Up early, doing a load of dishes and a load of laundry to hang on the shower rods. Made some calls to find a hospital to donate some toys to. Gathered Kid's school reference books to get his curriculum ready starting in January.
We're expecting a snowstorm tonight, bringing frigid temperatures and 6-8 (+) inches of snow. So... the Kid and I went off to do errands so my very old car can sit and be covered with snow for the days to come.
I still can't find my box of winter clothes, so I popped into Goodwill (Thrift Store) and picked up several pairs of sweat pants and sweaters while the Kid browsed the book section. No, he didn't get any because Christmas is only a few days away!
Next we went to the dollar store, right next door. I got lots of little things, like coloring books, toys, baby socks and puzzles, and those will go along with what we're collecting from others. We're delivering all of these to the local Children's Hospital next week, after Christmas, for kids when they complete a treatment, have their birthday in the hospital, or just need something to keep them busy while confined to a hospital bed. (Maybe next year I can make things to donate.)
Then we went to the grocery because the always-hungry Kid was out of cheese. He likes to put 4-5 pieces of gluten-free bread on a plate, cover with grated cheese, sprinkle on flax seeds and parmesan cheese, and nuke until the grated cheese melts. This is what he likes every day for lunch. Weird, huh. But, healthy and filling. He also talked me into buying some pumpkin eggnog (marked half off), which he has decided he loves. And I bought some beef stew meat, marked down with an orange sticker for 50% off.
Home, unloaded the car, ate lunch, then did another load of laundry (underwear and socks are the only clothes I wash in hot water and get put in the dryer; everything else gets cold water and hang to dry). After I finish typing this, I'll get back to working on the Kid's curriculum. Have to plan what pages he'll do in what workbook and on what days.
Hubby and I have a special anniversary tonight, so we're going to the Outback tonight. We'll bring home their delicious gluten-free dessert (Chocolate Thunder Down Under) for all of us to enjoy together.
No word on the house yet. Expect we won't till after Christmas. I did, however, get some bad news from back home, in Kentucky. My sister's bum of a husband asked her for a divorce the Sunday after Thanksgiving, just days before her birthday. He never has spent any time with his 2 kids, and has treated the eldest (my sis' from her first marriage) like a horrid stepchild. He refuses to move out, drinks in front of the kids, doesn't hide his porn, and expects my sis to treat him like his best friend. And she feels like she has to go along with him (except she hides the porn and liquor), or he could wipe out the bank account and empty the house one day while she's doing an activity with the kids. She stopped working years ago, per his request, is disabled and has no money and huge medical bills. She doesn't know what she's going to do. And I can't do anything for her. I offered to take the two younger kids for a week in the Summer (the oldest is in the military but the youngest 2 are very close to my Kid's age). So... we'll see.
Guess that's it for now.
Have a wonderful Tuesday, everyone. Stay warm, happy and healthy.
Vikki
Showing posts with label Giving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Giving. Show all posts
Land Update on this busy Friday
We got back late last night from seeing more properties so this is my first chance to update the blog and you.
The 39.05 acre property was huge, way in the boonies, and the house was great. No basement tho. The current owner had recently plowed the whole 39 acres so it would be very ready to start planting. We started to get excited but then... as we drove away, we found out why it had been on the market since August: it's situated right next to the Waste Management, our local garbage service and a huge dump. Then we started finding other reasons: we'd have to fence in the entire 39 acres because there wasn't any fencing on it. There's no barn so we'd have to build that. The garden area they mentioned ... well, we couldn't find it. And, of course, no basement. I was starting to get really upset during the looong drive to the next place, a 2-acre home in a subdivision that allows almost anything. I kept wondering how I was going to tell Hubby that I just don't want to live next to a dump (unbeknownst to me, he was wondering the same thing).
