Almost Paradise

Yes, I just quoted the Love Theme from Footloose. Had the soundtrack on vinyl as a kid, because that's the kind of Footloose fan I am. I can't help that it's relevant, people.

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We spent the weekend around Indy, having a marathon visit with as many friends and family as we could possibly squeeze into a 48-hour period. We stayed with my in-laws, who live on 13 beautiful acres in a small town just outside the city. When we arrived late Friday evening, my mother-in-law, who is a fabulous cook, had hot homemade chicken and noodles waiting for us. Noodles that were made from scratch and chicken slow-cooked all day. It was amazing. Each morning we took a leisurely stroll around their property, coffee in hand, kids and dogs in tow. My father-in-law is a phenomenal gardener, and their property is something to behold. Gravel and stone walkways flow around tall pine trees and blooming flower beds. Honeysuckle and clematis cover the wood and copper trellis he constructed himself, under which B & I were married. Farther down the path is his workshop, filled with wood-working equipment, a handsome work bench he recently finished, made from wood found on their property, and a wood-burning stove. Two paned-glass windows overlook acres of green grass and a few fruit trees. Next to the workshop is the chicken coop. But this isn't any old coop with any old chickens. There are 4 or 5 breeds, and they are actually quite pretty. He built them their very own mini-house, green with white trim, with a side door leading to a small fenced yard, which our nephew kept climbing in and out of on his hands and knees (gross). Our niece made a game of trying to catch the chickens, and whichever one was unlucky enough to be caught was paraded around under her arm till we could coax her to put it back. Beside the chicken coop is the vegetable garden and a cold box for growing fresh greens year-round. Several acres beyond their house is where the former owner had planted Christmas trees for sale. Most of them have been cleared, but what's left is much too large to fit in anyone's living room. Between the aisles of trees the ground is blanketed with pine needles. I once had the rare pleasure of walking through there alone except for their little Shelty, when a grey-horned owl gracefully took flight from the top of a tree, startling both me and the dog. There's an acre or so of prairie and wild flowers and a path has been mowed between the prairie and trees for walking. Various bird houses are scattered around the property. Back toward the house, a labyrinth design, not unlike what you might find on the back of a cereal box, was carved out in an area of grass, and the kids jog the winding path covered in small white pebbles.

It's not a bad way to live. B & I are considering becoming home-owners ourselves, and after spending time in their little paradise, it's hard to decide between the peace of country living with a commute or the convenience of city living with smaller quarters. I expect I'll be debating more about this in blogs to come.

I'll leave you with a quote from Ben's mom, talking to her grandkids this weekend. If we ever have children, I should just accept that we're already doomed:

"Hurry up and finish your ice cream, kids, so we can go to the cupcake store!"