Offer Accepted!!!

Can you believe it? We're on our way to owning our new home!!!

Wish us Luck -- We're Making an Offer

We're making an offer on a house tomorrow: it is sweet and we won't have to change a thing! The only thing we're contemplating adding is an invisible fence for Pippin. Will post pictures soonest!

A Small, Beautiful and Warm Church Community

Today was the annual church picnic at St Edward's. There were few kids there, but Julia and I were able to talk to a number of the parishioners and were warmly greeted by everyone there. In all about 35 people attended and we were actively recruited for RE and Knights of Columbus service. Should be a lot of fun. We think there is a total of about 6 kids in RE. K of C has 10 members. Their next big event is Oktoberfest in a few weeks...

Just Having Fun

Kiddos launching rocket balloons.

Here's a link for more pictures: http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=3x70wrv.6vgrkxwn&Uy=bi0uwl&Ux=0

Searching for the new home...living in Sisters

We're out and about looking at homes most days now. Just wanted to post a few pictures for you to see... Bridget, as always is making lots of friends. These two are a girl from Tennessee and a puppy from Camas Valley, OR named Sassy--she's a Pappillion (sp?).

Here's a couple of young deer munching on some expensive landscaping:

Here's a favorite of the kids for a new rainy day play place down in Bend:

And here's us walking by the sights out by the RV Park:

Chao for now!

Today's question: rent or buy

We've been looking at houses here in Sisters. If you pull it up on Realtor.com, you'll see they're at least as expensive here as they were in Virginia. Half-a-million dollars for a house?! Still scares me. Anyway, we found a place we think we'd really love, but they're asking $549,000. It's over an acre and beautiful, but on a retired O-5 salary, that just ain't happening.

We figure the options are rent for a few months until one of us (ok, David--his earning potential is WAY higher than mine, and the kids would drive him crazy) gets a job, then look at the really nice places. OR buy a smaller place on an acre or two right now where we could add on or rebuild later.

But that's too depressing, so I'll tell you some of the reasons I love this town already:

Today David went in to rent a post office box so we'll have a way to receive mail. Before assigning a box, the asked, "How tall is your wife?" so they could give us a box we'd both be comfortable using. How cool is that? Last time we had a PO box it was about hip-high and a pain to check!

We also went to the school to see what we'd need to register. I remember registering the kids in Virginia; I had to have birth certificates, shot records, and a lease or bill addressed to me to prove where we lived (as if I couldn't just print out and sign a lease, or make up a bill on my computer!) Today I explained that we were living in the RV park until we rent or buy a house. "No problem, just put down that address." I asked if they needed proof that we're living there and she said, "Well, if you have a receipt, that would be great." This is truly an old-fashioned small town.

And yes, I know there are draw-backs to that--everyone knows everyone elses business. But I think the pro outweigh the cons.

Tomorrow we're taking Douglas to the middle school to sign up for classes and maybe looking at a couple houses.

Tschuss!

Is a Small Business for Us?

Today we’re busy checking out the school and having a meeting with business owners about possibly buying their business (a digital film printing and processing store). We have been analyzing their business tax returns and sales sheets. We’re not likely to buy it…don’t think we want to commit the business owner lifestyle in a tourist town (7-8 hrs/7 days per week). Anyway, here’s a picture of our drive out Highway 242 to the top of McKenzie Pass—a lava flow near Dee Wright Observatory about 20 miles west of Sisters. We did not hike up because it was drizzling and we were not dressed. BTW, it was sunny back down in town.
Enjoy!
Here is the usual link to more photos:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=3x70wrv.9wkib7rj&Uy=-6h2jel&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0