New Home in Lander

The sellers countered our offer which we gladly accepted. Our original offer was $50K less than the asking price (which was already reduced greatly due to the slow movement of homes in this price range). They countered with an offer that saved us $35K. Of course, Dad/Paul feels guilty about it because the asking price was very fair---but I assured him that I can easily spend the $35K on updates.

Life has been hectic and crazy here---trying to get ready to move while finishing the painting, tiling, etc. is a challenge in the best of times but when you add a move on top of it, I can only project myself into the future a bit and imagine it all done...

We are going to see if the sellers want to sell some of the furniture---coming from our smaller home, we can't even fill one floor much less this house.

I look forward to our first reunion here---kids in the pool, parents in the pool, grandpa in the pool, grandma in a chaise lounge (ha!) etc.

Namaste,

Nancy

Lander Wyoming "Home Sweet Home"

Here are a few photos of 15 Gannett Peak Drive in Lander, Wyoming. We tendered an offer yesterday and will see what the seller has to say. It is a beautiful home but there is quite a bit of deferred maintenance that needs to be done.

Paul starts work officially on November 1---I am not sure that we can be moved by then but will see what happens.

I have been busy here at the house in Vernal trying to get it ready to sell. To date, we have tiled the kitchen and laundry area; we have also begun painting. We have several people looking at the house right now including a group of investors who are developing the property across the street. We will see what this brings and if need be, we will rent it out.

It will be a huge change in some ways---not so big in others. I hope to "flip" this house with updates and good xeriscaping that will be drought tolerant.

Lander has a great art community and although I am sure there are some who do not view our environment as dynamic and important---most of the people there are very conscious of the problems our planet is facing.

As most of you know, the environment is one issue that we find important. It has been more difficult than I am able to express to watch my home place---from the Book Cliffs to the White River---from our town to our restaurants----change to accomodate a drill, pillage and kill it mentality. The building boom has caught fire here and many of the beautiful fields and meadows are now gone. I am sure there are many who would call this progress---we simply call it an extension of the boom/bust cycle that recreates this area from time to time. Unfortunately, the direction it grows is rarely a good one---and if you are progressive and artistic, there is really no place for you.

But, enough of that! Lander promises to have plenty of art and plenty of progressive people. It is to this that we look forward.

We are excited about the possibilities of this new house---this new town and look forward to sharing it with our friends and family.

Looks like a great place for a family reunion, doesn't it? Jackson Hole, Yellowstone and other great places are within a couple hours of Lander... There are plenty of places to go and things to see here as well.

We look forward to seeing our grandchildren in the pool and their parents in the hot tub, sauna and steam room after a long day hiking,
napping, reading or walking the dogs. I am sure that we can think of lots to see and do together, don't you?

Dog Days

We have added a couple of new faces to our household this past year.

Most of you will recognize Keeda but her sidekick, Monty, a true Scotch Terrier, is a "terrierific" little fellow who was owner released at the shelter.

A friend brought him by on my birthday in September and by that evening, I knew he was not a foster but an Ebbert boy.

He has really short little legs and cannot jump like Keeda but loves to hike. We took all of the dogs for a hike up Coyote Gulch this afternoon and they were in "dog" heaven!

Monty managed to dig a couple of likely looking holes---one was suspiciously like a badger hole and generally run up and down every hill several times.

Keeda is an amazing little hiker and usually manages four miles for every one we walk. Monty runs a close second but his attention is often captured by delicious scents under ledges and bushes.Connor, our Irish Wolfhound puppy, is getting past the real gangly, awkward stage and is growing into an elegant wolfie! At eight months old, he is taller than Maggie and though slender, also has a longer body. He is gentle and shy but adores walking! They all go crazy when we ask if they want to go for a walk. Of course, since hunting season is in the fall, each one has become accustomed to their hunter orange kerchiefs!


 

Condos Sold! Farm Creek Property Purchased

The Fireplace At Legacy Meadows...


Each of our condos will have a gas log fireplace. All of the fixtures including faucets, hinges, door and cupboard hardware are an oiled bronze. The walls have been painted a desert sand with stark white crown mouldings in the kitchen, dining and living space and a hint of Victorian charm in the door jams and cornice pieces.

The new owners made their purchase in time to choose the carpet---a much lighter one than I opted for but very beautiful... I suppose that I am too accustomed to children and pets though not necessarily in that order. Ha! Ha!

The Kitchen...

This is the lovely kitchen of the first unit sold at Legacy Meadows. The cabinets are custom built knotty maple with staggered tops and a beautiful countertop in a marble-like laminate. A ceramic tile floor covers the kitchen, dining area and utility area as well as the entry and both bathrooms.

The guest bathroom, not quite finished... We are pleased with the quality of this "twin" home which is the flagship of the project. I will send exterior photos when the landscaping is completed.

We will also send some pictures of Farm Creek when we go back in a couple of weeks. It is such a beautiful and serene location with 40 acres of high quality grass/alfalfa hay and a five acre homesite where we will build our home, pastures, barn and outbuildings. I am so excited to think that we will be living once again in a place that has little light pollution and a wonderful habitat for wildlife. It is nestled on the bottom flank of the Uinta Mountains just four miles from the Whiterocks Canyon turn off.

