Archive for the ‘Chronicle’ Category
In Time
All things in good time. Last night we received notice of the second push-out for our closing date. I am not surprised, but it does knock you in the gut to have the target for such a big move get delayed. I have no doubt that we will be able to put that extra time to good use.
We are mulling over price quotes from moving companies, and contemplating the intricate detail of actually packing every thing we own. It is time to go beyond talking and writing about de-cluttering, we need to seriously begin culling our possessions. I gave away some big books last night! That’s a start.
The timing of our closing date will be impacting the cost of our move. If it pushes us to a weekend delivery, or storage of a full trailer, the dollars go up. All it takes is one person to have a conflict with the date, and we are back in negotiation for the next alternative. We were asked for a Friday, and pushed back, asking for a day earlier. I don’t envy this part of the realtor’s job.
I am wrestling with the decision about a tractor. The one we were offered to buy, which is currently on the property, is more tractor than I picture myself needing. Determining what I will need is a mental exercise in which I am not well-practiced. Some online research led me to Tractor Supply Co., which doesn’t sell tractors, but seems to offer everything else we could possibly need for our new place. I let myself wander through pages of merchandise and discovered items that triggered thoughts about a multitude of projects that likely lie ahead for us. It was sobering. But, it didn’t get me any closer to deciding what I want in a tractor.
Worrying about the wide variety of items to be purchased in the ongoing operation of our “farm” felt a little like putting the cart before the horse, so to speak. We don’t have a horse yet. We don’t even have the farm yet.
I hope we get the closing date figured out before the snow flies. I haven’t figured out what I will use to plow the driveway yet.
Worthwhile Commute
Yesterday was filled with a dizzying number of email exchanges between Cyndie & me, our realtor, the lender, and multiple contractors, as we strive to address the many inter-related issues being simultaneously addressed, to resolve concerns discovered during the two respective house inspections. As much of a hassle as this could be perceived to be, we are finding it easy to tolerate, because it is all related to acquiring that precious property of our dreams. The closing date has undergone its first adjustment, moving into October now. That came as no surprise to us.
We left my car parked next to the barn all weekend, and on Monday, on our way home from the lake, we once again had our impressions confirmed about how wonderful the location and environment are for us. It thrills us to the core to drive in this region and realize it will soon become our home base. Arriving at the property to pick up my car was a great hint of what it will be like to have that be our home destination when returning from the lake. The subsequent drive to our current home provided another glimpse of the commute that we will face for business in the Twin Cities, most importantly for me, my current day-job. There is no denying it will be extremely long, compared to what I am familiar with, but everything about the property and its location is making the long distance seem bearable for some period of transition.
Traffic congestion will be the key feature defining how irritating the drive can become. It will take some time to learn the nuances and timing of each of several optional routes, after which I hope to hone my skills of interpreting traffic maps to determine my daily choices. I will gain a whole new respect for the concerns of hazardous winter driving conditions. With my current short distance, and my 4-wheel drive Subaru, I barely glance at weather warnings for information on poor driving conditions. That will need to change this coming year.
Thinking about moving in October made me wonder how many trick-or-treat visitors we might expect to make the trek up our long driveway on a Wednesday night Halloween. If we get any, I will be very surprised. I will count that as one more perk making the long commute well worthwhile. That, and the fact that I will no longer suffer the sound of neighbors using their infernal leaf blowing machines! B’bye suburbs.
Dismantling Raftzilla
It is a challenge for me to follow yesterday’s fantastic contribution from Elysa, but the show must go on, and so I will type a few words and see what comes. I’m lucky to be typing anything at all, because I am so exhausted by a day filled with more chores than I imagined possible yesterday. We are up at the lake, tending to end of summer tasks, but I am feeling like it is just the beginning of a month of weekend days filled with similar kinds of exercise, with our impending move on the horizon.
The day started with cleaning out the garage and storage space under the little cabin. That involved pulling everything out and making a big mess in the driveway. There was a fair amount of stuff that was being stored for no logical reason, other than that no one had bothered to discard it yet. There were also some things that had just lost their luster, and deserved to be re-purposed.
We made multiple drives to the dumpster on the property; some in haste, to get things out of sight before a certain someone expressed sentimental value and tried to hang on to an item that otherwise deserved to go. Once the space was cleared out and cleaned, we had room to store the giant rafts that were about to be brought in from the swimming area.
