Wake me up when September ends.....9/26/13

So I'm on the couch, the couch I didn't sell anyhow....

My legs are in a tremendous amount of pain, they are on fire

The reason? Not 100% sure! but a summer of nonstop photography may have something to do with it. The fact I turned 45 2 weeks ago might have some thing to do with it. The ninja moves I have been making trying to lose weight via Jillian and painting, remodeling fixing the studio up May have a bit more to do with it. Here I sit, I was feeling a bit fried so in a way, despite the horrible thought I will be disappointing many, I need to keep these legs up until they feel better, and I feel better. It's peak week here, and I have seniors and families booked all over. 

So what to do? I guess blog!

Let's catch up yet again with the family.....

In march, Mikki moved out and into her own apartment. She broke up with a boyfriend she hadn't dated long and began dating the guy she had had a cruch on since the first week of school, Jalen. She did also flunk out of school, and although appealed successfully to get back in this fall, she is paying for it herself. Financial aid told her free ride was over, as did I. 

Happily though she and the guys moved in to a house in ironwood together, and appear to be finally, happily figuring it all out. She works full time at the bell, has her own phone line and has managed to set up a long overdue surgery for a root canal all on her own. She loves her bf and us, she comes to visit her pugs and we are happy to see her independent and thriving. She's taking a cad class and if she successfully passes, her financial aid resumes.

In May, Gianna had her 8th grade banquet, and finished her junior high year a 4.0, she began babysitting and plotting and planning her convergence trip with Pete, my brother, in the cities.

We also finally bought a camper!!!!YES!!!!! 

We had our first camping trip Memorial Day weekend, and have been to subsequently, Upson falls, Madeline island, weber lake twice, iron county youth camp and with any luck. We hope to get in one more trip to either Minnesota or lake of the falls the first weekend in October with either jerry and Tamra, or Laura and Tony.....fingers crossed!

In June, I went to spend the week at Madeline island school of the arts for an adobe Lightroom course! and I LOVED it. I saw the most amazing sunrises and sunsets, sea caves and so much more. I will cherish it! Tabitha turned 12 and my dad in Duluth turned 70. We celebrated by taking him geocaching to find his gifts. Haven't seen too much of Linda, her health seems to be okay, but we are grateful when everyone's healthy enough to visit for sure!

July brought Gianna's much awaited convergence and the camp we so love. Gianna and granny Bertha were camp cooks and I again enjoyed photography. Hard to believe it's already been 2 years since we bought the house this August.... Dave had tirelessly worked on the yard, finished the siding, transplanted his beloved grandmothers peonies, planted many a sunflower, dug switches and built his greenhouse and made a lot of progress. Inside we're unpacking the very last boxes of trinkets and since Mikki moved out, Tabbi has reclaimed her bedroom and gotten a large new bunk bed, while Gianna has transformed her old room into a gamers paradise complete with chalkboard wall and sci fi posters from convergence. Definately the highlight of her life! A trip to the cities for back to school shopping and the Minnesota state fair with Pete and Sarah brought our summer to a quick and happy ending.

September 1st saw the girls back to school, one a freshman, the other a junior high student. I quietly jumped off the sub list, and also the pto. Too busy with photography and defiantly onto a new chapter for all of us. Weird to be a core family of 4 , but also less stressful for me, and more room to roam here. I am enjoying the decorating and finally feeling like a know this house. It's funny, it seriously takes a while. Sounds weird but I'm actually excited to be doing the yard up for Halloween, even though there'll be no trick or treaters this year....Gianna started aikido and auditioned for silver express. She didn't get in, but she's in que for next year. She's also loving babysitting and has began pining away for her first car, a jeep of course.

Tabltha is enjoying school, and her friends. It was a great thing to see her and Riley playing with the American girl dolls and dollhouses when she was here last weekend. They have dusted them off and e laughter was wonderful to hear. She's still my little girl. She didn't join basketball and I didn't force her to do anything, she's contented to just be Tabbi, and that's fine by me. No rush, no stress, band and choir and her studies are quite enough!

