The very first color I decided on was for the bedroom. I was kind of partial to Dutch Boy paint because an old high school chum used to wear a Dutch Boy hat around. Plus, I like the plastic paint jug with a pour spout. Plus, I picked up paint… Read More »The Master Bedroom
On Monday Shannon and Jesse came over to help paint the kitchen. This concludes all the pictures I have of people helping with the new house. It took 6-7 coats of paint to paint the kitchen. That is lots and lots of paint.
Although Carla and Alexis did a wonderful job of taking pictures, one of the downsides of not having taken any pictures myself is that I didn’t get pictures of everybody that helped. So thanks to my incredible painting crew on Primary Painting Day: Jason Stensland Carla Stensland Alexis Stensland Jason… Read More »Primary Painting Day
More pictures from paint prep night. I got those green chairs from my Aunt Linda to with a sweet white table she was throwing away. Those chairs are surprisingly popular. That is also Shannon showing off her taping skills. Carla painting the bathroom. Life Lesson: When working on a ceiling… Read More »Friday Night Paint Prep Club – Part B
Day 3 of home ownership consisted of paint prep and lots of it. Her are some pictures in no particular order from that night. Teresa eating. Shannon would want me to point out one thing in this picture. Well maybe two things. One she is a master taper. Two she… Read More »Friday Night Paint Prep Club – Part A
Day 2 at the house involved a ton of work on the cabinets. Carla put a coat of paint on the bathroom walls. The carpet removal team started their work. I don’t remember the actual name of this color, so we will call it green. I respect Carla and her… Read More »Day 2 – Things Start to Look Different
I have not touched any of my cameras since I left the resort in Arizona. Luckily for me Carla and Alexis did a fair amount of documentary photography on the work that was done on the house. Day 1 consisted mostly of swapping out light fixtures and starting the nightmare… Read More »More Day 1 Fun
On Wednesday, February 25, 2009, I officially became a homeowner. I arrived at the office of my Mortgage Broker and signed papers with a lawyer for about 30 minutes. I fully intended to count how many times I signed my name and put my initials on the bottom of other… Read More »The Adventure of Home Ownership Begins
Day 7 in Arizona was the final day of work. I spent most of the morning talking to a Native American Flute Artist by the name of Travis Terry. He both made and played flutes. I asked him how he learned to make flutes, expecting a story about his grandpa… Read More »Arizona Day 7
Day 6 in Arizona was more work. At the conclusion of the work day, we were bused out into the “middle of the desert” for a “western roundup” party. If you could get away from the cheeseball band that was lip syncing and playing to backing tracks, it was a… Read More »Arizona Day 6
At the end of Day 4 Jesse and I checked into the resort and begun the business of working. On Day 5 I put away my camera and did not do much of interest besides work. The resort we were staying at was on an Indian Reservation. The only attraction… Read More »Arizona Day 5
Jesse and I woke up in Coolidge, Arizona and made our way to a local diner for breakfast. This place was certainly McCain Country. We sat at the breakfast counter and listened to a couple locals complain about the governor for “being nice” to Obama. They agreed that the governor… Read More »Arizona Day 4
After we Del Taco, we returned to the park with the small mountain. A hole in the roof of the mini-mountain. Eric looking down on all that he rules after he ascended the peak of the mini-mountain. More Eric. The view from the mini-mountain. Lowell and Jesse Mini-mountain Lowell, Eric… Read More »Arizona Day 3 – Part B
Some pictures from Day 3 in Arizona. Peavy and Young The guy that I hope wins the #5 Starter Spot The new closer. Some Mariner Some Mariner Spring Training Home of the Cubs More Hohokam Image from the Road I’d never eaten at a Del Taco. I endorse it and… Read More »Arizona Day 3 – Part A
More than a bit behind. Some pictures from Day 2 in Arizona. The day mostly consisted of bumming around with Jesse’s family. We saw a few random Cubs. We had dinner with Colleen and Kirk.
As I sit here in Josh and Summer’s house waiting for Jesse to wake up, I might as well post a few pictures from yesterday. Jesse waiting for the flight to leave from Des Moines Denver Jesse in Denver Me in Denver Jesse on the people mover Organ Stop Pizza… Read More »Arizona Day 1
Negotiation isn’t the sharpest tool in my skillset. So after I had made the decision to make a move and try to buy the House with the Cute Backyard, I was a bit worried about the negotiation part of the process. To not bore you with the details of the… Read More »The Ballad of House Buying: Part 5 – The Art of Negotiation
On Sunday, January 10, I looked at the House with the Cute Backyard with Jason. I had seen the house with my Mom, Carla and Jay. Plus Teresa had seen it earlier. I wanted Jason’s far more practical perspective. Jesse also dropped by to look for a lead pipe. A… Read More »The Ballad of House Buying: Part 4 – A Closer Examination
I hate to go back to touch base with Christmas, but I should point out that I got many a sweet Christmas present. I don’t want to talk about any of them because I don’t wish to make any of you jealous, with one exception. My sister Teresa crocheted me… Read More »Sweet Christmas Present
In addition to being Lowell’s birthday, Saturday, January 10, 2009 was Symposium. It was also the Ames Jaycees Year End Banquet, where I apparently got an award that involved batteries, but I was not there. I had to make a choice. I chose Symposium. Well the truth is that I… Read More »The Great Snow Ordinance
Saturday was the day of the big Ottumwa Blitz. I made plans to see the houses on Saturday morning before Jay and I headed to Ottumwa. I had drove past the house on Union a couple of times and determined that the backyard might be a little bit too cutesy.… Read More »The Ballad of House Buying: Part 2: Initial Look