Ridgetop - our place and how we muddle along

[SageHill]

Bummer on the trip trouble. Hopefully it'll be smooth sailing after that.
Yeah - I know that feeling - used to make Costco trips weekly. Now it's hardly ever and I don't get much - always thinking either -- how did I get so much every week --- or --- like you I just know I forgot something.

 

[Baymule]

I hate breakdowns. Knock on wood, so far, they happen at home. I hope they can get Twinkle fixed and back on the road soon!

I'm so sorry that you have a PIA. Sore butt, limping and no fun.

ETA: I think you need a bowl of Bluebell ice cream!

 

[Ridgetop]

Twinkles is fixed and the guys are back on the road. They will waste almost 2 hours backtracking to pick up the trailer in Winslow, but are only a couple of hours from Kingman so will get to the Best Western tonight. Kingman has the best breakfasts of any of them. According to the desk staff they are known for their breakfasts. They can pick up the alfalfa on Saturday morning and make it to Nipomo by Saturday evening. Thank goodness the truck got fixed so quickly because the hay place is closed Sunday and Monday. We always try to time our arrival in Kingman to make sure that we dont arrive on Saturday or Sunday night.

I had pretty good cards at bridge today. Won my 3 quarters. I bought another electric skillet at the charity auction. My current Oster skillet had the ceramic interior which I love but it isn't immersible. The new Oster is non-stick and can go in the dishwasher! I will offer my old one to DD2. My first electric skillet was old when my grandmother gave it to me. It lasted me 40 more years bfore the plastic legs started cracking and one broke around the screw. Those old appliances really had long lives.

DD2 and little Annabel will be coming to spend a couple days with me next week. I need to tell her that I play bridge on Tuesday all day and Wednesday afternoon from 1pm. When she comes I would like to get to the Dairy Museum. It is near the SS Civic Center and there is a great playground there as well.

I have had a very restful few days. I didn't even turn on the TV! I listened to music on the radio instead. Very quiet. Time to go check the sheep water and feed the ram and ewes their grain. I was putting the ewe grain into 3 yellow tubs but they are up against the fence and the sheep keep jumping into the hot wires trying to eat. I think I will just start pouring it on the long grass instead. We need to build some sort of fenceline J feeder I guess. I don't want to spend the money it would cost to buy one.

 

[Baymule]

It sounds like a very nice week!

 

[Ridgetop]

Another couple of days since my last postng. Not much to report. DS2 and DDIL2 are actively shopping for a house. Tiny lots, lower income neighborhods, 3/2 houses 1100 to 1800 sf going for over $900,000!

DD2 and I looked on line at a couple they had seen and vetoed them. Not large enough, need 4 BRs, poor floor plans from years of addind onto tiny houses, one was adjacent to a recent burn area!

California insurance carriers won't insure properties in certain areas for fire insurance any more. I told DS2 if they put n an offer for a house to make it contingent on getting fire insurance.

Then DD2 and I got busy and found a couple other houses on line that might be ok and sent the addresses. One was only 1600 sf but was a 2 story, 4/3, 3 bedrooms plus master upstairs with one BR and bath downstairs. Updated house, nice layout, open plan kitchen, 2 car garage, front yard is a paved and fenced courtyard so good for kids, dog, and entertaining overflow since it is acessible from back patio. There is a view from upstairs master BR balcony over valley. Back yard was small but had patio, grass and lots of trees hiding any other houses with nice garden shed on the side for storage. Small view over the rear trees to distant hills from rear yard. House is on a street dead ending in a cul de sac. Close to 118 and 210 freeways, not too far from DD2's parents and in area they both know. Looked like a nice neighborhood frm satelite views of streets around that DD2 pulled up. Looked like a place that would be easy on the upkeep for them, particularly since DS2 works so many hours and DDIL2 is caring for 3 kids under 5.