Projects left to do now this fall are installing the new fireplace, getting gutters, heat tape, refinancing for a mound system (septic), roof and installing the free jet tub Dave acquired this summer from the days in remodeling. I'm also couch surfing with the girls, time for a new sectional. The huge game/family room will be complete. The studio set for people for the winter, and the girls enjoying bigger spaces, the garage emptier so we can park in it, Dave's brewery and office downstairs is taking shape, and gnome depot....yes, gnome depot, will be opening for business. 

While I am not looking forward to winter, I am looking forward to having less of a overloaded schedule in my work. While addictive, I have to take a break. The money and the overwhelming success is phenomenol and surpassed all my expectations, but I am paying for it daily right now. I've created a monster? Yes.....that's the best way to explain it! I am taking off December 15-January 15 for myself and for Dave as he will finally be getting His hands and nose surgeries done. 

There you are! Hopefully I don't wait another 6 months to blog!

It's cold out.....must be time to paint and blog

Haven't written in a LONG time!! This past year has been a busy barrage of photography, life and kids-Mikhayla has graduated high school (we had a ton of family and friends come see her and the new home for her party-it was wonderful!!) and is at the local college trying out her wings (sigh) and giving me gray hairs, she has her first set of wheels and first real job! She's a waitress (and loving it) at a local diner...college is a challenge for her, but socially she has made some new friends and enjoys a good game of Magic cards and D & D..she is more and more like my brother as time goes by!...Gianna is 4.0 stellar student and a range basketball champ. She plays in band, choir and is just a joy, my little gamer...she's struggling with normal teen stuff but I am so proud of her. She makes such wise decisions! Tabbi is the last of my kids in Elementary, and did cheerleading this fall, gets straight A's as well, is friend to all and a comedian for sure...Tabitha just got 2nd place in her 6th grade basketball frozen chosen tourneys this past weekend, followed by a frozen week off of school, they finally went back on Thursday-and while we got alot done around the house, I finally broke everyone out yesterday just to make sure the car started and to stop crawling the walls....I love my girls...I do...with every new chapter in their life it's amazing how one set of frustrations and challenges and joys is replaced by another completely different set!

Other updates; we sold our Montreal home in July (PHEW!!) and I left my STARS afterschool job after a fruitful successful summer doing pictures. I did about 15 weddings, 170 shoots in 2012. I feel like a small local celebrity, and while I am ever still critical, I feel the practice I get, the feedback I get means I am definitely doing what I was born to do...and that is a great feeling! I don't think I could have foreseen what was coming my way, and after many hard ups and downs career wise, it's a huge relief to find something that makes people happy and I enjoy! Dave's happily in his shop, yard and sauna almost nightly, loving the country and went hunting this fall with Gianna. He misses camping as well, and we definitely need a getaway!

The pugs are great, the family wonderful! Oh, my half sister Shirley became a grandma this past summer-Rudy and Sha'Tanya welcomed little adorable Jazmekah into the world, I also have plans to visit all of them and meet this adorable little one this year-it's been too long! Fargo is a long boring trip as is Hurley, we almost connected in our favorite city Minneapolis this fall-we're still trying ;)

I feel silly that I only think to blog in the winter when I am bored and have nothing better to do...but the fact I was too busy to think of it means I was working, outside and certainly not trapped here in front of my monitor..on deck for this year for our little family:

January: Pam is heading up a local fundraiser for Hurley native Alyssa Paro "Clickin for a Cure" along with being on the committee in February for her spaghetti feed.
February: The Parade of Birthdays! Lady Gaga on Feb 6th in the cities, a little visit with Pete & Sarah...swinging through Duluth to hopefully see more friends and family! Mikhayla's planning to move into a house with college friends and leave the nest (GULP)
March: Spring Break-Not sure where we'll go but we're out of here!! (Probably twin cities-hoping to see Shirley, Corey and the kids)
April: Pam's going to 2 proms!! Starting a garden :)
May 9-19, trip to England to see Anita & Dave Kettlewell for Pam & Dave's 15th anniversary
June: Pam's Dad turns 70, back to some camping!! Working on our yard some more....
July: Summer Youth Camp and more camping, maybe a family trip around the Big Lake?
August: Pam's going to Madeline Island school of arts for photography for the week
September: Gianna starts high school, Tabbi starts Junior High
October-December....I can't think that far ahead!!!

