'Mike' calls back. We had called him about getting a quote about fixing something at the EarthShip. 'Mike' is a carpenter. 'Mike' has a house for sale. The 'house' is in our price range. It is brand new. But not in the best of best neighborhoods.

We get a call that the owner of the Wisdom Way House (the one we liked) wants to wait longer for a repeat showing. We get frustrated.

Out of shear nervous energy we decide to go for a ride and look at 'Mike's' house. I could care a less.

We don't think the neighborhood is that bad, Mike is very nice, we see a Raven on the way, I realize the name of the street is Spanish for Raven, the house is cute from the outside (not the flat roofed adobe house I love, but adobe none the less), it's on 1.5 acres of land. We finally go in.

Inside the house is GORGEOUS! Shiny specks (and larger pieces) of mica embedded in the adobe plastered walls, colorful small rocks cemented around the top of the masonry chimeny, blue-yellow-green-white distressed-ly painted doors, a cooper back-splash in the kitchen, different types of ceilings in every room, many large windows facing south, stone work by the outside faucets, flagstone patios, covered carport, trees planted,etc! We fall in love!

'Mike' likes us. The house isn't for rent anymore (it was to be rented for the next 6 months). We talk money.

Back home we realize we have signed a contract with our Realtor, this house is FSO (for sale by owner). We have to wait until Monday to call her.

The conversation goes great with our Realtor- they won't hold us for $6,000 more we don't have!

We make plans to go clear out our storage unit!