Ridgetop - our place and how we muddle along

[Ridgetop]

Maybe Baymule can mail you some "fahr ants" in a ziplock bag! Or better yet send them directly to the witch in a package that would deposit them all over her when she opened it! That way you avoid a kidnapping charge when you stake her out!

Yup! This sale is getting more like some sort of crazy comedy movie! It would be "black humor" except that is now a racist term. Whatever it is, someone up there must be laughing at us. We don't have any trouble selling for asking price, but can't seem to close escrow. Worst comes to worst, we will come up here and put in some more work on the place. DH says he will run electric to the bunkhouse and barn himself which we can permit. Then do some cosmetic work on the closets in the hallway, and add an Ikea closet to the main bedroom. Put in several thousand an put a door in the bunkhouse to make it a workshop with separate tractor shed. Then raise the price based on having new electric wiring in the bunkhouse with a weatherhead feed to the barn. We can do it ourselves and it won't cost much. Paying someone here in WA is nuts. Very high labor rates, plus 10% tax on labor and a charge for giving you an estimate! If we have to move up here for a while I will make it more welcoming with a little landscaping.

At any rate DH and I are enjoying being on our own without any children. DD1 texted last night. She is mad at her sister. Waiting now for DD2 to text complaining about DD1.

Baby Annabel rolled over for the first time! It scared her and she burst out crying on the video. LOL
Baby Robert is pushing up and lifting his head. He was several weeks early and born 5 days later than Annabel so is slower. Missing the babies but lots of fun with the two of us. Also much easier on the work load since I only have to fix meals for 2! Much cheaper too! Groceries are terribly expensive here in WA. Washington state is famous for its apples but they cost $2.28 lb! Cheaper in CA!

I have starting kitting. it is very calming. I just knit baby blankets right now. Thinking of taking a knitting class to learn fancy stitches. I just know knit and purl. I even forgot how to cast off! Had to have DH stop at a Michaels in Idaho to find a knitting book and look up the instructions! Finished one baby blanket for Annabel and started one for Robert. DH doesn't like me to read in the car in case he wants to talk to me so I have been knitting instead. LOL

DH has finished some weed whacking and is now taking a nap. The weather here was pleasant when we arrived several days ago but has been cloudy ever since and is expected to rain tomorrow. DH has tried to get the weed whacking done before the rain but only got the front yard and front driveway done. No rush since we are stuck here for next week. Trying to get the yard looking nice in case we have to show it next week. DH said everyone knows that the grass grows here from all the rain and I told him "Yes, but you don't want them to think it will be a lot of work to keep it cut!" Sheep could keep it nice easily. And the 2 acre pasture would be easy to section into rotational grazing. And another 1 1/2 acres behind the barns that could be divided into rotational grazing . . . .

Just makes me so depressed! Oh well, got to try to let it go.

 

[Baymule]

Y’all are on vacation from your kids. LOL LOL

I have never learned how to knit or crochet. I used to do needlepoint and enjoyed that. But I haven’t done that in many many years. Good for you on knitting!

One of these days you will happen upon a buyer that has their finances in order and is in good enough health to at least live past signing up at closing. Haha, just call it dark humor, that’s not racist. It just shows our warped personalities.

 

[Ridgetop]

We had another showing last evening. The buyers loved the property and house. However, they have 2 horses. Had to tell them horses were a no go on this property. Otherwise we would have sold it in February for $20,000 more. They said they would look around to see if they could board the horses somewhere but I don't hold out hope of an offer. Too bad, they were really excited about the property and loved the old fashioned feel of the house. If it doesn't sell and we have to do more work to it, I will plant some flowering shrubs in front of the house when we return to improve the curb appeal.

DH had gotten a lot of the long grass cut and the yard looked better. It rained last night so he couldn't do anything this am - had to let it dry out. This afternoon he got more done around the barn. Little by little he will get it done. It has been overcast and gray for the past few days. It reminds me of why I dont like this place.

We need to leave this week but have decided to leave some of our stuff here for our return trip. We will leave the TV and table again, as well as the card table, folding chairs, air mattress (which seems to have sprung a leak), the coffee pot and cooking stuff so we don't have to drag it back and forth. Can't give the fridge to my sister yet either since we will need it when we come back.

She has also annoyed DH again. Apparently Trump ruined her life. ??? Oh well, nothing new there. Someone else has always ruined her life. She does it to herself but doesn't recognize it. Can't be bothered with her problems.

We need to get home and sort out the sheep for breeding the next group. Also have a couple of ewes due in June so need to get home. Going to use the new ram for the next group. Also have a couple of ewes due in June.

