Inspections: 3 of 3 DONE ...

photo courtesy of http://www.photobucket.com/

We have received the water quality inspection report on the home we are purchasing and, HooRay!, all is thumbs up.

The house appraisal took place about 10 days ago and the report is due by the end of this month.  We are eagerly awaiting and praying the appraised value will be satisfactory.  The appraisal report is the the last hurdle we have to clear before going to closing.

Our prayers are that in only 12 days we will be ready to move into our new home and FINALLY be settled.

Which house are we buying?  hint:  because of the lack of landscaping, I will have the opportunity to design  "edible landscaping" for my home.

Waiting, Waiting & Waiting ...

How much longer will we have to wait?  Just as I began typing this post I received a phone call from our realtor informing us that the appraisal on the home we are in the process of purchasing is scheduled to take place this coming weekend.  Unfortunately, my realtor warned me that this particular appraiser has a history of taking up to 5 weeks to submit his paperwork AND he has a history of low-balling his appraisals.  If he takes a long time, then the closing date will have to be pushed back accordingly.   If he grossly under appraises the property the entire deal could fall through resulting in another year of living in limbo and temporary housing. I am now praying that the appraiser works quickly AND the property appraises at purchase value.  This relocation process has worn me down. Thus far, we are at 2 years and 9 months.  I've never in my life heard of a relocation taking this long - not even for the pioneers setteling the west by wagon trains.  This whole process has certainly been an exercise in patience.  Mr. B has far more patience than I, apparently God thinks mine needs to be improved.

While waiting we have been keeping busy.  OG is indulging in a 2nd dose of softball.  Ball season is during the summer up here verses the spring down in Texas.  So far, her team, Fusion, has played in two tournaments.  Fusion took the championship during the first tournament.  However, they did not fare as well during the second.  They have another scheduled in a couple weeks.  We are hoping they will have a good come back.  !!Go Fusion!!

EJ only played two games in his 2nd round of baseball.  4 weeks ago he broke his arm during a bicycle crash.  He's missed most of the season up here.  But a broken arm hasn't stopped him from practicing his roping.  Everyday he has been outside roping his bucket and the two back legs of a sawhorse.  One of these days he may be good enough to learn how to rope off a horse. 

This coming weekend we are planning a little excursion out to my dad's mountain cabin.  The littles are very excited.  They LOVE visiting grandpa's log cabin and living, for a few days, "the way they did in the olden days".  Grandpa's log cabin is off-grid.  He heats it with a wood stove and cooks on an antique wood burning cookstove.  He also has an antique icebox to keep some of his food cold.  Last month, grandpa installed a flush potty, in the past we've always used the outside privy.  I am very excited about not having to fumble around in pitch black darkness to find the outhouse in the middle of the night.  A few years ago he installed a gravity fed water system for the large claw foot soaker tub.  Last year he put in a propane water heater so we now have HOT running water in the bathroom.  I really enjoy living without electricity, but have only tolerated the "no running water" aspect of the cabin.  When Dad brought the plumbing up to the late 19th century, I was beside myself with glee.  I've never even minded heating water on the stove - I just hated having to haul it and the excessive rationing of a very limited supply.  But that's all over now, the plumbing has come into the 20th century - HooRay!!  The cabin is now, in my opinion, perfect ... well, except for a few choices in decor, but hey! it's not my house - it's my dad's.

For all you out there who have been praying for us during our long relocation journey, Thank You.  You will never know how much we appreciate it.  Hopefully, our prayers to be settled in our new home will be answered very soon.

Insptections: 2 Down, 1 to go ...

I found a cute house inspection clip art, but blogger is not loading it so, on without a "photo" ...

Yesterday was inspection #2 on our new home, the house inspection.  The inspector found only 2 issues that the homeowner will need to address.  While there, the homeowner phoned my realtor to ask what time they could return home.  While on the phone, they happened to also inquire about how the inspection was going and my realtor told them about the 2 issues.  The homeowner immediately agreed to address them.

HooRay!!!  We are clicking along in the process.  The water well inspection should take place within the next couple weeks and the appraisal is also scheduled.  However, the appraisal will not take place until next month.

While at the house, the littles and I had an opportunity to choose bedrooms.  These decisions were, of course, guided by me and based on the best fit for our furniture.  I can honestly say I am so very excited and eager for things to move forward quickly.  The coming weeks will certainly be a test of my patience.

