Nomads

So we are between homes now.  We have several generous friends, who while they are out of town vacationing, allowing us to house sit for them.  And really it is allow as they would normally have no one.

Our move out was quite complicated with one thing after another, not enough storage in the pods, getting another storage space locally and running out of room st 1:30 am in it, and having to wait until the next day to be able to rent another space and a U-haul to finish.  The new owners had scheduled workers to come in and clean carpets etc, and were concerned we would be in the way.  We scurried to have everything in the garage and out of the house as we waited for U-haul to open, meanwhile trying to clean the house as we have never left a house dirty before this.  We notified our Realtor of the issue and that we couldn't do anything else before 9 am, and instead of trying to soothe things over, she sent us a bunch of nasty text saying we were trespassing, and that we could have the police called on us, to make us vacate the house. REALLY- we were trying to make things reasonable, not a turmoil.And what did she want us to do, when there was no where open, and we had no more space? I was really feeling let down by our Realtor at the end.  Most of what was left was either garbage or things of little matter, and it would have been easy to walk away at that moment and say fine clean it up your self, but we aren't those kind of people. Ultimately we did not clean well, since they had hired people to come in clean, paint and do the carpets.  I just gave up.  We'd been working 2 days straight, and had only slept for 3 hours in between because we couldn't do anything else. I left a couple big room carpets behind, because we had decided to not go back in, while waiting for them. We left a couple pieces of furniture as well, but I just didn't care anymore.
This was probably the worst move out experience of my life, that's for sure.

Meanwhile this week,  we are staying at a friends house not far from where our new house will be about a 10 minute drive. My husband gets to experience a shorter drive for work, and our daughter is with us visiting from London.  I know- why didn't she stay for the Olympics? I would most definitely stayed but she was homesick.  She and I are spending a lot of time at the Y's, the one I work at and the 2 close to here, going to various classes. I"m hoping to make a connection or two as well so  can maybe get on their sub list or enhance teaching program. A little sun time down at the park on the water. Got her bike working yesterday so she should be able to stretch her legs a little too.  She's full of lots of go go go, while I'm craving for a day of nothing, but lounging, since the few weeks before we moved were filled with packing, and various other things regarding the move.  She missed all the hard moving adventure, arriving 2 days later.  But we'll get her back as she will be here when we have to unload all that storage and pods.

Well that's what has been happening  the last few weeks.  Hope your summer is going well.  More to come next week.

Our search is finally over! New home in our very near future.

If you have read my blog over the last two years, you're aware we've been involved in the housing market.  We finally sold our house just 2 days after relisting it back at the end of May.  Where we had it on the market for 14 months prior with no offers , took it off for 6 months re-listed with a new agent, and it went so fast that it sold, in two days with a second offer coming in right behind the first one.
   We've sifted through a lot of crap out there.  Homes where the holes in the walls, dirt and grunge on the walls and floor is hard to get past and these people are asking top dollar. ReallY????? I would be ashamed to put something like that on the market. In fact I would have been ashamed to live in a home like that, so I guess that explains everything.  You don't have to have a lot of money but some elbow grease goes a long way.  We were so tired of searching and making offers. 















We actually made or attempted to make 7 offers before this home.  So number 8 was the right home. Finally this little gem popped, it had been on the market and the buyer backed out so they re-listed, I never even it saw it the first time it was listed in May. At the time I wasn't specifically looking in this area, but more in general area of it.

This is a  small view of the back covered porch and patio, you can't really see that the view that is a wooded reserve except for reflection in the window shows a bit.  There's a lovely fire ring built into the patio.  Which i look forward to sitting with friends and sharing a glass of wine with in the evenings.  I love the inside of the house, but this backyard really made it for me. Its not huge, but gives the impression because of the reserve behind the home. Its pretty simple to care for. I'm in love with the covered porch/deck . When my husband was in the Air force, our townhouse had a covered patio, which was so delightful all year long,  It didn't rain much where we lived, but it was definitely hot and sunny and the cover was incredible.  I love having trees in the yard and wildlife, despite the deers eating all my flowers and shrubs.  I don't mind the bunnies too much having a munch if they don't eat everything. I'm so accustomed to the seeing deer and bunnies in my yard, I will definitely miss them if some new creatures don't venture up now and then to the yard in this home.
It already feels like home, so I hope our buying efforts all go smoothly.

This is a view of the front. It has a great covered front porch and sits in a cul-de- sac with about 8-10 other homes.  I'm hoping that neighbors are nice, and we can get to a know a few of them. I plan on staying here for a long time.
Moving can be exciting, but its such a huge amount of work.  I'm looking forward to moving all my hanging flowers, and baskets over to this house.

