Getting out of Limbo.... maybe!

For those of you who have been following my "homeless" status (never without a home the last 2 years just not one of my own!)...

My sister and I bought a house in Virginia 2 days ago!!! Well, we have a ratified contract and just have to find the money to close June 15.

The property is 19 acres, mostly wooded. A wide creek runs through the front of it, with a covered bridge across the creek to the road. The house is 3 bedroom, 2 baths, and has an addition on the front that's a den or family room. That room has pegged wood floors and a brick fireplace with gas logs. There is another smaller addition on the back, ostensibly an office but I think it will become a mud room and house the freezer. Front of the house has a 54 foot long covered deck, and a smaller covered deck on the back of the house.

The house is actually a single wide mobile home but doesn't look or feel like it. House is about 20 years old, on an old homesite. The site itself has an old barn, a chicken coop, root cellar, a potable spring and a spring house. There is also a workshop that we might tear down and replace with a larger shop space.

Photos follow!

Another view of the house

Barn

Covered bridge

Spring House

Root Cellar

Walker's Creek

Absolutely fabulous darius - I am so happy for you. What a find !!!

Hugs,
Dea

While we were out there with the Realtor, a mallard and his mate came swimming down the creek and up to the deck. I thought they were gonna come right up to the front door! Of course, I didn't have my camera. (Had taken the above photos the day before.)

There are 3 large weeping willows along creekfront and a lovely picnic spot to the left of the bridge. It just cries out for some hosta and other shade garden plants down there. Virtually no landscaping anywhere except a shrub (I cannot ID and forgot to take a picture) and a small stand of peonies. I love a clean slate.

Oh, there is an ancient grape vine on the barn. The base of the vine must be at least 5 inches across!

There just is charm at every turn there (love the barn). The property looks wonderful Darius. The wait has been long but gosh this just looks so perfect, it must have been meant to be.

Wonderful! 19 acres? What a dream come true...praying it all comes together for u guys. :)

What a beautiful place. So much charm. I love the creek.

Darius, I'm so very happy for you. I hope this will turn out to be all you have wished for.

woderful find wonderful new home.. great looking , love covered bridge..

Darius
This is just wonderful! Got the DH in here and we ooohed and aaaahed together. I'm so happy for you. :)
Hugs&blessings ... Elaine

Thanks for all the kind words. This is the 4th house I have "bought", and every one has been the same scenario. House comes on the market and I see it that same day, falling in love with it. See it with Realtor the next morning, make an offer only to find that it's so desireable (and under priced) that I have to go full price to get it. So far, it's always happened that way and I have never been disappointed!

I'm already planning a fruit orchard with dwarf trees, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries!

Oh darius it's SO PERFECT!! Hooray for you!! A spring house and root cellar already there, and the barn roof looks decent, and the house looks perfect!

We have so much work to do on our farm (that's okay, it was expected) but I go up every weekend to put in trees and plants. We have a super antique rhubarb bed, but I have fruit trees, blueberries, strawberries etc. all going in. THose are my "investments". I'm also looking into cisterns and stuff like that. More important to me than the house.

It looks like your house will be perfect from the get go and you can concentrate on the gardens and livestock.

Good for you!! THis will be a great adventure!!

Maybe you could name your new place "limbo Lost"?

Thanks, Dorothy! We are considering taking some timber from the hill to the sawmill for new barn siding, assuming the posts are okay. Metal roof paint is near the top of the list so they don't rust through.

Lots of mature trees, and enough saplings to thin for firewood without going up very high on the hill. Did you see my woodstove on the Fireplaces and Woodstoves forum?
http://davesgarden.com/place/t/598994/

Plus, there is quite an accumulation of chicken manure that needs cleaning out so we will start a compost pile and layer the manure with grass clippings. Dirt looks very fertile but we will do some raised beds behind the house.

Looking for a tractor, on the medium side. Need a PTO for a mower, auger, and a front bucket. Have any suggestions?
edited for typo

This message was edited May 13, 2006 12:01 PM

It looks fantastic Darius!! I surely am hoping you get it!

Yahoo - dream is coming true. OK, when do you know for sure????

My favorite is the covered bridge... and all that dried manure - that alone should up the price!! Looks like you found your homestead= finally....congrads

Wow! Wonderful find! I have my fingers and toes crossed --- wishing you luck. Hope it all comes together for you.

Sarv, we have to have financing in place in 2 weeks. That may be in the frorm of an equity loan on this house so we can pay cash for the new one. Will be lovely not to have a mortgage IF we can swing it!

Darius, I'm happy for you, but worried about you too. I hope that you and your sister will have some type of "contract" between you so that she can't throw you out if she gets mad at you!

The place is beautiful, I just hope everything works out.

Melissa, We seem to have worked out our differences for the most part. Additionally, we have learned when to walk away from an argument. Plus, she has too strong a sense of family to throw me out. Usually it's me who chooses to leave!

ps... I will be paying the utility bills until she gets a job, or maybe forever.

I just worry about you. :-) The place is beautiful!

Thanks!
It feels like "home" already.

Wow, Darius. Looks great. Especially the clean slate. Will also keep my fingers crossed that all goes well in the final arrangements.

Ann

Darius, it looks absolutely perfect! I know how much you have wanted to do this, longed for acres and your *own* place. I'm sure pulling for you!!

Thanks, Chele and VAnn. Gonna be a few tense weeks for financing!

I already have mine Darius and it's tense every month about this time. LOL Wishing you the best. :)

Darius, your new place looks wonderful. Hope everything works smoothing for you and your sister.

I love it Darius! I hope all goes well and you get it for the lowest price possible.

If that's a single wide mobil home, it has had a lot of work done to it. I wouldn't have been able to tell at all. I love the trees behind the house. Looks so peaceful.

Darius, I will say a prayer that this all work out for you. I had the same concerns as Melissa, but I see you've worked through a lot, so I'm very happy for you. The place looks like a dream come true, yes, lots of work, but there's always work and like you said a clean slate and you can create it the way you want. Keep us posted. :) Blessings, Kathy

Keeping my fingers crossed and sending home hugs your way. The mallards were welcoming you.

Daruis this property is perfect match for you. I know that you are going to be so happy there and I am sure the land is going to pay back your loving touch with beautiful flowers.

darius:
WOW!....not just everybody has a covered bridge in their driveway......CONGRATS again!

You were asking about a tractor......'Lady and Sons' is a big tractor dealership in Abingdon, VA...not too far from Marion. I bought my most recent tractor from Fowlkes Machine in Wytheville, VA.

Pssssst....I'll let you in on a secret .....Wytheville is pronounced With-ville. That can usually be used to differentiate an outsider to the area.

Not too many have a bridge, period.

Funny about pronounciations of towns..My home town for short is pronounced Ellec...not Alex or Alec.

Yeah, I'm guessing the place is in sw Virginia for sure.

Keith, I knew "Withville" as I have roamed these hills for many years!

I'll check out thye tractor dealerships you suggested!

Darius, the house and property are really beautiful. It won't be long before you have all your personal touches making it even more beautiful! Hoping all goes well without a hitch...Meem