Sta Warm! (And yes to my in laws in Texas...I know you are....)

Montreal Home listed!

We had a renter for the past couple months who did a great job paintnig and cleaning for reduced rent.

She had to move into low income housing, and so now I have met with the realtor and listed it at $79,900. PHEW!! With one more weekend's worth of cleaning and moving a hanful of things, we will be completely moved in to our Kimball home. Spring came surprisingly quick, we went from a snow day and 24 inches of snow less than 3 weeks ago to 80 degree, let's open the windows and landscape!

Dave has installed multiple carraige style yard lights, the deck set is out, the garage is halfway cleaned out and we have replaced the ceiling drywall in the family room. There is all new plumbing, the master bath is done, mnost of the electrical is done and we have our drywall supplies. 2 months from today is Mikhayla's graduation-and our goal is simple, family room painted and finished, all our belongings put away, a nice family gathering for her graduation party, and (fingers crossed) either an offer pending or accepted on the Montreal Home so we can get on with our lives...our new lives!

Kimball has been fun, we attended the town Halloween Party and Turkey Feed for the fireman, people have been kind and friendly, and the dogs love the short hike down to the pet store to get a turkey burger. Marshy the cat, is even more social, enjoying different rooms, basking in the sunlight in window sills...as well as socializing now with both pugs. The turtle even got a new tank, filter and basking lamp. Now that we can see our yard, we have many thoughts on installing ponds, rocks, waterfalls, flowers and much more-especially to help enhance my photography business!!

I can't believe how one year ago, my life was so completely defferent and we were headed in such a different direction!!

We're IN!

I fell horrible today, so it's a good time to plant here and update the ole blog....

My apologies, the holidays and life have kept me busy-and with good cause! We've moved in! Actually, we were in January 21, chineese new year, about a month over the date I had hoped, but the kids wanted to spend one more christmas at the other house and well, who could blame them? We moved without much help, Mikhayla's boyfriend Matt, Arianne and Adam came, and we got it done in 3 days. We still have some things there in the garage and Dave's fire extinguishers in the basement yet, but otherwise life has been good here in Kimball! I feel so content and happy, it's unbelievable!

We took out a small loan for about $20K and paid off the 5K we used to buy this, then $2K for appliances, $5K for furnace, got satellite, got some small bills paid off, property taxes and insurance, a killer Antique Kitchen Island, a new camera for me and a brand new Sears Craftsman Tractor/snowblower with all kinds of neat attachments...and we have about 1K left....so there you have it! Now I'm doing mini projects like paint touch up, decorating and looking ahead to the rest of the snow melting so we can investigate the yard!

Flatulance and other issues-October 25, 2011

We got GAS!!!

Literally, gas line was run yesterday and today! Dave got a new sauna stove and relocated the wood stove and both were fired up and running well last night-making for a tasty cedar smelling aroma throughout the basement....and the move?? Yeah..about that

We all have heard the expression "Too good to be true" and I was anxious and worried that would be the case, we went to relocate our mortagage from the Montreal Home to our Kimball home (so that legally a Land Contract could happen) And they would only give us 100% of our purchase price-$27,000. That's a problem-as we owe $58,000 on this house. So instead of moving the last two beautiful weekends, we simply assesed what would stay, what would go, or come back to our Montreal Home. I rebooted full cable for Halloween Haunted House shows and we're settling back in for the winter. It's tight needless to say, but we are making it work.

Now...about Fred....

So a few weeks back, when I was taking some family pictures at the town park a mile or so down the road, Dave was working at stacking rocks for his workshop entrance (aka Hobbit Hole). I brought the family there because they had a little girl and we had a little playhouse. Then Dave comes around from the backyard with a cement block in his wheelbarrow. Immediately, I thought "Gravestone?" and Dave said "No, Property marker" and the fellow agreed, saying thwey had huge markers like that 100 years ago. It was broken at the base and Dave propped it up at the edge of his rock wall.

