Running Away

I am running away to join an old friend for the weekend. This could not have come at a better time. After a week of spring break and running the kids here, there, and everywhere, my husband came down with pneumonia. He is much better now, but it was a long ten days of taking over everything so he could rest. Plus my MIL is arriving tonight for the weekend and sadly (insert grin here) I had already made the plane reservation when she decided to come visit. I'm not telling you where I am going but I will post some pictures on arrival and I know you can figure it out. Until then, for my family in the North who are bracing for yet another Nor'Easter . . .

Your birds are enjoying the lovely sunsets

The flowers are coming in nicely.

The garden has started to grow.

And Spring is Here.

Which type of person are you . . .

Black and White?

Or Color?

Somewhere in Duette, Floirda

March 18, 2011
Click on them for a better view.

And a month has flown by

I am not sure where the past month went.  Thanks to those who inquired about the sale of the farm.  Miraculously, we have a contract from the young couple.  While the foreign offer was interesting, in the end it was the young couple who were more reasonable.  We are now just waiting for the snow to melt so that the septic can be inspected and I am crossing my fingers that we close before I leave for Norway in mid-May.

Also in this month, I have firm offers on all of the antique cars.  I have drafted more sales contracts in a week then a auto dealership.  These should all be at their new homes by mid-April.  Another thing off the list.  Tax information is to the attorney and I can almost see the end if (and this is a big if) we make it through inspection.

I also have been a little busy on my own stuff these past couple weeks. Having now wrapped my head around the fact that we are staying put in Florida, hubby and I began looking at some beach property nearby. We live right in the middle of the state - the butt ugly part of Florida. Yet less then two hours away is the Gulf Coast. FIL has a beach condo that we have been lucky to use, but it is only two queen beds which is pain with the kids. So, with the housing crisis and our moving nest egg, we are in a position to find a vacation home that we can use part of the year and then rent out. And I found a place and the owner and local bank accepted our offer. However, the property is a foreclosure . . .well, pre-foreclosure but the bank has locked the owners out after the owners stripped the place of the entire kitchen, toilets, bathroom sinks, air conditioner, and the vent covers. I know the place sounds like a disaster, but it was built two years ago, is off the ground, has three bedrooms, no one lived in it, it has GREAT potential, and is .2 of a mile from the beach. Next problem - the local bank who accepted our offer and who is out the money they lent the owner to build the place has gone through receivership. So, it is a foreclosure (pre-foreclosure) that has been stripped and the bank that now has the ownership interest in the property is a bad bank that has been taken over by the FDIC. Seriously, it's a mess. It has been sitting for more than a year in this same position (we were the first to get the local bank to accept an offer). The reason more people have not hung in is that due to the removal of the A/C unit and the kitchen most people can not get financing. So now we are waiting on someone from NEBRASKA who has the authority to accept our offer to make a decision. They told us two days; after two days, we were told a week - that was Thursday. Plus in the contract, the bank can pretty much pull out of the contract all the way up to closing (and possibly after closing  in a unlikely circumstance). We've been told that's a standard clause when dealing with a foreclosure. We are ready to move and close on it in under 30 days once NEBRASKA decides. Until then, I am trying not to like the place and find something else - no dice so far. I won't jinx this any further by showing you pictures, but here are a few pictures from the bay side. The property is on an island so that in either direction in walking distance is the ocean (insert sigh here).

And baseball has begun with games every Friday night and Saturday morning from now until May.  And next week is Spring Break and Hubby is saving his time for Norway so I will be here all week amusing, entertaining, and staring at the phone to make NEBRASKA call.

Could not make this stuff up

I have been diligently handling my grandparents estate since August after my grandfather's death.  The beneficiaries are my father and has six siblings.  So far, I have managed to wade through with no major family blow-outs, and with seven beneficiaries, all related, and all related to me, this has been a minor miracle.

So, my grandparents had a family farm - 160+ acres in East Nowhereville Maine.  House belonged to my great grandparents.  Middle of nowhere - gorgeous land - haying fields, big red barn - but MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.  I listed the place for sale with an agent since none of the beneficiaries are interested in buying the others out.   We listed it at a fair price, knowing the value was the land and not the  nearly 200 year old farm house that needs some TLC. 

It is the middle of winter in Maine.  A winter that has produced record amounts of snow.  Middle of winter in the middle of NoWhereville in the middle of lots of snow.  Yeah, right.  We figured the property would sit until spring.  But Super Agent had other plans.  She has shown the farm more time then I can count, walked the boundary line (in the snow and not plowed) with interested buyers, and returned with buyers and their carpenters.  Super Agent defies all housing market gravitational decline.

This week began with an offer (low but starting place) from "young couple".  "Young couple" is from Maine but left to go to Big City make real money elsewhere, and now wants to return to live off land and be involved in local community.  "Young couple" wrote me a very nice letter to accompany their offer about how excited they were to raise their family at grandparent's farm and continue its heritage, etc, etc.  "Young couple" right out of magazine of people "returning to the land."  Could be television series - possible comedy.

Then today, new offer.  No locals, no aspirational "young couple", no developer (because even if you developed it, no one is there!).  New offer from a "farmer" from a small former COMMUNIST RULED STATE - yes, in NOWHEREVIILE, MAINE.  New offer in cash.  Seriously.  Possible movie plot - former communist succeeds as rural farmer in NoWhereville, Maine, but where did the money come from to purchase the farm? (dramatic music cue . . . .)

Negotiations on-going today with both.  Grandparents rolling in graves due to offers of people from away being considered.  Believe I have entered twilight zone. 

