Relative Something

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A guest post by Elysa Hays.

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I could feel the excitement in the air as soon as I got in the car. My parents are at the beginning of a great adventure. I am so grateful for the invitation to ride along. The drive went by quickly, as the farm is not all that far out from the Cities. We talked through some of the ups and downs of buying and selling homes, but most of all, we were bubbling with excitement at the chance to see the house and the land in all its potential. I was impressed with the scenery of the neighborhood as we got close. The rolling hills and forests of trees were drawing us in as we approached the mailbox. I didn’t even mind the smell of the deer in the ditch. “It’s all part of the cycle of life,” I said, as we turned up the long driveway.

We passed both the barn and the workshop building before arriving at the top of the driveway in front of the house. I can’t even find words to describe the feeling of awe that ran through me as we parked. It felt practically perfect. I joked with Dad, but I still can’t find anything wrong with the place (as a lifelong Minnesotan, I suppose I could crack a joke here about Wisconsin, but that’s all I’ve got). What kind of word(s) can describe such a dream place? I felt the energy of the universe smiling down on us. And it only got better from there.

The log cabin style architecture reminded me of our beloved Wildwood lake home. It was just stunning. The kitchen felt like it was designed for family gatherings. I can already picture us sitting around the island with the aromas of fresh baked breads and cookies filling up the whole floor and up to the loft. The funky spiral staircase made from large blocks of wood brings you from the kitchen up to the loft looking over the living room. It felt magical up there. A stained glass window glowed with the picture of a wolf under a full moon. I can feel Mom’s spirit there already.

I also loved the small side room off of the kitchen. The windows are wide and tall, opening up an encompassing view of nature. It is the perfect room for quiet mornings, afternoon naps and watching leaves and snow fall. The front door had a large stained glass window that was designed by the current owner and built by a local glass artist. The purple hues of the flowers seem to channel my energy, too. The place feels like home already. The land breathes like the living place it is, and I am overjoyed that my parents are ready to take on this adventure, right here, right now.

We met the family selling the property, which only added to our excitement. They were as happy as we were that it seemed to be the perfect fit for our family. I enjoyed hearing some of their stories as they showed us around and explained to us how they’d poured their love into crafting the place we saw before us. They told stories of the nice neighbors and the local wildlife we should expect to see. We even got a ride on their 4-wheeler to explore the woods along the edges of the property lines. The trails seemed perfect for future horse rides!

The place radiates with the energy of its history. It’s the perfect balancing part to my city life. I can’t wait for all the weekend retreats I’ll get to have on the farm with my folks. The boulders out front, the pond to the side, and the rock garden out back are all inviting, peaceful places for reflection (the rocks remind me of my dad – I can’t wait to see what he does with them). The inside of the home has many grand spaces for gathering and comfortable spots for solitary meditations. It feels like this place has been waiting for my parents to find it. Every turn I took brought me to another space brimming with potential energy. The house, the barn, the shed and the whole yard with its trails winding through prairie grasses all felt like it was, well, perfect. It’s perfectly suited for the great Hays adventure. I’m ready to see what happens next. The adventure awaits!