A Special Treat...

Wish I Could Say I Was Accomplishing a Lot...But...

I have returned to California; the purpose being to do a whole lot more packing and try to get this place ready for 'the move' to Idaho.

Well...

As some of you already know, that just isn't happening. At least it is not happening at a very fast pace. Mother Nature...Or perhaps it is Father Time...is playing tricks on me. Actually, I think they have teamed up against me! I have been having breathing issues and my left thigh has been numb since I got back to California. It took over 12 hours to drive from Ely Nevada to DHS, because I had to keep stopping to take naps.

I go to the doctor today to see what she can tell me about what might be going on. Fortunately, aside from her specialty in internal medicine, she also specializes in pulmonary medicine.

I have experienced one very special treat since being back in California. Maybe it is fortunate that I had the time to take the time to enjoy the experience...

My friend and neighbor John, who is recovering from a recent illness, received a call from Hope Lutheran Church in Palm Desert, that their assistant organist had been taken ill with a potentially serious illness. They had discovered that they had John's resume (which he had sent to them a year ago) on file...And would he be able to fill in for them? Ironically, John, Rex and I had gone to an organ concert just a few months ago at this very church, dedicating the new ranks of pipes that had just been installed! What's more...This organ is the twin to the Rogers organ that John had played at 'Saint Joes' in Rhode Island.

Sooo, Robert, Lee and I went with John for one of his practice sessions at Hope. It was like having a private concert...And John is in Heaven!

Who knows? This Saturday, I may have to become a Lutheran for a day!

More Video...I Hope

OK...I tried before to post all three videos of the new house, but could only get the living area to post (?) So I am trying again with the other two...The guest bedroom & bath area, and the family room & master area...Hope this is working...

WE HAVE A REQUEST FROM CINDY...

There has been a request from Cindy for more pictures of the house. Of course I am going to be back in DHS in less than 24 hours and Cindy only lives two doors away...But what the heck...I'll share these with all of you! Please keep in mind that the operator is technology challenged. Why, on a good day, I might be able to walk and chew gum at the same time! This apparently was a bad day, as I found myself unable to walk and narrate at the same time...(These dang new-fangled digital cameras!) So...Get out the Gramophone and play a little background music...And enjoy!

Oh Lord - Ely NV...Again!

Shut Up Jack...

It has been a few days since my last post. I have been busy at the Blueberry House: scrubbing floors, woodwork, shelves, toilets, tubs...you name it. And making the phone calls to have the utilities turned on, etc. There is still so much to do!



I did manage to get the Idaho license plates for the car however...








But for now, I am on my way back to California to do more packing there...And then back to Idaho to finish cleaning and to paint. What a circus!



Today, on my drive home, I took the time to stop and take a picture or the Snake River (at Twin Falls ID)






Should be home sometime on Sunday afternoon..

Everything is now signed, sealed, funded and recorded. I am now the official owner of a home in Nampa, ID.

11796 W Blueberry Avenue
Nampa ID 83651

Now I get to start cleaning!

June 19 & 20, Boise Pride and Saturday Market

Another beautiful weekend in

Idaho's Treasure Valley...

The weekend is filled with festivities and activities...Beginning with Boise Pride on Saturday morning. We left the house a few minutes too late to take in the rally on the capital steps (just another rally, too bad). On the good side...While we were waiting for the parade to begin, we had time to take in a bit of Boise's Saturday Market...Not unlike Portland's, although it seemed bigger to me. Actually, it has been a few years since I have been to Portland's Saturday Market, so what do I know?

Once the parade began, we took our places at the curb to watch. Now I know that this pride parade is nowhere near as big as Portland's, but Portland's was not always big either and everyone appeared to be having fun!

After the parade ended, we returned to a few more minutes of Saturday Market before taking Todd to training for this summer's youth grief camp. While Todd trained, Victor and I...shopped! Just a quick trip to the Boise Mall (love that place!) and then we moved on to Ann Morrison Park to meet friends an take in a bit of the Pride Festival.

