finally some news that's news.

We've been getting a lot of non-news lately - a lot of waiting and seeing about our future. Today we have some official news and we're pretty excited about it. The house. that one in the picture. It's ours, come July 1.

I have been gushing about it on the phone to my mom and Julie for the last hour, but I think I have the energy to gush just a bit more.

We city-dwellers are moving to the country - a real village, with thatched roofs, one old church, a general store and, of course, two pubs. The name alone makes me grin: Stanton St John. It feels rural, but it's just a minute or so from Oxford. See for yourself. It's a town populated by quirky adventurous Oxford dons... if our landlady and her partner are any indication. There's a running club for Dean and a pick-and-pay farm for me.

But about the house: a converted (award-winning) Wesleyan chapel - 7 years ago it was just two walls, with a decrepit piano and an owl inside. Now... a bookshelf-lined sitting room with underfloor heating and a wood stove for the winter. A state of the art kitchen/conservatory (that means a glass extension) with a dishwasher AND a full-sized fridge (and separate freezer, all beautifully concealed behind German craftmanship). If you've lived in Britain, you'll know why these seemingly standard appliances nearly made me cry. There's also a perfectly adorable WC, with a concealed washer and, get this, a TUMBLE DRYER. I have lived without one for far too long. Oh yah, the oak floors and doors are all reclaimed, from an abbey in France.

Upstairs is just our own blissful escape: a bedroom partitioned with glass from a dressing room, and a big bad bathroom. with a chandelier. over the tub. It's true. I was too excited to remember to take photos.

The living room opens to the yard, the pond and stream outside. there are ducklings. and the croquet lawn, the flowerbeds, the walled garden next door and wildflower garden with the giant hammock hanging from the trees. All ours to use. And the raised vegetable beds, which the landlady will teach me to grow.

we are very excited. can you tell?

Backtrack for some photos from our recon visit to the village a couple weeks ago.