My friend in Leander, TX, suggested we look around Hamilton, TX. Not as lush as the Piney Woods area but some water and he said not as expensive yet. Have to check it out. One thing it has going for it is the proximity to the Hamilton sheep auction which pays good prices. TX may price itself out of our budget.

 

[Ridgetop]

Looked online at Hamilton and not what we are looking for. Very dry looking and no trees. Prices not noticeably lower.

 

[Baymule]

Texas hill country! Back up 40 or 50 years and it was rocky scrub land nobody wanted, mostly large ranches valued at maybe $200 per acre. Large because it took 20-50 acres to support one cow with calf. The developers started cutting up ranches for “the view” and people threw money at them. Now the price is ridiculous and it is still rocky scrub land. Rattlesnakes like it.

 

[Ridgetop]

Back looking at either Elkhart or north east TX. If we can afford it by the time e get there. I realize now that when we first looked we should have put this place on the market. We would have gotten it sold then. The agent we inquired about prices with as the one that managed the property and then wanted to buy it themselves. Probably had an eye on it for themselves even then.

DH is out weed whacking again before the rain comes in. Tomorrow is supposed to be mostly dry and we will go back into the old barn and see what is there to salvage. I told DH we need to look over the wood in the barn (mostly moldings, small lots of hardwood flooring, and cedar bender board slats) to see if there is anything we might be able to use for sheep sheds in CA. we will be going home with an almost empty trailer so if we can fit the wood in the truck or trailer we might as well take it now. I really don't think there is much we can use though. There is a good mahogany door that is reinforced with steel rods that looks in good shape. We will take that. MJ bought a bunch of them from a business that closed up in San Diego abut 40 years ago. We had one on our old house that was torn down for apartments We took out that door and gave it to my in-laws who were building their retirement home. They used it as their front door. It was still in good shape when we sold their place about 4 years ago. I don't think this one is drilled for a door knob so it would make a good coffee table, adding legs, and with a piece of glass on the top. For some reason DH also wants some of the old real estate signs with MJ's logo on them. I will also get the sprouting boxes that are back there. I think my DDIL1 would like them - she is really into gardening now. DD1 didn't want the one I brought home for her children thinking it might make a good science project. DDIL2 took it to her mom instead. Since we are going to DS3's house with the baby ducks, we will drop off the sprout boxes at the same time.

I am making good time on my second knitted baby blanket. It is almost done. This time I switched rows between knit and purl to give the blanket a more variegated look. Kind of crazy pattern but nice and fun looking. I am wondering if I can actually do a crocheted edge around them with a contrasting color when I finish. Without turning them into large bowls or bags like my crochet usually turns into, I think I crochet too tight. I have been making an effort not to knit too tightly. Actually I discovered that by using larger sized needles than the yarn calls for I avoid having the knitting too tight. Like the socks I knitted for DH that wouldn't even fit his toes!!! They barely fit DD2 who is 5' and 98 lbs! I must just be a very tense and tight knitter! Probably why kitting relaxes me. LOL

I have regretted not buying the knitting book here I looked up how to cast off. It was $22.95 and I didn't think I would do that much knitting to need all the different stitches. Now, however, I am thinking that I could have practiced those fancy stitches on these baby blankets and learned how to knit properly. I told DH that we would have to stop at a Michaels or Hobby Lobby on the way home so I can find that book for the trip. LOL

Maybe I can learn to knit one of those sweaters that beginners knit for their relatives with one sleeve twice as long as the other! Great Christmas presents! Heeheehee!

The person who inquired about the Dorper ram never responded to my reply or to the PM I sent. I hope they continue to read and correspond with BYH members. I would have been glad to refer them to other breeders if my rams were not what they needed.

We will be heading home around Friday or Saturday. Was hoping to go up about 110 miles north to see my brother's place in Arlington, WA. He and his wife are building their retirement home on a couple acres up there. If he can get off early Thursday, we will meet them up there, otherwise next time. They have been putting in fencing and landscaping - fruit trees and asparagus, etc. - while getting the required septic and building permits. The house is almost finished now, with the interior to be done. They had some initial problems with the well and septic permission. Told them they could have bought ours and had the outbuildings and barns done already, as well as the smaller house they could have rented out. But they wanted to be north of Seattle since their rentals are up in Everett. Also, they got a very good deal on the property since it was a foreclosure sale. He is due to retire from Boeing in another couple years.

Looking less like a pasture and more like a house.



