It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Once upon a time...

Someone had a brilliant idea...

Lets Move to Idaho!

That was before the weatherman predicted snow...

Only 2-inches to 4-inches however...hehehe!

All I want to know is where did that weatherman get his training...

Or where did he get his ruler?

Approximately 8-inches to 10-inches later...It's still snowing!

By now...According to that same weatherman...

It's supposed to be raining...Ha!

Actually, it does appear to be a mixture of rain and snow...And Linda tells me that this storm is now moving into northern Utah...Now that's a shame!  Fortunately, I did have the foresight to buy a snow shovel and some of that ice/snow melts stuff...

Fear not...we have Security!


Pepe



Pepe In Front of the Fireplace!



A Visit From Jack River

Who’d thunk???




A Black Lab??? In this house??? YES!!!



Last week, we found ourselves adopted by a Black Lab. That’s right, in spite of the objections from Pepe and Chica he insisted on staying with us. On Thursday, November 4, a beautiful Black Lab spent the day wondering up and down our street. One time I loaned a leash to some children so that they could take him home; alas they were wrong and the dog returned. Later, some other children took him from door to door, trying to find his home and alas, he returned again. Somehow, he kept appearing at our front door!



Finally, as it was getting dark, we decided that we would take him in and put him in our back yard for the night. Then, realizing that it was going to be about 30 degrees (F) that night, we decided to make a bed for him in the garage for the night. Friday morning he was happy to see us and we sere happy to see no ‘accidents’ in the garage. I checked the newspaper and Craigslist for Lost Dog listings and there were none that fit the bill. So we decided to call him Black Jack and keep him on. If we could find his owner…good; if not, we would keep him. He was so sweet and gentle.



On Saturday morning, I checked the newspaper and Craigslist again…Still no success. It was apparent that Pepe and Chica were not real happy about this new arrangement…Especially Chica. So I decided that Chica needed quality time with Jack. Since they each enjoyed walks, I started taking them together for walks and the relationship started to warm.



Jack loved long walks, and I would walk him through the entire neighborhood…Nothing appeared familiar to him. I took him to the park and threw sticks for him. He would jump with glee and chase after them and bring them back for me to throw again.



On Monday, I again checked Craigslist, and there is was…



Lost or stolen male black lab. He's a slender build and goes by river. Last seen in Asbury Sub in Nampa around the corner of Midway and Moss Ln. Disappeared out of back yard. Has no collar. Part of the family and sorely missed. If you have seen or might know something please call.

So, there it was…Sad news for us, but happy news for Jack…Or is it River? I looked up from my computer and called out “River” and he came running to me. There you go, I had found Jack’s home. I called the number listed and found that he and his family had only just moved to the neighborhood and on his third day here, Jack/River had gotten out of his yard at the new house. Not being familiar with the new surroundings…Jack/River got lost!

His owner (Darius) came by our house Monday evening, after he got off work, and he and River had a grand reunion. River went home with Darius in the front seat of Darius’ Honda. We were sorry to see him go. But…we expect to see Jack/River again, as we told Darius that whenever he needs someone to look after River, when he goes on vacation, we will be happy to have him stay with us! (And don’t forget…River actually only lives a couple of blocks from our house!)

New Photos...9/15/10

I have been asked many times when will I post new pictures of the new house, so I have added a new page to my blog called "New Photos...9/15/10" (see the pages link at the left of the page).  The previous pictures of the house are still there ("Asbury Park Photos") so that you can compare.

As always, I must thank my cousin Todd for all of his help, especially with the painting.  Had it been left to me alone, it probably would not be done yet...And I know that it would not look as good as it does!

Unpacking is nearly complete...still working on odds and ends and trying to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.

Now all I need id a job (lol)!

Good Golly...It's A Gusher!

I guess you've been wondering what I've been up to lately...aside from unpacking boxes, of course (lol). Well, I've turned into a city farmer; no horses, ducks, chickens or pigs...just a vegetable garden.

Well...The other evening as I was out turning the soil in my vegetable garden (making room for my fall crop) I broke the water line! First the hole started to fill with water, then as I moved my digging fork a bit it started to spray just a little, and when I removed the digging fork...It was a gusher!

Fortunately, it was not the household water line, but the pressurized irrigation line and I was able to close the valve to the water line. Fortunately (for me) Todd came over the next evening and showed me how to fix it.

End of story!

She's Singing...At Last!

The fat lady is singing...I finished the last of the touch-ups yesterday; mopped floors and vacuumed. The house is now finished and ready! (Of course I found more places needing touch-up today, and probably will for months to come...But it's done for now.)

No pictures, as I want it to be a surprise for Robert when he sees it.

Heading back to California today, so need to get going, as it is already a late start. Movers arrive next Saturday to take the furniture.

More later...

She Ain't Singing, But She's Warming Up...

The painting continues; I think it will go on forever. Todd and I spent the day at Blueberry today working on the paint...Still. He, doing the fine-line cutting in where the walls meet the ceiling (I don't have the patience for that); me painting trim. Of course we are still finding areas where the paint did not completely cover and re-touching them as we go. We will probably find these for a long time. Monday, I will continue to work at the trim.

On Tuesday morning, the carpet cleaner is coming to clean the carpets (so I want to have all of the baseboards done before he comes). I really do not think that the last people living in the house (renters) ever vacuumed. Each time that I vacuum I think that the carpets look a bit cleaner. Yet there are still the heavy foot traffic areas and the places where food has been spilt and not cleaned up properly. Hopefully I will see a big difference once they have had a good cleaning.

Yesterday (Saturday) evening I went to Home Depot and bought a new kitchen sink, faucet, garbage disposal and two ceiling fans...$$$$$. These are scheduled to be installed on Wednesday. I still need to buy a doggie door to have installed so the doggies can go out to their dog run any time they want.

I have ordered window coverings for the master bedroom and family room, which are due here on either Wednesday or Friday...I'm hoping that they arrive on Wednesday. I still want to go and buy window treatments for the living room and dinning area, and get them hung. I also need to get new towel bars and install them, (I threw out the old ones!) I also have new rods for the shower curtains...the fancy curved ones like they put in hotels...they give one a bit more room in the shower. Of course they need to be installed too.

Also, last night, I replaced three of the four mechanical sprinkler heads in the front lawn. The ones that were there were no longer moving; resulting in browning of the lawn. Now if I can just get some fertilizer on the lawn I should start seeing green.

And...The garden has grown this week, and not just in height but in size. I have added more cucumbers, beans and peppers, as well as another row of Roma tomatoes and a row of 45-day cabbage.

So I will not lack for things to do this week, and I want to get them all done, as next weekend I should be leaving to return to California to pack. The following weekend, the movers are scheduled to pick up the furniture and move it to Idaho. Then I will have some sense of completion!

It Ain't Over Til the Fat Lady Sings...

And I Wish She Would Start Singing!

I know that I said in my last post that the next time you hear from me the painting would be finished....Well it ain't! I just thought that I should post something before you all got the idea that I had fallen into the paint bucket and drowned!

Todd and I (well...mainly Todd) got quite a lot done over the weekend. In terms of area covered it is nearly done, but there is still a lot of cutting-in and touch-up work to be done and two bathrooms to be painted...At least a couple more days of work...maybe more at my speed. The family room has been a real problem; it seems as if the ceiling in there had maybe never been primed. It just kept sucking up the paint. Yesterday, I put the fourth coat of paint on the ceiling and I think that may be the final one. Everything is looking real good and I am very happy with the color choices.

So if you see the Fat Lady...Tell her that I am just waiting for her to start singing, so that I can stop painting!