7 Gables Pension

I just have to do a separate post on this place.  If you like Shabby chic with a little french influence this 7 Gables Pension is for you.  Even better if you like Wine tasting want to be able to walk around.

Located in Prosser, washington  a small town, with small downtown, that has several antique shops.  It has a big industry though, and thats wine.  Its basically a farming community with a big growth of this industry.  They have and are continuing to build a area called Vinters Village, when completed, it will be a large amount of wine tasting houses and restuarants along with some places to stay.

7Gables is part of the Vintners Village and was recently written up in Sunset magazine. Sitting on 6 acres the B&B is quiant and quiet. The house is a restored farm house, which recently had 4+ bathrooms added on.  The grounds are beautifully maintained, with a picket fence surrounding the main property, and a wrap around porch to relax on and  take it all in.  The home is filled with charming antique and new furnishings mixed together.

There is a huge garden that she grows the produce  used for meals in the house.  Becuase she grows a fair amount of produce, she sells to some of the local chefs and business'. In talking to the owner Debbie, and getting a sneak preiview, she will be opening an antique shop in late July early August where she will have many pieces of restored and painted pieces & pieces similar in style seen in the house, and a bit of a farmers market- selling some of their garden produce. I look forward to making a trip back when she has this open.

These little piggies are soft sculpture and all three are attatched. They were so cute sitting on our bed

when we arrived.

Debbie has a lovely kitchen with modern appliances where she makes the most wonderful breakfast for the house guest.  I understand she does special events as well at the house such as bridal teas.  I can't wait to go back, and now that the secret is out, I'm sure it will be harder to get in to.

A weekend in the Washington Wine country

This is a view from the Silver Lake Winery in Zillah/Toppenish area of eastern Washington  We were able to sit and enjoy this while we sipped Rosa Rose' and had a delightful lunch on thier patio.  They have beautiful grounds up at the tasting room.  The grass is rich green, theres a lovely rockery fountain, and large trees mixed in that offer dappled shade to relax under.  Just walking into the building is a relaxing experience.  We hit this beauty on the way home as a last stop for our group before we all went our own way.

We started our weekend over in Prosser.  We were staying at the 7Gables Pension, which is a sweet little B &B  right near Vinters Village.  7 Gables is a 1904 farm house that has been refurbished and decorated in a French Shabby Chic style.  It has 6 unique bedrooms most have baths.   If you are tall (the 6ft and over group) you may be challenged because of the gables in the top floor rooms.  Some more than others.

 Regardless its a lovely place to stay and the proprietress Debbie, is fabulous.  We had planned to walk everywhere but shortlyafter arriving a huge thunderstorm started and the rain was coming down in buckets. For the lack of umbrellas, we opted to make our first stop with the car.  We went over to the Alexander and Nicole tasting room and had some of our favorites, and viewed the changes going on there.  Then we hopped back in the car and parked at Wine O' Clock for lunch.  This was one of those long leisurely lunches you rarely ever have. 2 hours of  pure joyful conversation, sharing and tasting each others food, and wines, ports and cordials, followed by desert and coffee. The staff here are helpful and pleasant. The owners are even better.  The food was incredible. I had a corn soup which was not thick like a chowder, and a salad, and snagged a piece of artisan pizza with pesto, grilled eggplant and pine nuts.

A goat cheese cheesecake intrigued me enough to order it, i didn't realize it was chocolate flavored as well as chocolate sauce, I'm not a big fan of chocolate in general, but the goat cheese made it a bit tart and now I would actually like to make a goatcheese cheesecake one day.

This was followed by a quick walk to  Airfield.  They have this patio at the entrance with tables for sunny days and the fountain has a bit of a pond on the bottom. The owners daughter was our pourer for the day.  She had this dog named Jack's who is a pretty good sized dog.  He was a rescue and appears to have some kind of retriever background among others.  As the day warmed after the earlier showers, he jumped into the pond to take a dip. It was quite a surprise.

They have incredible library room, that knocked the socks off our group.  I think a little jealousy factor went around as we took it in. They had clever chandelier made from Wine glasses. We were quite a long time. Finally we dragged ourselves out of Airfield and headed over to Millbrandt.  We snuck in before they closed for the evening.  After that we were all feeling like heading  back to the B&B.  We made it back to  find that we had a lovely happy hour set out for us, we added left over wine & pizza from our lunch, plus the wine our proprietress had left with our cheese and cracker plate. 

