THE LEGEND of Saskatchewan's Qu'Appelle Valley is a poignant one. An Indian warrior has traveled a long distance to marry. Approaching his bride's village, he hears his name called twice. He replies first in English, then in French: "Who calls? Qu'appelle?" There is no reply, and when he arrives at the village, he discovers his intended has died. She called his name twice before she died, he is told. In keeping with the legend, the lakes in the valley basin have been known as the Calling Lakes. According to another tale, an aboriginal man heard someone call his name as he paddled along the river. There was no response when he called back. The waterway became the Who Calls River. The legend, history and geography of the valley, which cuts across southern Saskatchewan, have always fascinated residents. When you live on the flatland, the novelty of suddenly descending into the beauty that is the Qu'Appelle never fades. Increasingly, people who want to retire in the country or who are prepared to make a longer commute to work are making their homes in the valley, especially in the area northwest of Regina. For Cory and Lisa Fuchs (rhymes with toques), the vista is a bonus beyond their desire for a rural home capacious enough for their family of six children. They live and work on a 21-acre property near the Qu'Appelle River, just west of the town of Lumsden. With a view of the valley's south-facing slope from the front of the house, and the back of their home built into a hill that's part of the north side, the family has a front-row seat for the ballet of the changing seasons and the whims of the weather. They enjoy it all: morning fog, winter white-outs, spring floods and the first exuberant burst of green shoots. Lisa's favourite season is fall. "I love the colours, the oranges and the browns," she says, her eyes fixed on the autumn valley garbed in orange and brown along with yellow and green. The Fuchses moved into their home in July 2003, when they blended their families. Lisa and her sons, Zachary, now 12, Austin, 10, and six-year-old Brock, were living on an acreage near Bethune, farther west and above the valley. Cory and his daughters, Melissa, 14, and Leah, 11, were on his parents' farm in the same area. Their son Evan, born after the move, is now two. They needed a home with lots of space, and they also needed to be handy to school and the children's many activities. At 5,400 square feet on three levels, with six bedrooms and five bathrooms, this one is perfect. It is a five-minute drive to Lumsden, with its school, skating rink, grocery store and all the other amenities. And it's less than 30 minutes to Regina. The 4,000-square-foot workshop on the property was another attraction. "It's any man's dream," Lisa says with a laugh. The workshop was also the site of their wedding. A local contractor developed the property in the mid-1990s for his own family. The shop was to be part of an autobody business that didn't materialize. The second owner, who took possession in 2001, told the Fuchses she believed the home was built according to the ancient Chinese principles of feng shui. The hill rising from the back of the home suggests security and stability, and the floor plan creates good energy, they were told. The home certainly provides a good first impression. The front door opens to a spiral staircase illuminated by a long chandelier of glass pendants. On the second floor, the light is reflected in a curved wall of beveled mirrors. The wood and trim throughout the home are stained oak. It's an elegant home, but also a family-friendly one. There are no curtains; roller shades were installed on the south-facing windows of the living room, where sunlight pours in during every season. Otherwise, the focus is on light, shadows and the fabulous views of the valley. It's a warm home. In-floor radiant heating on all three levels makes the rooms cosy and eliminates the need for a furnace. "There's nothing better than a warm, dry floor," Lisa says, adding this also means the air in the house isn't dry, a liability with homes on the prairies. "There is no instant heat," she explains. "It takes two days to heat up in the fall and two days to cool down when it's turned off." The family has electricity and natural gas, water from a rural distribution system, and a septic system. Their barbecue, clothes dryer and stove all use natural gas. Only high-speed internet access is lacking. For Cory, the main attraction of the house, apart from its ability to accommodate the family, is the steam shower. It's in the basement, and it's huge. The two showerheads and steam jets produce water vapour that adds humidity and fosters relaxation. Lisa has her favourite features, too: the kitchen, the living room, and the master bedroom with ensuite bath, including a heart-shaped, jetted tub. They also enjoy the sunroom on the west side of the home, opening to the deck complete with a hot tub. The home has a restful ambience, even with the presence of rambunctious youngsters, two dogs, five cats and two chinchillas. There is a lot going on here, including two home-based businesses. C&L Removal Services focuses on snow removal, corral cleaning, groundwork and other jobs requiring a Bobcat. Through C&L Water Delivery, the Fuchses deliver bottled water under contract. "It's more convenient to work at home," says Cory, who has also worked for surrounding municipalities, grading roads. "There's room to park everything." The heated shop is used for storage and repairs. It isn't difficult to leave work at the office, Lisa says. There is no packing up, no commute. She simply closes the office door. They have made few changes to the home in the three years they've lived here, although they repainted indoors and extended the deck this past summer. Nor do they plan to alter the natural landscape on their acreage. They like the low-maintenance xeriscaping of the back hill, undertaken by the original owner to help the yard blend in with its surroundings. At certain times of the year, however, the yard can be a lot of work. "We are forever cutting grass," says Lisa. By not tampering too much with the environment, they can enjoy the parade of deer and the odd porcupine or skunk in a natural setting, she adds. The children enjoy riding their bikes down the hill behind the house. In the winter, toboggans are the vehicles of choice. Zachary and Austin say the best thing about living in the country is having the space for such activities. In addition, their parents keep busy driving them back and forth to hockey, baseball, and visits with friends. They also have a ready-made nature hike near their property: the Trans Canada Trail runs past along the valley floor. In her spare moments, Lisa does cross-stitching on a frame that sits near a window, overlooking the back deck and yard. She savours the quiet and the privacy of acreage living, and this home with its stunning views. "I'm very proud of it," she says. "I love it."