muddy, magical spaces in between… we’re still becoming.
And honestly, that might be the biggest blessing of all.
Stay Connected to the Ranch
The journey’s just getting started… from glass corridors and stonework to surprise visits from curious deer, there’s always something unfolding out here.
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We’d love to have you on this journey with us.
And of course, no update would be complete without Ladybird…. our ranch mascot, wildflower muse, and quiet observer of all things curious and untamed.
Still becoming,
The Essex Ranch