A call from Todd to let us know that his training was complete took us away from the festival to pick up Todd and grab a bite to eat at Sonic, and then we returned to the festival for a short time longer.

Home for a bit of R&R (at least for me) before meeting Jean at a downtown dance club...What did you say? My ears aren't hearing to well this morning. What a crowd they had at the club too. Off to Shari's for a quick bite to eat and then into bed...1:00 A.M.

Today is Father's Day, so what family is nearby will be gathering at Grandpa Todd's to celebrate; it sounds like there may be a few friends popping in as well.

So Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers out there...I've got work to do!

June 18, Inspection Day

Building Inspection Report
11796 W Blueberry Ave., Nampa, ID

Inspection Date:
June 18, 2010

Today was inspection day on Blueberry Avenue, and we past! Almost with flying colors. There are several minor maintenance related issues; however the only "major" repair issue is the garbage disposal in the kitchen, which is cracked. I have a home warranty, so I am checking to see if it will cover this problem. If not, I will just have to deal with it.

The lady from the insurance company is writing the policy to be in place by the time we close on Tuesday.

Next on my agenda is to start taking care of the minor repair issues; getting the locks changed and see about getting the carpets cleaned. I also am not sure if the garage door opener remotes were left at the house...Maybe I will have to see about replacing them. There will also be some painting to freshen up the place...Oh, I had better start making a list!

So, what else have I been doing?

Pitting cherries! And pitting cherries. And pitting cherries...Did I mention pitting cherries? All of those cherries that Victor and I picked in Emmett. Five quarts went into the freezer; Todd has made jam and Victor is making cherry pies.

Yum...Yum...

June 16, Cherry Festival

Welcome

to...

Emmett Idaho...

So today was supposed to be stormy and rainy, and the sky at 5:30 this morning certainly looked like the weather man's promise was going to be fulfilled. But...It turned out to be a beautiful day.

After lunch with Tony, Victor and I met Jackie (a lady Victor works with) and her two boys, at the Emmett Cherry Festival. We had a great time! The boys really liked it; there were craft and display booths, rides for the kids and food booths...of course.

When we were finished at the festival, we went to the Rancho Pinard Orchard, where we picked two large buckets of Cherries...One for Jackie and the boys, and one for Todd, Victor and me. At $12 per bucket it was not a bad deal when you consider that each bucket holds about 10 pounds (my guess) and cherries go for $4 to $5 per pound at the grocery stores!

Would someone please tell me what we are going to do with 10 pounds of cherries.

BTW...The Valley of Plenty Quilters is having their quilt show this Saturday in Emmett, if anyone is interested.

June 15, Reporting for Duty

Well...I am back off the injured list...wish I could say the same for my blisters! All the same, I did go out this afternoon and work some more in Todd's garden. (He needs all the help he can get!) As Dad would have said..."I have blisters on my blisters!" But just look at the difference...

Before

After

Todd's gonna kill me...hehehe!

This morning, I met Gens (Marilyn) in Boise so that she could introduce me to the Boise Co-op, sort of like Natures only better. http://www.boisecoop.com/ We did a bit of shopping (I was expecting Zoe to be with her, but she was still asleep...Oh the life!)

I did have word from Debbie this evening, regarding Asbury Park...If we can get the inspection done in the next couple of days, we may be able to close next week. Next week? This is the fastest home purchase that I have ever had!



And...If all goes as planned...I should be going to Emmett tomorrow for the Cherry Festival, so watch tomorrow's post...

June 14, We Have Lift-off!

I received word this afternoon that the offer for the house in Asbury Park has been accepted! So next we will have the inspection and then it's closing...Yes!

As for my plans for the weekend...It did not happen as planned. You will remember that I was going to take the weekend off. Well...I looked out of my bedroom window yesterday, and saw poor Todd working all alone in the garden and I took pitty on him. Sooo, I went down and offered to help. A few hours and two blisters later...I quit! (And since I am on the injured list, I did not report for gardening duty today.)