Later that night he comes home giggling, showing me the photo on his Ipod..."Fred Hamlin Born 1883 Died 1905" Ah yes, a resident unsettled spirit. Great, authentic halloween decor at the new house! Nice!

The pictures are mostly hung, curtains also, bedroom developing personalities of their occupants and of course, I have made it as much mine as I can. We will be waiting until spring to fix plumbing, install furnace and finish family room drywall. Next March/April, we will move permanently out of Montreal, leaving this place empty for sale, or for rent, or maybe even a business location for myself, Mikhayla and ?? My photography business ran rampant this fall, and I feel I could utilize the basement as a Studio, and Mikki could even "rent" here and have her pugs, her art studio and set up some kind of online business. Whatever will be, will be!!
In hnidsight, I think it's for the best, in talking to the furnace man, he was under the understanding Dan (our buyer/wheeler/dealer) was paying for the furnace and labor-Dan told us Geno (Furnace guy) owed him money. Then we asked Dan several times for a signed Purchase agreement, even meeting with our lawyer last september 19. To date, nothing signed, no money down. We looked him up on circuit court access, and a telling tale of multiple creditors, judgements and a shady looking real estate deal about a decade ago have us breathing a bittersweet sigh of relief. It was not meant to be.

Update, September....moving right along!

Okay, so the amazing story continues-we listed our home on Craigslist in mid August, and then followed by about 4-5 showings, we began to think a relator might be better to get the word out...but in late August, while on a beach trip at work (I work the summer program for our local school district) the bus driver began asking me about my house. I outlined my floorplan in the sand, talked to him quite a while and he seemed, well, genuinely interested...He later showed up at my home to check it out...at first I thought he was a bit nuts and then a couple weeks later, he makes an amazing, weird, but just about perfect kind of offer....the same day I had a relator come through and make me feel about 2 inches tall with how "unready" my property is...

He offered to put in a new furnace at our new home, and repair the plumbing that we needed done through a local heating/plumbing company....he also had a tractor, lawn tractor with snow blower and rototiller attachment...plus $10 K to put down...2 years and a balloon land contract...we mulled it over, and realized, hey, if he goofs it up, we still have a furnace, plumbing fixed and a tractor, never mind $10K cash...

So on September 19, this past Monday, we drew up paperwork with our attorney. Our goal is to be moved in by about the midddle of october and close on this old house by October 31. Just in time for the winter, holidays and a new year...

In the meantime, it's getting more and more real that we did this, I have begun putting the new address on items, as well as today appliance and furniture shopping...I have gone antique shopping and spent many hours dreaming, conspiring and pouring over "makeover" magazines for ideas on what to do with all this wonderful space to make it ours...we have spent a few weekends over there "camping" on our sectional, floors and an air mattress...I have never slept so well as that very first night...the dogs are in heaven, and the neighbors are pretty dang cool, eccentric artists that are closet millionaires-and we have had a few bonfires and roasted marshmellows with Amy, Jeff and Casey as well as Mark. It has been a nice, easy going transition thus far, although Tabbi isn't too excited about moving, in fact, she's down right upset, and I know it will be quite an adjustment for all three girls, but overall, if Momma and Daddy are happy-everyones Happy!

Dave has jackhammered a hole through the two basement walls as we get ready for the furnace guys to starts on ductwork and the contract has been signed and paid for the gas company to come run the line to the house. We've gotten nice housewarming wishes, gifts and congrats from many. Our parents, all thrilled and eager to see the final result...I will try to do a better job at documenting what's about to happen, I am a bit overwhelmed at the moment...it's alot to move this time-I haven't in 13 years-and I have 2 more children then I did last time, plus all that stuff! Endless bags going to garage sales, thrift donation centers and the trash...what to keep, things forgotten or once lost, now found...and the blank canvas of each room, so much to think of...

....did I mention the resident cat Ginger?

