4th of July Weekend Update

Hello everyone,

It's been a while since we posted, but this post has some exciting news in it. It is the 4th of July weekend, and the weather has been beautiful. Today was quite warm, and tomorrow is forecast to be 95 degrees (35 celsius).

As you know, we have been searching for a house to buy. The St. Maries real estate market is not the best one to be a buyer in. There are quite a few houses for sale, but most of them are either very dumpy or very overpriced or very overpriced dumps. We did finally find a house, and there is quite a funny story to it. My parents were up visiting for a week, and my mom was out on her morning walk. As many of you know, she can talk to anyone, and she started talking to some guy who was outside washing his 5th wheel trailer. She mentioned that we were looking for a house. The next morning, Hannalize saw a guy drive by, then back up, and walk up to the door. He asked "Do you have a mother or mother-in-law from Eugene, Oregon?" She says yes, wondering what was going on. It turned out that the guy was the one my mom had talked to, and his son and daughter-in-law had made an offer that had been accepted on a piece of property outside of town and would be wanting to sell their house. We went over and saw their house, and decided that we liked it. We made an offer and negotiated a price and it will be closing on August 1st.

The house was built in 1922 and has been well-maintained and updated. It has 4 bedrooms (one as an office), 2 bathrooms, and is 2152 square feet. It has a brand new metal roof on the house and the shop. The kitchen was new last year. It has gorgeous hardwood floors on the first floor. The lot is quite large, about 14,000 square feet and has a pull-through driveway, RV parking, and a large yard with a new fence. Oh yes, almost forgot, there is a large hot tub built into the deck.

Yesterday, we went over to the State Park at Coeur D'Alene Lake and went for a nice 3 mile hike along a very neat trail up along some cliffs. After we hiked, we went down to the shore so Roxy could cool off. She loves the water and started splashing around. After gaining a bit of confidence, she swam for the first time. She would swim out to go get the stick that was thrown out. She was absolutely having the time of her life.

Tomorrow, we're going to head back to the lake and hike on a different trail and let Roxy go swimming again. We'll also barbecue some steaks and celebrate independence day by watching all of the illegal fireworks that get shot off over the indian reservation.

On June 17th, Roxy turned 1 year old. We bought her a nice party hat, which she wore for a little while, then promptly ate. It's hard to believe that the time has flown like this....

OK, I'll let Hannalize add her part now....

Hi Almal!

Die grootste nuus is definitief dat ons 'n huis gekry het! Dit was omtrent 'n gedoente... Hierdie huis was definitief die beste van al die huise wat ons gesien het, en glo my, ons het baie gesien. Ons sien uit daarna om in te trek. Die lewe hier in die woonstel is maar saai en met die dat daar nie 'n heining om die erf is nie kan arme Roxy ook nie eintlik buite speel nie. As sy uitgaan moet sy aan 'n tou wees...

Verder gaan dit goed hier. Die somer het uiteindlik opgedaag en ons geniet die warmer weer. Ons het vannaand in die bosse gaan hardloop net buite die dorp. Was op 'n pad waar hulle op die oomblik die bome saag en Roxy kon los rondhardloop. Ons het selfs twee "whitetail deer" gesien. Roxy het hulle nie gesien nie, maar wel geruik en was vreeslik opgewonde.

Ek gaan Woensdag tot Vrydag weer kantoor toe in Portland. Sal sommer vir Joel se pa in die hospitaal ook gaan kuier, hy kry Woensdag 'n operasie om sy pasaangeer te vervang met 'n nuwe een.

Ek gaan eers groet. Groete hier uit 'n lekker warm en sonnige St Maries.

Groete
Joel en Hannalize