 2009 has become the year to finally "re-focus" and
revamp the Farm Drive Entranceway and complete the nearby Cabin
complex - to transform our property into a
fully-functioning, year-round, tourism destination by 2010.
Coincidentally, we were recently notified by the
NC DOT that the Rocky Ford Road Bridge adjoining our property will be replaced beginning in July
with a six month construction contract. Perhaps these unsightly renovation projects will
simultaneously complete - we hope.
çThe
Photo to the left shows a more natural and rustic entranceway with the removal
of the original redwood post and rail fence, underbrush and
privet.
 èThe
Photo to the right shows a new rock wall to keep entrance vehicles from parking
in a perennial "soft" area. Additional grading and plantings will be added in
the fall.
êThe
Photo below shows newly reinforced cattle T-Post fencing along the entrance
drive (and the removal of the the prior redwood fencing). The front and
back pastures are rotationally grazed by the grass-fed cattle on a weekly basis
and require sound containment.
 Additional hardwood trees and shrubbery plantings
will be made to delineate
the pasture-line from the residence lawn area.
 èThe
Photo to the right shows what will become a grassed parking area near the
Cabin complex. Sixty feet of
underground corrugated drainage pipe will be installed along the swale, bedded in crushed stone,
leveled
and over-planted with turf to provide parking for a dozen vehicles.
Overflow
parking will be handled in normal fashion along the top fence line of the front
pasture.
êThe
Photo below shows the entrance walkway to the Cabin - under construction - over
the existing drainage swale along the entrance drive. The black plastic
corrugated pipe shown will be underground. A safe, level, natural walkway will
be created in character with the Cabin setting.
 èThe
Photo to the right shows the initial 
clearing and preliminary leveling of what will
become an outdoor Patio-Dining area near the Cabin.
This
multi-level, shaded area will provide benches, tables,
chairs and be supported by a traditional stone and grate outdoor wood/charcoal grill
as well as a rustic, wood-burning, Italian bread/pizza oven.
This area
can also serve as an intimate performance amphitheater and meeting space with
sound and lighting system support.
êThe
Photo below shows where the Italian, wood-fired, oven will be constructed -
together with built-in counter and bench seating.
 Progress
Photos will be posted on this web page as construction proceeds during 2009 -
bookmark this page and check back from
time-to-time to see how we are doing.
The Cabin
Complex is being designed to provide a unique setting for special family and
business events. Plan to visit Lynch Creek and assess how we can service your
family and business needs.
[Progress Photos below taken May 30,
2009]
 çDrainage
swale (Parking Area) with underground telephone lines to avoid marked with
step-in posts; 12" corrugated drainage pipe stored in the background
 èPatio-Dining
area with timbers set at walkway steps to create several usable levels.
Restoration of the shed siding boards is underway. Underpinning of the Shed and
roof runoff drainage pipe are being installed.
Underground
electrical service installation from the Cabin to the Shed has begun to provide
sufficient power for equipment and lighting, the nearby Smokehouse, and distant
Spring Pump for the Orchard.
 çAnother view
of the Patio levels created by the step timbers, and the Shed drainage pipe.
A concrete slab elevation will be set for the
Italian, wood-fired oven once the final Patio levels are established.
An auxiliary wood/charcoal grill
will be built to the left with supporting
stonework.
[Progress Photos below taken June 30,
2009]
  çParking Area with
12" corrugated drainage pipe and step-in posts delineating existing underground telephone line.
This area will be backfilled to cover the pipe and re-graded and seeded as needed this
fall.
èPatio-Dining
area timbers create terraced patio.
Underpinning of the Shed and roof runoff drainage pipe are complete. Restoration of the
Shed sill and siding boards is complete.
êAnother view
of the underground Shed drainage pipe.
 èUnderground
electrical service installation from the Cabin to the Shed is complete. Forming
of concrete slab for Cabin HVAC equipment has begun.
Concrete block walls will accommodate the
slope and backfill needed alongside the Cabin.
Preparation for stonework on the Cabin
chimney is complete.
Well pump and installation of underground
water line to Cabin
underway. Septic tank pump and alarm system wiring underway.
Cabin main-level, back-porch "scribe boards" complete and
ready for screen assembly and installation.
HVAC "chase" along chimney and air
handler/ductwork in Cabin mechanical room scheduled for installation.
Area site clearing and cleanup underway in
preparation of landscaping work planned for this fall.
[Progress Photos below taken July 31,
2009]
  çWood-fired
oven slab and wall footing cast-in-place - seven distinct concrete areas have
been poured - footings and slabs. Stone-faced, cinder block wall to be built on
footings shown to finished slab height. A heavily reinforced slab with expansion
joint to adjoin free slab edge that will support the Oven built of masonry -
cinder block and refractory brick.
èSteps
from Patio and Shed drainage piping set in place. A cinder block wall will be
built along the Patio/Step/Slab edge and serve to separate the Patio/Step and
Oven areas while supporting a Patio buffet counter.
 çThe
first of two HVAC slabs was cast. It will support a cinder block wall for the
second slab and accommodate landscaping the steep Cabin side-yard. Note the
footings between the columns for a stone-faced, cinder block wall to support
backfill needed to level the Cabin basement-level Patio under the main-level
Deck above. The basement-level Patio door unit was removed and re-set with the
help of neighbor crafts-person Charles Powell. Additional cable and control wiring
was added that follows the
chase along the chimney to the Main, Top floor and Roof.
