Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Hasty Brook from the Sky

Aerial view of Hasty Brook

Our purchase of ten additional acres is complete! Last winter we looked in to the county tax records to find out who owned the ten acre parcel to out south and wrote the owners asking if they were interested in selling. We receive a reply in a week stating that they were eager to sell. Part of the reason we wanted that land was that we were hoping it would give us enough room for a building site for a cabin. There is a county set-back requirement of 150 feet from the creek and as you can see, Hasty Brook curves around quite a bit making the set-back a difficulty.


Our land is the top half of this 40 acre section.

We are headed up to Hasty Brook Wednesday evening through the weekend. On Friday we will be meeting with a septic designer who will make a recommendation on where (if) we can put in a septic system. In the above photo you can see that the creek bisects the property and we have no road access to the land east of the creek. The area inside the loop of the creek in the northwest part of the photo is where we currently have our road and clearing for the camper. This is where we would like to build. Since that loop falls within the 150 foot set-back area we will have to apply for a variance. A variance hearing requires lots of paper work and no small amount of money- all with no guarantees. I'm trying not to be discouraged. Please wish us luck!

I'm anxious to see what's blooming up there. Hopefully I'll be able to get some more pictures of the ferns, trees and wildflowers and continue with my project of cataloging the flora of Hasty Brook. I'll bring along a bag of birdseed to fill the empty feeders. I've taken the feeders down the last few times we've visited because of the bear damage but it doesn't seem to take the birds long to find the buffet once the feeders are refilled and hung! We'll most likely spend one afternoon in Duluth- my favorite city. The kids always look forward to a trip to a store called The Electric Fetus. They are an independent music store that carries an incredible variety of music plus some clothes and accessories that my kids really like. I bought my last favorite CD by Emmylou Harris there. So I hope the weather is nice so we can get some work done and do some relaxing too. We'll have extra chairs around the bonfire and I make pretty good s'mores. The cooler will be stocked- Malibu Rum and OJ, iced tea, Irish whiskey. We've even been known to make fruit smoothies! So if you're in the neighborhood, stop over!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I do wish you lots of luck! S'mores sound so good. I guess it is too soon to make a turn around trip back to the area. However, if you were to make some lefse......! :-)

Deb said...

From everything I've heard about variances in these parts, if you do the required stuff, you will be approved after a hearing. At least that's how it works in my county. They don't raise a fuss over details.

And, I just may get the inclination to stop by. Now that you've posted the aerial photo, which I have access to at work, I think I can find my way there. ;) Just hope you're not in MY favorite city when I do stop by!

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Oh, Lynne--A wish for good luck is flying your way!
That sounds like a wonderful plan you have--and I know how special Hasty Brook is to you and your family.

What a nice retreat you will have there!

Marsha said...

I am very curious...where is Hasty Brook? We are going to Duluth for the tall ship festival next weekend and to spend time with our daughter...do we drive near HB?

This will be so wonderful when you are done. I don't think a variance will be a problem but yes, paper, paper, paper! If we lived closer DH could do your septic design/installation :-)

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Linda- I'll make you a batch of lefse to get you to come back!

Bird Girl- We really are lucky- we have 20 acres now!!

Deb- I sure hope you're right about the variance. We got kind of mixed messages about our chances from difference people from St. Louis county. I'll make it easy for you to stop by- I'll send you the directions!!

Nina- Thanks for the good luck wishes. I really have my heart set on building there. I love that place so.

Marsha- Hasty Brook is about 20 miles west of Cloquet and then 6 miles north of Cromwell. I heard about the tall ship festival. We hope to see some of it. I sure hope you're right and we can get the variance. Too bad you don't live closer. I'd never heard of septic design before. I didn't know it was so complicated! If we ever get this cabin built we'll have to have a Minnesota Blogger Cabin Weekend!!

KGMom said...

Lucky you--you'll get to build a cabin at Hasty Brook. Can't wait for it to go up, and for you to show us pics.
I know--I am rushing things a bit!

Mary C said...

Lynne, I sure hope everything will go well for you. I know it's been a dream of yours for quite a while. Best of luck to you and DH!

Jayne said...

How exciting Lynne! Congratulations and good luck on the variance so that you can get started on building your Shangri-lai! I'd love to pull up a chair at your bonfire. :c)

NCmountainwoman said...

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I do hope everything comes out just fine. Hope it's a great weekend.

Speaking of Emmy Lou. It's not a new CD, but one of my favorites, "All the Roadrunning" with Emmy Lou and Mark Knofpler. I love it. If you don't already have it, buy it and give it a listen.

Anonymous said...

Glad you expanded your territory. A cabin sounds wonderful. A great place to hang out during the summer.

dguzman said...

I'm definitely going to have to visit you now. If the economy keeps going to sh*t, I'll need a place to build a little log cabin and grow food!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Marsha mentioned the tall ships being in Duluth next week. Our ship, the US Brig Niagara is going to be there. Salute!!! she's a grand ship!

Eve said...

Good Luck Lynne,
I hope it all went well!!!

Susan Gets Native said...

Red tape. I hate it. Keep plugging away, Lynne! How marvelous that your little piece of Heaven is expanding!

S'Mores? Irish whiskey?
Where are my car keys? Here I come!

Mary said...

Stay positive. I am. I want some of those s'mores and Rum and OJ one day on the porch of your cabin.

Have fun, Linne!

Mary

Mary said...

Stay positive. I am. I want some of those s'mores and Rum and OJ one day on the porch of your cabin.

Have fun, Linne!

Mary

Tommy said...

Hasty Brook, Mars??

Congratulations on the purchase, and good luck with the hearing.

Will look to NASA finding your cabin soon ;)

Tommy

RuthieJ said...

Variance--such a scary word! Congratulations on becoming landowners and I hope all goes well for you & Art as your dream home in the northwoods becomes a reality.

Kathie Brown said...

How exciting! I can't wait to hear how it all turns out!