"Dreaming" Wishing most wanted Christmas present.

Debra, I would love to see a before photo of your property......give me some much needed inspiration! The land is just over 50 acres with it's own mini lake that connects somehow to a much bigger lake. We got to find a canoe to explore that portion next year. The driveway that you see in the pic ends in a cleared circular drive where some regrading will be in order. Looks like the previous owners started something that they didn't want to finish, lol.

Demstratt, thanks for your nice comment. It does look nice from that shot eh?! I was thinking to start a thread about adventures in vacant land ownership and all the nutty things that I know we're going to experience as we get around to building on it. I have so many questions and I hope to brainstorm with those "who've been there, done that".

Sorry Diana, no intention of hijacking here! Will post a link to new thread when I get it up.

Keep them wishes coming.......Santa's not long away now!

Hehehe..no problem..that is not hijacking..hehe it is A great idea..about the thread..I can talk about our experieces..even if it was just a empty lot on a lake..wowow...I will let you in on some surpises...hahaha....be looking forward..to it...I can laugh about it now..but wowowow...

More Dream wishes... anyone...? .

Smiles..Diana

Erynne - please do post a link to your thread about vacant land ownership. If I can find them, I'll share some pics of our before/during/after. Our 1/4 mile driveway also leads to a large circle drive in front of the house. We only have 12 acres though - but love it.

I'm adding a wish......for a "mini lake that connects to a much bigger lake"!

Debra

Aw, Debra....I will drive the bulldozer, to let you dig your lake..hehehe....Wow..if I were only rich, and did not care about my money...I could make a lot of people happy...even provide Dining room tables..and chairs.lots of things....Now for somethings..I could not help with..But keep them coming...lol..

Smiles..Diana.

Has anyone ever wished they could be in the position to provide anything to anyone - anonymously? How cool would that be to provide a new home to foster parents who take in special needs kids, or a fleet of vans to a "meals on wheels" organization, or provide college scholarships to kids whose parents can't afford to send them to college, a remodeled bathroom with walk in shower for that little elderly lady down the street who wants so badly to remain independent, provide mosquito netting for every child in Africa, hire an army to protect those people in Darfur, etc? I don't mean in a judgemental, power welding sort of way. I mean do it so no one knows but the donor where it comes from.

I'll retreive my former wishes and officially make this one mine.

Actually, I have wished that, fleursdefouquet!

I keep dreaming of winning the lottery, as I have such great plans for the same sort of things you speak of.

I know of so many people in need far greater than my own!

My work gave Angel Tree Christmas presents to over 100 children over the last week. Each child didn't receive just one package, either.. We showered the kids with two toys (or more), a new outfit (pants, shirt, jacket, shoes, socks, jammies) or two, and their parents/gaurdians were blessed with 40lbs of dry good foodstuffs.

What a blessing to deliver these HUGE bags of Christmas presents to a Head Start program yesterday morning. As we walked in the room, checked the checklists off, and set the gift bags in the corner, roomfulls of children sat quietly and anxiously watching our every move.

I'm still getting sappy about the whole thing.. At the end, a lady introduced us as "Santas big helpers that were asked to deliver his presents since they had to come ahead of the holiday." She said, "so what do we tell Santa's helpers?!" A room FULL of 3,4,5 year old kids hollered "Thank you." and it was all I could do to not cry... A little boy looked right at me, and said "Merry Christmas", and I could only smile...

It's possible to "give anonymously" every day ... Mom and I have a family tradition that we keep listening ears tuned on in the retail store check-out lines. With some extra cash in-hand, every year we've listened in to conversations behind us where parents are telling each other, "We'll find a way to pay for it... somehow...". We quietly hand the extra cash to the cashier, and explain, "don't tell them where it came from, just take it off their bill." I've always been amazed that every year since I've been in a good-enough paying job to buy half-decent presents that I've heard a family like this in line right behind me... So if you're looking for a way to "anonymously bless somebody", Angel Tree & other things are always available... they just require 'listening ears'.

Wowowow...now that is some good idea's. Even if you can not do it in a big way..every little bit helps for sure..Make your heart..feel filled.. is a good thing...Going to keep this in mind all year..not just at Christmas time..keep all the good things coming you guys....I think we have branched out...great...Branching is good..

Smiles..Diana

AngelSong - my church also does a Giving Tree each year with gifts going to children and adults at local shelters. This year we gave 120 gift packages, plus wrapped packages of extras such as warm gloves, hats, socks, scarves and toiletries. The homeless and those in shelters really appreciate shampoo, toothpaste and tooth brushes, soap, deodorant, shaving items and other stuff that we take for granted. Every family also got a box of homemade cookies, thanks to the ladies who were willing to bake. The Giving Tree is my favorite part of Christmas.

