They Accepted Our Offer!

After a counter from the seller, and a counter back from us, the seller has accepted our offer on the house! Escrow closes on June 13, which is three days away from our one year anniversary. Our goal was to have a house by our anniversary, and we did it! It seems so unreal right now. (I'm sure it will feel very real the first time I have to write the check for our mortgage payment!). Even with a large downpayment, our monthly payment will still be high, but it's low enough that we're sure we won't be living from paycheck to paycheck, which was really important to us.

Jeff and I have been making so many sacrifices in order to be able to finally do this. Thank goodness Rick and Gloria were nice enough to open thier home to us so we could save enough money for the down payment. I think in this town, with the market like it is, it's the only way to go. Unless you work at the prison, and can just pop out a couple of overtimes!

Now, our heads are swimming with all the things we'd like to do to our house in order to make it a home. We are so excited to buy a house that has almost everything we wanted. It has a woodstove, two car garage, three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and is about 1388 sq ft. While it's not a dump, it does need a little tlc. Carpet is one of the first things on our list of things to do. Along with paint. We're hoping to get all of this done before we move in, so we're not having to work around the furniture. The trees need to be trimmed, and they haven't mowed the lawn yet, but that will be something we can tackle later.

It's just amazing that all of this is finally coming together and we are realizing our dreams. If you have any advice on how to save a buck or two, or some decorating tips, feel free to pass them our way!

We're making an offer!

Jeff and I are both so excited. Finally all of our scrimping and saving will hopefully pay off. We went and took a walkthrough on Friday. While this house needs a little love, and a fresh coat of paint, we really think it would be perfect for us. It has everything that we're looking for. Three bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, wood heat, a nice neighborhood and it's in town.

We have an appointment with the mortgage company today, and our realtor will be putting our offer in by this evening. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Jeff and I are both ready to start our life as homeowners, and we're really hoping that this is our house. I'll keep you all updated.

My Crazy Day

Okay, so I didn't go to work today. I was not feeling great this morning and decided to stay home. Was I on my death bed? No. So I decided that Jeff and I would BBQ some good food for Rick and Gloria.

We were planning on the usual...tri-tip, asparagus, pasta...and then I figured 'what the heck, I'm home all day anyway..why not add something to the menu?' So I find a simple recipe that sounds good. Orange Sherbert Salad. Jeff and I go to Idaho's to go get the meat. For any of you who know of Susanville, you know that you usually have to hit at least two stores before you get everything you need. So, we head on over to Susanville Market and everything's going good until we look in the ice cream section and there is no pints of orange sherbet. The only size they had was the half gallon, and I figured we wouldn't want a three quarters of the container in the freezer. No big deal, I'll just go to Safeway., they always have what we need.

I drop Jeff off at work and drive all the way down town to Safeway. I get to the ice cream section and....no orange sherbet. They have lemon sherbet, and strawberry sherbet...they even have mango sherbet! By this time it's too late to change my mind. I decided what I want to make and that's final. I have the rest of the ingredients in the car and there's no turning back now.

So, I drive uptown and I end up back at Susanville Market. I got the half gallon of orange sherbert. I tell myself that it will be fine and Rick will eat it. (The man loves anything sweet!)

When I get back to the house, Rick is gone and Gloria is at work. I get my cookbook out and all of my ingredients. I even get to use Gloria's mixer. I love it. It's one of those stand up ones. I've made cookies with it before and figured I was an old pro. Boy was I wrong! I follow the recipe and add all of the ingredients. I check and make sure that the wand thingy is locked in. I turn it on....and orange mess goes everywhere! I hadn't checked to make sure the bowl was clicked in and it slipped out as soon as I turned the mixer on. My brain couldn't think quick enough to turn the dang thing off and I was wrestling with the bowl, and trying to move the mixer away from Gloria's t.v. that she has on the counter. I get it turned off and take in the damage. It's all over the front of my shirt, underneath the t.v., in the kitchen sink, on the floor, under the mixer, on TOP of the mixer...So I take a quick inventory to see how much I actually had left in the bowl and decided to finish mixing it and see what happens. I clean up my mess, start a load of laundry, since my shirt got spattered with orange mess, and pray for the best.

What a day!

Here's the recipe, in case you were wanting to try it out. I know it seems simple, but if you have problems operating any machinery, I'd think twice!

Orange Sherbert Salad

1 cup water
6 oz. orange gelatin
1 cup orange juice
1 pint orange sherbet
11 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained

1. Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in gelatin until dissolved. Pour into an electric mixer bowl.
2. Add orange juice and sherbet. Beat with mixer at low speed until smooth.
3. Fold in oranges.
4. Pour into serving bowl. Refigerate until firm, about 3-4 hours.