…And I still haven’t found what I’m…

Thus far we have looked at 30+ properties in the Dordogne and Lot regions.  We’ve driven a couple thousand kilometers through some magnificently beautiful French country side, encountered the smallest “two lane roads” imaginable and have seen houses that bring new meaning to the words “money pit.”  We are primarily looking at what are called “character properties”…which means they are typically older (19th century primarily, but often much older).Often they are rural and were once farm houses or houses that were owned by people involved in the wine making business. This means they have “granges” (barns) which can be quite large and would make a fantastic work shop–once the hay and decades of “farm stuff” (use your imagination) are removed, power is installed a floor is laid over the dirt and loose stones and, in many cases, the HUGE concrete and stone wine vats are removed (can you say “expensive”?) Happily, we have seen a couple that have been updated in a manner that makes sense, have quality systems installed and have not been beaten with the ugly stick (nothing worse that paying for someone else’s bad design/aesthetic sensibilities). As of this writing our “still a possibility list” is up to 4–each with its own strengths and weaknesses.  But still no clear winner.This week we are going to move from our “Air BnB” house (aka “maison temporaire 1”) into a petite ferme (small farm aka “maison temporaire 2”) that will reunite us with our “stuff,” provide more dog yard space, lower our rent considerably AND provide our own “grange temporaire!”We are taking a few days to clean (A LOT…the house hasn’t been lived in for a couple of years), set up (install internet and TV, washer and dryer (mon Dieu!), etc.) and rest a bit before continuing la chasse pour la maison.  (Just found out our “best laid plans” have been foiled by a strike in Paris (bienvenue en France) that will delay the arrival of our BED…for weeks.)  C’est la vie, ce n’est pas mal.