And I love what you and your Mom do to help others and I'll keep that in mind. We have some cards at church that say "Someone has done you a Random Act of Kindness. Pass a kindness on when you can." I could ask a cashier to give that to the person without saying where it came from.

5 acres and a Green House is what I'm asking Santa for. :o)

See Diana, after reading Anglesongs post, I really want you to donate my present to someone who needs it more.

At our work also, the hospital puts up an Angle Tree. My kids each get a name from that tree and buy the present to give.
And the Laboratory (where I work) at the Hospital hosts a family for Christmas, this year it was a family burned out of their home.

A small Christmas story to tell you all:
When my daughter was 3, she asked, "Why do we have to buy presents for these children (from the Angel Tree). If they were good, then Santa will bring them presents. Are they 'bad' kids?"

Put on the spot, I explained, "Well, honey, Santa really only brings children one present, the present they want the most. Mom and Dad provide the rest of the presents. So these children would only receive one present under their tree if their Mom and Dad couldn't afford to buy them any. And we wouldn't want any child to have just One present, would we?".

She thought about it, "Oh, no, they have to have at least two presents."

After that, whenever Santa asked my kids what they wanted for Christmas, they would only tell him one thing. He would always ask, "What else?", but they couldn't be budged from naming only the one thing they 'really wanted'. Some were impressed that my kids only wanted one thing (ha, little did they know).

Of course, that meant we HAD to get them the one Santa gift, no matter what it was. Thank God it was always possible.
And, Thank God my kids were always able to have more than one present under the tree.
Merry Christmas all,
sharon



This message was edited Dec 22, 2006 10:05 AM

Oh sounds good...lots of sun...in that 5 acres..too...wowow we are almost 95% shade...lol...

Smiles...Diana.... ps..come on all...post...you do have more dreams I think...~~~~~~~

Hey Diana, you posted while I was editing my post, go back and reread it. :o}
Mele Kalikimaka,
sharon

Sharon - what a great lesson you taught your kids. Made my heart swell to hear they would only tell Santa one thing they really wanted.
Debra

Sharon, I like your story. My DH and I have always only given one Santa gift.....the one thing they wanted the most. We looked in at least 7 stores for what my 6yo wanted this year and we finally found it. It's worth it to us to do that because mom and dad need some credit for what we buy them too. ;o)

mgh, I remember those days! And how I miss them!

Debra, thanks, but just so you know, they did ask their parents for plenty of other toys. grin
sharon

I have to admit, it was fun looking in all those stores....I'm glad my DH goes with me.....my father never would have done that with my mom. When we finally found what we were looking for, I did a happy dance in the aisle we were in! LOL

Very large heated in-ground pool with XXX large greenhouse built over it. Patio, plants swimming in the winter. with retractable end so at least part of the pool can be outside in the summer. Oh be still my beating heart. Holly
Oh and World Peace.!!!!

Wow..Holly...thanks sound nice..for sure..We went to a Motel once that had that kind of things..wowow..it was nice..but then we do not get out much..hahaha...kidding...

Well the sun is out..maybe I am dreaming this...thehe...50 F...too...but the sun will go down soon..so I am enjoying it out the window..

Come on there are more...reading this thread..come out and tell us...???? ¿ ¿ opps the hook got you..pulling you in now..~~~~~~~~~~

Smiles..
Diana

WOW..............You got sun???????Raining here all day long.........Now I want some sun!!!

Yep we had it...heheheh not for long because of the short day.Maybe only 1 hour....hahaha..all gone...maybe tomorrow? hehehe...

Smiles..Diana

Chuck ... I'm praying for your wish to come true. :-) Merry Christmas!
Hugs&blessings ... Elaine

Well I am off..till tuesday now..have a Great Xmas everyone..
Smiles..Diana

Might as well wish for something big. Never limit your dreams. Holly

Merry Christmas, Diana!

Better late than never....isn't that what they say? Finally came across the pics of our unpaved drive. Erynne, do you think it looks like yours?
Debra

And entering the circle in front of the house.....

Nope, doesn't look like mine,lol......yours is way too tidy! Mine looks like a wild land still with a very rudimentary drive. Your drive looks like the township roads to access my land though! We got two quotes on dozing & grading the drive so far and we'll get a few more. I'd just be truly happy to have driveways like yours Debra because they really match the naturesque scenery better than asphalt would I'm starting to think (for cottage living at any rate). What did you do with all the trees, brush, etc while clearing the drive? I'm going to have way more lumber than I'll know what to do with!!!