Then we got to the 2 acre property. It's right next door (literally) to a property I had seen 4 times and was getting ready to just give up and offer on. But this house... it's triple the size, with a huge basement, a home-school room, large pantry, a hidey-hole for kids, 2 large master-suites upstairs, 3 full baths and a half-bath, and a wood fireplace. Huge family room in the basement and a pretty large living room upstairs. Large enough kitchen for me to do canning, dehydrating, and make cheese and yogurt. Partially fenced around perimeter, but there's a nice section in the immediate backyard that's fenced (we think they keep their dogs there because there's no grass, has dog poo, and lots of holes dug). There's also a huge workshop, with electricity, somewhat near the house and the 3-car garage. Basically the same price as the house next door.
We walked into this house, and immediately felt at home. Yes, we'll have to build a barn and do some fencing, but for now, we could have the goaties and chickens in the small fenced backyard. The price is manageable, the soil has never grown anything (at least, that's what it looks like) so it must be somewhat fertile. The Kid fell in love with house, probably because of the hidey-hole and the fact that he'd have his own bathroom in his bedroom. It's at the end of a cul-de-sac. 2 acres, well, subtracting the house it's probably 1.5 acres ... that's enough room to grow and raise what we need to, to be self-sufficient. Maybe even enough room for a labyrinth and meditation garden! And after Hubby retires, he can putter around in the huge workshop (as big as the house next to it) for 5, 7, 10 hours a day!
Our agent is gathering more information, then we're taking it to our mortgage broker. We expect to make an offer on it today. Again, keep your fingers crossed!
= = = =
The payment would be more affordable but still, a bit higher than our last house. We'd have to make adjustments, and perhaps still find a way to make money from it. I did a little research yesterday morning, and found a lot of people will pay for odd-vegetables, and for pickling cucumbers. I'm gonna grow them for myself, so why not add a few more plants and see if we could make a little extra money by advertising on Craigslist or something similar?! And since I'll be growing loofas for my own use, same thing... only I found a way to incorporate a loofa in an actual bar of soap. Perhaps I could sell those online, in addition to my books. Thinking thinking. Aw, my brain hurts!
= = = =
Before we house-hunted yesterday, we had errands to run. Hubby's boss' boss' husband passed away this week, so Hubby picked up a condolence card. He dropped that off for her, and also 2 stockings we'd decorated went to someone else at his company. They do this thing where they provide plain stockings, employees decorate and fill them, return them, then they are distribute them to returning Vets so they can bring gifts to their families (not return empty handed). We did a preschool girl and preschool boy. Hope they are enjoyed! We don't have much, but we have more than others. It's a time for giving!
= = = =
Kid didn't have time to finish his Science test yesterday. It was early when we left and dark by the time we got home so I told him he could finish it today, then do his Reading test. His grades aren't as good as I would like, but at least he's passing. We've had so much upheaval this year. Perhaps we'll get this house, get unpacked, get into a routine, and then he will be able to concentrate a little better. Hope hope.
= = = =
We painted ceramics last week as the last of our Christmas "shopping". They are supposed to be ready today. Since Hubby's still sleeping (yes, snoring behind me, fun), I'll probably leave in a few to pick them up, while the Kid finishes the first test. Later, we need to go pick up our new glasses (got a call that they are in). Our favorite health food store moved this week from 6 miles away to half a mile so I want to visit there. I also need to make some regular bread and some gluten-free snacks. And Hubby needs to drive to the agent's office (45 min away) to give an earnest-money check and sign paperwork. And the Kid needs to start/finish his Reading test. And we need to finish addressing Christmas cards (Hubby's side of the family - I did mine weeks ago) and get them in the mail. It's gonna be a busy day. All the while, thinking about this property and so intently wanting it.
Have a great Friday!
The 39.05 acre property was huge, way in the boonies, and the house was great. No basement tho. The current owner had recently plowed the whole 39 acres so it would be very ready to start planting. We started to get excited but then... as we drove away, we found out why it had been on the market since August: it's situated right next to the Waste Management, our local garbage service and a huge dump. Then we started finding other reasons: we'd have to fence in the entire 39 acres because there wasn't any fencing on it. There's no barn so we'd have to build that. The garden area they mentioned ... well, we couldn't find it. And, of course, no basement. I was starting to get really upset during the looong drive to the next place, a 2-acre home in a subdivision that allows almost anything. I kept wondering how I was going to tell Hubby that I just don't want to live next to a dump (unbeknownst to me, he was wondering the same thing).
