A couple of you have reminded me of something I've not mentioned here. Namely-- the amount of energy I have should be illegal.

No, really. Especially now since I have almost no place to channel that energy. Man, I so need something beyond me to throw myself into, something like that farmhouse I mentioned. 

In fact, Woman's World Magazine says I have ADD. You know, Attention Deficit Disorder. Now there's good news. heh.

Well, they didn't exactly tell me I have ADD, but after reading their symptom list? I'm thinkin' I do:

Eagerness to start a task, but difficulty finishing it.
Feeling disorganized.
Trouble concentrating on mundane activities.
Difficulty sticking to a schedule.
Interrupting conversations.
Acting impulsively (well, not this one so much, but all the others).
Trouble sitting still.
Getting easily distracted.
Procrastinating. ( Me Big-Time!)

My, my, my. Who'd have thunk it? You know, that good ol' Debra has ADD.  ツ

But I appreciated that the article stated people with ADD need more stimulation. You know, like listening to music while they read or concentrate. Or fidgeting in their chair, doodling, chewing gum while doing other things. And how they procrastinate because they require made-up pressure to get things done. And wow, is that ever me! 

Often I create goals/deadlines when in reality, there's no true need in my own relaxed homemaker world. But I do put a little pressure on myself because I, personally, respond best to it. 

I get things accomplished when I have a (reasonable) list and hold myself responsible to complete that list.

Anyway, I'm only 49 and not nearly ready for a rocking chair. I've still got a few good years left and trust me, this ol' girl needs specific challenges, lest she start bouncing off the couch every five minutes in search of something to do.

Oh wait-- she already does that.  ツ

So lately? I'm thinking a tiny farm just may be the ticket I need out of this current mediocrity and into something in which to pour myself out.


*****


Disclaimer--In this post, I am only making fun of myself, not anyone else. I hope you read this with a sense of humor.


******

We're back! From seeing the above farmhouse, that is. We loved the barn and the peaceful 3.8 acres and I could envision myself strolling the valley-like land on summer mornings. The current owners even have chickens in the barn and two Angora sheep (we believe they were. Huge ol' hairy things on tiny, skinny legs--it's surprising they don't topple over).

And the house? Did I tell you it was built in 1880? Lots of ancient stuff in there--old original doors, even pocket doors and a butlers' type pantry--a tiny one. Tall ceilings and three huge windows in the dining room--nearly all the downstairs windows are almost floor-to-ceiling, making for a very sunny, cheerful house.

But, as with any old house, it comes with problems. The floors in three rooms downstairs need to be refinished big-time, "Before we move in," I told Tom. Life is simpler that way and we never did refinish our floors in our last house because we hated considering shoving all that furniture around. Fortunately we know the greatest, most honest carpenter in the world and he just happens to live near that house. Tom called him minutes ago--Tom is, surprisingly, more excited than I am.

Yet I told him I wouldn't even consider the house if I can't paint the natural woodwork, white. For 14 years I lived with woodwork he wouldn't let me paint and it nearly made me insane, me and my paint-happy hands. He said, "Ok. I promise you can paint it. It's only yellow pine, anyway. Not like it's oak--that would be different." I told him I'd take that in writing, thank-you.  シ

The stairs? They're are only the enclosed kind and they're off the kitchen. Now, I've always wanted stairs off of a kitchen, but only in addition to a swirling stairway near the front door. But oh well. And there's no window over the kitchen sink--yet if you turn your head sideways at the sink you can see outside through a window in the kitchen door and one in the large back entryway.

But overall, it's a very livable house as it is and any work would only improve upon it. A very sturdy, good bones house.

We adore the tiny country town where this house stands. Just 15 miles from where we live, yet it felt and appeared like a whole different state. We ate lunch at the only restaurant there and everybody was friendly beyond belief. Genuine country folk. We'd not even seen the house yet, but after that meal, we were ready to move there.

All those countryside drives we've taken over the years! Instead of always driving back home, someday we hope to drive out there and stay. For five years, or so, since hey. There's a whole lot of land to care for and Tom and I are no longer young chickadees.

Stay tuned.


***
I really appreciate all your comments to the post where I first spoke of this house. Thanks for your stories, warnings and encouragement!


******

Okay, if I wanted to rent my dream house, I'd rent this one. Only $850 per month, on a couple acres, and it has beach access to Lake Ontario. Can you imagine? (Click to enlarge any of these photos.)




But back to Reality Land. 

Here, below, is the house Tom and I are currently considering, one which has an open house tomorrow, one not too far from the house, above. On 3+ acres with fruit trees, a barn and all for less than $90,000--






Just by seeing these photos, I love it already, though pictures sometimes lie, or rather, don't tell entire truths. heh.

Tom and I have said for nearly thirty years that we'd love to live in the country. That we'd enjoy a barn, an orchard and some land. Of course, it's easy to speak such bold words.

In fact, it's making me nervous to consider that we may just get what we have wished for and perhaps find it not to our liking or more work than we'd enjoy. That it was all a pipe dream rather than a God-inspired one.

Yet making bold moves usually feels that way. 

And also, I realize that when God has a new project/ministry/plan in mind, He always makes it more than what we, ourselves, could handle on our own. Why? Because if we could do it all easily, then we'd do it all in our own strength (not His) and He would get none of the glory.

So I do know better than to look for something I-could-do-with-one-arm-tied-behind-my-back-no-problem. And gazing at this farmhouse I know it's more like a this-is-gonna-fail-big-time-if-God's-not-in-it project.

And in the photo of the side of the house, can't you just feel that country sunshine?



******