What Just Happened? August 18, 2011

About 5 years ago, our house was for sale and I was working a good job with great pay. I thought we could afford a dream home in the country. We looked at one on a 40, big, beautiful and impossibly unaffordable...then we looked at several others out in the country. With no concept of 1) How bad the housing Market was about to fail, and 2) How badly my health and "good job" was going to fail and 3) a looming bankruptcy to follow...

Fast forward 5 years then, I am contently making my way along the highway and see a home, slightly set back into the hillside at the base of this enormous beautiful bluff. I had actually gone through that house 5 years prior, it had been for sale for $127,000. I don't know why I glanced over, why it crossed my mind, but as in the past, just like with odd thoughts that led me to finding my sister, or turning a different corner on just the right day, I have learned to roll with it when it happens. A week or so later, we are closing on our refinance for our current home of 12 years. We had paid off enough and decided it was time to get some new windows, siding, and some other things done to update our home. When we were done, $27,774 was deposited into our account. I usually have no issue spending money, but this sat for a week or two before I even began looking at things like a vacation, or maybe a new car, or a camper. I was on Craigslist looking at campers, and lo and behold, there is this house.

Under....campers?? Under....Apple Valley (Appleton) Real Estate...hmm, curiously, it had just been reduced from $91,000 to 67,100. It had gone into foreclosure, turned over to HUD and been empty for quite some time. I emailed to inquire. The next thing I knew, somehow, this realtor mailed me the keys...and I was walking into a home that has everything I was looking for and more...

There are many levels, and additions...there is a little bit of land, but no real neighbors, and mounds of uninhabited acres behind it, forest and hills, and a giant golf course-all one mile from the school I work at and my Girls attend. There is a peaceful church across the street. A mile from grocery stores, a couple from stores and McDonald's, yet so much in the country cell coverage is a bit iffy at best. There's grapes on trees and a old fashioned stone walls. There a newly constructed section and the charm of the very home I grew up in. There's bright white walls and golden-same color oak as my longaberger baskets-trim and cabinetry. There's a wing for my teen, a sunken living room, an upstairs for 2 sisters, a family room waiting to be fniished, a master suite with it's own private balcony. For $67,100....it's a heck of a deal...

The basement wins over Dave, there's a wood working Sauna lined with cedar and a workshop space. There's a 2 car garage and a burning barrel. The kitchen cabinets are solid dovetailed maple. The window are all new vinyl and the entire house is aluminum sided. There's deer in the back yard. It's completely and totally....us??!!

We make an offer on the low end per the salemans request-$30,000...CASH..they counter at $50,000...which is shocking...do we keep trying?? He seems to have more faith in us then we do...we run some numbers and suggest we pull out after several more bids....HUD asks where we went-so we rebid at $22,500. They counter at $30...we still can't...we try one more week-now our 4th of this game-at $25,000...now we are told there are other bidders with higher offers, but not with cash....they counter on July 14 at $27,000...the exact amount we had received for remodeling our home. I never mailed back the keys.

On August 12, 2011, amid some Buffalo Wild Wings and a nice lady from a title company, we bought the home for cash. 2 homes, one payment. Are we doing this? I looked at my Husband....yes, yes we are!

While most everyone has been estatic for us, and has loved hearing how we got our home for about that of a new mid sized car (not even an import), a couple have remained indifferent and judgemental-and they of course being my ever brainwashed brother and sister in law, who appearently think it best to live in a concrete jungle in a Mong neighborhood while vacationing beyond their means all over the country working themselves to death. Yes, I have no business since I filed bankruptcy having this kind of luck. For neither believe in God, so it can't be that divnie intervention either. *sigh*.

So we have begun moving items in and some slight decorating. We have enjoyed exploring and finding items to make the house a continual treasure chest find-door lock sets for $2.99 at Meanrds, curtain rods and battenburg lace at St Vinny's....I could and will go on...

But you wonder about the story of this home-I know about the people who were last there a smidge-but the rest, like the additions, the history, the warmness it exumes. Our current home is for sale and school about to start-my oldest has viral mono and I myself have come under the weather so much so, I missed this week of work...yet, I am trusting the process...I am compelled to...I mean who buys a home for $27,000 they just happened to take out a loan for on craigslist? I guess....me...