We did it!

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.