Gypsies

We've moved a couple times over the past year, and as of now we are still in "temporary housing", looking for that ever elusive Dream House.  You know... Several acres of farmland surrounded by woods, a large two story farm house with the wrap around porch and out of this world outdoor kitchen, raised garden beds, and of course the Hilton of chicken coops.  Many bedrooms for our plethora of children and anticipated guests, a huge kitchen with a walk in pantry I can do cartwheels in.... Rooms with wood stoves and

SO after a few months of looking, and living in a house (I am extremely grateful for) that I feel is lacking a few key items, I'm taking another look at my list of dreams and rethinking things.  Here is my NEW list of must haves for my Dream House:

1.  More than one bathroom.  Right now we have one toilet and six bums.  This isn't working well.  Especially since a couple of us use the lavatory as a place of refuge.  Privacy would be nice too.

2.  A washer and dryer INSIDE.  In our old house we had our washer and dryer in the garage.  Brrr... We moved somewhere this past spring where it was indoors, and I felt like a pioneer who just got electricity.  Not bundling up in parkas and boots to change the laundry?  Inspired.  That lasted a few months, and now I'm back to the garage for washing clothes.  I AM grateful I'm not dipping and whipping my clothes against rocks in a frozen river, but if I ever had to do that, I think I'd be aight.

3.  A pro-heat husband.  Granted this isn't something I can find in my Dream House, but I can always dream that one day Josh will crank up the heat and it'll be a balmy 72 degrees, day or night.  Until then I'll keep heating bricks in the fire and putting them at the foot of my bed. (He DID give me a heating pad for Christmas, so he's thoughful.  I'll keep him.)

4.  Windows.  Yes, I guess if you go by the literal definition of windows, this house DOES have them.  But, when the wind blows outside, are my blinds supposed to sway?  Did you know that Josh and I can carry on a normal conversation with each other, with our voices at a normal volume....when I'm sitting on the couch in the house and he's in the front yard?!?  True. Story.  Come over, you can try it for yourself.  The kids and I joke our windows are from Little House on the Prairie era.  The funny thing is, it's probably no joke at all.

So there's my list.  Short.  Sweet.  I don't think it's too extravagant.  So as we continue to house hunt, these are the all important things I'm keeping in mind.  And you know, the chicken coop, too.