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

Update on house in town

I haven't posted an update on the little house in town in awhile.  Although we were very slow going, we have now gotten it pretty much completed.  We still have some small projects and jobs to do, but we are sure happy with how it has turned out so far!  For now, we are using it as an "overflow guesthouse" for our family and friends, as an "ice storm escape" house this coming winter, and for Jonathan to use. (in town has way better internet!)  :D  He is still happy to reside here at Willis Creek Ranch with us and we sure do appreciate his daily presence in helping to keep this place going.

This has been a group effort for sure.  Dear Deb helped me paint this whole house last spring!  I still can't get over her generous spirit and help!  And then Shonda, Brianna, Peggie, and Earl helped with the decoration.  They did a fantastic job!  Of course, Marvin and Jonathan have done the heavy lifting and labor.  Here is a catch up post with photos of the progress over the last few months.

I was so happy to get the two exterior doors painted a new color.  I love it!  We also changed out the front porch light.  Geoff Harding did this wonderful work (and more!) for us.

view of the kitchen door opened into house

taken from the entry/front door area

Master bedroom

2nd bedroom

Random August

Random snippets from August...

Marvin went to IKEA with me!!!  That deserves MANY exclamation points!!  :D  We took the campers down to Sedalia to set up before the fair started and then we drove to KC to get a few things I wanted for the little 'in town' house.  Marvin actually enjoyed the store and found items he liked, too.  :)  Although I don't think he will mind when I go back next time with Shonda.  :D  ha!  Once might be enough for him.  

Poor man.  Now he has to go home and put everything together...  ;) 

Mama and Daddy had a daily routine of going through the mail and reading and enjoying all the anniversary cards they were receiving.  I dropped by this particular day as they were piecing together one that got a bit mangled by the post office.  I think we were all in a punchy mood because this whole thing just cracked us up!  :D  Thankfully, they could see who the card was from and were able to read most of it.  So very nice!!

Zac posted this old photo of himself with Daddy in honor of Daddy's birthday.  What a wonderful blast from the past!!!

Shonda sent me this photo of Jeremy bush-hogging on their new property with his new tractor while we were at the state fair.  I had to laugh because my phone got passed around to every male I was with as they all oooohed and aaaaahed over the whole photo.  :D

Recent family lunch after church.  Wonderful, precious time.

Marvin, Julie, Jonathan, Brianna, Jackson, Daddy, Mama, Hannah, Megan, Julia

Marvin, Julie, Jonathan, Brianna, Jackson, Daddy, Mama, Hannah, Laura, Julia

Got this new sticker for my car from my cousin, Dee.  It is to raise awareness and funding for pediatric brain cancer research in memory of Dee's nephew, Ross.  If you are so inclined, I encourage you to check out this link and consider how you might be able to help.  Such an important foundation and cause.

#R33M

Dear Jeff sent me this photo the other day.  He and Megan were attending the 'Happy Together' concert at the Minnesota State Fair and thought of me and Marvin.  :)  We took them to that same concert a few years ago at the Missouri State Fair.  I just loved getting this photo and knowing that they were thinking of us.  Love and miss them so!