The first time we drove up the "driveway" (some call it the "warzone"), I knew that we had found our home. The house was in questionable condition, but I kept repeating as we went through each room, "I can live here...I could live with this...". That's because the physical landscape itself was just breathtaking. Pennsylvania countryside at its best. And this place is the best; an undeserved gift from God.

No neighbors within view (closest one is at least 500 yards away, and around the side of a hill), and nature all around us. I'm amazed that my garden continues to live, what with all the deer routinely hanging out in our yard. We have a patch of ivy about 12 feet from the house that we call the "salad bar", because it is frequented nightly in the winter by succulent venison. :-)

Here's a few pics of our surroundings as you look out from the 4 sides of our house.

• Looking westish. Sun sets beyond grapevines behind yonder ancient maple tree
• Looking southish. The garden, denoted by foil noisemakers, is at center. The foundation of an old barn is at right.
• Looking northish. The pines are so peaceful...I love hearing the wind blow through them. To the left of the big pines is a grove of Christmas trees.
• Looking eastish. A campfire ring is over yonder, then the flat land drops into a gully where deer love to hang out.