As for today...My plans were only to get the car registered in Idaho (I just can't wait to get those California plates off the car), but I found out that I have to fax a form to the Bank of America and have them send in the title to be re-issued in Idaho, before I can complete the registration.

That's when I got the message that the house offer had been accepted, and I've just been floating around ever since. No point in trying to accomplish anything now.

Oh...Just think of the shopping
possibilities!

June 12 & 13, Eagle Fun Days

I guess we will call this the Weekend Edition, Since I didn't post yesterday. Under the heading of Business (my business, not yours) I did send in an application and resume to the Idaho Department of Labor, regarding a job that they had posted on the web...That totaly wore me out, so I had to take the rest of the weekend off!

Todd and I went into Boise to visit Victor at his work, and from there...We Went Shopping! Todd's shopping, not mine...Okay, I did buy a small table, but I have a house to furnish (or at least I almost have a house to furnish.)

Once we had exhausted all of our shopping possibilities, we went on to Asbury Park to meet Debbie and have another look at the house (my second, Todd's first); there's so much one doesn't see the first time around. But no regrets...I totally love that house!

Back to Todd's house to meet up with Victor and then off to Eagle Fun Days http://www.eaglechamber.com/default.asp?pageName=Annual%20Events

I believe the remainder of the weekend will be devoted to some much needed R&R :) I will go out and buy the local Sunday newspaper and start planning next week...

June 11, At Todd's House

I really don't know how I ever found time to work! Who needs a job anyway?

This morning, I woke up way too early...3:30 AM!!! Don't know why...Just did! (And I couldn't go back to sleep.) I read for an hour, then tried sleep again and passed out for about an hour and then I was awake for good. (I am telling you that as a way of explaining why it was necessary for me to take a two hour nap this afternoon...while most of you were working:)

So today, you finally see just where it is that I have been hiding out while I should be looking for work. Not to suggest that I am not looking for work. I have already registered with the State of Idaho (makes me sound like a sex offender!) and I have three job referrals from the DOL; I have also (with Todd's assistance) updated my resume.

Where was I? Oh yes...The Hide Out...Just up and to the left of the front door (your left), the two upstairs windows...That's my room at Todd's house. (I finally have a Park Avenue address!) The house was built in the late 1930's and was owned by a doctor; it also served as Nampa's only (quasi) hospital. It was later converted into a group home and many of the rooms were either broken up or used for purposes other than the original intention. As a result, when Todd bought the house, there were walls to be knocked down and much renovation to do. He has one bedroom upstairs that he is still working on and a bit of finish work and he will be done. (Hehehehe...You're never done when you have a house that size; next on his list is to rip out the kitchen (I believe)). There are five bedrooms upstairs; the main level includes a separate mother-in-law apartment, formal living and dinning rooms, family room and kitchen. There is another bedroom and bath in the basement. There was a time when I coveted a house like this, but now that I am older...and much wiser...I'll be happy just to get into the 1250 sq ft Asbury Park house!

Oh my...Today I drove in the direction of Asbury Park (no, I didn't drive by the house), I was checking out the stores...OMG...Do you know how many stores there are in that part of Nampa? I found another shopping center with Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, World Market, Kohls, Michael's, Old Navy...yada, yada, yada. (Somebody will need to be keeping a eye on Robert...Do Not let him anywhere near this place!)

I showed constraint...I only spent $20 at World Market and $10 at Target, and all necessities for my room...Okay...After I left the mall, I just happened to go past the furniture store and I just happened to put a deposit in a new sofa for the new house...Wherever that house may be. (It was a bargain...What can I say?) Then I came home and took a nap; I was exhausted!

So...I hear movement downstairs, and it is about time for working people to be getting home from work...Maybe I'll go see how everyone's day was:)

June 10, Shoppin' & Restin'

After all of the business of the last two days, today seemed rather quiet. Debbie and I exchanged only one (non-business) email today. The house is sitting quietly and waiting. Debbie says that waiting is the key ingredient to short sales...

