Lots is percolating and I wanted to make a quick update.
We
made an offer on a farm in WI this week and then withdrew it after 24
hours when we realized we'd bitten off more than we could chew. We've
been out viewing properties within 60 driving minutes from Tim's work
every weekend and have two more this weekend in WI. We're working with
real estate agents- Lisa in MN and Don in WI. So far, most of the good
stuff in our price range is in WI. We continue to revise our search as
we learn new things
We had a co-worker of
Tim's who is also a professional painter come yesterday; he gave us
advice and we plan to do some ourselves and have him come and paint the
tricky bits in preparation for putting our house on the
market. We are taking down everything off the walls and are boxing,
giving away, and preparing for a garage sale. We have sold/given away a
lot of furniture including a couch on the porch waiting for a
Craigslist pick up this morning so our main floor is wider open and
looks so huge.
Our Thursday night Living
on the Land class through the U of M Extension in Mankato has been going
very well- helpful, informative, and alternately inspiring and
overwhelming. We've got class through the end of April, are registered
for Farm Dreams class with the Land Stewardship Project on April 15, and
then plan to register for their longer class called Farm Beginnings for
next school year. Also heard about a Farm Business Enterprises class
this week which focuses on record-keeping for decision-making and are
considering that. We've also been skimming 6-10 books per week on
various farm topics ranging from
livestock to gardening to alternative energy to food preservation to
composting to greenhouses.
We're hoping to
buy and sell yet this spring or summer if we find the right thing. So
far, we haven't done anything irrevocable; just a very deep spring
cleaning and field trips. But given that we've started making offers, I
wanted to update you all.
On a personal note, I
had toe surgery to remove a cyst last Tuesday and it went
extraordinarily well. I am in less pain than before the surgery, almost
none at all. I also found out that I was anemic and have been taking
iron and chlorophyll and I gotta say that oxygen is a great thing. I am
doing a special Chinese medicine diet and have lost 20# in 7 weeks.
I'm hoping to stay on it through the summer and then reevaluate. I'm
feeling the best I can ever remember feeling in my life and I can't
express how surprised and
pleased and grateful I am.
My friend
Megan said a profound thing to me in February, "What kind of life do you
need to have so that you are satisfied with a smaller, healthy amount
of calories?" In a more general way, she was asking what kind of life I
need to be satisfied within my limits. From what I can see so far, our
new adventures are already helping me be more satisfied with my life
and I look forward to new adventures.