DH is cutting around the back barn to open it up for buyers to walk back to look at the structures. The fields are still tall. No sense cutting them - 4 acres with a weed whacker? DH keeps coming in for coffee and asking what I am doing. Told him taking care of business on the computer. It has been gray and dismal ever since we got here. Not to cold and the heater is keeping the house nice and warm but we are lighting a fire in the stove every evening - cheery and nice. If a builder was to buy this property, I think I would hold back this old Schrader wood stove. It works so well and really heats up the house. It is one of the old ones so better made than the newer ones that are not as heavy duty. When we had this one repaired (rewelded a crack) it took 3 men to lift it and put it in the truck! The problem with a wood stove though is that they get hot and you forget and set stuff on them. OOPS! Nothing melted yet but might just be a matter of time if we used one all the time. LOL

 

[Ridgetop]

Well 2 more showings so far - one last evening, another just left, and a third scheduled for this evening at 6:30pm!

The last 2 did not have horses - thank goodness - and loved the property. Whether either of them love it enough to buy it remains to be seen. However, it makes me optimistic about selling soon. We are scheduled to leave for home on Friday or Saturday. We need to pick up or ram, drop off the ducklings, and get back to sort out the ewes due to lamb next month.

DH finished weed whacking a much as is necessary to show the property. The old barn s littered with a lot of junk. Mostly just cardboard, cloth left from squatters, and litter. We decided that it will be no more than a full truck load to take to the dump so we have decided to go ahead and empty put the trash. We will leave only the different wood that is there. This old barn has a lean to style section off the main barn where all the wood is stored. There is about a full skid of redwood bender board, lots of old style 1 1/2" wide oak tongue and groove flooring, and more. No 2 x 4's or other lumber which I would take home. I did find a whole box of brand new sprouting jar lids. They fit standard wide mouth canning jars. I also found the box way up on a shelf which has the cut pieces to make the sprouting jar boxes. I need to get up on the ladder to get those down. There used to be some that were made and varnished but they are missing. I took one home 2 years ago and planned to get those later but they have disappeared. No problem, with the parts MJ had already cut out, I can put some boxes together myself. If I decide to do so. Or not. Sounds like a job for a scout badge to me.

I finished my 2nd baby blanket. It is a nice size and really soft and fluffy. I started to just to kit/purl (like the first blanket) then switched a couple rows to knit, then switched a couple back, then decided to just randomly switch the rows back and forth between several knit then several purl. It made an interesting pattern. Started the 3rd blanket, but the wool I got which seemed nice in the store started to knit like harsh string instead of soft yarn! horrible to touch so not god for babies. I have decided to return those skeins of yarn and get something else. Knitting is very relaxing and I like to do it while driving since DH wants to be able to talk to me randomly. If am reading, he gets annoyed that I don't respond.

The information on the June Dorper on lie sale is not up yet. Naturally I will not be bidding Yes, Bay, I hear you laughing! I do like to see what is available for sale. DH has decided that we should take some sheep to the Reno sale next yr. I told him I would only take ewes since all the ewes seem to sell. A lot of the rams went home with their owners. At the minimum bid, even after the entry fee and the auction percentage charged, taking even 3 to sell would pay for our trip. It means taming them, training them to lead on halter, washing and shearing them before the show, and bringing feed with us, but if I could sell some of them it would also get my herd name out there. I have good stuff, and my bloodlines were all in the top of the classes (the breeders that placed highest were the 2 breeders my good ewes and rams are from) so I just have to choose good ones to take. Something to consider.

DH is taking another nap. He is bored now that the weed whacking is finished. Nothing to do here while we wait to show the house again. I guess I will put on the rest of the HBO mini series "The Pacific" that DS1 bought him several years ago. DH had never watched it, so we brought it to watch up here. No cable TV here so only DVDs tp watch. I also brought his collector set of Rogers & Hammerstein musicals. He loves musicals. Musicals and war movies, a man of many tastes! LOL

Well, got to watch the U.S. Marines advance through the Pacific. Last night they took Guadalcanal and went on to take some more beaches and other islands. No water and limited ammo. Rained through 2 of the DVD discs. Nasty conditions. Very depressing. War really is hell. DS2 was in Afghanistan. desert climate, instead of rain they had sand, heat, horrible bugs and bomb booby traps. No wonder DH and DS2 don't talk about their bad war experiences. Even though this is all Hollywood, knowing that it is based on the real experiences of our poor men during WWII is very sad. Seeing what they faced and conquered makes you proud to be American even while you want to cry for them. And admire them for their courage and determination. God bless the USA and her military.