I did drive to Asbury Park today...I'm starting to learn my way there without the aid of the Tom Tom, and I even found a quick back way out of Asbury Park, as the normal way out involves a left turn onto a rather busy street.

Why did I go there? Because a lady that I used to work with once told me that her mother had told her to never buy a house facing east or west; always buy a house that faces north or south. Which direction does Asbury Park face? I didn't know...But I found out...South...Thank you Jesus! (If you haven't figured out all of the gibberish, it is because east and west facing house receive more hot sun. Of course being a corner lot, Asbury Park still has a side (west) exposed to the sun. Fortunately, this side has very little window coverage and shade trees to help block the sun.

With nothing else left to do...I went shopping. Only for odds and ends for my temporary quarters at Todd's house; although I did find a stunning black lacquered corner table, with oriental style painting on it...I bought it! I also found a very nice sofa...Maybe for Asbury Park?...We will wait a bit longer to see if we get the house...maybe.

And just for those of you who think that I should be concentrating on more important things...like looking for a job...I did go on line to Idaho Department of Labor and register and look for a job...So there!

To complete my day, I took a long walk all the way around the park. Don't know the distance, but it seemed quite long!..I used to walk quite a bit (on my lunch hour) and haven't been able to do much walking for the past year plus...I noticed this morning that my tummy is beginning to hang (just a teeny tiny bit) over my belt...Not a pretty sight!

Todd and Victor should be home soon, so I am going to post this and go see What's for Dinner!

Pictured above is the Historic Nampa Railroad Depot

(Now a museum)

June 9, on the Hunt - Day Two...

Well...

I had a very busy morning today! I am still somewhat in shock! You see, the realtor for the sellers' of the new house (which for now we will refer to as Asbury Park - as the is the subdivision where it is located) is starting out as a real go-getter. Starting first thing this morning...He sent over the contract signed by the sellers...the sellers property disclosure...He requested the HUD and proof of funding from Debbie (my realtor)...he uploaded everything into the system...he sent all of the paperwork to the sellers' mortgage company! I was having trouble keeping up with him.

Whew...
I finally took a shower at about noon and left the house! Where do you think I went? Well...first, I went to Asbury Park, just to look again (from the outside). You know, once you have left you start thing of things like, What color was the trim? Did I even check the condition of the roof? Can I even find my way back to the house? (Thank God for Tom Toms!)

Then there was more shopping to do...Yes, more shopping. I stopped at Shopko to pick up a few toiletries that I needed, and while I was there I found a floor lamp (on clearance sale, of course)for my room at Todd's (plus we will be able to use it at the new house). Then it was next door to Winco (I love that store!) for some grocery items; I was making dinner for Todd and Victor tonight. I also made a quick stop at Fred Meyer for some jewelry repair, and the in store Chase Bank. I was hitting all of my favorite 'up north' places!

Once back home, I found more emails from Debbie. I told her that there has already been more progress in just one morning on this house than there had been in six weeks on the previous house. I am very happy at how quickly things are happening with this so far...Let's just hope that the mortgage company for the sellers' doesn't drop the ball.

Tomorrow, there is a teeny, tiny bit more shopping to do :) and then I really have to start putting more serious effort into a job search...

While I am thinking about it, I had forgotten to remove the old About the House page (that deal is officially dead) and replace it with information about the new house...

So check out the new Asbury Park page. page...

June 8, On the Hunt in Nampa

Here We Go Again...

Well...Debbie and I met at 11:00 this morning to start the house search all over again. We reviewed the houses available in my price range; of course they were 99% short sales. We sorted them into No Go, Possibility, and Let's Have a Look.

From the Let's Have a Look group, I chose the house that I wanted to see first. Anyone who has spent much time house hunting will know that there is a moment when you first walk through the front door, before you have even seen the rest of the house, that the house just grabs you, this was the house! (Even better than the previous house that I had an offer on.)

