Thursday, June 30, 2005

Of Mooses and Mortgages

I don't have to go far for significant action. One minute, this morning, I was standing at my kitchen counter writing a check to PAY OFF THE MORTGAGE. The next, I looked out the front windows and there trotted a young moose just across the driveway. These two events will definitely help me remember June 30, 2005 (also Judy Thompson's 57th birthday).

On Dec. 31, 1976, we signed the papers to purchase 8-plus acres here on Great Northern Road. That was three months before our first child Willie was born. We had no downpayment----just $2,000 in the bank to purchase a portion of the larger farm first established by Ed Senft in the 1940s. Over the years, the original acreage was whittled down, and several owners had resided here since Ed built the original house, machine shed and magnificent red barn.

He never lived on the place because his wife was afraid to be out here where hobos set up their paper shacks on railroad property across the road. So, they resided on South Second Avenue, and this property basically functioned as Ed's hobby farm. Ed's fenceline originally divided his place from my mother's farm on North Boyer.

Over the years, the Walt Heath family, the Bidwells, the Altons and the Crapes inhabited the place. Calvin Crape raised his Belgian draft horses here and even built a sturdy stud stall for one of his stallions in the barn. Crape ran into financial difficulties, however, and the Bank of Idaho was happy to see us coming because payments hadn't been made on the place for six months.

Though we had very little money, our stability within the community must've looked good to the banker at the time. So, he worked out a deal, and we moved into the place that January. I couldn't imagine ever reaching the day so far in the future when we'd pay it off.

Well, that day has come----a bit earlier than scheduled, but I've written the check, sealed the envelope and will drop it in the mail slot later this morning. During our 28 years on this wonderful little farm, which has grown by a couple of acres thanks to land trades, we have enjoyed the best of both worlds----a hop, skip and jump to town while still basking in the rural life thanks to the surrounding fields and bountiful nature.

Many a moose has crossed through here over the years as have more deer, one bear and a coyote or two. Every year we enjoy several months of ducks and geese who hang out on the pond and surrounding wetlands. Never, until this morning, though, have I seen a moose so close and personal. On my first sighting, the large visitor was running across the lawn south of the driveway.

I ran outside to tell Bill who was in his pheasant roost feeding this year's crop of 15 their breakfast. I told him where to look, but no moose. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, there it stood, ever so briefly, at the opposite corner of the house in our front yard. It didn't stay long, though. We watched as it trotted across the driveway and headed southeast through the field. Bill felt pretty secure in the safety of his pheasant roost.

On this June 30th day of the vanishing moose and mortgage, we feel very blessed to call this place we so love----ours.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Marianne and Bill, on reaching this significant milestone.

All best wishes for another rewarding 30 years - and beyond!

Love,
Margaret

Word Tosser said...

Congratulations, Bill and Marianne.

Now you will look around and see projects that you can do, now that you don't have a mortgage payment. lol...
What a great day and a great feeling... it is all yours...

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