Butternut Woolens

Yes, what a long and winding road it has been my friends. Imagine taking that road with the pedal to the metal and you'll have a glimpse of what my life has been like.

White Rabbit Farm went on the market around the first part of June. Before I could get it completely staged, before the contractor could fix some minor repairs and before the real estate agent took interior photos, we had an offer. Everyone involved was surprised, to say the least. It was a good offer except for a minor detail: the closing was in 2 weeks with possession in 2 weeks and 2 days. I threw a fit, I must confess. I wailed, I pleaded, I crossed my arms and glared, I stalled for time, but no go. The buyers had 30 chickens and could not extend their rental. I only had 4 chickens. I had to give in.

I cried for about 40 days and as many nights. I tossed and turned, I had nightmares about the chickens. I doubled my sleeping pills. I surfed rentals on Craig's List late into the night and first thing at dawn, even though the listings were the same as the night before.

The boys cried, too. It is very difficult to lose one's home, Eckart Tolle says the land and it's structures are the hardest attachments to break because we think the landscape and home are unchanging. The everlasting beauty of a landscape and our home upon it provides comfort and sanctuary in a world of perceived chaos. I can attest, friends, I can attest. While it has been one of the most wrenching transitions I have experienced, watching one's children grieve the loss of their home is almost unbearable. The buyers don't have children. I'm sure they are good people, I'm sure they don't have a clue what this very short closing and possession are doing to my family. I hope they never have to experience it.

While X2B threw stuff from the barn into the utility trailer, I hunted down housing leads. One country house looked good until I saw the oil-fired furnace and the gaps in the walls. An older house downtown looked good until I saw the neighbors' stunning rat habitat of a yard and gang tags on the fence. A new apartment showcased a small view of the parking lot from its only window. Another house was looking pretty good until the neighbors' mad barking dogs nearly took my fingers off when I peeked through the slats at them. They effectively ruled out any use of the backyard. A townhouse the realtor suggested looked so dirty and unkept Boy B was too frightened to get out of the car to look at it.

Boy B is our acknowledged family artist. It was he who figured out that Tiffany-style lamps look great in our house. He keeps his room perfectly clean at all times. He insists that his bottoms be only khaki chinos or chino shorts and his tops can only be solid colored short sleeved T-shirts or polo shirts. Polo shirt collars must stand up and his blue or black socks must be rolled down. There are no exceptions. Also his sheets must be yellow and white checked only. When he feels like letting his hair down, he wears blue or red nylon sport shorts, but only to play in. I have learned alot from Boy B. I have learned not to settle, but it does make things challenging at times.

Me: Look, that house is for rent!

Boy B: It's pink.

Me: No, it's not pink, it's just a little beige-ish.

Boy B: I don't want it, it's pink.

Me: Sigh. I know. You'll never live in a pink house.

Boy B: Or purple. Those are gril [girl] colors.

Me: Look! This is a nice neighborhood, maybe there's a house here we could rent.

Boy B: I don't like it.

Me: What was the name of that street? It says 'Candlestick'. Hmmm...how odd. And look at that sign, what does it say, 'Dumbledore'? [Doubletree]. Does that say 'Dumbledore' Street?

Boy B: Dumbledore? Candlestick?

Boy A: I like it! Let's look at that one!

Boy B: Are these wizard houses?

Me: Why yes, perhaps they are.....

Finally yesterday, I signed the papers for our new rental house. When I saw it, it was all I could do not to squeal and jump up and down like a girl. It's a country house about a mile from town. It has a beautiful view. It has a giant kitchen. It has pink walls.