#i've found a place in my yard that could possibly work to fence off to keep the dogs away but it would require building some sort of shelte

[border-collie]

had a dream last night I was breeding rabbits again, i should really get back into that.

[fayeandknight]

I went to check out another house today and oh boy was it a doozy.

It was originally built in 1881 and I could see from the photos that it was not habitable. But it sits on a half acre in an area I'm interested in. Also I can see the charm in the bones, so to speak. Like a half circle window with built in seating, which to me shouts book nook.

I brought my dad because he's knowledgeable about construction and built our family home from scratch.

Got there and it was immediately obvious that this place is way worse than advertised. The second story all season room looks ready to fall off, there's foam patching along sections of the underside of the roof, porch looks like it'd drop you faster than you could curse, etc. It would be a massive undertaking to make it livable.

But the yard is fairly level and partially fenced in from the neighbors. It's set a decent distance from the road and has ample space from neighbors on all sides. This is big for me because I intend to board dogs (through my current job) and I don't want to piss off neighbors with barking dogs.

And while this isn't a basis to buy such a house on, something about it calls to me in a way I haven't experienced before. More on this under the cut because it's spiritual woo woo talk.

When I do a drive by, I literally drive by. I cruise through the neighborhood and take my time. But I don't go up to the house. However between this place clearly not being occupied and my dad having older white dude audacity, we got out and walked around the yard. We went all the way around the house, he pointed out a test patch where someone investigated the siding and it's layers, stomped on the dilapidated porch, and found a well with a hand crank.

At one point I was standing close to the road while he was on the porch reading orange town issued notices posted on the front door. A guy working for the house across the street stopped to stare at us. My dad gave a friendly wave, the contractor returned it, and despite my fears of the cops being called on us, nothing happened.

I thought initially this might be a place that I buy, spend a few months of heavy sweat equity on and hire a contractor or two for major things. But ultimately could make livable while continuing to fix up within three months or so. In addition to major interior work, it needs rewiring/electrical work, a plumbing overhaul, a new roof and gutters, new siding, a new porch, new windows, and most likely just tearing off the all season porch at minimum. So yeah just a fuck ton of work.

My dad and I agreed that this place was pretty far over our ability to renovate. But something makes me want to dig into it deeper anyway. While I highly doubt this place will turn into anything for me. I'm going to look into possible financing options. And I've set my dad to contacting the listing agent and the county office to see what's up.

My next step is digging into a renovation specific loan, the FHA 203k loan. Even though this place probably won't pan out I think it'll serve as a good test run of what I'd need. Cause let's be honest between the current economy and housing market, whatever I end up with will need work.

I don't typically talk about this, but I am pagan and consider myself a spiritual person. And while I don't see the mystical in the mundane everywhere, when I do I, I do.

When I hesitantly stepped onto the property I got a sense of the house. It's got a presence. Something quiet, mostly dormant, and not a little resigned to being torn down. But it's deep, having grown out from the house itself and into the ground around it. It felt like it cracked one eye half way open to regard me. It was very tired. But it also conveyed a feeling that if I restored it, it would be my house.

It would not only protect and shelter me like a good house should. But it would make sure I was happy there. It would pull on its deep connection to the land to make sure this was a place I thrived in. If I invested in it, it would invest in me with the shared goal of quiet, simple joy.

No bombastic promises of glory or great success. But a secure space to sing off tune while I bake bread. Sunny windows to dry herbs in. And love ingrained in the archways of architectures no longer in fashion.

It's not something I'm willing to use as a reason to immediately go all in on. But I'd be lying to myself if I didn't admit that it's part of the reason I'm investigating what it would take to make this place a home.

[casspurrjoybell-33]

Unlikely Places - Chapter 24 - Part 2

*Warning Adult Content*

Chapter: 24 - First Date

Despite my best intentions I hadn't given it my all and I couldn't help but worry that Pierce was disappointed as well and that made me even more confused.

My thoughts were so conflicted.

I worried this wasn't working because we were so different, the bodyguards unnerved me so much that I didn't think I could function in this lifestyle, yet my mind and heart were going crazy that I was sinking this ship all on my own and they were desperately trying to free the lifeboats.

If tonight didn't work out, I had no one to blame but myself.

"Jackson," Pierce said and I got the feeling it wasn't the first time. Heat stained my cheeks.

"S-sorry, w-what?" I asked.

Pierce stared at me, his jaw tense.

I figured I had pushed him too far and this was about to be the beginning of the end.

"Let's go," he ordered, ushering me out into the night.

The two giants were waiting and escorted us to the car.

We walked in silence.

It wasn't tense but it wasn't comfortable either.

As we settled in the backseat, Pierce glanced over at me.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to skip the art gallery and go back to my place."

I must have looked startled because he gave his signature half smiled and clarified.

"To talk."

"Oh," I said, feeling foolish.

Thankfully he didn't laugh, though I got the feeling he was only restraining himself for my benefit.

Twenty minutes later we pulled up outside an extremely large residence with a gated entrance.

I looked out the window as we drove down a large drive and ended up in front of a house that was several times larger than my own.

If I ever doubted Pierce's wealth, I no longer could.

The entire estate was enormous.

Though dark, it was well lit.

I could see several trees dotting the yard, a four car garage off to the side and a fence towards the back that no doubt housed a swimming pool and possibly more.

As we stepped out of the car, Pierce walked around and grabbed me lightly by my elbow and shepherded me into his home.

Before I could really look at anything, he walked me into a small den that looked extremely cozy and well used.

He offered me a drink but I shook my head 'no'.

I didn't know what he wanted to say and the waiting was making it worse.

I would rather he just spill it all out.

If this is where my new found life ended, I would rather know now.

Pierce indicated I should take a seat and he took the one opposite of me.

Before he could say anything though a shuffling snort drew our attention.

I turned in the direction from where the sound had come and watched in surprise as a fat mound of fur slowly rose from a fluffy bed I had not seen when I entered the room.

An English bulldog slowly ambled over to me and I stuck my hand out for it to smell.

It did so at its leisure and I smiled down at the wrinkly marshmallow of fluff absorbed in my scent.

I calmed just in its vicinity.

Dogs had always had that affect on me.

Being close to them petting them, calmed me and soothed the hated anxiety better than any pill I had ever taken.

I glanced up at Pierce to see him watching me.

"What's her name?"

"Ziggy."

I smiled.

It suited her.

"You really like dogs, don't you," Pierce said more than questioned.

"I love them," I replied with a smile.

"I've never been jealous of a dog before. It's a new experience for me," Pierce commented softly and my eyes widened as his words penetrated.

My head shot back down to focus on Ziggy.

I really didn't know how to reply to his candor, though I couldn't deny how happy his words made me feel.

Especially considering how things had gone tonight.

I peaked up at him.

I felt pulled to see what he was thinking as much as I felt pulled to hide.

Since meeting Pierce, it had been a nonstop ride of emotional contradictions that I found hard to get used to but couldn't imagine disappearing from my life.

"Jackson," Pierce said, catching my peek and asking with my name alone to give him my full attention.

I couldn't deny him and I finally sat back up, my hand on Ziggy's head but my attention now on Pierce.

Pierce looked at me then inhaled deeply as if coming to a decision.

His face took on a solemnly resolved expression that told me he was being serious and sincere.

I unconsciously held my breath as I waited for him to speak.

"Let me tell you a story."