This was the week . . . . . . .

Good Morning and good news. . . . . . . the house next door was sold

 and the closing was on Tuesday.

Two months with new owners who at first planned to raze it and build a

 fancy larger home for themselves, then made the decision to sell it on as 

they apparently couldn't fit their 'dream home' on that size lot - thank goodness!

Many people viewed the property offered 'as is', but as major renovations are

needed to bring the house back into shape, wouldn't pay the asking price.

Our new neighbor, Frank, in his early forties, we feel is going to be really

 nice - having chatted with him briefly to date.

Back view of the house next door.

I'm looking forward to  hearing what his plans are for the renovation. 

It may be a while before he moves in but yesterday there were

already people at house with cameras, laptops and clipboards etc. 

perhaps planning interior renovations/changes/updates etc.

The weather is changing. 

Yesterday's fall out from the most recent hurricane to make its final sweep

 across North Carolina, brought some rain and very strong winds. 

Acorns are almost over at last, it's now leaves, leaves, and a million more

 leaves, sailing through the air, piling up along the roadside curbs, and 

covering the garden which means plenty of raking and blowing ahead.

I love my newest mug, one of the many great birthday gifts received from 

granddaughter Jasmin.  Look at that naughty 'exploring' squirrel on the handle.

I also have a new book with a very interesting cover, a birthday gift from

 dear friend Ruth in England who knows what I enjoy reading and always

 picks amazing stories to share. 

This will be the perfect color mug for my coffee while turning the pages.

Autumn inspired breakfasts started this week.

Some days hot oatmeal, today and often, yogurt with toppings such as

 these, dried cranberries, chia seeds, muesli with nuts and oats etc.

Before the weather changed - time for some clean up jobs

 around the garden. . . . 

. . . . . and some perfect days of sunshine and warmth before the leaves started

their change to rust, orange and shades of brown.

Colorful flowers are almost gone other than a few dahlias and re-blooming 

azaleas in the front garden, however the camellias in the back are blooming

 now. . . . . and, as you can see, the newly sown grass is doing well.

Story of a small house -

Each morning I look at the real estate listing online for the house

 tucked into the lot beside us.  'PENDING' jumps out! 

You asked for the 'house story' so here it is to date.

Possible buyers no longer pull up the driveway, a realtor in tow.  A second inspector just came. Bob met 'Mr. Pending Buyer' - more on him later! We're five small houses circling two thirds of the cul-de-sac. The other third, and our pleasant view, being a small wooded area hiding occasional deer, a fox family, a coyote, a multitude of squirrels, rabbits, hawks, crows, and assorted garden birds.  We love it. Our neighbors have always been great. We have felt fortunate living here for many years.

But now we are the 'hot spot' on the northern edge of a burgeoning city. Our neighborhood has been engulfed by 'Midtown' (formerly North Hills) which continues to grow with very tall buildings: apartments, offices, retail, restaurants, weekend farmers' market, outdoor performance spaces, movie theatre, three hotels, huge retirement/nursing facility, etcetera. What was just a mid-size shopping mall when we moved to Raleigh in 1977, is now a small town of its own!

People want homes, a lot of homes, in Midtown close to their work places. Huge, elegant apartment buildings have gone up in the past few years - with rooftop pools, gyms, and all the apparent required facilities of this modern age we live in. The rents are high and geared toward young professionals. As for single family homes, our small and tidy houses sitting on 1/4-1/2 acre lots are not really what new homeowners are looking for.  They are buying, demolishing, and building much larger, often million dollar plus homes, and we're beginning to look out of place!  

The small Cape Cod style house next to us, one of five homes built by the same builder 35 years ago, had two owners, both who lived there a while. The second one then married and moved but rented out the house for 12+ years. Those neighbors became dear friends for all those years. We were so sad when they were asked to leave in 30 days as the house was going up for sale in August! It was marketed 'As Is' at a low price in our market area, which made it a magnet for buyers who would "do something with it" such as fix and flip, rent again with small changes, or raze and build - possibly a larger home!

We really don't want a towering 'McMansion' next door - cutting out the afternoon sun and evening sunset, enveloping us in shadows, making me dig damp holes for shade garden plants only. . . . . . neither does anyone else on the cul-de-sac.

Our 'cottage' above.

So this is what has happened to date. 

House was purchased by a realtor/builder couple for below market price as sellers wanted to get rid of it fast!  New owner told Bob they were planning to demolish and do a new build, a little larger, and they would live in it. (They live nearby and wife wants a new home). Two days later people start arriving to look at the house and, when I checked online, the house was up for sale again with the asking price of $84,500 above what it sold for about a week earlier!  Remember now, NOT A THING WAS DONE to repair anything, not even the grass was mown - and a lot of major repair is required if it's not to be razed.  Many people have viewed the house and there have been two price drops. If it sells at the current asking price the sellers will still make $40,000 - not bad eh!!!!!?  

So along came 'Mr. Pending Buyer' who looked at the house several times. Bob was outside raking up fig tree leaves and mowing grass - looking like a scruffy yard guy, lol, - so was able to meet him. I stayed hidden in the house champing at the bit, wondering if he would make a good neighbor. Here I could insert my what makes the best neighbor wish list, especially when houses are built very close together on small lots, but I won't do that yet!  Also, I won't share who this person is until I know for certain he will be our new neighbor.  He did ask Bob to recommend an HVAC company to check the system, and we were happy to share the great company we used last year for an entirely new system which we are so pleased with. They actually have now come to the property to do a check - a good sign!

This is where we stand right now. Waiting and hoping this might be another great neighbor for our little cul-de-sac. We would welcome him with open arms - well perhaps I shouldn't say that until I can check that best neighbor 'wish list' 😇). I could then bake him a welcome cake or a pumpkin bread!  I know all this might change overnight - perhaps he'll find a better deal with more than a homemade cake, and then all my rabbiting on will become a moot point.  Who knows. It makes a post though. . . . . . and took my mind off terrifying COVID-19 and dirty politics!

I guess later I'll update this update. 

Fingers crossed it will all work out. 

Love to my blog friends, and thanks for reading.