By the way, DS2 said that since we moved and took the anatolians away they have been havng lots of coyotes coming right up to the house! They have to be careful with the kids playing outside and even with letting their young Boxer out of the house. Before we got Harika the coyotes got so bad we ketp our remaining 2 ewes locked in the barn and I would not let my grandkids play anywhere except on the driveway or patio. California bleeding hearts don't believe in shooting them. Animal Control won't come out to trap them as nuisances anymore either. Instead they mail you a pamphlet on "How to Live With Our Widlife". Picking up the fallen fruit and not leaving food outside just doesn't cut it with the number of coyotes living in CA towns anyore, When you have signs in the public parks warning to watch little kids and pets because of coyotes, public officials need to take a look at safety issues. But what can you expect from officials that are determined to bring in illegals and give them all the benefits that should go to citizens. Gov. Gruesome and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass are to blame. So glad to be out of CA. Can't wait to get our house sold. I feel sorry for my kids still trapped there by facial reasons, but they have to make that decision for themselves. Anyway . . . .

DS2 wants privacy, space and views since he grew up at the Maude house since our kids are spoiled from living in Shadow Hills on a 6 acre hilltop ranch. We gave them a wonderful childhood and they want that for their kids but don't realize they won't get it in the SFV any more. California has no future until they realize that they can't follow socialist practices and make working people pay for them.

DS2 qualifies for a VA loan for $900K plus BUT wants to put a down payment as well to reduce the payments. When we sell our place we are buying his Black Drag on truck. Not exactly what we want, but he will sell it to us for the trade in value from the Ford dealership and it i!ut a newer, low mileage, strong truck. One problem is that the previous owner put on those flashy elevated axels and tires. DH says it wi cost about $5-6K to switch those out for regular height. Will need to do that so we can pull the 5th wheel and gooseneck trailers. Even the bumper pull trailer is on a big slant when hitched so the animals are not too comfortable riding. I chain the rear doors shut since I have nightmares of them falling out on the highway! However, we need a newer truck and this one has been well cared for and DS2 won't have anywhere to store it on a tract neighborhood street.

No real rush for them to buy until they find a decent house as a good price and interest rates are falling. If they can't find a house before we sell and escrow closes, they can move into DD2's parents house - parents are retired and living in Philipines half the year. They will have to rent a storage unit, but can be done if we sell our house before they find something. DH suggested we make any listing contingent on DS2 finding a house to buy but I vetoed that. He is a grown man and can always rent something while they look.

Speaking of listing our house, DH has been interviewing brokers. He has a couple that he likes and is telling each of them that he is interviewing for the listing. We did that for the apartment and listed with a young broker with experience setting up his own agency. We refused to give the standard 6 month listing for commercial properties, held it to 3 months and told the agent that we would switch brokers if it didn't sell in that time. That fellow was hungry and worked his tail off for us. We got the highest price per unit in Pasadena with him. When they know there is competition they work harder.

Anyway, these 4 agents have been told that we don't want any "interest" buyers, only buyers wth the $$$ in hand to buy. If one of them comes up with a verified buyer we will list with them before January. DH was clear that some of the stuff on the property (connexes, fencing, some appliances, etc. are not included in sale, but would like to empty all the outbuildings before having buyers come to look. The brokers have all told DH that it will probably be a cash sale. Works for us. So looks like we are on the way to being completely out of California.

DD2 came over ad stayed with me for the last couple nights. Annabel is on school fall break. DD2's house guests are still living with her in her 2 room apartment. Husband wife, 3 year old and 1 year old. With DD2, Annabel (4), nd their German Sheherd dog is is crowded. The strain is starting to wear on DD2. DD2 is fanatic about cleaning, and like me she keeps old towels as clening rags. The houseguests are not worried about their kids spilling and grab the good bathroom towels, throw them on the floor to mop up, instead of using the box of old towels that are kept for that urpose. DD2 is going crazy and is doing several loads of laundry every day. She is doing most of their laundry because they overloaded the washer the first week they were there and she is worried it will break. They were supposed to be on their way to Florida 2 weeks ago where the husband was transferred but for some reason are still here. I told DD2 to stay here fr a few more days. With Annabel's autism, she needs a strict routine and hasn't gotten it for a month. Their kids are up until 10 or 11 every night which really does a number on getting Annabel down. Annabel and DD2 have to be up at 6 am to get Annabel ready for school. DD2 is exhausted. I told DD2 she needs to stay with me the rest of the week for some "Mommy love and backup". LOL Annabel plays outside all day long and DD2 can get a little rest with just the one child and no confusion in the home. She brought her German Sshepherd and poor Abby is locked in the double gated "safety area" all day long and comes inside at night. The Anatolians spend most of their time in the rear of the prperty now that we have moved the sheep back there. The have accepted that Abby is ok in the "safety area" and the only time they are aggressive to her is at suppertime. I feed after dark and they go crazy rushing at the "safety area" barking and growling at Abby that this is THEIR DINNER, NOT HERS. LOL

I play bridge again today in Quitman. It is actually a class but there are 2 tables and I will play bridge anywhere - anytime. I probably need a Bridge Players Annonymous group, but don't want to be saved from this addiction. LOL Having so uch fun with this new bridge group - they are wonderful people. In fact, one of them told me yesterday tht she does house sitting so we may be able to get back to CA for Christmas as a family occasionally.

