Quite some time has elapsed since we last visited.  Much activity has taken place during that absence.  The decision on which story to share first took a bit of contemplation.  After much thought I have decided to share with you the following update.

Late last summer my husband and I made the decision to put our home up for sale. Many, many hours and much thought went into that decision. At the forefront was the desire to be debt free. In a few short years my husband will be retiring. Granted we have seven or eight years until such an occasion would take place but plans for that life changing event must begin in advance.

Selling our present home and downsizing to a much smaller structure was our first hurdle. We enlisted the help of a familiar realtor. After her initial visit she left a list of things to do to make our home more inviting to prospective buyers. Hurriedly we tackled and checked off each of those items. In very short order we were ready for her return visit. As is typically the case, we signed a number of documents then watched as she moved throughout the house snapping photos. The photos as well as pertinent details of our home were registered on the internet.

In no time we were preparing for the first, second, third, fourth, and so on, showings of our home. With each viewing came the list of items with which the individuals were dissatisfied. Not wanting to deter anyone from falling in love with our home we set about the task of removing those obstacles.

One by one we removed each of our raised bed gardens. Along with them went our raspberries, the succulent strawberries, of which our grand children took great pleasure in sampling, the Michigan blueberry bushes my husband acquired from a kind neighbor and the beautiful lillys I transplanted from my oldest daughter’s garden.

Also among the casualties was my herb garden. Flourishing in the organic soil were basil, chamomile and my absolute favorite, lavender.

Last but not least was the wild flower garden I had initiated to fill in the open soil left by our previously removed compost bins.

We replaced the once hotbed of activity with boring patches of grass seed. Faithfully we watered and tended to those areas making certain they flourished. Before long the seeds of grass bloomed and spread until all that was left of our own little garden was our memories. Thankfully what appeared as scars, in my mind, are now covered with snow. One could not detect a hint of their existence beneath the blanket of white.

Aside from the changes made outdoors we have done some redecorating inside as well. To date we have updated our fireplace, added a few walls in the basement and purchased numerous items to instill a more modern appearance.

Price changes have also been made. It’s funny how the value one places on their own home does not necessarily reflect that of prospective buyers. Three times we have reduced our price. The last one occurred recently. This reduction is the one that hurt the most. The distance between our heart and reality is great.

Unfortunately all of these attempts have yet to produce a signed contract. For us what has resulted is a sense of sadness. Gone are the nuances that made this our home. Left are the daily reminders of what once was our property. Inch by inch we find ourselves distancing our hearts from the home that once was our haven.

And so, we wait for the family that will love this home as much as we have and for the opportunity to move on. We are sad because they will not have the occasion to sample the abundant delights that tantalized our senses. We realize, however, that they will find their own way to love and grow in this home. Until then we cautiously make plans for our next home.

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