PROGRESS!

Hip Hip, HURRAH! FINALLY, we closed on the house Friday. All went smoothly, but we were sweating bullits after all the horror stories we had heard about HUD FORECLOSURES. The house we bought has been sitting empty for two years.  It was love at first sight because it was exactly what we were hoping to find - a modest house in a nice country neighborhood with a little land, but not too much. And it had a very open floorplan with lots of windows and two bathrooms.  Even more important, the price was right!  We had to submit a bid, along with many others. When I asked the realtor how to decide on our bid amount, she just said, "How bad do you want it and how high can you go."   THAT was the question. How bad did we want it?  We wanted it BAD!

Three days later, we were notified that we had won the bid. EXCITING DAY!  And then...we waited...and waited...and WAITED SOME MORE! There were problems with getting Title insurance because the property was located in Mongomery County and the city was listed as Conroe, but the mailing address was actually Cleveland, and that is in Liberty County. Very confusing but suffice it to say that approximately 90 days later it is a done deal and we are no longer homeless!

The Well guy was Johnny-on-the-Spot when we arrived at our new home Friday afternoon, and 3 hours and two-thousand dollars later we had  WATER!  Someone had stolen the well pump while the place was empty. Someone had also stolen interior doors, light fixtures, stove and anything else that wasn't tied down. The previous owner? Who knows?

The AC man showed up early Saturday morning to do some basic repairs and maintenance, and man, did that cool air feel GOOD!  I started painting the kitchen. The interior is/was quite colorful. The entire kitchen was lime green. We currently still have a purple master bedroom wall, a hunter green wall in the living room and a barn red wall in the adjoining study.  Each room and color is visible from any of the other rooms, so this was a bit of an issue for me, though Talyn (age 4) was disappointed when we painted over the last of the green. She told us she "wanted me to keep the RAINBOW HOUSE!  

BEFORE:

AFTER:  The kitchen is not decorated yet, but it is painted and ready to receive the stainless steel refrigerator and stove on Tuesday!  I love the new look. So much lighter.

Blue and White always looks so fresh and clean. Nothing but BLUE SKIES ahead!  My daughter-in-love came over yesterday and finished painting the kitchen for me. THAT girl is AMAZING. She did not use tape. Free-handed the edges and it looks beautiful. Wish i could do that! 

As of today, Monday, we have water, air conditioning, and a new aerobic septic system.  But, did I mention that when the water was turned on, the toilet in the Guest bath leaked - A LOT, and there was a big leak under the sink. The well man said he had closed the valve so water would not go to the house, but because the valves weren't operational..well...splish splash! We were taking a bath, long about Saturday night.  And...it wasn't RELAXING!

The plumber came today. And now...we have WATER, and NO LEAKS! We also have indoor plumbing which is a very good thing to have.  Tomorrow?   Choosing a new toilet for the guest bath, as the existing one had a crack in it!  And I don't think I mentioned that the tub must be replaced as well.

We STILL love our house, and are so excited about it...But we are now calling it by a new name  -LAST DOLLAR HOLLER!