Last week before the closing for our new manufactured home, the sales manager told me that there was a stray kitten on the office porch. With our cat and dog plus our son’s kitten and dog, we have quite a zoo going on while staying in our son and family’s gameroom, but was there any way I could walk away from this little guy? It took several minutes of coaxing to get him out from under the chairs on the porch. He was “kneading”, purring, and crying, and clearly in distress. Poor little fella! The guys at the office took care of him while we closed and fashioned a makeshift box for me to put him in – they were so happy someone was taking him home!. As soon as I got in the truck I took him out of the box and he never moved from my lap. I found a vet nearby that could take us that day because I couldn’t take him back to my son’s house with our two healthy cats until we knew he was illness-free. Although he was full of fleas and had a few issues, he is healthy and is feeling much better now. The other two cats are tolerating him – I suspect they will all be playing together this week!

He is an 8-week old beautiful orange “mackerel” tabby, sweet and affectionate, and now his little belly is round with good food that he gobbles like a pig. I named him Jack Nicklaus after my favorite golfer.

This is our first time owning a manufactured home. Buying a manufactured home as opposed to building a “stick” home was a very reasonable alternative after purchasing 5 acres. Most people refer to them as “mobile” homes, but in fact once it is in place on our land it will not be mobile.

Things we love about this model: the roof was built higher to allow for a flat ceiling rather than typical pitched ceilings in most manufactured homes, it is energy efficient, it is a roomy 2128sf with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, it is gray, it has two living areas, it has a pantry, and the pantry, utility room, and the guest bathroom have barn doors – I love barn doors!

This model was promotional and so no options on colors and floors, but we may change those in the future. We did ask for an allowance for the very basic appliances that were included and have purchased new stainless steel range, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Can’t wait to have photos to show you after we move in!

The groundwork begins Monday morning with the contractor preparing a “dirt pad” on which the home will be placed. An aerobic septic system will be added, electricity and water will be installed, and hopefully all will be in finished in the next couple weeks!

It seems our move has been a loooooong process. When you are trying to coordinate a move with another family (my husband’s Mom and sister) and roadblocks happen on both sides (we each had initial offers that didn’t work out!), you end up living out of boxes. Our house did sell, but we had to put all our belongings in storage and are living out of suitcases in our son’s upstairs game room. The household now consists of four adults, three teenagers, two dogs, and two cats – good thing it’s a big house!

If everything goes according to plan, my husband’s sister will close on the sale of her home at the end of this week, and we will finalize the purchase of five acres in Sam Houston National Forest. Hopefully next time I post we will all be in our permanent homes!

In the meantime, this little Punkin is growing fast – she is now four months old!

Fingers crossed that soon we will see this view every morning.

I had to share this funny house plan that I found on Sewing Parts Online’s Pinterest feed. Wishful thinking!

We have had numerous offers on our house, one contract that ended after one week, and now have a contract we feel is pretty secure (fingers crossed). The contract for our new place has been on hold also, and we are eager to get this done. My husband has been reading up on chicken and pig farming – lol! He wants half a dozen chickens and a couple of “pet” pigs. I am looking forward to finding the right place for a small garden. And one of the first things we’ll do is build a deck on the back of the house – we can’t wait!

Pool inspection yesterday, house inspection today, appraisal next week . . . hopefully the next time I post, we will be moved in and enjoying “the farm”!