The Good Ole Freap Chat ~ Sequel Part III ~

[mtblujeans]

We just got back from our trip to Wyoming. I didn't get ONE email notification of posts to any of my subscribed threads while we were gone....I must be on someone's short list!!!

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving....I'll post more tomorrow!

 

[mtblujeans]

Kellie, I am glad to see that your DD got her bag back....that is a real shame, someone pulling that on her! We don't have video cameras in stores or shops here...yet.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving weekend. We went over to one of the historic buildings in Kalispell on Friday and took a fun family photo for Christmas cards.

We were going to dress up with western wear and santa hats but the guys wanted to dress western all the way. Youngest son invited his best friend because they thought it sounded fun (my 2 boys are in the cowboy hats on the right) and we had DGS for the day so DD wouldn't have to take the day off work.

It was in the 20's that morning and we had to hold our breath so you couldn't see it coming out of our mouths in clouds on the photos. We set my camera up on a tripod and used the delay feature for the first time. I ran back and forth ALOT that morning.

We left for our road trip on Saturday morning and had planned on spending 2 nights in Buffalo, WYO but, once we got down there, we decided to just spend the one night. Buffalo is about 30 miles south of Sheridan and they are both little towns right off the highway. We stopped and had lunch in Sheridan and then went on to Buffalo. Frankly, the land around Sheridan looked more useful for farming.

We stopped into a real estate office and found that there were only 2 pieces of land for sale that would suit our purpose. It seems that farmers across the country are subdividing their large parcels of farm land up for subdivisions....and that is what this land was. We drove out and looked around but it was, basically, one large piece that had been divided into 3 smaller pieces. It was actually considered a subdivision tract and was surrounded by subdivision tracts, some with homes on them. Each home we drove by had loose dogs running out to the main road to bark at us. That is one of the problems we are having where we live now - and trying to keep our calves safe from packs of dogs - and we weren't interested in moving to an area with more loose dogs than what we are facing now.

The land beside the road is well worked and looked like wheat fields. This is what the land looked like that was for sale:

We felt that would make for years of plowing and working the land to clear away scrub to grow anything....if the soil could handle it.

In talking to the real estate agent, we found that Sheridan is possibly facing a boom with oil and gas. Workers are already moving in from all corners of the country to mine and extract minerals/gas. I guess that is why people are subdividing their property into lots. We're facing that type of growth where we are now.

So, Buffalo is out for us at this point.

It worked out for the best that we shorted the stay because a snow storm moved in as we were leaving Billings and heading west. Winter is here!

 

[pperfectmom]

OMG-have ya'll seen "Beware of the Doghouse"? This is too funny.

http://creativity-online.com/work/view?seed=5e32d548

 

[pperfectmom]

Susan-sorry that things aren't working out in your land search. I hope you guys find something soon. It's sad that all the good ranch land seems to be turning into subdivisions. Around Lexington, the same thing is happening. What used to be beautiful horse farms is now sprawling shopping centers and subdivisions with $300,000 houses that all look identical. I'd rather spend my money on land and live in a shack with no neighbors, but that's just me. There is still a lot of affordable land in eastern Ky. if you want to come live close to us.

 

[SHAYMARAYSMOM]

We just got back from our trip to Wyoming. I didn't get ONE email notification of posts to any of my subscribed threads while we were gone....I must be on someone's short list!!!

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving....I'll post more tomorrow!

Susan welcome home.
I love the pictures. How sad they are turning farm land into subdivions.
The town we live in DH grow up in. They had such great farm land at one time. now they have house all over the place

 

[mtblujeans]

The "growth" with houses is amazing to me. I guess what is happening here is happening every where. We have the "strip malls" coming in here, also. I don't understand how people are buying so many $300,000.00 homes! They certainly can't be first time home buyers....can they? I thought the baby boomers were staying in the homes they have paid off and the population count is less after the baby boom age.

I clicked on the Doghouse link and it looks like that one has been shut down. I googled it and found another link. Go thru the link and click on the blue Beware the DogHouse in the upper left side. That should take you to the movie. ETA: It looks like they keep taking the movie away or it goes down or something.

Oscar's been there for a long time and he just plain lost his mind!

 

[mtblujeans]

Susan-sorry that things aren't working out in your land search. I hope you guys find something soon. It's sad that all the good ranch land seems to be turning into subdivisions. Around Lexington, the same thing is happening. What used to be beautiful horse farms is now sprawling shopping centers and subdivisions with $300,000 houses that all look identical. I'd rather spend my money on land and live in a shack with no neighbors, but that's just me. There is still a lot of affordable land in eastern Ky. if you want to come live close to us.

DH and I discussed your offer to go to KY at lunch today. He loves Montana and just does NOT want to leave. He says we could stay put if every place else in the country is growing as fast and the same way our town is. We are looking at a deadline of about 5 years in the future, tho', because the city of Kalispell has plans to move its borders out past our property, by then, and they don't allow cattle within the city limits.

Does any one remember? There was a Disney movie that came out earlier this year that had a DVD cd and a HD cd in the case. Was it Sleeping Beauty?

Did anyone see Hugh Jackman on The View this morning? What a cutie that boy is!

 

[maddhatir]

I haven't been keeping up with the chat in the last few days, I've been busy getting ready for a cruise!

Have fun! When are you leaving??

I don't understand how people are buying so many $300,000.00 homes! They certainly can't be first time home buyers....can they? I thought the baby boomers were staying in the homes they have paid off and the population count is less after the baby boom age.

Welcome back- Your pic is cute! DH and I want to movie w/in 6 years, but we have not even started looking We DO have an idea- we will not go too far from Jersey, probably MD, VA or NC. Good luck with your search.