We were like a bunch of young-uns' partying up on the porch of the house.  A few blocks away was a classic car show going on with music.  So we wandered over there about 9:00. A few of us really needed the walk.  The men drooled over the Cobra that was there, and several other cars.  My husband gave up his muscle car for me, he's always telling me, He had to choose between his car or the girl.  Glad I won over the car.  = D  Someday I hope he can find one and refurbish it for himself.  We then stumbled around and made it over to restuarant to diffuse the liquor with a little more substantial food.  Then we  danced outside to the band for a bit and wandered home about midnight.

Sunday morning our proprietress made a delicious breakfast of yogurt with fruit and nuts, followed by pastries with fruit filling, and and egg dish with asparagus, gruyere and ham.

We had coffee out on the porch, then wandered down to Chukar Cherries.  Came back to the house for a bit saw the tiniest little kitten they rescued in an alley, and then it was time to leave.  We headed to Gamache which is next door to the b&b.  Then we all left for Silver Lake winery.

It was delightful  way to spend the weekend. Especially since it was my 31st wedding anniversary with my lovely husband who gave up the car for a girl!

Dance like no one is watching!

I LOVE this sign.  I love to dance, BUT in NO way am I a dancer.  I teach Zumba but I am not a dancer.  I am an athlete who likes to dance (or call what I do dance!)

Ironically I started teaching Zumba before I started teaching cardio aerobics- which is similar but the rhythms in cardio aerobics are more consistant and you can expect the beat of a song to all the same- either 124bpm, or 132 bpm etc.  Zumba changes beats to offer more of a Dance experience. I wish i had done these opposite because I would have been better in the beginning of my Zumba experience. But its all working out.
However I believe when I really let loose, indeed i would end up in trouble.  But to all you dancers and wanna be dancers GO FOR IT!  Have the time of your life everytime the music comes on and makes you feel like moving.

Happy May!
I love May it signals summer for me.  Growing up we had lots of family birthdays in May, including my great grandmother, my great aunt and uncle, my favorite aunt, another uncle and myself.  With Mothers Day and Memorial Day, it was just one celebration after the next. It was also the time of year that I got most of my summer wardrobe as birthday gifts. Now there are only 2 of us left to celebrate birthdays during the month along with the holidays, and I no longer get a new summer wardrobe in honor of turning another year older.  Dang, so not fair. 

So a little sun, gets us outside trying to get the yard in shape, and cleaning out the garage. I've made several trips to the donation Vans in the area.  I need to weed out some more of the excess belongings but having a hard time.  It can be done though and will be (she says with a grimace).

We've been talking to realtors again in hopes of putting our home on the market.  It seems like things are picking up and that people have been able to turn their homes around in approximately 2 months or less.  What I don't like is when the realtors try to brow beat you into a price that will get them paid, but you will make less or nothing than the realtor.  They use the excuse of this is the only way you can sell.  Oh yes, I should willingly sell my home 40 thousand less than the purchase price. So that all that I've paid on it, will go to someone as comission.  Oh yes please let me make you happy realtor.  We actually talked to a knowledgeable appraiser who suggested a higher price, after looking at the comps.  The realtor tried to write off the appraiser as trying to apraise it for re-fi not resale, as if he wouldn't know the difference. I mean they have used the excuse of short sales, and glut of forclosures the last few years for driving prices down, but I really feel the realtors play a part in this as well. Encouraging people to short sale and take less for their homes.  UGH I dislike realtors and the tricks they play. I have yet to find one that I truly like and the one who I probably trust the most is no longer in our area.  Sometimes I would rather rent than go through the buy and sell process of a house.
Oh Well, hope this saga will end soon.  I find a little property here and there, and they sell so fast its almost not worth looking yet. I think I get off on the torment though.  Haha such a sick thought.

Easter week and reflection

The spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.(Galatians 5:22-23)

All of these things improve the quality of our life.  these also make the lives of others more attractive.
If you take care of the garden in your soul you will live a happy life.  It is these things that make our lives more full, not how much money we have to spend or where we travel. Years ago when my husband was in college, we experienced tighter finances than we could have imagined.  Jobs were difficult to find in a small college town. We got by with little, and learned alot.We always were able to manage during those years although at times it seemed like the worst of times. Someone at church told us that believe it or not years down the line we would look back and laugh.  We thought surely no way, but faith comes through and we did laugh. We've laughed many times since then and actually thought those were some great time.

 A few years ago my aunt made a move that she wasn't planning on but circumstances required it.  It took her many churches to find her place.  Because her faith was strong, she has been successful in some of the most trying times over the year.  She is blessed and is a good example of someone who produces and receives the fruits of the spirit.

With Easter week here I think many Christians reflect on their faith and the role Christ plays in it
Maybe this will stir a thought for you.