Entering Our 6th Year!

Hooray! Today, the 3rd of January (in the year of our lord 2016) is the beginning of our 6th year at The Bauhaus Chicken Coop! That would be the "Iron" anniversary if we were talking weddings but it's appropriate as Bob works in iron. Here's some iron to celebrate:

(The now famous Birthday Fence that Bob made for me.) It's been a tumultuous and often crazy five years... including that initial day of our closing on this date in 2011 when it was like 6 degrees outside and there was three feet of snow on the ground- and much more to come! Moving our belongings on the "tableboggan" (an upside down folding table that slid well over all that snow) and other adventures too many to recall.Thank goodness for friends with large vans and strong backs!

Our house feels like home and while we have plans and projects in mind for 2016, it's simply nice to have a home that we like- just the way it is. Both Bob and I have studios, we've made great gardens and planted trees; we're standing upright and looking forward to this year in art and politics. (OOps! Don't go there!) Jules the Dog and Maggie the Mexican Pony have nothing to complain about (but they still do) and we're all looking forward to anther tumultuous and crazy year. Why do I think that's exactly what is coming?

A Drive Down Memory Lane

I recently had occasion to drive past several "houses" that Bob and I looked at prior to landing in real estate nirvana (in the location of our present address at the BauHaus Chicken Coop). Above is all that remains from a truly decrepit barn- and a smaller, not too bad barn. This is sad to see! When we toured this property, yes, it was bad (Our real estate agent ran back to his car) but there were cows living there. And the property itself is nice: still rural and rolling and in a very pretty area. I guess no one else was crazy enough to even look. We actually dragged a carpenter friend along with us; he was polite enough to tell us we were out of our minds! We'd never have gotten a mortgage on this place.
And then there was this place:

This house has really come up in the world! When we toured this location, they wouldn't even let us in the house. I believe there was a small issue involving the structural state of the floors and the staircase.It was pretty old, possibly spook-ridden and there was definitely a grave stone in the back yard. There was also a huge boat (!?) that someone had been constructing and several barns. One barn- a rambling, lop- sided affair is gone but the smaller barn was also nicely redone.

I think quite a few trees were removed, too, as I remember a row of evergreens that don't seem to be there anymore. I'm glad to see that this place got the attention it deserved. It was interesting to happen on a couple of these "Coulda been Ours" (or more like: My God! What were we thinking!) I'm still eternally grateful that Bob and I wound up where we are: it really is home.