Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[Devonviolet]

ps-Ditto to what Bruce said, I understand keeping a promise and letting Joe have his moment, it was the na na na boo boo, that hurted *small sniffle*...

Sorry y'all! It was all in jest. I had already promised I wouldn't tell.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

It's ok! I like a person who can keep a secret....even if I don't like it when they keep a secret! LOL

 

[Latestarter]

Just walked in the house 20 minutes ago. So OK, more "dirt" on the place: The front field is almost perfect hay, bermuda, bahia, some orchard, and very few weedy spots. I'll get in touch with the extension agent and have soil analysis done for both front and rear fields then plan accordingly. I'd like to add some more legume type forage and get the fields in tip top shape. It's maybe a total of 6-7 acres and is almost completely and perfectly fenced with 4 strands of barbed wire, most of it new. Will need to do some minor repairs/adjustments, add a gate or two for ease of access, etc, but other than that, it's ready to grow out a 1/2 dozen steers! Lay of the land is descending from right to left (South to North), front to back (West to East), toward the left back corner (looking toward the house from the street = East) and laid out perfect to put in a retention pond in that corner. Right behind that spot is an almost level area that is directly off the left side (= North) of the house and almost surrounded by copses of trees where I can put a good sized barn with front field and back field entrances as well as the main entrance facing the house (south). I mean almost perfectly situated. The trees will shade it in the summer helping keep it cooler. In addition, the last power pole is within easy reach to run power to the barn so I can post here online while tending the animals

The back field is another 6-7 acres of nice hay field with copses of trees spread out through it. The fencing back here is in worse shape than that up front, and has been knocked down and lifted in places by deer and hogs. Horses and probably cows would be OK with it, but for goats or sheep (and an LGD), that fencing will need to be repaired. The grasses back here are a little "thinner" but still very few weeds so should be relatively easy to bolster and bring back. Again, the lay of the land runs down toward the back left corner and there's one copse of trees that is placed perfectly to put a nice large kidney shaped pond back there with the trees in the "hollow" of the kidney shape. Both ponds could easily be large and deep enough to stock fish in.

Complete surprise that was unexpected as it wasn't mentioned nor indicated... There is a wet weather, small spring fed stream/creek that borders the left side of the property and runs virtually down the property line (mostly but not entirely) on the neighbor's property and enters a deeper bigger stream that bisects my (to be I hope and trust) property, right inside the tree line at the back of the rear field! This thing is 15-20 feet across and 6-8' deep to reach the stream bed/water. I doubt there are sizable fish in it, but I'm certain I can catch crawdads! (YEA! Mini fresh water lobsters!) I didn't investigate the back wooded area as there was no gate or bridge across the stream to do so, and since we saw a couple of water moccasins at that back fence line above the stream bank, didn't think it would be a good plan to go bushwacking as I wasn't dressed for it or prepared. So I have something to REALLY look forward to when I get the place... I get to chainsaw some trees and build a bridge!

There's a run in shed in the back pasture with a pipe corral right outside it, and there were two mini horses running around in the fields while I was there. No idea who's they are. The big shed with the 2 windows sits to the right of the house and backs to the back pasture. The run in is back behind it. That shed is I think like 16' deep by 32' wide and has "attic" storage areas on both ends that look 8 feet deep. This shed is presently used for storage and it's big enough that I could put a window AC unit in and use it as a guest house! It's huge! The other shed with the dirt ramp up to the entrance is really like a machine shop for storing lawn tractors/mowers and yard equipment, tools, that sort of thing. That's probably where I'll park my Harley. They had had rain for almost a week straight and both sheds were completely dry inside. They also both have floors, up off the ground, & power to them.

In front of the big shed, they carved out a circular area and put a fire pit in the center. I was telling the REA that I don't have much use for a fire pit, but I could dig it out more and put an above ground pool (like one of those oblong ones that are 24' long and 12' wide, 4 feet deep) there, "semi-sunk" into the ground. I would much rather have a place to cool down during the long hot months than a fire pit that would really only be used once or twice a year by me at best. Hey, there's a thought... I can partition the inside of the shed as a changing room for bathers!

There are HUGE old oaks loaded with acorns and several mature pecan trees. Lots of good stuff for goats and sheep to browse/graze on. After I get a gate and bridge built, I can fence some of the wooded area in for them to go back there as well. There is a lot of "garbage" on the property that will need to be removed/trashed. However, there's also a lot of "gold" there as well; rolls of barbed wire, sheet steel roofing/siding, roofing shingles, metal pipe for welding, etc.

