Offer accepted!

A few moments ago we accepted an offer on our house so, pending all the stuff like inspection and closing, it's sold! A young family with a three year old came to our open house a week ago Sunday and then came back twice with their realtor. Yesterday, while we were in SDak they made an offer. We responded tonight with a counter, they countered, we countered and they accepted.
I've had a persistent hunch that it would sell at the right time. They asked for a Oct. 4, closing which is perfect for us. We plan to move to the condo on Sept. 29 and don't have to make a mortgage payment on it until Oct. 1. As soon as the inspection is complete we can "live" in our house again.
The house was on the market about six weeks which is shorter than the average 90 days in this area. The hardest part about leaving? It's leaving our neighbors. However, we will get so see them via the book club.

That's done!

Effective yesterday we are the proud owners of two home mortgages. Yes, we signed the papers for the 15th floor condo in downtown Minneapolis (corner of Washington & 2nd Ave S.) You can find our building online under "Crossings". After signing we made our first trip via the underground parking garage. There are not many steps between the parking place and our unit though a several story elevator ride.

Our contractor starts work on the updates on Monday. Updates include all new; woodwork, flooring, kitchen, plus painting, bathroom updating, construction of a walk-in closet off the master bedroom and a few other things. She tells us it will all be done in 30 days. Therefore, we are making plans to move in the last week of September.

Slow reading.

"In an era when people consume words like fast food and flit from Web site to the next, a slow reading movement is starting to catch on. Two old strategies are being renewed: reading aloud and memorization, to help students truly "taste" the words. Lindsay Waters, executive humanities editor at Harvard University Press, called for a "revolution in reading" in 2007. "Instead of rushing by works so fast that we don't even muss up our hair, we should tarry, attend to the sensuousness of reading, allow ourselves to enter the experience of words," he wrote. The slow reading movement is calling for a closer connection between information and readers, said John Miedema, who published SLOW READING in 2009. (AP) Quoted in the July 27, 2010 CHRISTIAN CENTURY p. 9.
I'm not about to start memorizing because it is clearly not my gift. However, I've had a reading experience lately that makes me think that there is something to this idea of slow reading. Here's what happened.
About a year ago Joanne and gathered our neighbors and began a book club. It's been a grand experience. One of the saddest parts of our impending move is leaving these neighbors. But, I digress.
I read several of the chosen books weeks before our discussion. To refresh my memory for our club meeting I went back and reread the books. Seldom, if ever, have a read a book twice within a few months. I discovered that, while I remembered the main facets of the book, I had quickly forgotten much of the detail. Reading it a second time was almost as enjoyable as the first.
It certainly is significant that they were all very good books; OUT STEALING HORSES, THE BOOK THIEF, THE LATE HOME COMER and now I'm rereading HALF BROKE HORSES. Perhaps I should make a practice of reading the book club selections twice; early and late. Does that qualify as "slow reading?" What would happen if I read a book three times?

Most Peaceful Countries

The July 27, 2010 CHRISTIAN CENTURY has a little blurb about the ranking of countries by a peace index from the Global Peace Index 2010/Institute for Economics and Peace. I was surprised by number one, New Zealand, but only because it's not a country that comes to my mind often. The index measures domestic and international peace and conflict.
The top ten most peaceful in order are New Zealand, Iceland, Japan, Austria, Norway (#5 you gotta be kidding?) Ireland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Finland and Sweden. The least peaceful in descending order are Russia, Israel, Pakistan, Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq. United States? number 85 of 149.

For Sale

Here's the picture. Aren't they cute? A 1951 JD A tractor and a Massey Harris three bottom plow. For you a special deal!

For Sale

Well, yes, our house is still for sale and we even lowered the price but that's not what I'm thinking of now. I've decided to sell my 1951 John Deere A tractor. To prepare for that I'm going to SD tomorrow so I can wash it and take new pics. Anyone interested in some green and yellow?
Perhaps I'll post a pic when I get back.