It’s been over three months now, and two full months since we started working on the new room. The new room is almost finished! It has a cave-like, unique appearance, which is kind of cool, and it should remain cool since the only window allows very little heat in.

From the neighbor’s land, you can see that the room’s wall also serves as the perimeter wall. The window, which is the only one, will be 3×2 meters with sliding doors and slightly polarized, protecting us from the sun and ensuring privacy.

On top of the room, what was initially planned to be an extended garden has transformed into a full terrace. It now includes a barbecue (which will also heat a sauna in the bathroom underneath), a kitchen, and a lounge area. The kitchen will have an open working space allowing for easy dish passing to the table, a fridge, and a sink. We’re even considering moving the main kitchen there, although it will be open, meaning people or animals could come in at night.

The entire terrace area will cost a bit more but should stay under $10K. We’ve recycled a lot of wood from the 90 acres of land, which is impressive. We hired someone to polish the wooden pillars, and we’ve used them to strengthen the roof, build a covered area over the terrace, and make an awesome table. This sturdy table is extremely heavy, seats 10-12 people, and only cost about $30 for the guy’s labor. We also saved money by not needing a table structure.

Inside the room, the bed is built from stone and concrete; we just need to buy a mattress. It isn’t the prettiest bed but it’s practical since we won’t need to clean under it. Storage and shelving will surround the room, all with a concrete layer underneath to prevent dust and pests.

The bathroom is nearly done too. The shower floor is made of smooth beach rocks set in concrete, and it’s not slippery. There’s also a skylight for natural light, and a door is on order. Next, we’ll build a small adjacent room for a guardian or maid, and add a wall to separate the service area from the garden.

On the 90 acres development front, progress is slow. The young architect we hired seems overwhelmed and is delegating most of the work. Initially, he wanted a week on-site for mapping but quickly realized the tall grass was challenging. We found a farmer to graze cattle, but eventually, we had to burn the remaining grass. It wasn’t eco-friendly, but it worked, and now, the team should return to finish mapping. With this map, we can draw parcels, streets, and start selling plots. Our new room might even serve as a show room.

I’m amazed we kept the cost of the new room under $10K. With about 600 sqft downstairs and the same for the terrace, the cost per sqft is really low, thanks to materials from the land and cheap labor. However, the overall land development will be expensive, so we might sell small plots at low prices to cover ongoing costs or consider paying workers with land, which would quickly gain value.

On a sad note, Mrs. Goose has passed away. She was likely hurt by someone or our rooster. We found her lifeless in the lake and bought a new female goose for Mr. Goose, who moved on quickly. Even though geese are monogamous, and he had been with her for 4-5 years, the new goose laid an egg on her first day. Our five chicks have grown to seven, and all are healthy, sleeping in our bathroom due to nest disputes.

That’s it for now. Have a great week!