The Pests

Things I am glad to be leaving:

While I can sum it up just by saying 'this whole place,' let me elaborate: The pests. 
I know, I know... there's a barn and there are fields here, so you are bound to see Jerry the mouse in the winter.  But here, it's Jerry et all.  All his cousins, I swear.  It's almost like they are rabbits!  My extreme hate for these creepy creatures has even broadened since I pretty much broke my finger trying to set the traps.  A purple bump the size of a 10 karat ring is not the most glamorous accessory.  I think I walked sideways for a few days from the weight of the 'ring'.

And then there's Tom the Cat.   He came with the place.  You would think Tom would have a hay day in the winter with Jerry et all, but no.  It's apparent he does try to eat his catch since he likes to puke them up on the sidewalk.  Maybe he's a vegetarian in disguise, and he just can't hold the prize.  I don't know.  At any rate, he should be fired. What can I say, it's Tennessee.  It's a right to work state. 
 
Moving on to the spiders in the sunroom.  These are the size of small children.  I'm just glad they don't talk back.  I'd fire them, too, but quite frankly, I'm petrified of their retaliation.

This is not Tom, nor is it my home, but if Tom were allowed in our home current residence, this is what he would say:

So winter leaves and then the dry summer comes, and we have to fight the ants.  What do they have, radar??  I'm not sure, but I think there was talk of an Ants II being filmed here.

Oh, and speaking of pests, there are the neighbors.  So weird.  I have no idea why they dislike us so much, but that feeling towards us is just as obvious as the discovery of Tom being a vegetarian.  "That awkward moment when...."  Yeah, our interactions are full of those.  I think he mows the lawn every other day.  We mow every other month.  They love that, I'm sure.  I keep expecting to see him out on his hands and knees with scissors and a ruler measuring and hand cutting each blade of grass.  I totally wanted to stick about 30 pink flamingo's in their yard and wrap their trees in Christmas lights this April Fool's, but couldn't quite pull it off.  I'll come back and try harder next year.

Happy Trails, my friends: Tom, Jerry, spiders, ants, and neighbors.

*Disclaimer: this has been a slight exageration regarding the quantity of each pest!  Just fun to write about...   :)   OH! Except for Tom... there really is a Tom the Vegetarian Cat.  And I'm sure the people moving in are going to be so excited when they see his little prizes.

Welcome To a New Place

Welcome to a New Place!

So, this is it!  Our new beginning.  Long time overdue, or so I've thought until the last few days.  God has his funny timing, you know.  We are only in our 30's and can finally say we are home owners.  I have picked on Tim recently, telling him that he is almost 40, and HELLO!  30 years from now he will be 70, and, well, will we still be renting?  I mean, I know he loves his job and all, but I'd like to retire some day!  After 2 weeks of the most stress I think we have ever endured in our 12 years of marriage, we are finally relaxing.  Relaxing knowing we won't miss a beat providing a roof for our kids, pasture for all the 4 legged animals.  Relaxing.  Which is good... because as you will soon see, that will be a thing of the past while we go on this new project adventure.  

We had been quite content in our current home until Hurricane Landlord came and sold the house out from underneath us.  (Let me just add that she was supposed to give us first shot at purchase.) I was heart broken.  We had the perfect set up with the animals, the kids' school, travel time for work, etc.  Not to mention I had finally moved and unpacked several boxes that had set up camp in the den corner for sooooo many months!  

Ever try to place 4 horses, 3 dogs, & 2 kids somewhere in 30 days?  Yes, you read that right - 30 days.  Well, let me tell you...  don't try.  It sucks.  It was almost an epic fail.  We were about to sell the horses, get rid of the dogs, sell a bunch of stuff and find an apartment.  We were limited in our search in so many ways, the biggest being time.  We were so stressed, not sleeping, pulling out our hair... until  this place fell in our lap.  Literally.  With one of God's Angels, the offer went in at 5:00 one night, and we had an answer the next morning.  Done deal.  How does that happen?  God.  [Let me also add here that at this point, we had not even seen the inside yet, except for a few pictures via website.  We had made a visit to the property, but not seen the inside of the (huge) barn.]

We love this place.  3200 square foot barn, 16+ acres, fenced, pond, in the school zone that Nicholas has wanted to get back in for so long, and a 1 bedroom apt.  Yep!  That's our heaven.  

Wait.  What?  That's it?  Where are the bedrooms?  I know I just read your mind.  I have mad skills that way!  Well.....  This is where the adventure begins.  This 3200 square foot barn is going to be renovated.  By us.  Together.  Into a home.  If you know either me or "Big Pappa", you are probably falling out of your chair laughing right now at the thought of the two of us renovating something.  Anything.  Together.  (Did I mention that he and I are the biggest pig-headed people that have ever walked this earth?!!)

The barn/cabin/old west motif is something in which he and I have shared interests.  So having a home with this style is right up our alley.  Now, going from barn to this? HA! Well.... this is also the reason I started this blog.  I figured there would be some very comical moments worth sharing with the world. Not to mention some awesome before and after shots.  (HGTV is gonna be jealous!)  We hope believe with a little ton of hard work, a lot of DIY, crazy fun ideas, and some a lot of time, we can turn this barn into the Oliver Oasis.  A place to be proud of, to want to be in, to give our kids their 'roots'.  A place where the 4 of us know we can come HOME, and not worry about what tomorrow will bring.  

So in the months to come, we will be sharing this Rustic Restoration with all of you.

Someone who shall remain nameless (Grammy) questioned my use of the term "Oliver Oasis" and pointed out that we didn't have any camels!  My rebuttal: Nope!  But we will have a bar!!  woohoo!  That's an Oasis to me!  Funny how "Big Pappa" and I agreed on having a bar right off the bat!  

We finally got to see the inside today.  We were very pleasantly surprised by all the great things this barn and property have to offer that we had not yet known.  So many possibilities.  Our minds are running a muck with ideas already.  Oh, did I mention there will be a bar?  

OK!  So...  next step... finish packing.  I seem to be the only one interested in collecting our belongings at this point.  Then, move.  For the LAST TIME.  We have to be out of this place by the 27th.  T-12 days and counting........  and then on to a new place both figuratively and literally.  On to our next adventure.  Together.