There is an old gravel pit on the property that we plan to seal with bentonite and fill with water for a pond. In addition, we will build a small pier with a ladder, a barbeque area and hopefully will be able to find a large teepee to accomodate our more adventurous guests.

The adjoining 15 acres was split in two with half purchased by Kathy and Dan Schaad, good friends---Kathy and I went to Junior High together---Dan is the assistant manager of the national wildlife refuge in Ouray; and the other 7.5 acres by Dan's good friend who is with the Soil Conservation Service. We are in a collaborative effort and will restore much of the habitat for native birds and animals. They offered to help with the pond and know of ways to keep the water aerated. So...in a couple of years, we will have a haven which will welcome you home.

Will write more later...good night for now.

Holidays

Our holidays were lovely with April, Cam, Pat and Megan staying here with us. The animals were overjoyed to have Megan back in their midst---two weeks after she leaves, Hannah may quit striking at me but as long as "The Megan" is home, she is the favorite and I am simply the zoo keeper.

We enjoyed calls from around the country---and realized what good girls and boys we have in our family including the big ones. As I talked with our children and grandchildren, a sense of gratitude filled my heart---the happy voices, the excited descriptions of favorite gifts and the little ones meeting their thank you obligation a bit distractedly but so sincerely nonetheless.


Thanks for all the gifts and especially for those to Heifer Project International in our name which will ensure a family in the third world will be able to raise farm animals suited for their area. The idea is to enrich an individual family with baby animals including poultry, rabbits, sheep, pigs, goats, llamas or cattle which they raise. These animals are later bred and produce young which are shared with a neighbor who later gives another neighbor the same gift. In a few short years, a village has reaped the benefits of that one gift. Families are able to eat better and to sell milk, eggs, butter and meat. This also improves the standard of living. Wow! To think that we can have such an impact with such a simple gift! Those unfamiliar with Heifer Project should go online and learn more. I believe the way to peace is through the elimination of poverty.

An investor called last week to say they were going to make an offer on our project. If the price is right, we will definitely sell. Neither one of us are greedy and I feel if we are able to make a nice profit which will allow us to buy a place further out, build the home we want and have a little money in the bank, that investment has paid us handsomely. We will see what the offer will be and go from there.

Life is still busy here---after surgery on my foot, I thought I would prop it up and get a few books read but that was essentially a fairytale. Five weeks later and it is healing fine but there is no rest for the wicked or the nice guys like Paul either, ha!

He did quite a bit of traveling in November and December and we are also considering trying to make it to Japan before my nephew leaves to come back to the states. He and his wife, Mayumi, a native of Japan, would be perfect tour guides and besides, I would love to see our little niece Audrey. We are hoping to make it happen!

Well, enough blogging for now! Thanks for all the great posts on the blogs---it is wonderful to see the pictures of all of you and especially the littlest ones! They are all so beautiful!

Legacy Meadows Condominiums

"Well, Pilgrim---it looks like there's no goin' back from here..."

Legacy Meadows has officially begun the active building phase of the project. After two years of red tape and planning, we are now in debt up to our eyebrows but still confident that this is a good project and one that will be good for our community. Most of you know that we are building 32 individual units---16 duplexes which should be sold within the next 2-3 years.

The foundation for the first unit has been poured and work has begun! In addition, it is exciting to see the road dimensions as well as curb and gutter. It really allows one to imagine where the units will be and how it will all come together. The asphalt will be arriving soon---and the sidewalks will also be poured within the next week or so. We fully expect to see people driving through to look at the project from the inside when this phase of the project is complete.

The location is exceptional---directly across the street to the west is the Freestone Legacy Walking Park (hence Legacy Meadows) and due east is the new clinic. All of the floor plans are one level and two bedroom. We have one of the best (if not the best) builders in the area and are confident that his reputation will help sell the condos.

I realize this may not be the most exciting blog subject but wanted to share it with all of you. Many of you reading this are looking at what may be a significant part of your future inheritance---that is if we don't wander the earth and spend it all. Beyond that, we are pretty excited to see it start to come to fruition.

Posted by Nancy

"We've Gone To The Dogs---Again!"

We really and truly have gone to the dogs...read on, dear reader, if you wish to hear this tale...















This has been a very interesting and messy week here at the homestead. After picking up several desert affies (LaBoco, Shatow and Simba) in Southern California where they had been rescued by Sandy Blount, we traveled towards home. (To those who don't know, Sandy is a true affie-angel!!!) In addition to her many old adopted afghans, she has up to 12+ foster afghans at any given time. And even more impressive, unlike me, keeps a number of them in "show coat." She is assisted by friends in this endeavor---we met Pam while we were there and feel like we made another good and true friend.

