A New Local

Technically I shouldn't be posting this blog yet but I just couldn't wait.  Here are some pictures of our new home (hopefully).  We are still waiting on the final word so if you find that this post has magically disappeared next week it means that something went wrong.  I should say something else went wrong.  Wrong enough that we don't get it.  We have had several problems along this path but amazingly everything has righted itself over time and nearly everything has worked out to our advantage.  Pretty cool.  So, these pictures were taken during our home inspection period when the kids and I would drive out there to play and water the nearly dead plants.  All of our work was probably in vain however since we haven't been up there in several weeks and the seller has not interest in keeping the trees alive.  Ahh, C'est la vie.  

The kids enjoying an ice cream from the local market

My little cuties just sat down here all by themselves.
They were eating their ice cream and having a
conversation about the scenery.  They crack me up!

The HUGE kitchen

So, our future plans include:

• Flattening out the land in front of the house (we will have a total of 8 acres but not all of it can be flattened)
• Digging the natural pond so that it is bigger and more centered on the property.  Will wants that to be our swimming pool but I'm not too keen on swimming around in murky waters with little (or big) fishes kissing my feet.  So, he has some cool ideas to build a pool kind of to the side of the pond with a little waterfall into the pond. 
• Planting some yummy fruit trees.  Maybe we will have a little citrus orchard too.  I don't know cause that isn't my main interest.  I think it would be fun to have a few fruit tress though so that kids could go pick them.  If we don't plant anything though I'm fine with buying food from our neighbors little fruit stand.  They have beautiful fruit laid out (including pluots and asian pears, YUM!) right by the road that is all on the honesty system.  They have a little slot in the table where you put in money and take the fruit that you paid for.  I've even seen a little bowl with fruit in it that says "Try One! (washed)".  It's crazy.  I can't imagine anyone steeling from them for the simple fact that having their fruit stand set up that way is basically saying to someone, "I trust you and have faith that you will do the right thing and pay for your food."  I mean, who could steel from someone who says that to you?  I guess I'm not the best judge for that though since I never understood how people could bring themselves to steel in the first place.  Anyhow, on with the future plans...
• We want to have several sheep (for the wool) and possibly a Llama or Alpaca to protect them.
• A dog or two (of coarse!!).  Will insists that his dog has to be named "Dog".  I'm working on at least using the name "Pup" instead.  Dog?  Really?  Come on!
• Maybe a couple of chickens (for the eggs).  Will insists that free range chickens don't smell like chickens in a coop because their poop gets spread all over the place.  Plus there is the added advantage of free fertilization.  Oh, gross!

That's all I could come up with now although I think there is plenty more.  As far as the inside of the house goes, everything is pretty much good.  I will be changing some light fixtures around but it's all going to be pretty minor stuff.  I think we will have the real fun outside.  Finally, I will have a yard to let the kids play in!!!  I'll let you all know when our big open house party will be so, stay tuned.