I am laughing at your comment about people being able to afford houses, I think that is why the mortgage companies are having so much trouble. They tell the customers they afford xyz- but in reality the customer should REALLY only take on payment x (and save their y's and z's for a rainy day )

I cannot understand how people can be so clueless. You know how much money you make and what you can afford- why put yourself in such a stressful situation by paying more than that- everyone always wants bigger and better (however, I do understand with the economy the way it is, SOME people just cannot make their mortgage payments, they certainly are not the people I am talking about , they had no choice!)

But ITA with Marna- give me lots of land to put my tiny house in the middle of it, with no one around me!

Me and my 2 friends went to NYC yesterday. It was nice. It was pretty crowded for a Friday- I just kept thinking- thank GOODNESS we did not go on a Saturday! All the department stores were packed, Macy's, Saks, Lord and Taylor- We walked in looked around a little and said, we have these darn stores where we live, what are we doing here- let's get out and walk around the city!

We saw the tree @ Rockefeller Center I don't get the big who-ha about that. And from all the movies I have seen with the skating rink in them- the rink was much smaller than what it appears to be on the big screen

We did happen upon St. Patrick's Cathedral and decided to take a look-see. It was really beautiful inside. They had a boys choir singing up front. I wanted to go in and look around more, but you had to have your bags inspected before you went further into the church (I felt like I was in Disney ) I was too lazy to go through all that, so I just stayed in the back while my friend went and lit a candle. She told me I would probably not be able to enter the church b/c some invisible force would be holding me back, preventing me from entering the churchMaybe the force manifested itself into bag checkers, and kept me from going in too far

 

[mtblujeans]

... I am laughing at your comment about people being able to afford houses, I think that is why the mortgage companies are having so much trouble. They tell the customers they afford xyz- but in reality the customer should REALLY only take on payment x (and save their y's and z's for a rainy day )

Yeah, that and why do the builders keep building when they don't have a buyer in advance of construction?

...But ITA with Marna- give me lots of land to put my tiny house in the middle of it, with no one around me!

Yep, this is what we are looking for, too!

...We did happen upon St. Patrick's Cathedral and decided to take a look-see. It was really beautiful inside. They had a boys choir singing up front. I wanted to go in and look around more, but you had to have your bags inspected before you went further into the church (I felt like I was in Disney ) I was too lazy to go through all that, so I just stayed in the back while my friend went and lit a candle. She told me I would probably not be able to enter the church b/c some invisible force would be holding me back, preventing me from entering the church Maybe the force manifested itself into bag checkers, and kept me from going in too far

I can't imagine having to be searched to go into a church! You're friend had in mind to keep you from going up in flames, did she? Trust me, I can guarantee that you are not the worst of souls who have gone through that church....or any other, for that matter. And, with that, I will not venture farther on my opinions....

 

[maddhatir]

Trust me, I can guarantee that you are not the worst of souls who have gone through that church....or any other, for that matter. And, with that, I will not venture farther on my opinions....

This IS true, kinda forgot about that........

 

[We_Love_Disney]

We are looking at a deadline of about 5 years in the future, tho', because the city of Kalispell has plans to move its borders out past our property, by then, and they don't allow cattle within the city limits.

That strikes me funny. In the middle of (no offense intended) nowhere, they won't allow cattle within the new city limits? Who are they saving the space for?

 

[mtblujeans]

That strikes me funny. In the middle of (no offense intended) nowhere, they won't allow cattle within the new city limits? Who are they saving the space for?

You're right!! It does sound funny!

We live about 5 miles from the center of town and they plan on engulfing the land beyond our place by another mile or two and filling it with houses and city parks and commercial/stores.

The people in office, here, are TERRIBLE at planning but they don't need to hold down regular jobs so they are the only type of people that volunteer or apply for these big decision making offices. Would you believe that the people on boards who are deciding the wild growth that is going on are self-employed real estate agents and construction company owners? It has been very frustrating....and really sad.

 

[maddhatir]

That strikes me funny. In the middle of (no offense intended) nowhere, they won't allow cattle within the new city limits? Who are they saving the space for?

We only have a month to go- and there MIGHT be oil in that spot

 

[mtblujeans]

We only have a month to go- and there MIGHT be oil in that spot

Seriously funny!!

Well....we know there is gravel so there is mining out our way. If we wanted to tear up our pastures I suppose we could go that route.... Sometimes you just need to forego the big bucks for peace of mind. Well, some of us do....not my neighbor, apparently.

 

[NATALIEBELLESmom]

Hey everyone. Just poking my head in to say Hi. This is finals week and I think that my head is going to explode. I am so ready to start all my christmas crafts. I will post pictures of my tree and house later in the week after finals. I hope everyone is doing great.

 

[maddhatir]

Hey everyone. Just poking my head in to say Hi. This is finals week and I think that my head is going to explode. I am so ready to start all my christmas crafts. I will post pictures of my tree and house later in the week after finals. I hope everyone is doing great.

Good luck with your finals-

 

[mtblujeans]

Hey everyone. Just poking my head in to say Hi. This is finals week and I think that my head is going to explode. I am so ready to start all my christmas crafts. I will post pictures of my tree and house later in the week after finals. I hope everyone is doing great.

I'll add my good luck wishes here, too. What type of Christmas crafts do you do? Looking forward to pictures!!

 

[mtblujeans]

KELLIE! That father joke!!

 

[mtblujeans]

Let's try this again. I got the Beware the Doghouse link from a Penneys email. I hope they don't disable the link again.

 

[NATALIEBELLESmom]

I'll add my good luck wishes here, too. What type of Christmas crafts do you do? Looking forward to pictures!!

I ususally hand painted different wooden items with christmas themes for my parents and grandparents. We are doing keepsake ornaments and a couple others too I just forget right now. Thanks for the well wishes on the finals.