Very nice pics.....you're getting me excited!

Erynne :o)

Erynne, these photos are actually after we moved into our home. When the house was built, the drive was bulldozed, packed and a layer of gravel put down. I haven't found any of the true "before" photos on digital. Keep forgetting to ask DH if he has some on his computer. We had to clear a lot of land to build the house and fence in a backyard for our "dawgs". They came in with a bulldozer, pushed over the large oak trees, and hauled the stumps/ limbs, etc. to the front of the property where it was burned. That was a huge fire! The trunk of the trees were cut into firewood. We kept a lot of it and gave a lot away, too. This is the circle in front of the house. There was about the same area cleared behind the house. We just got the interior of the front circle sodded this summer. Whew! That's hard work.

This is our full-time, permanent home and I drive this driveway at least 2x a day. Our property is 3/4 mile down a gravel road from the main paved road, then our driveway is another 1/4 mile of gravel. It gets rutted out quickly and driving on those ruts gets OLD. I've got a bad neck and it makes it worse. So.....that's why I was wishing for a paved drive. Next time I have about $20,000 lying around - I'll get one! LOL

Good luck with yours. Will your cottage be a full-time home or a weekend place? Depending on how often you drive it and how long the drive is, it may not be a problem for you at all. I agree that it provides a more natural look which can be nice when you make a conscious decision to live amongst the wildlife!

May all your wishes come true!

Debra

Well, Christmas came and went, but my $25,000.00 didn't show up.

Maybe in the form of the lottery, who knows. LOL

Oh Wuvie, Nobody delivered my pool and greenhouse either. And World Peace isn't looking too good either. Oh well there is always next year. ;} Holly

Wuvie, did you check your stocking? Way down in the toe part?

Debra

Wow, Debra, you sure did a lot of work and the house looks awesome! I kinda had a feeling you were going to say that you had burned up some of what you cleared. I know we might have to do that but I'm so afraid of causing a forest fire .......not a great way to introduce yourself to the neighborhood, lol.

I know what you mean about those kind of roads/driveways getting ruts in them. The township roads, up where my land is, are full of them and I feel like one of those bobbleheads during the ride in and out of our place. I can see why you'd prefer pavement since you're living there full time, as would I.

The cottage will ultimately be our weekend place where we can canoe, snowmobile, go ATVing, fish and just relax. Right now, I got planes flying over my house at all hours (live next door to Pearson Intl. Airport), trains choo-chooing down the street, sirens and horns blaring constantly from the main busy road behind my place and the sounds of industry all around. It's no wonder that when I go up to my land, I think for a second that I might be deaf because there is barely any sound at all.......just wind blowing through the trees, an owl giving a "hoot" in the distance, water trickling under the bridge and little birdie chirps from above. Of course DH ruins the peace as soon as he turns on the blasted chainsaw,lol.

Santa didn't bring me anything this year but then again, I specifically told him not to. I couldn't think of a single personal item that I could possibly want! This is the first time in my life that I haven't had anything to open and it felt a little weird watching everyone else open their stuff over the 2 days we celebrated. But watching all 4 kids go nutso, now that was a good present, lol.

Well you all...I did not get mine either..but that is ok..I will dream about it..anyway...and you are young so you have time...to get your dream...hehehe I am living mine...so...just think...it will happen, you will see.. This house was our dream...years ago...we did not live far off the road..but..it was tree's and bush...for sure...and now..it is just perfect..hehehehe...5 years ago..we even added a room..it is a sun..room..with sky lights..4 of them...on the roof...very bright room..for sure..many plants in there..but still not a greenhouse...lol...So everyone..dreams do come true...hehehe but...you seem to get more...as you go along..hehe....

As far as Santa's visits?...heheh he has not been to visit us for many a year...We always said..Santa visited us..many times a year...hahaha..like...getting water...like getting a septic system....hhehehe...all the small steps...It will happen...believe me.....

Never be disappointed...It just takes time sometimes....ehehe...

Smiles...Diana.....

WUVIE, We did win $5.00 off of our lottery tickets. (spent $8) Some people are surprised we put the tickets in our kids stocking too, but I think they are getting the idea that gambling is a losing proposition.

Diana, I guess the 5 acres I asked Santa for is a wish to be fullfilled in the future with lots of hard work in front of us. I was lucky enough to have 2 life long wishes filled in the last 5 years. We managed to finally get to Hawaii (hubby won an award at work), and we had been saving to buy a cottage for years and we finally did it 2 years ago. Funny though, with college starting next year we wonder if we should have, but the kids keep telling us we did the right thing.

