It isn’t snowing, but the snow that has fallen is melting. Drip, drip, drip. It isn’t inviting weather; the overcast skies make it less so. So although I should get the horses out, and slog through the snow, I’ve remained inside.

This morning I embarked on a most challenging task, which was to find the whereabouts of Armand and Lillian Nyborg, who own the property behind the Meeting House, in downtown Palmer.

The house, which is visible from the backyard of the Meeting House, on the other side of a chain link fence, has three lots. A burnt house is located on lots 1 and 2. And a rectangular garage is located on lot 3. I was hoping that we might get a hold of lot three and the garage – this would be ideal for the Bright Lights Book Project.

TOTE CONEX with books for villages

I am not adept at doing these kinds of searches. Nevertheless, I felt like an investigative reporter as I attempted to make contact with the two owners of the property. If I was adept, I would immediately have the contact information. Instead, it took me close to two hours. Pete would have been able to do this in fifteen minutes. Oh well.

I first wrote a carefully crafted letter to Armand Nyborg. A big mistake because he is not at his listed Florida address. Rather, he’s in Anchorage. I did stumble upon his phone number – this is what I do, stumble. I got a hold of him. He told me that his ex-wife Lillian owns the property, and that the property is under contract. I asked him what he meant, and he said it’s been sold.

I called the number he gave me and left a message at a realty company. Lillan got back to me within minutes. I thought, score.

Well, the property, she said, has been sold. I attempted to make small talk with her, telling her about the property, but she cut through my bullshit pretty quickly and said to send her an email just in case the deal falls through.

So, I will have Pete take a look at my carefully crafted letter before I send it on to Lillian.

I am proud of my accomplishment, having located and talked to the owner of Lot Three. This is not something I would have done a year ago. But I had to do it because Pete who usually does these things wasn’t interested in doing further research.

Now I will be able to call the City of Palmer on Tuesday and tell Clare who is the clerk there that I have additional information for her.

I am also really disappointed. I should have known that my doing this search was a waste of time. It is hard right now to come by property in Palmer – for some reason, it’s going really fast.

Well, we have one remaining ace in the hole, and that is that the Meeting House property is ideal for us. And it does not look like we are going to get the boot. Rather, we are going to work on getting the portable shelter. Maybe I will name it – Lot of Luck, Three.

Next: 51. 2/20/22: Two Months after the Solstice