Lessons Learned

Hannah - it is the same house, the house we fell in love with and compared to all others.

I love the term "upgrade." It means simply to spend more money changing something that is already functioning fine. In this case the bathroom will not be upgraded. I like it, it suits my personality. We are going to "upgrade" the kitchen appliances though. The fridge won't be slick, shiny stainless steel with an ice maker, cold water dispenser, and a tv. We decided on an off white with ice cube trays and the stove to match. The more stuff you add the more costly the repairs. We are keeping it simple. The living room isn't just pink, it pepto bismol pink. It will be painted. The rest of the rooms are different shades of pink. Those will be painted. I am not a pink person. There is nothing soothing about the color pink. When the time comes for mom and I to move in, hopefully not to soon, then I will focus on more desert colors for the inside walls. Soft soothing colors.

Scott moved in the day we were given the keys. All he has is two lawn chairs and a blow up mattress. He loves it. When it gets dark it is pitch black. You can step out onto the courtyard all you hear is the night creatures. It is so peaceful. Scott was given instructions on snake bites. Rattlesnakes rattle during the day giving you enough warning but during the night it is a short rattle and then they getcha. I don't think I will be wandering around during the night and neither will Scott. Yes kids, I am faithfully wearing shoes and after the rattlesnake stories I am considering boots and wearing them to bed as well. Thigh high boots....

We are going to shop at second hand shops for furniture so Scott will have furniture. A man does need his couch. Also there are security lights all around the house so we can light the place up or if anyone steps into range the place it will light up automatically.

I have learned quite a bit this past month. The most important lesson learned is "Do not sit on your phone when it is set to vibrate."

Oh Baby

The House

 

Welcome To My House

Living Room Yeah It Is Pink

 

 

The Kitchen

 

 

The Dining Room

  

  

  

Views From The Courtyard Off Of The Kitchen/ Dining Room

  

  

Master Bedroom

  

The Second Bedroom

 

The Bathroom

 

  

 

The Views

 

  

Ya'll Come Back Now

 

Migraine

A severe headache woke me up this morning. The last migraine I had was 3 years ago.  They stopped when I stopped working.  I was scare to death I was having one.  I immediately took two ibuprofen tablets and prompty lost them.  That is a nice way of putting it.  So I laid down and put the pillow over my head and cried.

Then I tried again and waited thirty minutes and took two sinus pills.  Then I drank a little coffee and laid down.  I was feeling better in about an hour.  Still woozy but better.  Mom and Scott left at 11:00 for the final walk through.  I didn't want to go, I just wanted to laze around the house.  The headache was under control and I didn't want to push my luck. 

I received a call a few minutes ago and mom has the keys to the house.

The previous owners cleaned the place up, reset the brick flooring, and even removed the dead lizard in the bathtub.  The windows are even scrubbed down.  It is like a shiny new penny.  Needless to say I am going to spend my afternoon in the house.

Have a great day.

Calendars were made and ordered. Hannah, I didn't personalized them this year. So Robert and you are going to have to figure out which one is which and then let me know. Also, Hannah there is something special coming in 3 weeks.

James aka Rusty send me your address..... again. Before you start muttering to yourself remember this I am turning 50 in a couple of months.

I tried calling all of you but no answer. Hmmmmm what are you all doing?

Lulu

Lulu rectified her problem with the new harness...... she chewed herself out of it. I don't know how she managed to do it but she did.  When I discovered what she did I swear she had the most pleased expression on her face.  She is back in her old harness and I am watching her like a hawk. 

house

The closing date on the house has been changed from Tuesday to Monday at 4:00. From what I have been told it is not going to take a whole lot to fix it. Needless to say we are excited. Today we are going to a arts and craft sale and look at doors.   Sunday will be laundry and Monday we will be totally excited.

