please use your inside voice

Y'know, considering I quit buying years ago, I still have an amazing amount of stuff. I've been rummaging around here looking for items to use in the Rock Hall house. Here's what I've unearthed so far--most still boxed-up from the Florida move.

The only practical, i.e., non-decorative, item is the Blue Willow dinnerware from the '90s.

Still considering what furniture to take. But there is a big weekly auction not far from Rock Hall . . . .

http://waywardpioneer.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/rock-hall-maryland-and-the-day-threatened-rain/

Interesting, no?

And, seemingly, one either LOVES Rock Hall or one really DOESN'T.  One of our friends that visited with us the first time was appalled we'd even consider it, and our realtor related a similar story about a couple who were in town less than an hour and said, "oh no, not for us!"  It is small---the "downtown" is one-block long.  It is out-of-the-way--no close-by malls or such. But it's got a for-real community vibe and a cool history and it's on the Bay and, damn, I can't wait to spend more time there.

open plan, originally uploaded by maria lamb.

I was so agog I only managed to take a couple pics--this is the best one showing the main living area.

Well, hot dang!  I can hardly believe it but it looks like we're getting a vacation home in Rock Hall on the Eastern Shore.

I've been obsessing about this for nearly two years, ever since we went there with Jane and Jerry.  It felt like our kind of place, someplace we might have chosen when we moved from Florida had we not had the dogs/cats/horses situation.  So our plan was to bide our time and watch the listings.  We were hoping for a house that was affordable enough to get as a second home to use to vacation there, and nice enough that it could be our forever home when we were ready to move from here.

Some 250 days ago, a likely candidate appeared, a house that looked super nice in the photos online.  Even though it was a bit above our target price, it sounded like a good value.  Then a couple months ago, the price was lowered.  We really had to go see it, and last Tuesday, we finally did.

Actually, we looked at three houses.  I told the realtor it was like being in a particularly good episode of HGTV's House Hunters.  We looked at our target house, and one priced a bit lower and one priced a bit higher (but with marina amenities).  

"Our" house was fabulous!  Lots of upgrades, every thing we could ever hope to have but would have been embarrassed to admit to for fear of sounding picky-ass--open plan, hardwood floors, dual sinks and separate shower and toilet in master bath, gas range in kitchen, garage, screened porch, on an in-town but still private lot.  It is so stinking awesome!

So we made an offer on Friday, and this morning, the seller accepted it!  It really seems to be a go.  Holy moly, we could spend the summer there.

BoKoo's Jammies, originally uploaded by maria lamb.

in his new Christmas onesie!