It has not been very chilly but we are enjoying lighting a fire in the cast iron stove every night. I light it just before the agent and buyers arrive so it is cozy and warm. If I had any frozen loaves f bread dough I would put them in the oven too. Apparently, baking bread, a fire in the fireplace, and fresh flowers help sell a house. Unfortunately, we have no furniture so nowhere to place the bouquet of cut flowers, and no frozen bread dough, but the fire we can do. We love this Schrade cast iron stove! It is terrific. You have to remember not to out your hand down on it after it has been burning for a while LOL but otherwise, it is a wonderful stove. It really heats up the living room of this house. Wish we could keep it!

Getting hungry. I made 6 can chili yesterday and it has been sitting in the fridge blending the flavors. Going to heat it up with salad for supper tonight. Only 2-3 more meals here before we have to leave. Chili twice, and steak once ought to use up the stuff I bought without a trip to the market.

Clouding up again outside. I'm going to lay the fire for when the buyers arrive. Instead of using paper cardboard and (DH's favorite BBQ starter - we use a Duraflame log. It may be cheating, but it sure beats crouching in front of the fireplace trying to coax the wood to light. Blowing on cardboard and tinder loses appeal as you age. Light the Duraflame log and just lay the wood on top and let it catch! EASY PEASY! It will be another chore I have to do before we leave though, to clean out the wood stove. LOL

I wonder if I can find some frozen bread dough at the Walmart . . . .

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

You could probably buy frozen bread dough, or even cookies to bake at the Walmart. Baking cookies smell helps houses sell too.

 

[Baymule]

What a nice vacation! Weed whacking, knitting, showing the house, movies and a cozy fire. People pay lots of money for such relaxing vacations! LOL

 

[Ridgetop]

I will look for some but only a few days left to try that trick. I wonder if a pot of chili would have the same effect? LOL

The neighbor came over and told us that the tenant was renting out space for people with a motor home and trailer to live here also renting out the bunkhouse to homeless. And yet our so-called "management company" did nothing. The neighbor said the tenant would burn stuff in the field even with dry grass everywhere. I wish he had called the fire department on them. He also said that Washington was so liberal now that it wasn't worth living here. Already knew that but good to hear it from an actual resident.

We are camping out in the house with the barest necessities. Our little home away from home. Notice DH's recliner - all the comforts.
LOL

The large blue thing on the floor is our comfy bed. It's height requires us to drop to the floor in order to roll into it. DH paces a sturdy chair next to his side to enable him to arise in the mornings. I merely crawl to the nearest sturdy object to haul myself up. Whoever is in first is treated to a bounce from the other person as they drop into it. The first time DH fell onto the mattress it bounced me out onto the floor to the hearty amusement of our son who happened to see it. Very amusing.

The mattress seems to have sprung a leak. Now when we wake up we don't worry about rolling off onto the floor, since we are already ON the floor. At first the air level was just a bit low in the morning. No problem - DH just aired it up again at night. Then we started noticing it was lot lower in the mornings. DH continued to air it up but now we considered the possibility of a slow leak. Since we are older, although STILL IN OUR PRIMES, we occasionally arise at night for a private moment. Suddenly the departure of DH from the nuptial couch rudely awakened me with a sudden sharp pain in my hip! What? Apparently without his mass to distribute the air in the mattress my weight was enough to fall heavily onto the hard floor. OUCH! The mattress was almost flat! Gradually, even with inflating the bed every evening, we noticed that by morning we were sleeping on the ground. Painfully. Last night while I communicated with nature I heard the air pump. DH had decided to inflate the mattress again. It barely lasted through the rest of the night. This mattress is apparently a goner. We will have to buy another one when we return here. We could use DS1's full size air mattress, but our supposedly "queen" size is barely large enough for us now. This "queen size" air mattress is actually several inches narrower and shorter than a regular queen size mattress. Also air mattresses have a fatal flaw. If one person is heavier than the other, the lighter weight person cannot stay on their side of the mattress. Instead they are precipitated into the hollow caused by the heavier person. While this makes for a very close encounter and much cuddling it also causes groundless accusations of mattress and blanket hogging from the heavier person who finds himself perched on the edge of the mattress.

This mattress was a cheap one and has lasted for several years, including the 2 weeks we were up here cleaning in February. I suppose the next one will have to be scrutinized for weigh restrictions. We are not the skinny youngsters we used to be. Or could it be that they just don't make air mattresses as well as they used to? I think DH and I prefer that explanation.

Almost time for the next showing of the house! Got to run around and turn on all the lights, check for stuff out of place. and clear off the counters. Not hard since we only have a few items here and are eating on paper plates. Stuff any personal stuff into the bathroom cabinet, check the toilet, etc. Stoke the fire. Oh, and put the pot of chili that was warming on the stove into the oven!