Wermelskirchen house

It's looking good, our prospects at buying this home. We had our second date last night with the owners and agent and although I was determined to get pics of the house this time, the first thing I said was "I would like to see the barn and field again please."





Our decision hangs on whether we can buy that adjacent field, cuz we need more acreage. They said it's for sale for 2 Euros per square meter, and that the field is 6K square meters (1.5 acres). I looked at it, I measured it with Google Earth, I shook my head... cuz the math was wrong, and, just by looking I can see that it's more than 1.5 acres. The owner explained last night.

"The big field is two parcels. The one adjacent our land is for sale. The other one is for rent for 100Euros per year, and if you buy the one, they will probably have to rent or sell you the other, because it has no road access of its own." EVEN BETTER! That means we don't have to come up with an extra 24K Euros right now, only 12. But get this: even if the lady who owns the other parcel won't rent or sell it to us, she'll have to pay us to access it! *lol*

I was holding my breath, gripping the arms of the chair as Joerg dialed up the owner of the field, right then. "Hello, I'm interested in buying Mr. S's home, but I need more land for my wife's horses. Is it still for sale? (pause) How much? (pause) Since I do not want to buy the field without the house, nor the house without the field, can you give me your word you won't sell it to anyone else before, say, Tuesday when we make our decision? (I'm gasping now, but grinning, and completely overwhelmed with love for my man.) Thank you very much, we'll speak again soon." That could have gone very badly, but he gave his word. The old lady said, "In this neighborhood, a man's word counts. We're honest people here. Don't worry." What, do I look worried? Let me extract my fingers from your lovely couch...: )

I'm totally charmed by the house - Mrs. S was tending a fire in the wood stove and it's one of those stoves with a glass door so you can enjoy the fire. I stood there warming myself by it (I was soaked from my trek through the 3 acres of wet grass!) and then I noticed this enormous basket of walnuts. "Are they from your walnut trees?" "Why, yes, would you like some?" and then she cracked walnuts for us. Amazing, I have never heard of growing your own walnuts. (Poisonous to horses? Eep, I'd better look...)


I was delighted to see the barn has interior lights, lots. Whew, and a concrete floor, a water faucet, electrical outlets, outside security lights, and a hay loft. My man wants the heated tack room for an office. I understand, cuz Mr. S is using it now as a work room to build his model boats, and it's just so cozy in there. It has a lovely view of the pasture out the 5 big windows, but I think if my man wants it, he's got it. I may just keep a saddle in there though: )

How on earth does one care for a trout farm? This is serious - it's a system of 3 ponds that feed each other next to a stream. Joerg has plans to harvest the fish and take them to the farmers' market in town. He also would love for me to grow our own vegetables in the lovely green house. I would be thrilled to do this. I've learned aa bit about turning horse manure into compost, and, hey, we have a horse! I'm making a list of veggies that I want to grow. I know, it's not ours yet, but it is so close to being ours!

What are the drawbacks? The only significant one: the commute for Joerg. He's used to biking or walking to work. This would be a 40 minute commute. Would he do that for me? Did he know when he married a horse crazy girl that she'd need her own farm? I was quite clear on that, but did he really picture it in his mind?

Then the phone rang last night and strangely, I picked up. I never answer the phone cuz I'm not confident enough with "telephone german". But something told me to pick up. It was Joerg's friend, another teacher he'd helped get a job last year. She works in the neighborhood that the property is in. She said her headmaster (principal) has a position open for a physics/math/music teacher. That is my man's subjects. Also, a raise would be involved. He would only need to apply and teach a test lesson. He's hopeful it will work. No more commute.

My doubts? The family next door. With DOGS. Agh. I asked, "Are they quiet? We're very quiet. My husband plays the piano, and that's it." They told me, "The dogs are friendly, and always in at night - no barking. The man is a police officer and they have two boys - 7 and 19." *shiver* I hope that's not a problem. Teenagers living next to my horse always make me nervous. But their dad's a cop. That's nice.

I hear the wild pigs come right up into the garden and I have no idea if wild pigs are dangerous. Do they break into your greenhouse and steal your tomatoes!? I've never even seen a wild pig. The little german deer I am not worried about.




There are two other decorative ponds, so cute, I want goldfish! I actually would like a singing chorus of frogs, but that might be considered "noise nuisance", *shrug*.

On the way home I said to Joerg, "I won't expect you to live somewhere you don't love. I wouldn't feel right about it. You have to love it." He said, "I LOVE IT. I love it cuz it's cute, it's move-in ready, it doesn't need renovation, it has very low utility costs, it has an orchard and a greenhouse for vegetables, and I love it cuz you love it."

Praying about it with Joerg, we ask that God make it crystal clear for us if he wants us to live there. It feels very good to trust God in this. It's kind of how I felt when I made the decision to move to Germany. If God wants us there, it will be obvious.