We grabbed our 9.58 acre (more or less, according to the deed) slice of the American dream. We did the final inspection today, and the house and everything along with it was in great shape. The previous owners left the whole joint REALLY clean and the grass was freshly cut. We were so grateful. By the way, it is a pretty great feeling to walk around a big piece of land and say "wow, this is mine." Well, all except what the bank owns. But you get the idea. It was nice.
During our final inspection of the home, we met a couple of our neighbors, who came skidding and honking into our driveway in a convertible Mercedes coupe. I think their names were Marney and Rick. It seems they dabble in sheep farming and have all the sheep and chicken manure that you can haul away or shake a stick at. They knew a lot about us. It was a nice welcome.
Here's a country anecdote: our real estate agent got a call today from the local water company. It turns out they knew the house was being sold. To us. By her. And that we must have forgotten to apply for service. They promised to leave the water on for a few days until we got around to it. Nice, huh?
Then, at 4:00pm we spent about 45 minutes signing our names over and over, again and again, in a symbolic gesture of our commitment to paying for, caring for and maintaining a parcel of land that contains (1) a log cabin, (2) an outbuilding that aspires to be a garage, (3) an old barn with a hay loft (!) and (4) an old building that used to house batteries to run the main house and, temporarily, the guy that built the house (but probably not at the same time). My favorite (of about 50) forms that I signed today self-certified that I was mentally stable. I can't be the first person to wonder whether an insanity plea would work if that form ever was used as evidence against me.
So! That's about it. We own it now. David is contemplating which gun he would most like to use to defend his private property. I'm wondering if I plant pumpkins now, will they be up in time for Halloween. Stella is debating whether the rabbits are as fast in the country as they are in town. She's hoping not.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Up and running
So, it's been a while intrepid reader. And the schtick I was running this blog on has changed entirely. Entirely. The blog used to be a way to share our German life with friends and family who were not in Germany. Now, it is a way to share our Indiana log cabin life with friends and family who are not living in a log cabin in Indiana. Although, if we make friends in Indiana who happen to also live in a log cabin, they are welcome to read this, too.
I feel like I am pitching a reality series to the execs at NBC. Here is our story: on the 14th of April, we will close on a 40 year old log cabin situated on 10 acres of land in northern Monroe county, Indiana. The house, as well as we can piece together, was built from the logs on the land by a Vietnam veteran just returning from the war. It is a pretty and atmospheric house, filled with quirks and all the things that you could imagine would be charming (and disturbing) about a 40 year old log cabin.
The land has fruit trees and a tiny little creek at the bottom of the hill, an old barn, and a big garden, where I hope to have pumpkins growing come October.
I am learning that woodpeckers will be my sworn enemy because they are especially fond of laying waste to half a log in the time it takes to write a blog post. It isn't that they particularly enjoy the taste of aged log. No. They like the bugs that burrow in the wood. And they will do anything to get those bugs.
We also have to be on the lookout for termites, wasps, and a host of other country-vermin. Maintenance-wise, the cabin needs to have all the grout-type stuff between the logs (called chinking) replaced. Otherwise, there is very little between us and all the things that can (and will) fit through a one inch slot. You can imagine. There is also the whole septic-system concept to come to terms with, which is sort of disgusting, if you think much about it.
In return for this kookiness, we are surrounded by big, old trees, a quiet country road and neighbors who also like the country life. Kind of nice, if you ask me. And did I mention we'll be doing all of this while calling an old log cabin home?
The point of this (our move, not the blog), is to try and slow it down just a bit. And I plan to chronicle our experiences of moving toward a more sustainable and slower paced life that begins in about two weeks. I think the slower paced part won't come for some time. But we are a step closer. And I hope the more sustainable part will start right away.
I'll try and jot down our experiences of fixing things and growing things and breaking things and so on. So, here goes. A whole new page (and all those sort of cliches).
I feel like I am pitching a reality series to the execs at NBC. Here is our story: on the 14th of April, we will close on a 40 year old log cabin situated on 10 acres of land in northern Monroe county, Indiana. The house, as well as we can piece together, was built from the logs on the land by a Vietnam veteran just returning from the war. It is a pretty and atmospheric house, filled with quirks and all the things that you could imagine would be charming (and disturbing) about a 40 year old log cabin.
The land has fruit trees and a tiny little creek at the bottom of the hill, an old barn, and a big garden, where I hope to have pumpkins growing come October.
I am learning that woodpeckers will be my sworn enemy because they are especially fond of laying waste to half a log in the time it takes to write a blog post. It isn't that they particularly enjoy the taste of aged log. No. They like the bugs that burrow in the wood. And they will do anything to get those bugs.
We also have to be on the lookout for termites, wasps, and a host of other country-vermin. Maintenance-wise, the cabin needs to have all the grout-type stuff between the logs (called chinking) replaced. Otherwise, there is very little between us and all the things that can (and will) fit through a one inch slot. You can imagine. There is also the whole septic-system concept to come to terms with, which is sort of disgusting, if you think much about it.
In return for this kookiness, we are surrounded by big, old trees, a quiet country road and neighbors who also like the country life. Kind of nice, if you ask me. And did I mention we'll be doing all of this while calling an old log cabin home?
The point of this (our move, not the blog), is to try and slow it down just a bit. And I plan to chronicle our experiences of moving toward a more sustainable and slower paced life that begins in about two weeks. I think the slower paced part won't come for some time. But we are a step closer. And I hope the more sustainable part will start right away.
I'll try and jot down our experiences of fixing things and growing things and breaking things and so on. So, here goes. A whole new page (and all those sort of cliches).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