During August, much block and stone wall
construction will take place.
A portion of the chimney will be faced with
stone to permit the other HVAC slab in the side-yard to be formed. The main
Rustic Oven foundation slab will be
formed and reinforced. The wall between the Patio and Oven will
be built.
The auxiliary wood/charcoal grill
adjacent to the Patio will be constructed of stone.
Additional outdoor electrical work will
be completed. Site clearing and cleanup will continue in
preparation of landscaping work this fall.
[Progress Photos below taken August 31,
2009]
  çThe
Rustic Bread Oven work area and foundation begins taking shape. A shed roof and
enclosure will be added in the foreground along with landscaping this fall.
The wall will be topped with a
rough-hewn oak buffet serving counter. Notice the steps up to the adjacent Patio
serving area and the adjoining outdoor fireplace.
èStonework
and drainage added between the existing columns to create the outdoor Basement
Patio beneath the main-level Back Porch.
 çThe
sideyard HVAC equipment platforms are complete. The Stonework continues upward
to complete the Chimney. Nearby grading and landscaping work will be completed
in the fall.
Additional electrical work has been
completed in the Shed Building.
August has been a busy and productive
month in spite of the oppressive heat and humidity. The anticipated cooler
weather this fall should help improve our productivity.
Stay tuned for more monthly progress
photos.
[Progress Photos below taken
September 30,
2009]
 çThe
Chimney and stonework are complete. The HVAC line-sets are installed to the
mechanical room (through the foundation wall) and to the second story in the
chase along the chimney. Wood trim will be added to cover the chase, conduit and
cables.
 èThe
existing septic tank risers were unnecessary and have been removed so that final
grading of the basement patio can proceed. The septic tank pump will be
installed before then. The stone steps from the patio to the creek shown in the
foreground are under construction.
êBelow, see
the basement mechanical room with HVAC equipment installed. All ductwork and
exhaust fans have been installed throughout the cabin.
 The
well pump, water heater and pressure tank will be installed next.
The final caulking and painting of all
exterior windows is nearly complete.We expect to begin site grading and
landscaping during October that will be completed in November. Except for the
construction of the masonry, Pizza/Bread Oven - the Cabin exterior will be
completed this year.
Interior electrical, plumbing, insulation and flooring will
occur during the winter months ahead into 2010.
Significant progress has been
made during September. We hope to be complete and fully functional by Spring
2010. Stay tuned!
[Progress Photos below taken
October 31,
2009]
 çThe
Oven "table" construction has begun. Follow the progress as we build the masonry
"dome" and extend the Shed Roof.
 èThe
Well pump and water line to the Cabin have been installed. The Well is 220'
deep.
The Pressure and Water Tanks have been
installed in the Mechanical Room.
 çThe
underground electrical, telephone, cable, water and drain lines below the
Basement-level back Patio are finally in-place.
Work continues to complete the caulking of
all outside windows and the insulation of the roof at the timber sill.
All Cabin site backfilling and landscaping
should be completed during November and December before moving inside for the
winter. The outdoor Wood-fired Pizza/Bread Oven and accompanying protective Shed
Roof construction will proceed as weather permits.
[Progress Photos below taken
November 30,
2009]
  çDriveway
grading and drainage pipe installed for the Cabin entrance drive
(bottom-foreground) and walkway (top-background
èThe outdoor
fireplace is nearly complete.
Landscape work will continue into December
and January - weather permitting.
  çCabin
living room fireplace completed with steel ceiling beam supporting the tier pole
beams for the second story loft. Indoor insulation and chinking will follow the
indoor electrical and plumbing work in 2010.
èHeader
beam and corner post for the Pizza/Bread Oven shed roof erected. Oven table base
reinforcement is complete and ready for the top slab formwork. Next, a 3-1/2"
reinforced concrete slab will be cast; then, an additional 4" insulating
concrete slab to establish the working base for construction of the masonry
(firebrick) dome shaped oven.
 ç
Note the addition of the well pressure tank and hot water heater in the basement
mechanical room. The well is fully operational. Final indoor plumbing remains
yet to be installed.
Wet weather has delayed outdoor work
during the month of November; however, we have not yet had a heavy freeze.
Hopefully mother nature will cooperate with us in December.
Stay tuned for our year-end update of
the progress we have made during 2009. We still expect to complete construction
during 2010.
[Progress Photos below taken
December 31,
2009]
  çThe Shed
Roof was completed over the Rustic Bread Oven cinder block table base. Old
siding boards will be used to enclose two walls of the oven. The free-standing
cedar post was cut from a downed tree on the property.
è The Well
trench through the woods has been back-filled and graded to the Cabin. The well
head has been insulated and camouflaged.
 çThe
Septic Tank pump and alarm system has been installed and tested. Since our Cabin
is on a slope near the Lynch Creek stream, the drain field had to be located in
the front pasture over 100 yards away. The two pre-cast concrete tanks, risers
and covers will be covered with fill after the pump is inspected.
Weather during December was
uncooperative - cold and very wet. Site grading will be started in January and
proceed as weather permits. Sadly, no DOT action yet on our bridge construction
project.
During the winter months work will be
started to complete all remaining indoor electrical and plumbing. We still
expect to complete all work during 2010. Stay tuned for future monthly progress
reports.
For More Information Contact:
LYNCH CREEK
1973 Rocky Ford Road, Kittrell, NC 27544
Tel: 252-492-2600
Internet:
bob@lynchcreek.com
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