When Cyndie and I arrived on Friday, we learned that her brother had contributed some additional floatation modules to the trampoline rafts that we anchor in the swimming area all summer long. His company makes the rafts, and there had been a business acquisition, so we were getting a little demonstration of the new product.
I heard the kids referring to the monstrosity as, “raftzilla.” It was said with affection, and the non-stop, day-long shrieks and giggles emanating from the lake –for three days straight– were testament to the level of satisfaction they held for the added pieces.
But they didn’t have to spend the entire afternoon getting it dismantled and prepared for winter storage.
In all fairness, the young ones that were capable, were enlisted to take a turn at scrubbing down the accumulations of mold and slime that grow on the surface of things in the lake. But their shifts were pretty short, especially compared to the effort put in by a handful of us adults. By the end of the day, my feet were complaining and the rest of me was just plain out of gas.
It’s a good thing that today is a holiday. I’m going to need a rest.
Happy Labor Day!
Another Perspective
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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!
Dream Farm
When we picked up Elysa on Thursday, to take her to see the place for the first time, she told us that she had never heard the expression: “bought the farm.” She said she received some shocked reactions when she told people that her parents had bought the farm.
The log home sits on the highest point on the property, with the land sloping away on all sides. The entrance of the long driveway offers no view of the buildings and climbs upward for the first third of length, then drops down toward the level of the barn, then rises up to the house.
On the right is the view from the high point of the first third of the driveway.
More Inspired
The number of decisions that we are facing during this phase of the process we are in is dizzying! Remember that sage advice to always read a document before you sign, and to read the fine print. I wish! It feels like my name is all over the place, and I hardly remember most of what I have signed. And we aren’t even at the two closings yet.
We face more decisions in the coming days, after we identify and check pricing for the various accoutrements and power equipment that the sellers are offering for sale beyond the definition of the mortgaged property documents. One of the significant items of interest is a tractor with 12 forward gears and 4 reverse. Boy, have I got a lot of lessons from the school of hard knocks awaiting me in the months ahead. Unless Cyndie happens to have designs on that job …[grin]. I know better than to underestimate her.
Yesterday, we were able to take our daughter, Elysa, along with us to visit the property again and meet the sellers. My confidence in the successful completion of the pending transactions is growing. The sellers are a wonderful, friendly, and gracious family. I don’t know if it is possible to feel any more inspired about this property, but after meeting them, I’m detecting an even greater motivation to succeed in nurturing the absolute best out of the potential this spectacular property holds.
It was a treat to share the place with Elysa for the first time, and observe the reaction of breathlessness that it provokes.
Yes, this is one of those instances that defines the expression of a scene or experience being “breath-taking.”
Speed Bumps
We ran into a couple obstructions yesterday that are keeping our starry-eyed dreaming mired in reality. Cyndie got a copy of her credit report to find out what was up with the phantom $13K charge to Chase bank that the mortgage lender listed. The day before she had exhausted all options of asking people at every possible loan department what the line item might be. Then, with report in hand, she called a second time to see if the account numbers would help them identify it. After several denials, the person on the phone came to the realization that the account number referred to a loan that had been sold to someone else, and that it happened at the same time Cyndie paid it off, in full.
They had record that it was paid in full years ago, but somehow it didn’t get cleared off the reports. They said someone would look into it and that it would eventually get taken care of. Cyndie insisted that they provide a letter immediately to confirm it was paid in full and explain their error, and then look into it and get it taken care of after that.
Then we got the results from the Radon test. The reading from the short test was over double the legal limit of 4 pCi/L. The EPA recommends that when using the short test, a reading be taken of the average of two tests. When you are in a race to close on the sale of a house, apparently one test is good enough to immediately call a more than willing contractor to come swooping in for a wad of money to throw some PVC pipe and a fan to make everything all safe and sound. Color me cynical about the whole Radon threat.
There is a threat of death by automobile crash every day, but that doesn’t keep us from driving. I guess the PVC pipe and fan is like wearing a seat belt. Once I get used to it, I’ll hardly even notice it’s there. At least I don’t have sleazy contractors eager to sell me after-market seat belts that will make me even safer in my car from the ever-present threat of a crash. Blech. Knocks me out of my dazzled visions of our new paradise in Beldenville.