 

[murphysranch]

Please play bridge until you can't. Mother finally stopped last year, at 94. Her memory doesn't work well enough anymore.

 

[Ridgetop]

BTW, Daddies and Grandpas are so funny. Left to watch little Alexander in his bouncer while Mama folded laundry this is what she foud when she returned to the family room. Men watchig the football game and . . .

DDIL2 says he is the easiest baby and always happy. Prbably self-defense with 2 older brothers!

Apparently Robert (4) has dscovered how to lock doors. He has locked himself into the nursery on several occasions and the other day locked his brother Nicholas in the master bedroom alone. DS2 had to get a screwdriver and unlock the door. Robert got a stern talking to. It must have made an impression. 2 days later DS2 went into the bathroom and locked the door. Robert pounded on the door shouting "It's not nice to lock doors". LOL

 

[Ridgetop]

Update on listing our house - DH called back and said he decided not to use the agent he wanted me to docusign with - he found out that she has not had a sale in 4 years! I was not going to sign anything anyway because she sent me a listing agreement which is not what she described to DH, it was not properly filled in, AND it was for 6 months! I never list with anyone for more than 3 months otherwise they sit on the listing for the first couple months while it goes stale then want you to lower your price "because the market softenend". PHOOEY! DH has decided to hold to the original plan and we will list in January.

DH called me and was on the speaker option of his phone and I couldn't hear anything he was saying because of the background noise - small children squealing, adults talking, and the TV playing. I asked him to go in a quieter room and he said he didnt want to get up so I just kept saying OK we'll discuss it later. ??? DH kept asking for a list of what I wanted to come back to TX and finally I was able to get through to him that I had given it to DS1. DS1 said it is in the glove box. He had DS1 call me and I was able to talk with him. They going to start emptying the storage areas tomorrow morning. DS1 counted the shelving units that we want to bring back and there are 3 6' units and 5 4' units. There are some other heavy duty 3' plastic ones and a 6' metal unit with pressed board shelves that we will leave for DS2 to use in his new garage. DS2 also has a couple units in his storage sheds that are his. I dont know if we can lift those poly storage sheds up onto a flatbed trailer and take them to DS2's new house if he gets one. Hopefully he will have a 2 car garage for storage and workspace. I think we will give him our old table saw and miter saw. We bought new ones here in Texas. If he wants the cabinets I installed in the tool shed he can take those down for a tool area in his new garage. I don't think DS1 wants to bring them back to Texas.

Girlls are getting bgger but no udders yet. Probably not lambing until November. I don't think the black head Dorper bred any of these girls, but his lambs would still be born in the net couple weeks. On the other hand, the ewes he bred may have been some of the ones who died.
Well, that is livestock raising for you - just got to roll with it.

 

[Baymule]

Your DD2 needs to throw her house guests out. Sounds like they are sponging off her and her husband.

I shudder at the price of housing for your son. Their reason for staying is that in Texas, he wouldn’t make as much money, but a house wouldn’t cost that much here. Brilliant thinking! Duh……

 

[fuzzi]

Your DD2 needs to throw her house guests out. Sounds like they are sponging off her and her husband.

I shudder at the price of housing for your son. Their reason for staying is that in Texas, he wouldn’t make as much money, but a house wouldn’t cost that much here. Brilliant thinking! Duh……

We moved to South Carolina in 1988 when we were priced out of Connecticut. Our 2 bedroom one bath first floor of an old duplex went from $450/month including heat to $800/month plus heat. We saw the writing on the wall. DH got a job immediately upon moving to Spartanburg, and rents were cheap, $300/month for a 2 bedroom HOUSE on a quarter acre. Here in NC we were finally able to afford a little house.

Sometimes relocation is the best choice.