Update

We signed a contract on our house a few days ago.  We got the full asking price, with no contingencies except the normal inspections.  As it turns out, many of the other offers were from first-time buyers with limited means, so they were wanting us to pay closing costs, include the new refrigerator (in some cases even our 30 year old washer and dryer), and have them use a loan type that could have been more problematic. So we turned those down. The buyer is a young realtor buying her first home, too.  So we are satisfied with how it has all turned out so far.

Closing is May 29, so that puts us on the quickstep to trying to find a house in Johnson City. We have been looking for weeks, with little luck.  Yesterday we put an offer on one that was in a situation like ours--multiple offers the first two days.  Unfortunately, we didn't make a high enough offer and missed it.  But I'm not devastated.  There are other possibilities that we will pursue. 

The time in Black Mountain, NC with Susie and Ed was wonderful and relaxing. We especially enjoyed the amenities at the Monte Vista Hotel, where we stayed.  They had great outdoor spaces and an excellent restaurant.  Monte Vista Website

The only down to the trip was that Shelby turned out to be a problem.  She was OK until we turned out the lights and tried to go to sleep.  Then she got frantic and inconsolable--yowling and scratching at the door.  After many attempts to calm her down were unsuccessful, Alan got up at 2:30 a.m. and drove her back home, which is where she probably should have been to begin with.  (Cats can be left for several days with kibble and water.  That is what will happen in the future!!)  Alan came back late the next day.  Luckily, Black Mountain is only about 2 1/2 hours from Kingsport, so it was possible.

I have tested the link where you can sign up to get this blog as an e-mail message as soon as I publish it, and it works.  It is in the upper right-hand corner of this blog.  I encourage you to sign up to get it directly.  If you do, let me know, and I will remove you from the distribution list I send out.  That will help with problems I have had occasionally with my distribution list being too long--things going to spam, etc.  Whatever you do will be fine with me, of course.