Which house did we select? hint:  There are quite a few trees on the property.

Saturday's Super Supper

As previously mentioned on this blog, we really enjoy Mexican food.  Today was a fairly lazy day around the B house so, I decided to spend some time in the kitchen preparing an authentic Mexican meal.  Unfortunately, up here in the North I do not have access to many of the traditional Mexican ingredients that are readily available in Texas.  Thus, I had to improvise with the ingredients I could find.  Today's supper menu included, Guisado de Carne y Chile Poblano (Beef and Green Chili Stew), Mexican Rice, Pico de Gallo, homemade Four Tortillas and Flan (custard).

Here are my improvised recipes for Guisado de Carne y Chile Poblano and Flan:

Guisado de Carne y Chile Poblano

serves 8

2 tablespoon bacon grease or vegetable oil

2 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 pound grilled stew meat

2 celery ribs, coarsely chopped

12 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons dried oregano, crumbled

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 large ripe tomatoes, coarsely chopped

4 cups chicken broth OR 4 cups water & 4 chicken bullion cubes

5 4oz. cans diced green chilies

1 teaspoon. salt, or to taste

1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

lime wedges

Heat the oil in a large stewing pot over medium heat.  Heat and cook the onion, stirring until it begins to brown.  Add the grilled stew meat, celery, garlic, oregano, cumin, tomato, and chicken broth.  Bring to a boil; then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered until stew thickens.  Add the chilies.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cook an additional 10 - 15 minutes to blend the flavors.  Serve hot with lime wedges & flour tortillas.

Flan
serves 8

1 cup sugar
1 14oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 1/2 cups whole milk
5 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.  Warm 8 6oz. ramekins on a cookie sheet in the oven.  In a heavy saucepan, cook sugar over medium heat, stirring frequently, until melted and golden brown, 6-9 minutes.  Quickly pour equal amounts of caramelized sugar into the warmed ramekins.  Set aside.
Raise the oven temperature to 350 degrees.  In another saucepan bring 2 - 3 cups water to a boil.  In a blender, put the sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, eggs, yolk and vanilla.  Mix on low speed 1 minute.
Pour equal amounts of custard into the ramekins.  Place them in a larger pan and place in the oven.  Carefully pour the boiling water into the larger pan until it reaches approximately 1 inch deep.  Bake the flan 20-25 minutes or until the custard is set and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from the water bath and cool completely on a rack.  When room temperature, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight before serving.

These recipes are adapted from Marge Poore's, 1,000 Mexican Recipes.  If you and your family decide to try them, I hope you all enjoy them as much as we do!

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday

A couple weeks ago I was perusing my cookbooks and decided to try Ree Drummond's, author of The Pioneer Woman Cooks, Spicy Pulled Pork recipe (pg. 94-95).  On shopping day I scouted out the meat section of the local grocer.  Food prices are significantly higher up here than down in S.E. Texas, thus, I ended up paying $22.84 for a 6 lb. pork roast, that's nearly $3.81 per pound!  I knew I definitely didn't want to waste a single bite of this roast.

Good news!  Not only is Ree Drummond's recipe fantastic - the only change I'll make next time is an addition of red pepper flakes - but, I used this pork roast as the foundation for FIVE meals.  Reducing the cost per serving to $1.14 and keeping all 5 meals under $2.50 per serving.  Also, using the the left over roast in four of the meals was a real time saver.

Here's what I prepared:
Spicy Pulled Pork w/ corn tortillas, pico de gallo, sour cream, avocado slices and pinto beans
Dinner, aka lunch, of the above left overs
Pulled Pork BBQ sandwiches w/ sliced onions, bread & butter pickles, macaroni salad
Pulled Pork enchiladas, Mexican rice and charro beans
Pulled Pork smothered in gravy over mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli and green salad

What's your Waste Not Want Not Wednesday tip?

Inspections: 1 down, 2 to go ...

Yesterday, the county sanitarian went out and inspected the waste water system on the house we are in the process of purchasing.  He gave it a thumbs up!  So now we will proceed with the the water well and house inspections.  After that, the property will be appraised.  If all continues to go well, we should go to closing on our new home in early August.
I am cautiously excited and praying that we do not run into any snags.  We appreciate your prayers, too.
Hint:  The house we selected is in a very peaceful location.