The inside of the house is everything the pictures show. It's not really "huge', but very good sized and comfortable. There are some minor cosmetics that can be addressed, but it's in VERY good shape! The bedrooms are carpeted with what looks to be new carpet. The wood floors aren't real wood, but a vinyl or laminate of some sort but they are in great shape. I think my TV is too big to fit in the space, but I can put a stained board across and sit it on that. The bathrooms are "dated" but well kept and functional. The kitchen is very nice sized to work in but the area for the refer is small... I won't be able to put one of those huge side by sides in there. The stove/oven is old as is the dishwasher and I'll probably replace both of them.

The outside of the house has a few issues that need to be addressed... no gutters, so the rain comes off the roof right on the front porch steps and they are weak, rotted, slimey and slippery. There's a mature privet hedge right up against the front of the house the full length, and that will need to be removed for mold and rot abatement. The house is pier and beam construction and they have skirting around the house that in many places doesn't reach the ground. As a result I'm concerned about animals getting under the house and doing damage. It will need to be replaced and installed properly with proper venting. There is some rotted trim wood because of the lack of gutters. I'd like to remove the existing front porch completely and replace it with a new one that is longer and deeper.

The rear porch is really nice sized with a sunken jacuzzi in the one corner. The floor boards are older and original and some have started to buckle a bit and are more "springy" than they should be. I'll probably be replacing all that decking sooner rather than later, along with the railings. The jacuzzi is relatively new and in really good shape. It's drained so I couldn't check it, and as a result there's some mold growing on the underside of the cover (no spa chemicals evaporating to keep it away). Funny, while I was over visiting @Devonviolet and her DH, I was commenting on how the jacuzzi would help their physical ailments and she remarked that she "doesn't do bathing suits" I paused for affect then stated that I promised I wouldn't peek, putting my wide spread fingers on both hands in front of my face. We all had a good laugh!

Really sorry about your car issues @Ferguson K My CB handle is "Rimbender" from way back in the late 70's (KBCZ9031)... Jumped a stump in my new 4x4 truck and came right down on another one ripping out the sidewall and bending the rim. Wasn't fun changing out the spare back in the deep Maine woods with black flies and deer flies trying to eat me alive and sweat blinding me as I worked in the mud trying to get it changed. Luckily, the tire shop was able to pound the rim back into shape and it was fine if not perfectly smooth and pretty. But then I don't really care if my trucks are pretty anyway... they're trucks...

So, The other realtor has been briefed by my REA as to what the offer is. I have already written the earnest money check and the sellers option check to allow for a home inspection. So the other side knows I'm serious. I've heard nothing back in response yet. Just texted w/my TX REA... nothing from the seller yet...

 

[Latestarter]

OK, forgot to mention the storm celler... It's a... storm celler... big enough for 4-5 people. There were folding chairs down in there and some shelving. I'm sure it will work just fine but I don't think I can or will really use it as a storage area as there aren't really legit stairs down into it... It's like a cross between stairs and a ladder... very steep. I'll put a weather radio down there and a battery operated lamp and some bottled water and maybe some snack type foods so if I ever have to use it, I'll be OK to stay in there for a bit.

 

[babsbag]

I don't think I remember a thing your wrote past the water moccasins. But what I do remember is another reason I love CA.

The land sounds great, pasture would be oh so nice, (but not worth a snake)
Houses can be fixed as you like as long as they are livable so hope you hear some good news soon.

 

[Ferguson K]

The place sounds awesome and amazing. I'm really excited for you!

 

[Southern by choice]

That everything works out!

 

[OneFineAcre]

Sounds great
I hope it falls in place for you

 

[Latestarter]

Thanks all! I hope so too.

I don't think I remember a thing your wrote past the water moccasins. But what I do remember is another reason I love CA.

But wait a minute here... Why would the cotton mouths bother you when you have rattlers? These weren't aggressive at all... the bigger one was the first to disappear into a hole in the bank. The smaller one followed at a nice slow pace... I may have mentioned that I like snakes... even the poisonous ones. As long as I know they're there so I can watch out for them. I'm sure there are rattlers and copper heads there (the property I'm trying to buy) as well. I'm really wondering if it's too far north for alligators... I like deep fried gator nuggets

 

[babsbag]

But wait a minute here... Why would the cotton mouths bother you when you have rattlers?

For the same reason I prefer Earthquakes over tornadoes...it is what I am used to. But seriously, rattlesnakes don't swim; the thought of finding a poisonous snake in my pond is just creepy. I really don't mind snakes as a species...only ones that can kill me or my animals. After my LGD and her puppy got bit last year I did some research on what the snake bite can potentially do and I have a whole new respect for them. My dog and her pup were both fine, but we were very very lucky.