This time we are looking at 1243 square feet...And this house has a family room...With a gas fireplace! The house has been on the market for approximately four months and has never had a single offer made on it (???) But then, I had never seen (or at least never noticed) it in the morning reports and MLS searches that I received...until this morning!

Needless to say, Debbie and I went to the nearest Starbucks and sat down and wrote out a full price offer, which she has already submitted. Now we wait...AGAIN!

To be on the safe side, I wanted to look at a few other houses, and maybe have a backup, just in case this house didn't work out. As it happens, after seeing the
This Is It House, nothing else had the right feel. Sooo...Once again, all of my hopes are placed one house...

If it helps any, after Debbie dropped me off at Todd's house I found a penny...Could it be a lucky penny?

(BTW...We also cancelled the offer on that previous house...That'll show 'em!)

June 7, A Room With A View

I'm Here...In Nampa!

I arrived in Nampa late Sunday afternoon. The drive from Ely, Nevada was pleasant and traffic moved right along. By the time I reached Mountain Home, Idaho it was raining quite hard. Gee, I had almost forgotten what rain was like! (For my desert rat friends, rain is that wet stuff that falls from the sky once or twice a year!) The sky was quite cloudy and the horizon very hazy; almost foggy. Thankfully, as I approached Boise the rain had stopped and the sky was clearing. A few more miles to Nampa and the sky was clear and sunny...It was even a bit warm.

I unpacked the car alone, as Todd and Victor were in Utah and nobody else was home, and after getting everything to my room...I proceeded to unpack again! My room is at the front of the house and has a wonderful view of the local park. Todd has done a great job restoring the bedroom and had a bed all made up and ready for me! I simply added a hand stitched quilt (Bow Tie pattern) that I had brought with me. (Thank you Doreen, you do beautiful quilting!)

Once I was sufficiently unpacked, I headed of to the local Walmart to pick up a few things for my room, and then across the street to the Panda Express for some Orange Chicken and some String Bean Chicken...yum...yum!

After a bit more unpacking it was off to bed. Today (Monday) is beautiful, sunny and about 70 degrees, with a breeze to blow the lace curtains in my room. I have explored the local antique shops a bit this morning and Todd and Victor should be home from Utah this evening.

Tuesday will bring a new round of house hunting!

June 6, On the Road in Nevada

Chex Mix...

Oh My Tummy!

After a late start, Saturday was spent on the road. Yes...A late start! I had to load the car...and load the car...and load the car...

I don't even know what I brought with me, or why I brought it. You know, there's casual clothes and good clothes (just in case I happen to get a job right away :) extra bedding, books, a stereo and CD's, the lap top, more clothes...the list just goes on and on...

I left home somewhere between 10:30 and 11:00; drove 535 miles to spend the night in Ely, Nevada. I would love to tell you about all of the wonderful tourist sites and points of interest in Ely, but there are none!

However...The drive to Ely is beautiful! I know people who say that Nevada is a very boring state to travel through, "Everything looks the same." Not true of The Great Basin Highway. (Hwy 93 out of Las Vegas) Beautiful scenery, open range, and wildlife refuges. It is not unusual to see large herds of deer; sometimes traffic must stop and wait for a deer herd to cross the highway! The skies are brilliant blue and the clouds are Clorox white...Far from boring!

Unfortunately, the only thing one has to do while driving is eat. And I brought a large bag of Chex Mix with me to nibble on...and nibble on...and nibble on...Ohhhhh My Tummy is screaming NO MORE...Please...

So, after finally arriving in Ely...I decided to dine on gourmet take-out from the local McDonalds; eaten at a table for one in my designer suite at the Ely Motel 6...Nothing but First Class for me when on the road.

Sunday should see me arriving in Nampa, and settling in at Todd's house...

June 5, On the Road

Okay...Today we're off to Nampa!

So let's jump in the car and go...

Check back later, I'll try to post tonight or in the morning with a progress report...

June 4, Here We Go...

Today is my last day in the desert (for a while). I've already been out in the storage shed looking through boxes to find things to take with me...You know...Just in case the day finally comes that we get that dream house in Nampa.