On The Hunt ...

Within two weeks of moving into our temporary housing, we reved up our search for a new home.  Up here in the extreme north, one generally has only 5 months to search for / sell a home.  During the rest of the year everything is either under a thick blanket of snow or very soggy from the spring snow melt, also known as "mud season".

If we don't find what we are looking for by the end of summer most of our house hunting will be over until late next spring.  Through our 2 1/2 year search, we've learned that occasionally, one or two homes may come on the market during the winter months, but it is rare.

So far, for us anyway, the internet seems to be the most effective method of searching for prospects, especially since the towns are extremely small, and many miles apart.  A couple weeks ago when we drove down to see a home about 100 miles south of us, the process took nearly all day.  Also, because the communities are so small the realtors only notify buyers of prospective listings through their own agency - they absolutely will not search competitor's listings on your behalf (our welcome to small town politics).  It's all very weird and leaves most of the "leg work" on the buyer's shoulders.

However, after searching for just the right place for 2 1/2 years (our first trip up was Oct. 2008), Mr. B and I found a place we think will work for our family.  Last week we made an offer AND yesterday the seller accepted!!!

The whole process is not a "done deal" just yet.  We still have to make it through the inspections and the appraisal, but it seems we may be on our way to moving into a new home.

You know, yesterday as I went before the Lord with thanksgiving, I first had to repent for my lack of faith and for allowing discouragement to settle into my heart.  Mr. B's job transfer and our move has been a long drawn out process.  When Mr. B first came up here we never imagined our family would be separated by 1,600 miles for more than 2 years.  When the littles and I were visiting during the summer of 2009, we found what we thought would be the perfect home for our family, but we continually ran into all sorts of road blocks and almost a year later we withdrew our offer.  After finishing the remodel work on our home in Texas, we found out I had to have surgery to correct a birth defect in my heart that was progressively getting worse.  When we FINALLY put our home up for sale, the market was so depressed, it took 9 months to sell.  These detours and the separation, took a toll on me, emotionally and spiritually.  Fortunately, we serve a merciful God who is willing and waiting to grant forgiveness, so He can generously bless us.

Although I knew God was in control, I was unable to see where He was taking us, an awful feeling for anyone who is a control freak, like me.  Of course God knows that - He was giving me an exercise in faith.  Why would He do this?  To make me stronger, to teach me another lesson in depending on Him.  He desires to be our everything.  He desires us to fully trust and depend on Him, just as a newborn fully trusts and depends on his/her mother.

The home we put an offer on is more than I ever dreamed we'd be blessed with.  BUT, as mentioned above, it is not yet a done deal, so I'm going to keep you all guessing and report updates as they unfold.  Time moves at a slower pace up here and as of right now we are looking at a closing date in early August.  Won't you join us in our praise and thanksgiving to the Lord?

Spaghetti with Bacon & Eggs

We are finally getting somewhat settled into our temporary housing. So, today I thought I'd share a quick, easy and frugal breakfast with you. Our family really enjoys this dish. It could also be paired with a salad for a quick dinner or supper. This recipe doubles and triples very well.

For this recipe you will need:

2 Tbsp. olive oil

5 oz. bacon, cut into matchsticks

1 clove garlic, minced

12 -14 oz. cooked spaghetti (I like to use left overs)

3 eggs, room temperature

3/4 c. Parmesan cheese, grated (can substitute other flavors of cheese)

salt & pepper

In a large bowl whisk together the eggs and cheese. Set aside. In a medium frying pan, over medium heat, fry the bacon and minced garlic in the olive oil. When the bacon is slightly crispy, add the left over spaghetti. Cook until the spaghetti is hot, stirring frequently. When the spaghetti is piping hot, pour the bacon and spaghetti mixture into the egg mixture, and stir to combine well. The heat from the spaghetti and bacon fat will slightly cook the eggs. Stir in salt & pepper to taste.

Note: You can also use freshly boiled spaghetti. After draining, immediately pour the hot spaghetti into the egg mixture, stir well; then add the hot bacon and fat, stirring well again.

Serves 4

This recipe was adapted from "Pasta - irresistible recipes for perfect pasta", pg.171.

Cost Breakdown:

spaghetti - $0.99

bacon - $1.29

Parmesan cheese - $1.98

olive oil, garlic, salt & pepper - $0.60

Total: $4.86 OR $1.22 per person