On the road, when we entered Cedar City in Southern Utah, it became abundantly clear that at least one of the dogs was not doing well. Though we stopped frequently for potty breaks and water, this time was different. As we pulled into a Sonic Drive-In to refuel ourselves, LaBoco made it very clear that he needed out of the car NOW! I, being the wise dog-goddess-slave that I am, leaped to comply. We barely made it out of the Exterra when he squatted and proceeded to demonstrate in messy clarity why this was a wise thing for me to do...
LaBoco (pictured at left) was miserable and because he is older, I was concerned that he was genuinely ill. We cleaned up the mess (and were reasonably certain that Sonic lost a few customers...) and asked for directions to a vet. LaBoco was thoroughly examined but the vet found nothing conclusive: he had no temperature, etc.

This was truly a sign of things to come; we very literally had a "crappy" week with all three boys succumbing to severe bouts of diarrhea, loss of appetite and general malaise.

(Pictured - Shatow who is happy to be on the mend! He had been lethargic and of the three desert dogs, the most hard-hit by his neutering...)

I have to say that when we arrived home, it was to a clean house, two happy dogs (though a bit miffed at the thought of more foster fur-sibs!), four loud and happy parrots, three delighted cats winding around our feet and two horses who were already banging on the water trough as if to greet us properly! (Not to worry, the other two old horses are currently on pasture at a friend's house...)

After settling all the critters into bed that night, we sank gratefully into our own soft "space foam mattress" and went to sleep. Paul slept well. And I? Well I slept, just not for long. The next morning I loaded the three of them up for a trip to the vet only to find that all tests and temps came back normal: No fever. No parasites. No heartworm. Nothing unusual except the explosive diarrhea.

(Believe me that was enough!) He ruled out everything but stress. So armed with anti-diarrheal medications, rice, chicken and yogurt, we began a rigid schedule where they were doctored and taken outside as often as possible.

Later that night, I was once again up at all hours cleaning up messes---putting dogs in and out and generally wondering (for the umpteenth time) about the masochistic tendencies inherent in most rescuers that gets them into these fixes. The third night, I couldn't take any more poop on the floor, walls and appliances! Paul and I went shopping for "Depends" and at home, I cut holes for tails and humiliated all three wild boys by diapering them! But wow, it was nice to sleep again!

Then finally---no accidents!!! Even though we do not have "normal" potty breaks yet, we do not need the diapers and there have not been any accidents inside the house for the past 36 hours! Yipee!

Maggie was not sure what to think about all of this but overall, she was pretty good natured. Then yesterday, who should arrive at our house but an "old fart-dog" named Oso Kelly! "Oh no! Mom!!! What have you done? What were you thinking???" was the look Maggie threw over her should as we answered the door!

Oso, a lab/golden retriever mix, belongs to Barb Kelly, an old high school classmate who was stricken with West Nile this summer. (She was in that small percentage of people who are very hard hit by the complication of encephalitis.) Weakened by her illness, Barb was forced to leave Oso with her friend, Sue Hooley earlier this summer when she went to stay with her daughter in California.

This worked out fine during the warm months---but Oso was not allowed inside at his foster home in Dry Fork. When it became clear that Barb's recovery might be lengthy, Sue began to worry about the old dog and whether he could withstand the cold temps in the winter.

Before we left for our trip, we were contacted by a mutual friend, Cindy Perry who told us of Sue's dilemma and the fear that Oso would not make it until his mom recovered especially if he had to remain outdoors. As usual, Paul, with a roll of his eyes, said it was up to me...and I of course, offered to let him come here.

His foster mom was glad to hear that he could come to the "animal house" and agreed to keep him with her until we came home from our trip.

Once home, I explained to Sue that I had to get the three desert dogs on the mend before Oso could come to stay. Though relieved that I wasn't backing out she worried about my reaction because Oso was "skunked" last week! (Yes, he still smells bad despite the stuff Sue got from USU extension!) But, as in all good fairytales and dogtales, Oso has finally settled in here with the dog-goddess/god-slaves and their other feather, fur and foster fur kids.

His first day, it was a bit humorous to see his interaction with the other animals. Oso immediately made it clear that he didn't want to be left at the goddess's house. He howled when Sue left. But within a few minutes of being coaxed and petted and given cookies, he saw that there might be advantages here after all...

Hey! They weren't making him go outside!!! And, gosh, the house smelled nice. No candles or AirWick or Febreze here! Nope! It smelled like dogs! And cats! And, sniff-sniff! Wasn't that a bird room in there???

Within an hour, Oso was asserting his place as the wise old dog. He growled when Maggie tried to push her way into his food dish. Growled when the goddess tried to brush his hair. Grumbled when the little dog tried to jump on her mom's lap and in general, made himself at home.

And so, although this place is nice for a Maeser, Utah B & B, Oso really wants his mom to get busy with her physical therapy and do whatever it takes to get well and come home. He thinks he will like the new arrangements but like Toto and Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz "There's no place like home!"

And as for Maggie and Keeda? They know that they are the top dogs and though occasionally disgruntled by the attention the new dogs get, are good about sharing what they have with those less fortunate. If only all people were more like dogs...but that's another post, isn't it?

Posted by Nancy