Then we got to the 2 acre property. It's right next door (literally) to a property I had seen 4 times and was getting ready to just give up and offer on. But this house... it's triple the size, with a huge basement, a home-school room, large pantry, a hidey-hole for kids, 2 large master-suites upstairs, 3 full baths and a half-bath, and a wood fireplace. Huge family room in the basement and a pretty large living room upstairs. Large enough kitchen for me to do canning, dehydrating, and make cheese and yogurt. Partially fenced around perimeter, but there's a nice section in the immediate backyard that's fenced (we think they keep their dogs there because there's no grass, has dog poo, and lots of holes dug). There's also a huge workshop, with electricity, somewhat near the house and the 3-car garage. Basically the same price as the house next door.
We walked into this house, and immediately felt at home. Yes, we'll have to build a barn and do some fencing, but for now, we could have the goaties and chickens in the small fenced backyard. The price is manageable, the soil has never grown anything (at least, that's what it looks like) so it must be somewhat fertile. The Kid fell in love with house, probably because of the hidey-hole and the fact that he'd have his own bathroom in his bedroom. It's at the end of a cul-de-sac. 2 acres, well, subtracting the house it's probably 1.5 acres ... that's enough room to grow and raise what we need to, to be self-sufficient. Maybe even enough room for a labyrinth and meditation garden! And after Hubby retires, he can putter around in the huge workshop (as big as the house next to it) for 5, 7, 10 hours a day!
Our agent is gathering more information, then we're taking it to our mortgage broker. We expect to make an offer on it today. Again, keep your fingers crossed!
= = = =
The payment would be more affordable but still, a bit higher than our last house. We'd have to make adjustments, and perhaps still find a way to make money from it. I did a little research yesterday morning, and found a lot of people will pay for odd-vegetables, and for pickling cucumbers. I'm gonna grow them for myself, so why not add a few more plants and see if we could make a little extra money by advertising on Craigslist or something similar?! And since I'll be growing loofas for my own use, same thing... only I found a way to incorporate a loofa in an actual bar of soap. Perhaps I could sell those online, in addition to my books. Thinking thinking. Aw, my brain hurts!
= = = =
Before we house-hunted yesterday, we had errands to run. Hubby's boss' boss' husband passed away this week, so Hubby picked up a condolence card. He dropped that off for her, and also 2 stockings we'd decorated went to someone else at his company. They do this thing where they provide plain stockings, employees decorate and fill them, return them, then they are distribute them to returning Vets so they can bring gifts to their families (not return empty handed). We did a preschool girl and preschool boy. Hope they are enjoyed! We don't have much, but we have more than others. It's a time for giving!
= = = =
Kid didn't have time to finish his Science test yesterday. It was early when we left and dark by the time we got home so I told him he could finish it today, then do his Reading test. His grades aren't as good as I would like, but at least he's passing. We've had so much upheaval this year. Perhaps we'll get this house, get unpacked, get into a routine, and then he will be able to concentrate a little better. Hope hope.
= = = =
We painted ceramics last week as the last of our Christmas "shopping". They are supposed to be ready today. Since Hubby's still sleeping (yes, snoring behind me, fun), I'll probably leave in a few to pick them up, while the Kid finishes the first test. Later, we need to go pick up our new glasses (got a call that they are in). Our favorite health food store moved this week from 6 miles away to half a mile so I want to visit there. I also need to make some regular bread and some gluten-free snacks. And Hubby needs to drive to the agent's office (45 min away) to give an earnest-money check and sign paperwork. And the Kid needs to start/finish his Reading test. And we need to finish addressing Christmas cards (Hubby's side of the family - I did mine weeks ago) and get them in the mail. It's gonna be a busy day. All the while, thinking about this property and so intently wanting it.
Have a great Friday!
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