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Mosquitos! (and Screech Owls)
Sep. 2nd, 2007 06:18 pmIt hasn't rained now for six days, and believe me, we are counting the additional days until the mosquitos dry up and blow away. That usually takes a good three weeks. Right now they are the worst I can ever remember seeing feeling them. Even with long sleeves and drenched with DEET bearing repellent, you can't go outside without being swarmed. Open your mouth and they fly in. Breathe and they go up your nose. They are constantly trying to fly into your ears (why?)
The horses are bearing it stoicly, even Tess who seems to have the tenderest skin. No matter how much stuff I spray on her, she is covered with them as soon as she goes outside. Vampires would be easier to tolerate, I think. At least they might seem sexy somehow.
In other news, an obnoxiously huge house that was built just around the corner from us some five years ago is now for sale. My guess is they've hit the balloon at the end of their adjustable rate mortgage. However, I see little chance right now of their finding a buyer at or near their asking price of just under $2 million. Yes, you read that right. No other property around here is valued at anywhere near that. Most come in at 10 to 15% of it. We thought it was strange when the place went up. We thought it stranger when a couple of years later they added onto it, and built a second garage. The driveway always has two or three overpowered pickup trucks, an SUV, and usually a Hummer sitting in it. Who knows what's in the garages (3 bays on the house, two more in the separate building.) They put up a pole barn and fences, and had two good looking horses there for several years. Only once did I ever see anyone doing anything with them at all, though there was a round pen set up. Last year the horses vanished and the fence was removed. The barn is still there, but now it's surrounded by three acres of turf tended by a lawn company.
They put up an outdoor, above ground pool, and acquired a hot tub. They landscaped in front of the house with a pond and waterfall, with floodlights on it. When the addition went on, we could see a spiral staircase through the windows, but the only thing we could think of that would explain the huge addition would be an indoor swimming pool.
Found the real estate listing on the internet, and yes, there's an indoor swimming pool with waterfall and slide. The house has six bedrooms and 8-1/2 baths, two living rooms, kitchen, dining room, and basement. We've referred to it for years as "the yuppie house" but I suspect we may soon be referring to it as "the poorhouse" or else "the empty house". It stands on 40 acres of absolutely flat land with almost no trees, that used to be a cornfield. In fact, a large portion of it still is a cornfield, presumably leased out to the original owner who continues to farm it. Can you say "ostentation"? I thought you could. Can you say "stupid"? So can I. I suspect the teenage daughters, once they lost interest in the horses, were forever complaining how boring it is out here. No shopping malls, no hangouts to meet their friends. The wife probably didn't like it that much either. We'll probably never know the whole story, because they didn't mix with the locals at all, but it will be interesting to see what happens now. Anyone care to buy it? The listing says you can get a 30 year fixed mortgage at 6.25% if you put 20% down. That's a down payment of $400000 once you add in closing costs. Then your monthly payment would be "only" $9000 or so. Heh. There's probably no rush, but if you just can't wait, let me know and I'll put you in touch with the agent.
We used to have screech owls years ago when we first moved out here. I figured they'd been driven off by the increasing noise and traffic, but this morning just after dawn we heard one. Then we heard it again just after dusk tonight. I hope it sticks around.
The horses are bearing it stoicly, even Tess who seems to have the tenderest skin. No matter how much stuff I spray on her, she is covered with them as soon as she goes outside. Vampires would be easier to tolerate, I think. At least they might seem sexy somehow.
In other news, an obnoxiously huge house that was built just around the corner from us some five years ago is now for sale. My guess is they've hit the balloon at the end of their adjustable rate mortgage. However, I see little chance right now of their finding a buyer at or near their asking price of just under $2 million. Yes, you read that right. No other property around here is valued at anywhere near that. Most come in at 10 to 15% of it. We thought it was strange when the place went up. We thought it stranger when a couple of years later they added onto it, and built a second garage. The driveway always has two or three overpowered pickup trucks, an SUV, and usually a Hummer sitting in it. Who knows what's in the garages (3 bays on the house, two more in the separate building.) They put up a pole barn and fences, and had two good looking horses there for several years. Only once did I ever see anyone doing anything with them at all, though there was a round pen set up. Last year the horses vanished and the fence was removed. The barn is still there, but now it's surrounded by three acres of turf tended by a lawn company.
They put up an outdoor, above ground pool, and acquired a hot tub. They landscaped in front of the house with a pond and waterfall, with floodlights on it. When the addition went on, we could see a spiral staircase through the windows, but the only thing we could think of that would explain the huge addition would be an indoor swimming pool.
Found the real estate listing on the internet, and yes, there's an indoor swimming pool with waterfall and slide. The house has six bedrooms and 8-1/2 baths, two living rooms, kitchen, dining room, and basement. We've referred to it for years as "the yuppie house" but I suspect we may soon be referring to it as "the poorhouse" or else "the empty house". It stands on 40 acres of absolutely flat land with almost no trees, that used to be a cornfield. In fact, a large portion of it still is a cornfield, presumably leased out to the original owner who continues to farm it. Can you say "ostentation"? I thought you could. Can you say "stupid"? So can I. I suspect the teenage daughters, once they lost interest in the horses, were forever complaining how boring it is out here. No shopping malls, no hangouts to meet their friends. The wife probably didn't like it that much either. We'll probably never know the whole story, because they didn't mix with the locals at all, but it will be interesting to see what happens now. Anyone care to buy it? The listing says you can get a 30 year fixed mortgage at 6.25% if you put 20% down. That's a down payment of $400000 once you add in closing costs. Then your monthly payment would be "only" $9000 or so. Heh. There's probably no rush, but if you just can't wait, let me know and I'll put you in touch with the agent.
We used to have screech owls years ago when we first moved out here. I figured they'd been driven off by the increasing noise and traffic, but this morning just after dawn we heard one. Then we heard it again just after dusk tonight. I hope it sticks around.
