Sunday, March 10, 2013

I escaped!!! (Don't pay the ransom!!)

Hello, dear friends! I am so sorry to have been MIA. Big changes going on in my life! I "escaped" to Northeast Arkansas, intending to be gone a few days, and ended up staying for weeks! No internet. That was the bad part of the whole thing. Here is what happened:
My oldest daughter, Donna, was widowed some years back. She had lived near New Orleans for years, but wanted a change, so she bought a precious log cabin in AR. She lived there for a few years, but missed her kids and grandkids in LA, so she went back down there, and put a tenant in her cabin. Fast forward, Donna is remarried, with no plans to ever leave LA. The tenant turned out to be a nightmare, and did a lot of damage to the cabin. We finally got him out (actually, he went to jail, which helped get rid of him). I went down intending to spend a couple of days cleaning and supervising the repairs. But I so love  it down there, always have, so I kept extending my time. Then Donna came for four days, to list the property. Long story made not quite so long, I have decided to sell my huge house here, and buy a cabin in Arkansas! Not Donna's cabin, as it is two-story, which is not good at my age. OK for now, but not looking into the future. So I am searching for a cute little cabin of my own, something secluded in the woods, but not totally isolated from civilization. There are lots of suitable properties available, I just have to get mine sold. Since the market is not great, I am going to auction mine off, probably in late June or early July. That way I have a definite date for selling. I will set a  minimum that I am willing to accept. Of course, there is no guarantee that I will get my minimum, so I might not be able to sell it, but I am going to set the minimum low enough that I am very hopeful. And if it doesn't sell, I will just list it with a real estate agent and stay on in Donna's cabin until mine does sell. I don't think her's will sell right away, as it is more expensive than most around there.
Anyway, I have had no internet!! I tried to get on at the closest  McDonald's, but for some reason,  my laptop wouldn't get online there. I am at my house in Missouri now, picking up a load of things I need for the cabin. I have basically been camping there, with not much more than a few clothes and a toothbrush.  I am heading back down there tomorrow, and will have internet put in as soon as possible, now that I am definitely staying. My daughter, Sandy, is taking care of my property here.
I have missed you all so much, and appreciate you hanging in with me. I am taking lots of pictures of the damage that idiot did to the cabin, and the repairs I/we are making. Of course, you are all invited to tag along as I house hunt, and hopefully get settled in a new home of my own. I am going to look for something about a third of the size of my current house, which is 3000 sq ft. So I am going to be doing a LOT of clearing out and disposing of belongings. I am so looking forward to a fresh start!
I hope you are all well and happy. I don't have time right now to catch up on all your blogs, but I will just as soon as I get the internet in, hopefully within the next week.   I thank you all for coming by.

Hugs and blessings
Sandra

18 comments:

  1. I actually HAD wondered where you went - LOL! How exciting that you are going all "Henry David Thoreau" and moving to a secluded cabin in the woods. Be sure to share lots of pictures with us, and welcome back!

    XOXO,
    Meredith

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  2. 'So glad you are OK! I was wondering where you had been! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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    1. Thanks, Marci! I had going back to being an Arkie!!! We are still going to have our get-together one of these days!

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  3. Am so glad you are well and going for it in a new place. Can't wait to see all the photos and etc. about the area. May be somewhere I have been to in the past.... One never knows. Good luck with the selling.

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    1. Thanks, Joani! I am going to be in the Hardy-Mammoth Spring area. Jonesboro is the nearest "big city", if Jonesboro can be considered a big city, lol. I love it down there, and the people are the warmest, most friendly on Earth (excepting bloggers!) I already feel I have made more friends down there than I have in the nine years I have lived here. Hugs

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  4. Glad you're ok and sorry to hear about the lost of your beloved pet. Everything is happening all at once, so take care of yourself and we'll be waiting to hear from you again.

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  5. Thank you, sweet friend. Losing Marvin was a heartbreak that will take a long while to begin to heal. He was so important to me, but when the Vet says "bone cancer, nothing to be done", then all one can do is love enough to let him slip away from the pain. He died in my arms, and that is something to be grateful for. See you soon!

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  6. How wonderful to have you back. It's nice to see a post from you pop up in reader! You'll be downsizing to a cabin the size of my house :)

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    1. Wonderful to hear from all my blogger friends, too, Amy, I have missed you all so much!
      I am really looking forward to having less house, I only actually use a very small part of this one, so I certainly don't need all this space!

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  7. I have been wondering about you, lady! Just today I came across your first post on my blog from back in October so I am very happy to get this email! Sounds like an adventure. Take pictures and post when you can! xo, Claire

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    1. Thanks, Claire! As soon as I get back to the cabin, I am calling about the internet! I can manage just fine without most things, if I have to, but I have discovered that I absolutely HAVE to have the web! Whatever did we do without it??

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  8. This is good news and I'm so glad you let us know about it. What an exciting step for you to take. Best wishes for everything to go smoothly,
    Dewena

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  9. Hi, Dewena~so glad you came by. It is very exciting, and I will certainly keep you all informed. I have missed my blog friends. Thanks for your kind wishes.

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  10. What an exciting adventure you are going on! We are going to love riding along with you.

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  11. Maureen, I am so glad you came by, thank you! I am looking forward to sharing my adventure with you. Blessings

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  12. Oh Sandra, how very exciting! I am so happy for you. I hope everything goes smoothly for you. I am very happy you are back. I missed you my friend. Hugs :)

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  13. So that's what's been going on...I missed this post, but caught the latest!! Catch me up on it all soon!

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