Our Last Week On OWR

How To Buy a Home in the Duckpond

We are leaving Old Wire Road. It has had its highs and lows and everything in between. We re-imagined, rewired and re-plumbed our old cracker house and in the process made an unforgettable home.  We made friends, we lost friends, we lost chickens, dogs found us, we took care of the natural flora and fauna on our 13 acres, and most importantly, we had Moss and Giles. As our boys grow we look to their future. We have carefully considered the beauty and peace of OWR on the one hand versus the academic and cultural opportunities of Gainesville on the other. We briefly flirted with a home in downtown Haile Plantation, a planned community, but quickly reestablished our values after deciding it felt too "Oryx & Crake-y". Since then, we have only looked in the historic Duckpond neighborhood.  

1930's Spanish Colonial #1

The hunt for a new home began in November with some ambivalence and foot dragging on our part.  We looked at this home a couple of times. It was really nice, but it had some problems: the roof leaked in places and there was a crack clear through one of the walls. Someone bought it before we really were motivated to make an offer. It sort of slipped by without much effort or emotion.

1920's Cracker Home

This was an interesting overpriced option that we made an offer on. The offer was reasonable, but we're not sure it was ever considered. The gatekeeper was a architect that seemed to fashion himself after Dirty Harry. He spoke in whispers and peered out from behind his glasses with a disconnect that you might expect from a medium-level drug dealer. He didn't effectively make eye contact. Let's remember that he was trying to sell a termite-eaten home that needed to be entirely rewired, re-plumbed and needed a new heating/AC system (probably 100k of restoration work). The Dirty Harry of realtors whispered, "No, your offer was not accepted." O. K. dude...

1930's Spanish Colonial #2

This was a sweet home with a guest suite out back that seemed like a real possibility. It was overpriced, but we made a reasonable offer. The owner was excited. She was ready to deal and was motivated. Then, she uttered the fateful words,"Let me talk to my accountant" and then "let me talk to my parents." Within the week, the house was taken off of the market.  It seemed like it might happen and then it didn't. It made us a little sad and frustrated.

We'll call this the "Batshit-Insane-Tenants-Control-the-Homeowners" House

We weren't even interested in this house, but it was next to the Spanish Colonial above and so we decided to take a look. Except that the tenants don't allow the house to be shown and refuse to answer the phone. We were told that "we could walk around the outside of the house." This house was taken off the market within a week of our inquiry due to the uncooperative tenants. Can anyone say eviction? 

 1930's Georgian, Ready for Wallpapering

So, this is the nicest house we have looked at. It has been kept in immaculate condition. It's right on the Duckpond and a short walk to the Hippodrome. We made an offer. It has been accepted. We have started to imagine a life here. Now, we are just waiting for the closing date. Lastly, embedded in the concrete slab at the end of the driveway you might be able to see three little numbers: 666. Obviously, this is our house. Is it legal to keep a live jackal within Gainesville city limits?

February Burn

We finally conducted a controlled burn of the field. It went well, but unfortunately I couldn't be there to watch the Forestry Service do their work. The large longleaf pine must have burned spectacularly since the bark is blackened nearly to the top.

Moss in the swing. Daddy on the drums.

The live oaks survived the burn nicely with only the lower branches being affected.

Giles wearing his mother's vest in the pre-burned field.

Moss and Giles survey the aftermath from the comfort of their new 'wagon.' Gone are the days of a simple red Radio Flyer wagon. Now, there are about 10 different wagons with several options each. I tried to just buy a metal red wagon, but the marketing experts are pursuasive and the twins have weakened my defenses. Here, Moss and Giles ride in all the luxury that makes the 'Radio Flyer Comfort Wagon' worth every extra dollar. Sort of.

Liquidation Via Ebay

Manu Katche Drum Kit

As we continue to simplify and streamline our life we are letting go of things we don't use, don't need or can't bring with us on our new adventure. Some things are easier to let go than others. Easy to go was the drum kit. Though fun, it was neglected and well, I have not the time nor natural ability to be the next Stewart Copeland. Or Keith Moon. Or Clyde Stubblefield. So, off to Minnesota it flew.

