Oh my goodness…This past week was quite a roller coaster.

Remember how I discussed road blocks last week, and how we always prepare for them, with different paths and whatnot? Well…Last Monday, our realtor contacted Squatch, and let us know that the seller of the house had an offer on decided it was in everyone’s best interest to cancel the purchase. Apparently she was more than just a little pissed at the inspector’s results of her home, as well as our two different amendments to the purchase. So, we signed the cancellation paperwork, and were back to Square One.

Squatch did take a look at a few lots we had found; walking them and taking a lay of the land. I reached out to one of the manufactured home builders in the area, and was told that they are seeing an increase in costs, due to the rise in lumber prices. This company is awesome, though, and will lock you in to a price, regardless what happens to the lumber prices during the time of the build. The downside – They are expecting an increase in June AND they are on a 9-month lead time from the signing of the contract and handing over the downpayment to when the home is delivered. Well, that just doesn’t work with our plans. So, Squatch stopped by another local builder, and got the same 9-month lead time spiel. Well, crap on a cracker, Batman. Guess we’re still looking at homes.

I did find a great place that went on the market Thursday with a scheduled Open House for Saturday. Squatch was driving down Friday to spend the weekend with us, and would miss the Open House, but he was able to get in first thing Friday morning. The house was AMAZING, you guys, and he called me and said “We’re putting in an offer at $XXX.” I was fine with that. Then the waiting game started. Saturday I didn’t look at listings at all, as it was our family day together. Sunday evening, I took a look at my phone, and the house was Contingent. The Realtor called Squatch this morning – Seller went with another offer. So, my thinking is that they either offered more than we did, or it was a cash sale.

Le sigh. Back to the drawing board. I contacted our realtor this evening, just asking to see if there are any covenants or restrictions on the properties Squatch walked last week. We shall see how it pans out, but we do have a few ideas up our sleeves.

Little Man had a blast this week. We did a lot of colouring, and drawing with chalk. But by far, his favourite thing to do is go to the park. Oh my goodness, does he love the park. So, when we’re in the burbs, I try to take him to the park every day. To make it fun, I switch it up, and try to find at least one new park each week. He has so much fun climbing up on everything, and the slides – well, we’re working on going down all of the different slides out there. But if you want to see him in his element, find us at the park, especially if “the big kids” are there, too.

So, Squatch’s weekend visit was a big surprise for Little Man. He didn’t know Daddy was coming to visit him for his birthday! We made it all week with Little Man only realizing around lunchtime Friday that Daddy was indeed coming down. Silly Mummy was right next to Little Man when I was on the phone with Squatch “When you get here, park behind the Falcon, so you don’t have to worry about any issues with the food trailer when my mother gets home tonight.” Little Man picked up on that and started yelling “Daddy coming! Daddy coming to see me!” I then had to spend the next 4 hours telling him “Daddy is on his way. No, I cannot make him get here faster. No, I don’t know exactly what time he will be here.” But the big smile on his face as Squatch pulled into the drive, and seeing Little Man race down the stairs and up the drive to his Daddy was the best thing I’ve seen in a while.

We had such a great weekend. I made homemade pizzas Friday night (Sausage) and Saturday for lunch (BBQ Chicken). We had Amy’s Amish Cinnamon Flop Bread for breakfast Saturday. Squatch put together a delicious rub on a pork butt to make pulled pork for Saturday’s dinner. And I made some awesome chocolate cupcakes with blue frosting for Little Man. When I wasn’t in the kitchen, we were outside. We went on a trail ride around the lake Saturday morning, and Little Man was so proud to show his Daddy how he can drink from the water fountain at the beach like a big boy! We also put together Little Man’s new Red Rider Big Wheel. He looks so cool riding his new bike! Nanny & Papa got him a sandbox, which I put together Sunday afternoon, and one of his uncles got him a sand digger/crane that Squatch and I built before he got on the road late Sunday morning.

I’m so glad we got this time together. We needed it, and the time to ourselves that we had on Saturday was perfect. I hate this being apart. It truly does suck. But the few hours we had this weekend will give us the strength we need to make it through these next few weeks until we see each other again.

After Squatch was gone, we enjoyed being outside. Today, we were supposed to head up to Platteville to buy 800 pounds of sand or the sandbox (OMG. I almost died when I read the instructions saying 800-1000 pounds of sand for the thing), but my cousin called as we were about to pile into the truck. Instead, we drove to the farm, where Papa got into the farm truck to follow her in the Bobcat as she drove it over to the lake. 45 minutes later, they arrived. After a quick lunch of Sloppy Joe’s, she started working, and didn’t stop until almost 8.

One of the neighbours was told by the association (POA/HOAs are the devil, people) they could not have all of the limestone blocks on their spare lot. Now, these limestone blocks had been on their primary residence lot for years, lining their gravel drive. They just got a cement drive last week, and had to move the blocks, and figured they would line their other lot with them. Whelp, the association gave them 2 weeks to remove the blocks, and they told my parents they could take them. So, my cousin and her Bobcat to the rescue. We now have a nice little limestone block wall at the back of my parents’ property where the green space ravine begins. Little Man loves his “favourite cousin,” and seeing her in the machine, “She amazing!”, so it was a fun afternoon and evening as we watched her go back and forth, getting the big rocks (some are 3-4 feet long!) and stacking them at the rear of the property.

I did a lot of baking and cooking this week! Amy’s Cinnamon Flop Bread is to die for – I highly recommend it. Sloppy Joes are always a crowd pleaser, and so simple to reheat later. I didn’t get a picture of the decorated cupcakes, but they were really cute with the blue frosting and Paw Patrol characters I put on top (Little Man LOVES that show).

Garden-wise, I had a few flowers starting on the Sugar Snap Peas. I decided the plants needed some more support besides just the tomato cage, so I found some kitchen twine, and added 2 vertical columns of twine in each section. I also added some twine diagonally across the cage, too. I’m hoping this will give the plants needed support. I’ll be sure to grab pictures when we are back in the burbs. I did take the rest of my plants up to the lake, minus one pot of herbs. I got some awesome Sage seeds from Amy over at A Farmish Kind of Life, and planted some of them in one of my herb containers; I’m hoping to get some growth in there. I also added Dill seeds to the container holding my Cucumbers. I’ve got them and my little baby seeds on the deck at the lake, keeping them in partial sunlight. Squatch helped me put up the bright orange snow fencing around the garden area Sunday morning. I’m going to get the little baby transplants in there Tuesday before heading back to the burbs (as long as it’s not completely pouring outside). I do need to find some tomato cages for the Delicious tomatoes, as they will need the support, but the Marglobes I will just plant right next to the fencing, and they can vine right up.

Now, don’t forget to follow me on MeWe, where you can get additional content each week, or Odysee, where I’m sharing my podcast and little videos, including “Lettie Loo-ses It!”.  Subscribe to the podcast for my thoughts (and sometimes rants) in 10 minutes or less.

Note – there will be no podcast this week. I’m just so out of energy and thoughts and words. I will try to get something short out later in the week, though. Even if it is just a little Sea Shanty or Irish Folk Song. I’m really enjoying singing for all of you.