Crazy

A crazy idea hit us in recent weeks.

It really began about a month ago when we first began to receive unemployment checks. There seemed to be a small amount of stress at this time, and I'm not being sarcastic. It wasn't a lot of stress, just a little. Our budget tightened and we began our typical use of our reserves that are saved for just such an occasion. This was when our focus also shifted from our own finances to helping my sister and her family with adoption expenses. That was a fabulous distraction that helped to teach us that we would like to be able to use our talents/time/treasures to help others more often.

Here it comes!

We are seriously considering selling our beloved home to live much more simply. The idea of using our finances to help others instead of paying our bankers is much more appealing. The plan is to sell our home and use the profits (no loans) to purchase land and build a small cabin. Eventually, we could build a house and shop again, but only as our cash on hand allows. We've also considered that we may like the simple cabin life and choose to spend the money saved elsewhere on others.

The reasons for this endeavor are many. One is the type of work which Pat is involved is seasonal construction. It is a "feast or famine" industry. By owning our own home from day one, we would avoid any stresses to make our mortgage payment when times are slim. Those slim work days may also allow for more travel when we are not strapped to our banker. We may eventually be able to spend much more time, especially during the holidays, visiting family and friends. This potential freedom may also allow for more extensive travel if that is where we are called. Another major reason is the massive amount of interest one pays during the life of a loan. After 2 years of paying roughly $1000/month, we have only paid down (with extra principle payments) $5000 of our principle. That is a huge amount of money simply given to the bank. Think of what we could have done with that much! Nevermind, don't. It makes us a bit queasy. We also feel that this is something that God is calling us to do. We have the potential to live completely debt free and free from the enslaving payments! We like that idea of freedom. It also frees us from relying on economic situations to protect our assets. If we own it all, it doesn't matter as much what the selling price could be. Oh, and last but not not least, Pat has always wanted to build himself a little cabin! Seriously. You know how he is.

I'm a bit surprised at how on-board I am with all of this. I truly love the idea of not making payments to anyone. Think of how much more we could do with all that interest money! I'm a huge numbers person, so I'll be excited to see that build in the bank accounts and see interest GIVEN to me, not taken! I won't lie and say I'm loving the idea of leaving our home. I love it here. I love our views and the opportunity to walk across the lake in winter and canoe it with the dogs in summer. It's a gorgeous park-like setting, but I'm not sure it's worth it. I'm also a little concerned how I'll do in a small cabin. I like those for camping and such, but for years? It could be interesting. I'll be sure to chronicle it all for those interested in seeing one who is a bit claustrophobic and has a bit of Seasonal Affective Disorder to survive such circumstances! Happy thoughts, happy thoughts (big numbers, big numbers...)!

We are a ways from implementing this plan, as we still have projects yet to be completed on the house in which we currently live. We are just in the beginning phases and are researching cabins and vacant lots and acreages. I also need to research the housing market up here and prepare for that daunting task.

Crazy? Possibly. Insane? Not as insane as all that interest and stress. Simple? Yep. Easy? Not likely! Worth it? I'd bet on it.

Can I just take my stove?

December

Christmas has come to our home! The decorations came a while ago, but yesterday and today was part of a gift we gave to Jesus. I'll have to explain that in detail a little bit more later! In the meantime, I have felt renewed Christmas Spirit, and thought you might like to see our Alaskana Christmas decor!
Quite an eclectic mix of traditional/lodge. I don't know if HGTV has that in it's style category. I tend to think we don't really fit any category!

Yes, this is the bunny that taunted me just after Rowdy brought me, unaided mind you, a snowshoe hare. The difference between a hare and a rabbit is simply that a hare is born with hair! Rabbits are born "naked." A visual difference between adults is the bunny above has shorter ears, smaller feet, and a fluffier tail than a snowshoe. By the way, this little fella hopped around in between the garage door, shown above, and the deck of the house just feet away. When we get low in the freezer, this guy won't stand a chance!
On the off chance that you were curious as to our driving conditions, I paused on my way home to take a picture from my driver's vantage point. As you can see, the road is fairly snowcovered and yes, it's slick. Once the first snowfall is over, people tend to remember how to drive on such roads and it's relatively safe. The biggest hazard is moose who pop out of nowhere in the dark and on such roads, it is extremely difficult to avoid them. This is why we have the roadkill meat programs. Yep, you heard it right. We eat the roadkill! Typically churches are called after the H.P. is alerted of a kill. Our church then has a list of potential helpers to go to the site, collect the carcass, and bring it somewhere to harvest. Only the salvageable meat is taken which can vary. The meat is then either wrapped there, or taken to a processor and left at the church for anyone who has need. I wouldn't turn it down any day. I think it's still a cleaner meat than chicken!
The other day the sunset was so breathtaking that I had to go out and try to capture it. I was utterly unsuccessful. As beautiful as these pictures may be, they don't hold a candle to what I really saw. As black & white as our landscape seems to be at times, the color of the sunset was more than fabulous.

The light was fading into the horizon around 3:30 or so, and as it's now the shortest day of the year, these few hours of daylight are not to be missed.

To all our peeps:

We knew you wanted to see some puppy pictures! I admit, it's been a bit more rough for me for lack of sleep, but we should be arriving on easier times very soon. We seem to have a suspiciously large yellow male pup. We think he keeps eating other puppies. Seriously, he's huge. We, as in Bella, also has a "size impaired" yellow male pup. He's a cutie and seems to do just fine, but is about half the size of "Brutus." Yes, that's what I call the ginormous one. The rest seem to be within the realm of average and are squealing a lot, trying to bark, and generally eating as often as their momma will hang out in their den.
Elmer Fudd has arrived this winter. Fortunately, Rowdy has befriended him and has proven himself invaluable in retrieving the "harey" beast. It's a good thing Elmer is wearing his camo. He doesn't stand out at all, huh?!
Tonight we relived Thanksgiving Dinner by cooking up our turkey that Pat won at the men's turkey shoot, and all the fixin's! I did have to call my sister and get my niece, Sydney's recipe for her berry pie. Its secret ingredient that I will reveal to you all, is the white chips put on top when the pie comes out of the oven! YUMMY! Thank you Sydney! Pat loved it!

Puppy Day!

In preparation for being inundated with puppy pictures after today, I will start with the most recent photos of us and our "puppies!" Just the other day, after refusing to cuddle with Pat, I jumped in the chair and Bella followed right in. I think Pat felt bad, but what could I do? She was feeling the need for some cuddling and being hormonal, I was her choice! She hasn't completely avoided Pat, but it was a clear preference for me! Have you noticed how big she was? That was an ordeal being in the chair with her. I didn't win in the surface area fight. She was much more comfy than I.
Lest you think Rowdy doesn't get much attention, he gets lots of lovin' in that chair. Especially when our friend, Dean comes over! I think Rowdy gets really excited to see Dean, because he knows he'll get some good cuddle time!
So, for now, this is all. We have one little yellow female who has made her presence known, and many more to come. The day is just beginning and the puppy pictures will thus commence, though I'll try to postpone too many until they become much cuter in a couple weeks!