So we're all caught up for the most part.
In a nutshell....The kids and I will not be returning to Japan, but Greg is required to go without us for a year. We found our forever home that is the perfect blend of livable and needing updates, with amazing property we will be using for a mini homestead.
Of course, the neighbors aren't bad either! My mom and Kevin live right next door, and we have some amazing friends in the area.
While we've been waiting for word on the appeal and closing on the house, we haven't been idle at all. I've learned how to design and draft sewing patterns and released my first design, Pepper from Sunflower Seams. We've been allowed to begin work on the house, too.
We haven't been doing much on the inside of the house, since the owners still needed to get a lot of things out of the house.
There is a gorgeous rock wall that encloses part of the property. Within this wall is a manmade stream and pond, rock garden, red clay tennis court (that has grass over it), and a garden area with a rock fort for the boys. The side of the wall had been so overgrown and let go that we didn't know there was a rock waterfall back in the corner.
So we've been wrestling with the overgrowth for a few weeks.When we finally heard back that Eden had been officially denied her appeal, something sort of clicked. We went to Tractor Supply as part of our weekly errands, and Greg always liked to tease me about getting chickens. I said, "We are NOT getting chickens today! We're not ready for them!"
Of course they had cute little chicks....cute blue ones!! Aww! I accidentally mentioned that we can get chickens "as soon as the side wall is completely cleared" since I knew we would be staying. Greg and CC looked at me and practically ran out to clear out the wall. I was actually working on this dress and in the time I finished it, they had done it. The side wall was cleared, with the exception of stump grinding.
......so we got some chicks. I had always said THREE chickens and TWO ducks are the limit, because let's be honest....this land isn't a homestead, it's obviously my photography studio. So we came home with four chicks.
The next weekend, I mentioned as soon as the stream was cleaned out, we could get ducks. Again, CC ran out there and started mucking out the stream. Greg and I went to Tractor Supply for our weekly errands, and I jokingly said, "Remember when I said NO CHICKENS and then we got chickens? NO DUCKS!!" They don't usually have ducks available. We've only seen them available once since we've been here. So of course they had ducks..........and we came home with two ducklings.
Meanwhile on the inside of the house, it's been cleaned out a bit more, and we spoke with the owner and starting work inside the house, and he was totally fine with that. We had to be careful, since we were still waiting on the final inspection and since we still hadn't closed, we didn't want to do MUCH.
Yesterday we were ripping out carpet, pulling staples, and cleaning the house, and Greg ran some errands. When he came back, he looked at me and asked, "What are you doing Friday at around 11am?" ....Looks like we will only be homeless for another 24 hours. I hope you are all ready for house pictures.....
Happy Sewing!!
-Shelley
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