JULY 2006: PRIMA FACIE (FIRST APPEARANCE)
We saw the property for the first time in May 2006 and immediately fell in love with the undisturbed peaceful setting. The property is land-locked and only accessible by a small road about 1/4 mile long (Barker Road). Scenic trails crisscrossed the property which was home to about 3000 evergreen trees, some of them 30 feet tall. It appeared that Mr. Johnson had not sold or planted any new trees for quite some time: the property was overgrown with heavy buck thorn. We closed on the property in August 2006.
Aerial photograph 2006
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2006: CLEARING BUCK THORN
We were anxious to discover what we had bought. We hired a small crew to start clearing some of the 37 acres of forest. We kept all healthy trees: pine trees and hard woods mostly. Everything else had to go to make room for the healthy trees to grow better and for new trees to be planted. The crew, 4 incredibly industrious workers, were busily cutting, chopping, sawing, and burning wood when we visited them around lunch time. We actually got to see what this property could look like with some tender loving care. Much of our forest will eventually be enrolled in the Illinois Forestry Assistance Program. This program was developed to encourage and assist land owners in managing their forests and maintain ecological processes. It was a wonderful feeling to walk on our land and actually see what it looks like.
FEBRUARY 2007: MOST EVERYTHING IS CLEARED
The full 37 acres were cleared. There were still some dead trees the crew had cut down that needed to be removed. But this work would be accomplished in the summer. The property looked wonderful with a white winter coat. The snow reflected the sun and with the evergreens breaking up the white landscape, the area looked like a remote piece of land in Colorado rather than a property 25 minutes away from O’Hare. Nektosha had become the most favored place for us to go walking.
Aerial photograph 2007
JUNE 2007: EXPLORING THE PROPERTY
Spring was as enchanting for us as winter was. We strolled the property regularly and we finally were able to explore the site to make good decisions about where to build. Our Berners, Gali and Qiana, found lots of little treasures and things to eat, chew, drag around, and bark at. There is a construction fence (called a silt fence) to protect the wetlands from pollution while building on the property. We found two turtles stranded between the fences and unable to reach the water. Tom saved them. Watch the video of all the activities.
FALL 2008-2010: BUILDING THE HOUSE AND THE BARN
The first step in our building plans was to locate the site for the house. View was important to us as well as sun exposure and we oriented the back of the house towards the small pond (southerly direction). We started building in the spring of 2009 and moved into the finished house on Labor Day weekend 2010. The barn and riding arena are located to the north-west of the house in easy walking distance. We fenced in four large pastures each visible from the bedroom and from the library.
Aerial photograph 2009: Site being prepared
Aerial photograph 2010: House and barn under construction
- Slideshow: Building the house
- Slideshow: Building the barn
Aerial photograph 2012: Fences built