Pretend This is Fiction

Hoofbeats in New Haven is no longer viable, thanks to some truly bizarre developments. Apparently federal court action is happening somewhere around that property and we are needing to walk away to avoid entanglement in a very messy situation. I wish I could explain more, but until I know what's safe for me to talk about I shall remain mum.

The most devastating development was the impact on Cordell of the whole thing. He was living in the barn already and at one point the seller/landlord illegally locked up his living space and his stuff. He had to gain (legal) access to retrieve his belongings, and is now staying with relatives. Two things keep me awake at this point: reviewing how this might have been easier on Cordell especially but also other people impacted by the drama, and reliving my helplessness when we were threatened with lawsuits if we dared to retrieve our last remaining horse, Cocoa, who wouldn't get on the stock trailer when I brought the others to a safer location. A brief change of the landlord's heart gave Cordell the opportunity to take Cocoa to a kind neighbor's horse farm, and that best of all possible neighbors has been caring for him during the chaos of the last few days while we re-calibrate our plans. The other horses are all safe and happy at yet another friend's house while we decide where we will all land.

Unfortunately, after we told our present landlord that we were moving, he found renters for this house, who have already packed their boxes and await the end of the month to move in here.

The children? Oblivious. They are happy with the snow storm and with Christmas coming up. Our halfway moved-out status is to them great fun, because with a mattress in the living room (reasons Mikey) we have every chance of catching Santa at it when he puts the presents under the tree! Life couldn't be better, and don't anybody dare suggest putting the mattress back in the bedroom where it belongs. This is just too much fun. Danny, too, is cheerful, working hard to do his part in the overall team that helps to run his life.

Thank you, Elizabeth, Rachelle, Tina, Jessica, Clark, Suzanne, Michael, Cordell(!), Sally, Vernon, Vikie(!), Frosty, Dad, Mom, Mikey, Danny, and above all, my dear, dear Van for everything you've done to minimize the impact of this unexpected turn of events. Because of you all, I'm sure it will all come out very well.