I've also been to the recycle depot to get rid of cans and plastics. I still have to make that trip to Angel View to drop off the donations.








And, the doggy grass needs to be mowed before I leave. Gotta keep those doggies happy...















Lastly, I have to start throwing clothes in boxes to take with me...

I'm trying to get all of this done early in the day, as the weather in the desert has already turned humid and hot. Even with a/c it is miserable to work in.

June 3, Gettin' Ready

The focus today has been on getting ready for my trip to Nampa. I'll be leaving on Saturday morning and should arrive in Nampa sometime on Sunday. So today was spent getting the car serviced for the trip, getting prescriptions filled (or ordered) and stocking up on the things that Robert will be able to prepare for himself to eat while I am away. (We spent the afternoon at Sam's Club stocking up!)I don't expect to return to California until the end of the month.

Todd asked me this morning if I knew what I was bringing with me and my response was, "Not a clue!" So I guess I need to start thinking about that. On my last trip to Nampa, I took bedding and towels with me, so that is already up in Nampa; I need to think about clothes, toiletries, small furniture and odds and ends like CD player or TV...That kind of stuff

And then I guess I better start packing...again!

So, short as this post is...

I need to get busy...

or take a nap...

whichever...

June 2, Poop!

Well...


Poop...




'The Bank' insists on raining on my parade...
That's right, they just are not co-operating at all. So far, they continue to insist on only Their revised price. Of course I'm not sure that 'The Other Realtor' is doing any good...Actually, I'm not sure that 'The Other Realtor' is doing anything!

Soooo...It is beginning to look more and more as if next week, when I get to Nampa, I will be going out with my agent again to look at houses. I already have several in my favorites list in Listingbook; of course, 99.9% of them are short sales...Yippy! My agent is encouraging me to look at listings other than short sales, which I am more than willing to do; it's just that in my price range and on my budget, most are short sales. And, houses in my price range that are not short sales are snapped up very quickly...So we will be burning up the streets of Nampa!

Today has been spent going through the closet. I know...Some people are in the closet, some people are out of the closet; me, I'm just passing through :) Anyway, I've tried on everything. (Somehow, clothes keep changing size...How does that happen? Many of my clothes have shrunk!)

So far, the count for Angel View...

Shirts 18

Jeans 2

Dress Shorts 3

Slacks 4

Shoes 2 pr

And I still have the armoir and dresser to go through...It's going to be a long day.
(Check out the new link to Angel View)

Tomorrow will be more packing and sorting, but also tomorrow will mark the beginning of my shopping to have everything on hand for Robert and the dogs so they wont go hungry while I'm in Idaho.

For now, I'm off to the pharmacy...

June 1 - At Lose Ends

Yesterday was quite a productive day (in my opinion). My goal was to pack at least four boxes. Well...I packed five and have two more ready to be boxed. By that, I mean that I sorted the kitchen towels; one bunch to go to Nampa, and one bunch to go to the Angel View Children's' Home thrift store. (That's right...We had enough kitchen towels to fill two boxes! Makes it sound like we wash a lot of dishes...NOT!!! I am just waiting for Robert to look at the stacks and see if there is something in the keep stacks that should go, or something in the to go stacks that he wants to keep.

I also met another goal yesterday...I took a nap:) And that's not all...I went shopping! I admit yesterday's shopping trip was really a distraction, to get me away from packing; I can only take so much!

Today, I am at lose ends. I don't quite know what to do or what I'm doing...Any suggestions? So far, I've done desk work; paid some bills and did some filing. I am trying to get that kind of stuff done before I leave for Nampa later in the week. I also want to start moving some of the packed boxes out of the house...They are starting to get a bit overwhelming. Then of course there's still the 200 or so CD's to be sorted and I want to go through my closet and see what else might be on its way to Angel View...

Maybe I'll go shopping...

Oh...And I'm still waiting to hear from the 'other realtor' and 'the bank' this deal still has not been officially blessed, ya know!