I just hope Lulu can handle the change.  I have been debating on whether or not to take her out there.  She does not handle change well.  I had to replace her harness yesterday and it was bad.  In the beginning she wore a collar and we were advised to put her in a harness.  So we bought a cheap harness from Wal Mart.  When I put it on her she went into her house and didn't come out for 12 hours.  I ended up taking her out of her house and made her take a walk.  This time she went into her house and it took popcorn to get her to come out.  Then we just shut her door so she couldn't go back in.  When I took her out for her nightly walk she just refused to move.  This morning she walked three steps, did her business, and went back to her house.  Changes in her environment causes her to freak out as well.  She is a strange little animal.  We wouldn't give her up for all the money in the world. 

Update

In the sea of multi-colored heads I was the only grey one.

The last concert I attended was held outside. There were benches to sit on but most people just sat on the ground. The air was filled with the aromatic smell of pot and cigarettes. Beer was drank freely by all. I am sure there was security somewhere but I never saw it. It was really laid back.

Fast forward 30 years.

I went to a Jason Mraz concert last night. Scott and I entered the door, handed over our tickets, and the first person I saw was a cute little blond handing out free condoms. Of course, she realized that she just offered someone her mother’s age one and she just giggled and said never mind. I should have asked for asked for 6.

We immediately went to the auditorium and to my total surprise there weren’t any seats. It was standing room only. Since everyone was purchasing t-shirts, cds, and picking up free condoms Scott and I were one of the first to enter and we were right up front. People were coming in and the pushing and shoving began. It wasn’t bad, in fact it was interesting watching people fight their way to the front. I ended up in the third row before the show started but I was close enough to be happy. It was a lot of fun and quite an experience.

The House

We close on the 25th at 8:00 a.m. I wanted to hire a general contractor to oversee all of the jobs that need to be done but Michael aka Realtor insisted that I orchestrate all of it. He gave me a list of people, businesses to call and I set up a calendar. I realize that this is a good way to really know my house.

I am a little scared to mention all that is wrong with our home because I know there will be those that will say…. “Are You Freaking Nuts?” With that I have to say…… “yes.” It makes the world a little more interesting but we are frugal and we do drive a hard bargain.

I have learned all about Subterranean Termites and how to get rid of them. I learned that you don’t feed the birds because you will attract rodents. We do have live rodents and a dead lizard in the bathtub. I did receive permission to have the exterminators out before the closing date so the process can be started ASAP. We need a new roof and a new panel since it was double dipped. The well is in great condition and the septic has been pumped and certified. We will need to have doors installed for both bedrooms and all of the exterior doors replaced. We will also have part of the house restuccoed. I am not sure of the spelling but I found a great company that comes with great references.

The worst part though is painting the exterior. I can get a little wild with paint color and mom is more conservative. I would have a purple house in the desert and mom would have a tan. It is for the best that mom chooses the color. The only painting that needs to be done on the inside is in the “Arizona Room.” It has been painted pink. I loathe pink. That will be something Scott can do and he is also conservative in selecting paint color so I won’t have an orange Arizona Room.

There are odds and ends that need to be done and I am sure after the final walk through we will find more to add to the list. Since we are closing right before Thanksgiving we are going to spend Thanksgiving in our house. I am also going to bring my camera with me on the final walk through and will be posting them to my blog.

What is interesting about the property is we are neighbors to two subdivisions. We are surrounded by a sea of McMansions. Fortunately we have enough acreage that all we see is the tops of the homes but when you drive to our house the first thing you are going to think is we bought a McMansion. Our home is just an old fashioned, true adobe home small and cozy. Yes you have drive on a dirt road to get to it. As I stated earlier a gravel road leads to home.

Almost There

We went down today and signed the papers. 

It is not the MoHo property, it is one of the first we looked at.  Supposedly built in the 1980's only we found out in was more like in the 1940's.    After the inspection was over we offered a new price for the house.  The 1940's part of the house is solid as a rock.  The two additions that were added in the 1980's needed a lot of repair.  When they heard the new price they declined.  Then they revised the listing to state that the house is to be sold "as is."  They also lowered the price considerably but not in the price range  we offered. 