Luckily, we were able to join friends Barb and Mike for a luxurious evening on their boat in Lake Minnetonka last night. The sunset put on a nice show that helped to sooth our bumps from the day.
Seeking Approval
There is an awful lot of detail that requires attention after you sign an offer on a new house. More than I can process, but it has to be dealt with, so I don’t have much choice. It seems funny that there was such a long span of time in which I was waiting, and now there is a rush to get everything done. Where’d I put my 2011 W2?
I guess I wasn’t supposed to use my credit cards while waiting to be approved for a loan. I pay the entire balance every month, so it seems to me that it provides plenty of history for how we manage our finances. It’s not like I stopped living. I charged the groceries I bought online.
We are looking into getting out of the big banks and into a credit union based near our new property. I am hoping they will provide our mortgage. We are crunching through the approval process anew, after continued frustration dealing with the first option presented to us.
I think all this rigmarole is the reason we lived where we are now for 25 years. It was easier.
Here’s hoping it is the last time we have to do this. The master bedroom is on the main floor. If we move the washer and dryer up to the same level, we could have a place that will fit our needs long into our frail and feeble years.
Fast Progress
Progress yesterday included news that the contingency regarding the husband (of the couple buying our house) seeing and approving the property, has now been removed. I don’t know when he saw it, but his approval is given. They were also darn quick on getting the inspection done on our place. We accepted their offer on Friday, and they had an inspector inside on Sunday, while we were at the lake. When we got home on Sunday night, I was a bit surprised to discover a radon detector set up in our basement.
We learned of two things that the buyers have asked be addressed: there was a gas leak at the meter outside, and mold in the attic. Cyndie already had the gas company out yesterday to repair the leaking connection. We have an appointment this morning to get a quote on the mold situation. The inspector wrote, “Plywood, where visible appears intact. Heat deterioration and mold on the decking noted.” I’m guessing it was related to the huge air leaks we had, between the living space and the attic –leaks which we had sealed last year. There was a lot of warm, moist air getting into the attic to condense on the cold joists and plywood.
I sure wish that issue had been identified and addressed before the sealing and insulating work was completed. Now someone will need to be trouncing around up there, packing insulation and otherwise messing up the nicely blown material.
I like it so much better when projects are able to be completed in proper sequence.
A view down the driveway, away from the house. Shop and additional garage space visible in the distance.
With Cyndie presently between jobs, we are unable to use her on the new mortgage loan. For some reason, they said they won’t put her name on the title as a result. That doesn’t make any sense to us. We will be investigating further, and checking on an alternate source for financing, for comparison.
It’s a shame we don’t get to remain free of the nitty-gritty details of this process, and linger in the dream-world of how supremely spectacular this property is that we have found. I can tell you that visions of this new space are severely interfering with my ability to focus on the work of my day-job this week. My mind keeps reliving every precious moment that we spent there last Friday, exploring the property. I didn’t take as many pictures as I could have, because I was wandering around with my mouth hanging open, awestruck, and I forgot.
Negotiations are underway to determine a possible time to return there with our children, in order to get another look, and take some measurements for the purpose of determining what furniture we will want to bring, and what will become available for distribution to willing recipients. I expect there to be some serious de-cluttering happening here in the weeks to come.
Quotes have been requested from multiple moving companies. I bet this will help to inspire us to maximize the number of things we don’t need to take with us.
Details Pending
I don’t mean to tease this along on you, but there remain some details to be hashed out that are holding me back from any official announcements. I can report that things moved very fast for us over a period of a few days, and we have made great strides toward realizing our dreams. Offers are in play going both directions: for the sale of our house, and the purchase of our dream property. The details that remain to be signed off all appear manageable to Cyndie and me.
The unfolding events truly feel like a culmination of lessons we have been given over our lifetimes. Most recently, the odd “interruption” to our plans, when Cyndie accepted a job offer in Boston. It all paved the way for the place we are at now.
I will reveal one critical detail, to demonstrate how close we have come. On Saturday, we learned from our realtor, that the offer for the property we have wanted from the beginning, that we submitted to the sellers on Friday, was accepted.
