The end of a chapter

Well, it is the end of a very good chapter in our lives.  We have sold the little house in town.  It is a bit of a melancholy feeling, but it is absolutely the right decision and we feel so GOOD about the lovely young lady who bought the house.  We pray she will be blessed and make many wonderful memories in this house.  

You may remember how hard we worked to get the house ready to be an Airbnb.  It was wonderfully successful and, ironically, I received 'SuperHost' status on Airbnb right about the time we decided to sell.  But, goal achieved!  :)  Covid-19 wiped away most of our business and Marvin and I realized we didn't want to have to clean after random guests given his high risk category.  We also felt that maybe this chapter had simply come to a good and timely end.  I think that is true.  We contacted our friend and realtor, Erick, and listed the property with him.  But then the city shut down due to Covid, so we never even took the listing public.  However, after the shutdown Erick let us know there was interest in the house (we had almost forgotten about it being listed!) and so he showed the house.  It was still not a public listing, but the lady who saw the house wanted it and put in an offer.  Kind of a whirlwind, but it just felt right.  We sold the house with all the contents which worked well, I believe, for us and for the new owner.  Since it had been an Airbnb we didn't really have much to do to get it ready to sell, except we wanted to finish painting the garage room.  We had never gotten that final task accomplished!  So on this day Marvin went back and finished painting it.  We also took all our storage stuff out of there (that was where we kept cleaning items and supplies for the Airbnb... locking it when guests were in residence.)  I think that room looks so nice now!  The color in that room is the same color as the accent wall in the kitchen.  And with the desk Marvin had built it is going to be a very usable space for an office.  

We closed on the house Friday, June 26 so it is all completed now.  We still have to remind ourselves that we don't need to go mow there or check on things.  It was a good house.  But we are so happy for the new owner and new life for the house.  A good end to a chapter.  

Marvin finishing up after painting the garage room - 
before we got things tidied up in there again.

re-setting the desk in the garage room

The day we closed Marvin, Jonathan, and I went by the house to say one last 'good-bye'.  :)   I snapped these final photos.  

garage room

that back yard really is beautiful!

I always loved that tree.

ha!  The new owner may have questions about this...
this was Jackson's knife throwing target back
when he and Brianna lived here.  :D

we were able to do curbside closing on the house - wonderful!

Remembering when I posted that our Airbnb was up and running!

https://lifeatwilliscreekranch.blogspot.com/2019/12/update-on-cozy-guesthouse.html

The garden

I'm actually posting something that isn't Maverick related.  :)  Julie and her 'crew' have been working so hard on the garden.  We sure look forward to reaping the benefits!  (and already are in some ways) 

Megan decided to go into quarantine so that she could come and spend time with all of us here at Willis Creek Ranch before she moves in July.  How absolutely sweet and amazing that she would be willing to do that!  While she was counting down her quarantine days, she did come and do some 'social distance gardening'.  She has put in a lot of hours throughout the month of June!  We surely appreciate her help.

June 3, 2020

June 15, 2020

Incredibly, Anna and Matthew have also come up for the summer to join in with the family here at Willis Creek Ranch.  They are able to do all their work online this summer, so it made sense to get out of their apartment and come here where there is space and a garden and a pond.  :)  They were quarantining in Julie's basement (with their own entrance, a kitchenette, bathroom, and living area) for a couple of weeks.  Anna was able to 'social distance garden' during that time, as well.  My fellas continue to provide loads of grass clippings, doors, and etc.  So many hands in the garden made a real difference!

With Megan finished with her quarantine, Jackson was able to show her how to run the mower with the raker behind it to gather up the grass clippings.  She really went to town on this and raked the whole front yard!  :)

I think she liked it!  :)

June 18, 2020 - updated photos of the garden - looking good!

Two sets of Great Grandparents

June 4, 2020

I felt badly about having to leave Marvin and Jonathan working hard at home, but Mama, Daddy and I went to Jackson and Brianna's house for a lovely family dinner.  It was super special because not just one set of great-grandparents, but TWO sets were in attendance.  Shonda's parents, Peggie and Earl, quarantined in St. Louis and then got covid tested before coming up to meet Maverick.  It was incredible to have such a large group of family able to be all together in this celebratory way!  What a blessing for all of us! 

Poor Maverick was a little fussy this night.  It is all relative, though.  He doesn't cry much at all!  This night he cried some so we called it 'fussy'... but that still didn't amount to much!  I think Maverick is the most 'chill' baby I have ever met!!

This was cute.  Shonda got Jackson a Father's Day gift and gave it to him this night (since they wouldn't be able to be together on Father's Day).  She had one item for Jackson and another for Maverick.  She asked Jackson and Brianna to open them at the same time.  :)

Cute!  'The Legend'

and 'The Legacy'  :) 

This is such a magnificent photo!  Here is Maverick with 2 of his 3 sets of Great-grandparents!  Jack and Sue, and Peggie and Earl.  You may remember that Maverick's middle name honors Marvin (for his middle name) and his Great-grandpa Earl, pictured here.  

We Grandmas had to get a picture again... :) 

...or two.  ;)