We have seen a lot of houses, most of which were moved in ready, but we kept comparing it to our little house in the desert.  The selling point for us was it came with land, natural desert.  So we thought "what the heck..."  We shot them another price, firm no fiddle farting around price.  The take it or leave it price.  This morning they finally said they would take it.    At first we thought they were going to refuse and they put off signing anything until 1:00.  Our deadline was 10:00.  It has been stressful.  I feel that because of the location, they had a developer that was considering purchasing it.  That had been mentioned.

We are hoping to have the stucco people out the first, then we can replace the roof after that.  Then the electrician, the plumber, the painter can come in.   Sometime this week the exterminator will be out.    When they peel the skin of the building off and see that it needs a framer then we will have to call a framer.  We are hoping that it won't be necessary.  Then when all of the work is done..... Scott can move in. 

Our home is this silly little motorhome but we won't be without a house with four walls. 

They Agreed

We are waiting for the sellers to sign a paper saying they agreed to the price. In the next few hours they could change their minds and not sign or they could say "oh the heck with it" and sign. Who knows if we will have our little oasis in the desert.  I think I am going to be sick.

Wrong In All Directions

There are some news headlines that I just scan. The headlines are enough to inform me and there is no need to read the article. One of these headlines was “A Pregnant Man.” I didn’t really read much on this until this morning.

It appears he is pregnant again.

This time I read the in-depth article and I have to say “this is wrong in all directions.” Before everyone jumps on their band wagon and tells me I am narrow minded, behind in the times, old, or whatever let me explain why in a brief manner…..

Two women, one turkey baster, and sperm purchased off the internet.

It puts a whole new meaning on “Who’s Your Daddy.”

While I Am On The Subject Of Wrong In All Directions

Looks like this is coming to your nearest bus stop.

Everything Happens In The Morning GRRR

Got a call from the realtor, he found a house. He gave us directions so we can do a drive by. He said "They allow MoHos."

I told him we didn't want to be in the red light district.

See what happens after to much coffee.


How About A Little Junior Brown?

The Heck With Propriety

The winters in Missouri can be long and mean, not as bad as the Northern States but still it could get bone chilling cold. One of my favorite sounds is the sound of the propane truck coming down the dirt road. It was one of the sounds of winter that meant continued comfort.

I found out this morning it was a sound that I did not forget.

When the nights in Tucson took on a chill, I tried to find propane.  We went through two bouts of pneumonia in a years time and I was determined to find propane. We have one of the smallest propane tanks made for a motorhome, it is basically worthless. The owner of the park is just to busy to help us in our search for propane. I could not drive my motorhome to his propane tank to get it filled every other day.  I called every propane company that was listed in the phone book but all of them said they could not set a 100 pound tank for me. We have been bundling up, running a small electric heater, and just making do.

This morning bright and early found me snuggled up under my blanket sound asleep. I was woken by a familiar sound. The sound of winter, the sound of comfort, and I leaped out of bed. The heck with propriety, I ran out the door in my night clothes, hair sticking up, mouth swollen with fever blisters, and what a sight I was.   I scared the propane driver half out of his mind.  I was ready to hock the family farm, give up my first born son, and my evil ways just for a 100 pound cylinder filled with liquid warmth.  I would have said prostitute myself but with my appearance at that time and my personal beliefs I won't.   He had a cylinder strapped to his truck and viola I had propane.  He will even come and keep it filled for us.   I wanted to hug him but I refrained.

Life is WARM!

Fire Flies

Hannah, there have been stories shared. There is more than Lola Lowly Foot and William Potter in our family stories. I remember you listening to Grandpa’s stories about his wild escapades. Perhaps you mistook them as the ramblings of an old man who was extremely creative. Honey, most of what Grandpa talked about really happened. He did dress up as Baby Huey, took a trip to Gravios Mills Missouri and ended up in Mexico, and yes he was a little bit of a hell raiser.

