The farm is sold, finally -- time to pack for new phase of life

It's a "done deal." Hallelujah! We sold our house and 40 acres. We had just about given up for the winter when, low and behold, a neighbor down the road called and said he was interested.

We made an appointment for a couple of days later, so many things had to fall into place before it could all come together. But within about an hour and half, we had signed the papers. It will be final in about 30 days. God is good.

We kept our 80 acres of hunting land. The kids and grandkids will have it for deer and turkey hunting.

We have until the first of May to find a place to live, which gives us plenty of time to get packed and ready for the move. We have our name in for a two-bedroom in a senior complex in Marshfield, Wis., which is about 20 miles from out here at Ironquill.

When we put it up for sale six months ago, we started packing things and getting rid of an accumulation of 47 years of living in the same house. We got rid of tons of stuff, but we have miles and miles to go. We let up a little bit, but now that it is sold, we have begun again in earnest, and over the weekend while son Rob and two of our grandsons were here, we did a wee section in the basement and hauled our van packed to the ceiling with "stuff" to the dump.

It still seems like a dream. We just can't believe it is sold. As much as we love it out here, the time has come for us ole folks to move into town and take it easy. Too much work out here for us. What used to seem like play has turned into lots of work.

I am going to be very methodical and check out each room and exactly what I want and have room for. I shall measure each piece and do lots of measuring this week at one of the apartments. Then we will know exactly what we have to get rid of. I talked to the manager, and she said there would probably be an opening soon.

Time to go to bed and get rested up before I start getting rid of more "stuff" tomorrow.