abby « Robin Writes

Well, I’ve had about enough of this land search, and I’m sure you have too! We’re still a second on the property we’re most interested in, but it’s looking less likely. We haven’t had time to go look at any new ones—plus, it’s been cold.

Now, I’m not a fan of cold, especially when it’s also windy, but I’ve been trying to desensitize myself a bit. Not that it’s working out too well . . . I decided that 40 degrees is about my limit. You know, like being inside a refrigerator.

I received some lovely, fuzzy earmuffs for Christmas and they are AWESOME. They certainly help my ear issues (wind), and I don’t feel like I’m so bundled up I can’t move. I also received some mitten-gloves, which also helps—when you need your fingers to check maps.

Yes, I know all about layering, I just hate to do it because when I come back inside, there are all those layers to remove. And that requires, first, removing my boots. Maybe I’m lazy, but when I’m dressed, I stay that way all day.

Anyway, I do NOT like the cold. Could I stand it if I had to? Sure. But until then . . . 46 days until spring!

So, what can you do to prep if you’re NOT going out in the cold? A lot of things:

Go through your house, closets, cabinets, room by room, and get rid of the excess stuff. Stuff you can use, if it’s not an immediate use, box it up. Stuff you can’t, start a pile in the garage for a spring yard sale.

As long as you’re pulling stuff out of all those spaces, wipe down the inside of the cabinets and the closet shelves. Clean the closet floors. Heck, that’s a lot of “spring” cleaning you’ve already finished—in winter!

Rotate and inventory your supplies. Admit it. You keep meaning to do this, but haven’t quite gotten around to it. Do it now.

Wash the inside of your windows, as long as it’s not TOO cold. All that grime built up . . . ugh. There is no rule that says you must ALSO do the outside at the same time.

Plan your garden. Your state ag extension office will have a lot of suggestions, including how much to plant, a common question, as well as where and how.

There. That should keep you busy until week’s installment of Prep Monday. At least!

Well, you might say I’m getting a bit discouraged . . . just a bit. Here’s a rundown on the properties we looked at last Monday:

The first one had a house. It was cute on the outside, good layout on the inside—the bright blue walls in what would be my office would be the first thing to be changed. Hmmm. It had, not a walk-in closet, but a walk-THROUGH closet, which was interesting. A huge yard/garden space, and the rest of the acreage went up the hill and into the woods. Not too bad.

There were a couple outbuildings, but sadly too dilapidated to be functional—and that included the very old log cabin.

However. All we could hear were the baying of the hounds. The neighbors’ hounds. That would last about ten seconds for me. No, no, and no.

The second property was all woods. And vertical. Moving on . . .

The third one was awesome! Near the Black River, turn onto a private drive/electric easement; there were four property owners back this road, and only one who lived there. We met him. Super nice guy, once he stopped shooting.

Okay, I’ll explain that:

The property had two sections, one on each side of the easement road. The lower portion was about seven acres, surrounded by trees and bordered on the back side by a creek and then the county road. Electric, well, etc. Nice meadow and a grove of trees in the middle.

The upper section had a road going to the top of a hill, with a level area about halfway up and a wildlife pond. That’s when we heard the shots.

So we decided discretion was the better part of valor and we walked back down the road to the gate. That’s when we met the neighbor. Seven feet tall, I swear. He was very cordial and welcoming, told about the other property owners, talked about the area.

I still don’t know what he was shooting at . . .

Anyway, after we left there, my husband being all excited about this possibility, our agent called—there was a contract on the property. Dammit. Have to say, I’m a little annoyed by the listing agent. He knew this, but sent us out there anyway.

Then our agent called again. Remember the barn property? Word is that the current contract likely won’t go through—and we have a backup contract!

Of course, the bank is being iffy, when I can reach the guy, but there are ways . . . and we’ve signed the offer papers.

So keep your fingers crossed for us—I want to get moving on this and besides, I’m really tired of looking!