Learning Norwegian

The plane reservations have been made and permission has been granted for the kids to trade their last week of school for ten days in Norway to celebrate May 17. We will be staying in Haugesund and then traveling up to Bergen. While my husband is fluent in Norwegian, I promised that if we went back I would learn more of the language then I did in 2007.  I could count to ten. As we will be visiting with Hubby's host family in Haugesund, the kids and I need to have some basic communication skills. It was with that good intention that on the way to school this morning, I popped on the Norwegian language CD and the kids and I dutifully repeated the awkward phrases. That was until my son learned his favorite Norwegian word - the word for "dirt". He then repeated this word until I dropped him at the school door with threats of repercussions if he taught this word to his classmates. The Norwegian word for dirt is a perfect example of the grammatical rule that the letters "sk" are pronounced "sh" before a soft vowel. So that the word for dirt or "skitt" becomes . . . . . . . .

Well, you get the idea. I just didn't think Hew's teacher would appreciate a classroom of six-year-olds repetitiously repeating the word dirt in Norwegian on Monday morning no matter what grammatical rule it was teaching.  Monday - siggggghhhhhhh!

Photos from Norway in 2007

A Run Followed By a Visit to Italy

Yesterday in my continued quest to be part of the SAOBSM club (slow and old, but still moving), I had a nice long run (9 miles) in the morning.  After a quick shower, I revisted Milan . . . and still had time to make dinner.

Taken in Milan, October 2008.

Whoops I Did It Again

I am unsure where the first 20 days of January have gone. Not that I have been sitting on my tushy eating chocolate (alright there was that one day . . . ). Since January 1, I have, in no particular order - ran my first 5K in ten years (28:20!!!), found a new yoga studio, found a couple more 5Ks to sign up to run and am training for a 10K by the beginning of summer, had a weekend away with Hubby while my parents took my kids to Disney (yep, parents are here from Maine but staying a couple hours away), looked at some beach places, booked tickets to Norway in May for entire family to go and meet my husband's host Norwegian family, booked flight for husband for secret interview (but have accepted living here and am quite content - must be the yoga!), sorted through all photos from the past couple years, picked my favorites, and began editing to finally print some for pictures on my blank walls, painted the trim in my daughter's room so I can finally finish painting the last room in the house, and the normal school, kid's activities, unannounced visits from husband's family, and tedious estate stuff for my family. And today I am making jam and continuing my struggle to learn some Norwegian on Live Mocha. So, what has everyone else been up to . . . .?


A contender from St. Wolfgang, Austria



On the second day . . .

. . . in New Hampshire,

Santa brought to me

some snow to cover the trees!

Have a holly, jolly Christmas . . .

It's the best time of the year

I don't know if there'll be snow,

But have a cup of cheer.

Have a holly, jolly Christmas;

And when you walk down the street

Say Hello to friends you know

And everyone you meet.

-Johnny Marks

"Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas"

Don't look too close

No time for music today.

School is out.

Winter clothes to be found.

Suitcases being packed.

Early flight to winter wonderland tomorrow.

And I am still in my pajamas.

Star of wonder . . .

Star of light

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect Light.

"We Three Kings"

- Rev. John Henry Hopkins

Hark! the herald angels sing . . .

"Glory to the new born King,

peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful, all ye nations rise,

join the triumph of the skies;

with th' angelic host proclaim,

"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the new born King!"

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

-Charles Wesley

But do you recall . . .

The most famous reindeer of all?

"Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer"

-Johnny Marks

The children were nestled . . .

All snug in their bed.

While visions of sugarplums (or cupcakes!)

Danced in their heads.

"Twas the Night Before Christmas"

-Clement Clarke Moore

And when the blue snowflakes start falling . . .

That’s when those blue memories start calling.

You’ll be doing alright with your Christmas of white,

But I’ll have a blue Christmas.

"Blue Christmas"

- Jay Johnson and Billy Hayes

I really don't want much for Christmas . . .

Maybe just peace and while you're listening,

It couldn't hurt and might be nice,

If what the season brings could last beyond one silent night.

I really don't want much for Christmas.

No, hunger's high upon my wish list,

No fancy toys, please give instead

A roof above each homeless child's head.

It's all so grand and jolly.

We deck the halls with boughs of holly,

Yuletide carols and cozy fires,

But somewhere there's no rejoicing.

I really don't want much for Christmas.

You could lose hate, and I'd be blissful.

Make all the madness disappear,

That's it for what I wish.

No diamond-studded gifts.

I really don't want much this year, but love.

"I Really Don't Want Much for Christmas"

Chris Botti

I really can’t stay (Baby, it’s cold outside) . . .

I’ve got to go ‘way (Baby, it’s cold outside)

The evening has been (I’ve been hopin’ that you’d drop in)

So very nice (I’ll hold your hand, they’re just like ice)

"Baby It's Cold Outside"

Frank Loesser

***Yes, I was reminded of this song last night watching Glee. But it really is cold here - 31ºF/0ºC.  It has been cold all week!!!!!  Yes, I know it won't last, but I can't help but having a Brittany moment (Glee reference) by asking Santa to make it snow here before Christmas.  After all, he's magic!

Christmas Eve will find me . . .

. . . Where the love light gleams.

I'll be home for Christmas,

If only in my dreams.

"I'll Be Home For Christmas"

-Buck Ram, Kim Gannon and Walter Kent

Jingle bells, jingle bells . . .

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

"Jingle Bells"

James Lord Pierpont

***On a non- Christmas note (and a parent bragging note!), Hew's soccer team played their tournament this weekend.  In the championship game, Hew played goalie in the fourth quarter and in double overtime, and his team went on to win in sudden death.  I nearly had a heart attack every time the opposing team took a shot.  KK has her tournament next week so it will be another nerve wracking weekend coming up.

Be near me, . .

Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children to thy tender care

And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

"Away in a Manager"

Third Verse by Charles H. Gabriel