Slow Update:

Been a while since posting here. Its been a crazy/hectic month around here. Between having guests, transportation, and multiple house issues  to name a few. We found a large mold issue hidden within our master bathroom behind the double vanity, which is also the garage wall on the backside. We had to tear out half the bathroom, remove the vanities, run some mold cleaning chemicals and large ass ventilation/drying fans to try and kill it off and stop further spreading. That took about two months, followed by having to replace the hot water heater that was on its last legs, to again removing it to get to the leaking pipe and mold. Followed by another two and half weeks of tenting and drying out the bathroom. Then along came the removal of solar panels, replacing the roof shingles and re-installation of said panels, followed by an A/C unit the apparently has some kind of wiring issue between it and the thermostat as we were unable to get it to drop below 76 degrees for over a month. So they have been out here three times thus far trying to figure that out. Still don't have the sheetrock nor the vanities back in the bathroom as yet, we did manage to get them to reconnect the hot water tank after not having it for almost a month. Most of the delay falls on the insurance company dragging their asses per usual...they don't much care about inconveniencing the home owner/tenants, etc.

Other than that... its ben moving along as usual around the homestead..

We have grass..

 

Well as figured, once the tree was downed, our grass has managed to come back. We still have one bad spot, and I associate that with the fact that there was too much mulch from grinding the stump that was placed in that area. Its unbelievable how much that oak tree destroyed the lawn via shade and disease. Hoping to remedy the bald spot soon and hopefully have a full lawn again by summers end. You can see the difference were our neighbors lawn is starting to get destroyed as well by their tree.

 Pretty big difference from before. I honestly didn't think it would bounce back, but good 'ol sunshine and rain made it happen.

On the backside we had a micro burst come through last week and it took down our smallest tree, I have been waiting for it to fall down as we have a neighborhood cat that like to climb it and it was already pretty much dead. I spent everyday waiting to see it fall, but it just wouldn't I was about to cut it down myself just before the burst in weather, so mother nature took care of it for me.  

 now I just have a circle of aloe that needs some tending to.. next weeks project., time to clean it up and do some trimming.

The search begins..

 

We are again entertaining the idea of relocating to a much smaller living accommodation. We began the initial pre-qualification for a VA funded home purchase and have found a few we are interested in, in our areas of preference. Spent the week connecting with a VA specialist team and collecting the necessary items they need to review for a pre-qualification for loan, etc. Its still early in its stages, but we are hopeful to get a qualifying price range we can live with and terms that will be manageable for our long term goals. This house is great and has served our purposes, yet it is way to much home for what will be the two of us and the dog shortly. There are 4 bedrooms and an entire loft area that will not be used upstairs, and we cant justify the costs for such wasted space, that and we will never own a stake in this property so why pay the extra. Currently renting from Brandon and Lara as they purchased it as an investment property for years down the road.. but even then, the cost heavily outweighs its use for us.

We will both be within retirement in less than two years and want something of our own that we can live out our lives in happily and financially, and not be tethered or indebted to other family members. So we are looking, proceeding and hoping it all comes together for us.

'Nikki's Car (Donut)

 

We are helping Nikki by financing her a car as she soon plans to be traveling and/or moving to Georgia. We are finally in a position financially ourselves to be able to do it, so we are and did. She purchased this 2016 Ford Fiesta hatchback and seems to love it. She is responsible for obtaining and paying the insurance, registration, etc. as well as making monthly payments to us.

 For whatever reason she has named it Donut..??? some Harry Potter reference from what I gather. But she will at least have and own her own car again, and have the freedom to come and go as she pleases. As a result of that we will be giving D2 back to Brandon and Lara as we are not going to pay for a vehicle we will never own, we basically were just leasing it from them apparently, un-benounced to us, and Lara doesn't want to sell it which is what we thought was the plan from the start.. we were wrong.. so they can have it back along with the full payments...and that's fine by us as it also frees up some $$$ for us as well.

Worth the visit

.

One of the best buffet's we have visited in the area. Great food, many choices, always fresh and well stocked, Customer service is excellent, food is awesomely good. Ever in the area be sure to visit Chow's Country Buffet in Titusville, Don't let the name fool you, its a combination of Oriental and American foods that just seem to blend well together. Also have an awesome desert selection, something for everyone...