I remember very clearly the first time I visited. It was a Sunday afternoon in early Sept '12, there had been severe weather that day and I had to wait until the tornadic storms passed. I arrived and saw the realtor's car as she was waiting inside. I immediately walked to the edge of the bluff and took this photo on my old cheap phone. This was the first thing I saw of this place:
After being blown away by the view and the setting, walked to the edge of the round stone house and looked at the exterior. Immediately I thought of 'castle' ... a little one. Later I'd name this place 'Sky Castle' ... as a friend later told me that this perch was on the 'edge of an ocean of air.'
I closed the deal on Oct. 17, 2012 and the next weekend, loaded up the trailer with a few basic things, including a futon and some lumber to build a woodshed.
It was beautiful that weekend. It was sunny, the leaves were turning, the wind was blowing in from the cove. It was a challenge to hold up the lumber to frame the woodshed. But I got it done. I had no TV or internet, just the radio station from AL A&M University in Huntsville. I cut enough wood for the evening fire and set up my futon in front of the fireplace.
I made some oak tables, a bed, and a kitchen island. It was fun making the furniture. I then decided the exterior needed my signature, so ... as my first venture into visual art, I created the sky symbol 'sun' and the Sky Castle sign.
Over the years, I added a weather station, a large woodshed and wood splitter, a spa with porch roof, some plants, and a covered porch complete with wood stove, futon, TV ... and this piece of copper wind art:
This is the house I'll likely live in the rest of my life. Being in nature surrounded by never-to-be developed Land Trust Wilderness and the protected Franklin Forest is the place I want to be.
Future plans are to build a guest house.