What about Grandma and Granddaddy Peavyhouse? Perhaps there are not as many stories about them but when you reach for the cookbook I made you, you hold a part of Grandma Peavyhouse. Do you remember Grandma talking about her family? How she chased her sister all over the yard, into the house, and finally trapping her in the attic with a dead chicken. About two Peavyhouse men that served in the Navy? Surely you haven’t forgotten how Francis P married his step sister and they moved from the hills of Tennessee to the hills of Kentucky? They were your g grandfather’s parents and that in itself was a love story.

The Herndon family. How Jacob decided to become a Baptist and that in itself almost drove the family apart. How Sallie met Jacob in Chicago. Remember the stories that Aunt Betsy told? How fortunate we were that she gave those stories and her story to us?

Remember when I told you about the Woodson family. I believe you are the Potato Hole Woodson.

I remember telling you how Nauvoo Illinois played an important role in our family’s history. How our ancestors lost everything near and dear to them when were ran out of Nauvoo. How sad it must have been for them to sit on the banks of Montrose Iowa and see their beloved city, their homes destroyed and how they heard the cries of their loved ones who chose to stay behind being murdered. Lola and her husband, Josiah chose to stay behind, because of their age, and they saw their family leaving and witness the destruction of their town.

You come from ordinary people with ordinary lives that never changed history but they touched the lives of their families, their neighbors, and friends. Their story lives on in the words that I have written and they live on in you. You come from fine stock my dear. Farmers, Bankers, Lawyers, Doctors, An Indian Princess… You are German, English, Irish, Scottish, Spanish, Indian, French, German and Russian. You are you, a very unique individual with a short memory. Perhaps I fed you too much information.

I know I shared with you some of the stories of my childhood, what I can remember. I hope you treasure and share these stories with your children. I also remember sitting with you going through some of the names in our family tree and picking out the ones we liked the most such Mourning, Theodosia, Sallie… I also gave you the name Hannah Jane Elizabeth your gg grandmother’s name, the lady that married Francis P and I shared her story and her pictures with you.

As far as your father is concerned… That can be the start of you becoming the family historian for his side of the family.

update

After spending Wednesday afternoon house hunting we decided to go out and eat. Scott took us to a Mexican restaurant complete with a mariachi band. The food was good, the company was great and it was an enjoyable evening.  The next morning Scott and I came down with a case of food poisoning.  I stayed in bed for two days!

I feel 100% today!  Mom and I might do a little house hunting on our own just to get out of the house.  Of course our Realtor is a little paranoid.  We found him by calling a number on a sign outside a house we were interested in so he is concerned that we will do the same if we strike out on our own.  Our response to that is "Why should we call a total stranger when we have the best that Tucson has to offer!  If we find something we will let him know Monday.

Our offer on the first house fell through. I knew it was a low offer and the chances were not good. We would have to completely rebuild the additions plus hire a exterminator to get rid of the rodents that were nesting under the flooring. I calculated the cost of renovations and extermination and deducted. We were a little disappointed but things happen for a reason and it is onward and upward.

All is well, thank goodness, in our little house on wheels.

Last night was amazing. It was Halloween and all the little goblins were out. Back in Missouri I never had trick or treaters. I lived way out in the boonies and noone would drive down there for a Mars Bar. Last night I had more trick or treaters than I had in my 49 years on this earth and all we had was hard candy. Which is a major bummer for the little trick or treaters. It was fun. I think we had about 20 all in all. My favorite was the kid wearing a cereal box and he told us he was a "cereal" killer.

Hannah - is this non creepy for you?

Can I get an awwww from you now?

Lulu and I have the same hair coloring!

This will protect my mama from being bitten by a varmit!