With Erynne talking about her cottage, she reminded me and made me thankful that that wish had come true! We can't get to it just for a weekend, it's a 5 hour drive, but is on a lake. It's small, 760 sq feet, but just right for us.
No real problem with our roads since it is a populated lake.
Here is a picture of the inside with daughter and hubby. Your seeing the biggest part of the cottage!
We want to have a 'hunting cabin' feel to the cottage with all the red maple.
My 2 brothers have cottages on the same lake and they have them decorated as cottages, light and airy. Ours is the 'Family Cottage', we will be the 3rd generation to have owned it. We do small projects to change it each summer along with all the usual maintance.

Toofew, that's a great cabin. How much sq footage do you need when you are there to relax? Any more and you'd have to spend you time cleaning! That must be nice to have your family nearby on the same lake. That is a dream come true!

Diana, please show us that dream house! Be sure to include your sunroom, too. Guess my sunroom is the patio! LOL

Erynne, I laughed at your concern about starting a fire. We bought this land and had a pond dug without plans to live on it - just play on weekends - so the only area cleared was around the pond. About the 2nd year we had it, DH decided to burn some of the brush still piled near the pond. Men don't think about these things.......and he went there alone. An unexpected wind came up and the fire started going in several different directions. He tried for about 20 minutes to contain it before realizing it was a losing battle. He drove 2 miles down to a friend's house for help. Our friend called the volunteer fire dept and went back with DH to battle the flames. Well......about 20 vehicles show up (vol fire fighters live to get called to a real fire) along with a pumper truck. The pumper truck couldn't get to the pond because the road was too narrow.

Long story short - they eventually got it out by beating it out with shovels, etc. and the forest service had to bring a bull dozer to clear a fire trench all around the perameter. When it was all over - about 20 acres of our land and a couple of adjoining properties had been burned. Thank goodness it was mostly just the top layer of leaves that burned and very few trees were permenantly damaged. The undergrowth grew back that spring.

That's how DH first met many of the local residents! The vol fire fighters now knew where we were! Along with the sheriff's dept, forest service...... DH made a contribution to the vol fire dept for their efforts. He was also fined $500 by the forest service. The forest service rep apologized and said he hated to ticket him because it's happened to all of them (probably not on that scale!), but was required to write the ticket. He told him how to appeal it and DH did go before a municiple judge for that purpose. DH is a lawyer and knew the judge. The judge had never had a forest service appeal in his court before and, when DH appeared before him, looked up and said "Am I reading this right?" It was pretty funny. He got 6 months probation and, as long as he didn't start any more fires during that time, didn't have to pay the fine. We kept a close eye on him and wouldn't even let him strike a match during those 6 months!

Sorry for such a long story.....your comment brought it all back. Word got around and everyone in the legal community gave DH a hard time for a long time after that! Never let him forget he was on "probation".

Debra

Dream house..did I say that..hahaha...nope it is not..but if ok for us..I found two pictures...taken this year..one is of the house..on the right facing..is the sun room..maybe you can see one window roof window..there are four up there..hehehe..the house is made of cedar...I forget what the boards are called..but they are wide...about 14 inches up and down..thinner on the top..and over lap..scolloped..bottom edges...anyway maybe you can see a little..

smiles..
Diana

Now this is from our neighbors...The sun room.------15 x 10 .with a small deck. for the two of us to enjoy...it was fall again..so the leaves were changing...and headed to the ground..hehehe....smiles..again...I will look for one inside of the sun room...I have it here somewhere...hehe...

Location, Location, Location, Looks like it is right on the Lake. I’d take a smaller and older house on the Lake than a bigger and newer version that was not on the Lake. Lucky you!!! Holly

Great house, Diana. I agree with Holly - give me a smaller house on the lake as opposed to a mansion that's not on the lake. I love being near water. Very relaxing. Did you find your sunroom pics? And would you indulge us with a picture of the view of the lake? Something we can dream about.................
Debra

Hehehe...oh we do have many huge houses on the lake.. I think they want the biggest..some are 4-5 stories high..hehehe..I say..as we float on the boat..by...good luck with cleaning that kind of house..I am too old to do that.. First I guess this is what we look at...
This lake is really two lakes..total 750 ac....you can not go from lake to lake..it has a road..inbetween..this picture is just part..there is more to the left..but I could not find..one..that showed the whole..lake..(ours) that is...