One With Nature

When Nate and I were looking at houses back in the day, it felt like we looked at hundreds. We had the sweetest, most patient real estate agent who acted as a second mom during our house hunting experience and cheerfully took us to house after house. We saw every kind of house imaginable. A few times, we were convinced this was the one. But nerves, mortgage payment calculations or hesistant sellers always seemed to get in the way.

The first time we stopped at our house for a walk through, I remember being unimpressed. The inside of the house was a mess, to say the least. But two things stood out. First, it had the same layout of another house we had put an offer on - that fell through with the sellers. That house had been a flip house, so it was in pristine, move-in condition. So I knew, with a little love, time and energy (and a lot of money, soap and elbow grease), this house could look like that house. Second, it had an awesome backyard. That first time there, when we made it outback, I stood in the middle of the yard facing the house and said, "Look honey! It's like we're in the Poconos!"

The yard was a forest. The ground hadn't seen sunlight in many years, I'm sure. There was a large fire pit, over 100 trees, a weird garden with creepy gnomes and a habitat of wild animals that (we're told) not only hung out in the back yard, but occasionally took up residence in the house.

In the years since that first visit, we've completely transformed the house into our home (and it's even better than that silly flip house). There isn't much left that its previous owners would recognize - especially the back yard.

Nearly 50 trees were cut down; the ground now sees sun, which has allowed grass (read: green colored weeds) to grow; and the creepy gnomes and their garden home were destroyed. Two things remain the same, though. We kept the fire pit (it was good to us when we needed to get rid of over 50 trees and it's become a great entertainment piece) and we've been kind to the wild animals.

I'll admit it - I used to curse those wild animals. From open-palm-sized fisher spiders (I'm serious, ), to six-foot long snakes, to grouchy, old snapping turtles, there were some that made us jump, scream or cringe. 

Told you I was serious.

This "little" guy decided to welcome us on move-in day. Sweet, huh?

But then there are the animals that make us pause, smile and explore. And with two curious little kids - these animals are worth all the sweat equity we've poured into this home. The deer, baby box turtles and never-ending supply of frogs and toads are our favorite. They come around fairly often and the latter two are always kind enough to oblige the chubby, clunky hands of our kids as we teach them to love their wild friends, treat them kindly and gently and keep them safe (and away from Bailey) by returning them to the marsh just beyond our fence.

These animals, I'm sure, will be a favorite memory for Ryan and Lindsey when they get older. And honestly, even I get excited when I see something hopping in the grass (weeds).

I'm glad we looked at hundreds of houses - and that those offers fell through - because in the end, the house we chose as our home extends beyond the four walls. It includes the great outdoors (fisher spiders and all) that allow us a daily opportunity to become one with nature.