Wednesday, August 14, 2013

To fill in the blanks a bit

So, yeah, there’s a big obvious gap in posts here from May to late July.  That was a time of complete chaos and despair, to put it mildly.  Our house/farm had been on the market for three-four months and all the showings were getting very tiring and we’d only had one offer and it was a joke that drug on too long.  The weather was day-in and day-out gloomy and wet beyond wet.  I felt completely desperate for something to change. 

Everyone in our family was miserable.  Neither Gary or I were sleeping at night and that effect quickly trickles down to everyone living under the same roof.  His job stress was overtaking everything.  Our home situation stress was overtaking everything.  It didn't feel as though there was much hope of escaping.  It was really a rough time and I can’t even explain it all here, and don’t want to really, but in a nutshell, life was not good.  Not for any of us.  : (

And then all of a sudden we got a new offer in June from a couple that had spent thirty minutes at the house and they wanted a 3-week closing and we were so ready we said sure and countered back and forth a few times and came to an agreement and then had to deal with more inspections that I ever imagined.  Chimney/wood furnace, well water, septic, termite, mold, radon, electrical, structural—dang VA loan.  We hit some major bumps and it felt like I fell into a sinkhole the size of Florida with the most stressful period of life I’ve ever experienced.  Despite all the hard effort, the original closing didn’t happen but, amazingly, it only took 4 weeks.  Unfortunately, Gary was out of town for three of the four weeks this all was happening and I felt as though I had the weight of the world on me, but finally in the end, we made it out alive, thanks to our supportive family (that’s you, lovely parents and sisters!), always there for us every time. 

We packed and scrambled and lifted and moved, pushing on for hours beyond what we thought our bodies could.   What would I have done without our two teenage boys?  Their physical strength and willingness to work hard made it possible.

Our dream house was still there waiting patiently for us, thank goodness, and finally, we get to open a new chapter, heck, a new book and everything’s so much better. 

We have moved into a house that fits us and now we have a simple life back in town with comfortable space to breathe and relax and experience quiet inside and outside and it really gives us a chance to feel good about each other again.  

And we have super speed unlimited Internet—woohoo!….

She’s ba-ack!

Monday, August 12, 2013

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Library day

Definitely one of the best perks of moving back into town

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Pizza on his face, bandana on his head

Sam cracks me up. He's tried all kinds of fashion styles today for some reason. Earlier when Ross dropped by and Sam was wearing pants but was shirtless except a leopard trimmed vest, he asked, "Siegfried?"

Monday, July 29, 2013

Watching the spotted fawns from our deck

Sweet supper entertainment until ruined by Scooter.

Belly up to the bar, boys

Breakfast.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Yesterday, frankly, I was about to choke her

and then today she not only acts angelic but looks it, too.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Another thing I'm enjoying at this new place

It's clear, beautiful water now. Hard to imagine 9 days ago it was full of year old tadpole grossness. You worked your magic, for sure, Miss Karen. Thank you!

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Good morning, brightest house I ever lived in

And this is facing west even. Makes me happyhappyhappy and I'm loving this place!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Guess who had a solo

At tonight's band concert. Unfortunately, I couldn't see him from my seat but Caroline scooted over and took this shot for me. I could clearly hear him though, and he was so good. Hard to imagine he is just a freshman, just fourteen years old.