Cutmaster Acetylene Torch and Regulators

These were easy to let go of. 15 years ago I spent my days off welding in a Cape Canaveral garage. As strange as that may seem, it pales in comparison to the widespread interest and bids placed upon this torch and regulators. They now reside in Colorado.

Selle Italia Flite Trans Am Saddle

It always seemed masochistic to sit on this seat for more than 2 minutes. I know all the cyclists of the world will resoundingly inform me that I'm not in proper physical condition to accomodate its needs. No. Kidding. I probably will never be in the type of condition that this saddle requires. I've stripped my old bike down to it's parts and each piece is being auctioned off.  This is still active with 13 watchers and 40+ views. 

Holgaroid

This holga meets polaroid camera had a pleasant life with me but, I never fully adapted to its finicky needs. The toxic fixative that you need to apply to your developed photos must be the stuff that caught the Cuyahoga River on fire. A woman in San Diego was quite excited by this beast. I wish her luck.

1966 Airstream Caravel

I thought I would be sad to see her go, but the Caravel's departure had the opposite effect on me. After six years of home restoration on OWR and a year of sleep-deprived fatherhood I decided to take on the restoration of a beautiful 66 Airstream. Clearly, I had completely lost my mind. We went on two trips and the Airstream performed wonderfully; I did not. It was supposed to be a way for Cymande, Moss, Giles and myself to go on family trips. It was the perfect size for the four of us. It turns out the two trips we went on were frought with domestic peril and drama. It brought out the stress and insanity of twin parenting. It was the object that most represented my inability to relax, to be present and to enjoy life's simplicity. One recent Sunday it drove away to northern Georgia. It looked beautiful driving down Old Wire Road and into my past. I see a family-sized tent in our future.

Tiffany & Co Elsa Peretti Silver Bean Necklace 

It was a graduation present (grad school) that I purchased for Cymande in Boston. This and the matching earrings set off a bidding war that brought it almost to the price you would pay at Tiffany. There are many other items for sale as we continue to liquidate our possessions. This is in preparation for a move to Gainesville. I know that is big news and I delivered it as the fourth sentence under a picture of a necklace. What will happen to Old Wire Road? That is a perfectly good question that we may answer in the near future. Doors are opening. I have a new job with Pediatric Cardiology at UF. The adventure continues. We'll keep everyone posted. I've been thinking  though: will the blog need a new name?    

Christmas 2011: Roses and Simulated Snow, Not Stinkhorns.

Moss and our 2/3rd ornamented Christmas Tree.

A few days before Christmas the morning sky turned our field pink.

We started a new family tradition this year: Christmas Eve at Stephen Foster State Park.

The bell tower.  When you heard a Christmas tune via the largest set of tubular bells in America it could only mean one thing...simulated snow.

Simulated snow seemed to be comprised of one part water, one part air and one part dishwashing detergent. This didn't stop countless children from gathering around the faucets while they were covered in a sudsy simulated snow flurry.

The boys were content spending Christmas morning in the bed of their grandparents pick-up truck.

Our chickens are looking plump and healthy.

A new pile of sticks in the field.  This reminds me of the hay bales found in the salt marshes along the North Shore of Massachusetts.  

Moss and Giles at Alligator Lake.

On Christmas morning I went searching for the traditional Christmas Stinkhorn (see previous Christmas posts), but I found none. So this year the Christmas rose will replace the Stinkhorn.

Santa  brought the boys a cardboard box house which arrived in a large cardboard box.

We had our traditional bagels and lox Christmas breakfast. 

Grandpa, Moss and Giles read Ferdinand (their favorite right now).

Candies from Brockton, MA and bread from OWR.

Moss examines a beetle. You can probably hear him say 'Bug!"

Giles exploring the field.

Moss under a live oak. Get it? Moss under a live oak...ok, it wasn't that clever. Merry Christmas to all our friends and family. It was the best ever...