Well, the house is now in shambles. All for the best in the long run, but we have been in this chaos for about a month, and still have about 6 weeks before it will settle down.
The front and back yards are trashed, the inside of the house basement is all framed, and the contractors have been excellent, but it's been stressful for all of us. I'm attaching a bunch of pics showing the progression of the work so far.
Click the Read More link to see the pics...

Well it's been an exhausting 2 weeks.
I drove down to Ogden and back in the Prius, and averaged 55 MPG from Spokane to Ogden, going over the mountains through to Missoula Montana.
It's a long 12 hour trip each way at 65 mph.
I'm recovering from fatigue, etc. Then have to catch up on all the backlog on the house and everything else.
I have a new door to install downstairs to try to keep the cats upstairs so Brennan's allergies aren't so terribly afflicting him.
I have a stair set to put in the garage to the attic.
Eventually to put insulation in the garage attic and then some flooring to prepare it for storage.
I still need to bury the sprinklers and and run new sprinkler lines, and repair some others.
There's wasps nest already built up in just 2 weeks in the eaves.
Finish converting the rocky part of the yard to soil and grass.
This isn't even including the ongoing retaining walls still to be done, the new stairs in the back, the fencing, etc.

Here are some of the pics from that construction this summer:

• Front yard torn up and buried as they dig out the trench for the egress windows from the basement for Brennan's and Drake's bedroom pic #1


• Front yard torn up and buried as they dig out the trench for the egress windows from the basement for Brennan's and Drake's bedroom pic #2


• Worker cutting foundation wall for egree windows to be added

Brennan and Drake were "Very useful engines" yesterday helping with the yard.

My back still hasn't fully recovered from the injuries of a few weeks ago, but the yard is in dire need of work.

So the boys helped with raking the yard and picking out stones in preparation for laying grass seed. Drake and the neighborhood girl across the street that's their friend helped Drake with pulling weed in the yard.

Brennan did most of the raking, and did a great job with lots of vigor! ;-)

Then after helping me with the seeding, weed & feed, and lawn fungus treatments, they were (with great attitudes I might add) happy to start shoveling the several feet deep pile of pine needles under the 40 year old Blue Spruce Pine in our front yard. When we bought the house last year, the branches were all the way to the ground. I trimmed them up (to a bit above my height) to open up the yard and let more light in and such. Well, then I saw all that 40 years of accumulated pine needles. and of course almost no plant can live in that acidic mixture.

However, one of the landscapers suggested Rhododendrons would thrive under the tree. So, the boys completely filled the garden waste can AND an entire wheelbarrow, and they made a fair dent. And they're excited to keep at it even! Only after they were doing it for a while did I mention anything about paying them.

Here's some pics of them working away (click the images to see the larger version of the pics).

Brennan & Drake Shovelling Needles (Posing)

Brennan and Drake shovelling needles working vigorously

Brennan and drake shovelling pine needles, emptying iinto can.

Indicator of a kid watching too many cartoons and too much television?
Drake said, "I wanted to fill up the basement so I can swim in it".
This in response to why he plugged the sink and let the water run in the downstairs bathroom, flooding the area and the new carpet of about one third of the downstairs living room.
He wouldn't admit it until after the contractor who did all the work, Jim with Craftsman Construction, kindly came by in response to my plea asking what we should do to try to minimize the damage.
We were trying to figure out if the foundation was leaking right after an intense rainfall, or if the plumming was backing up through the shower or who knew what. Finally Drake, after prodding from Karina (and responses of "I don't know" to me (reminding me of Bill Cosby's routine on "Brain Damaged children" :P )), admitted to being the culprit. That at least was a relief that it wasn't a structural issue.
We've scolded him thoroughly and grounded him from tv for a few days.
I've been in many "discussions" about stricter limits on TV, we've implented rationing for the older two, but since Drake is still only in school half days, he's been "allowed" to watch many more hours of tv. Me thinks this will be allowed to change now... ;-)
Now hundreds of dollars willb e spent, but we should be able to save everything.
The contractor recommended Service Master, and they came out that night to suck up the water, and then setup 3 blowers under the carpet (afteer pulling it up of course), but on top of the pad so that the padding wouldn't have to be replaced (hopefully), and a dehumidifier.
This all transpired Monday.
It's now Wednesday and Service Master is coming out shortly to check if it's dried up enough.
Once it's done, we'll have to get the carpet layer to re-lay the carpet.
Below is a pic of the carpet with the blowers in the background, and the humidifier in the foreground.

Downstairs Carpet being dried after Drake's Flooding (click image for larger pic)

Ah well. the trials and tribulations as we travel through our travails eh?
We also made it clear, that though what he did was not ok (he didn't seem to be taking it very seriously at first), we loved him no matter what. He's been abashed since having TV privileges taken away, but seems (hopefully) to "get it". ;-) Cheers.

Well, my wife sometimes complained about the lack of seasons when we lived in the Bay Area of Northern California.
I always looked at her as though she were an alien from another planet when she'd make such statements. :-P
Click the READ MORE link for the rest of this article...

I guess, because my early childhood years were in Santa Rosa, where I was "spoiled" by such a temperate (wonderful!) climate, and then dragged to Utah, where it's a study in extremes of weather, climate, and terrain (nice to visit, especially for hiking, skiing, etc. but HATED living there).
Although I'll admit it always did seem weird to have the Christmas tree setup, and not have even a hint of white (snow) outside, at most, maybe some rain "greening up" everything. But it was a "sacrifice" I was more than happy to "put up" with. :-P
Anyhow, now that we're in Spokane, WA, we definitely have four seasons again.
Southern Idaho was far worse (a little worse than Utah even), and Spokane is generally more temperate than Utah or Idaho, but certainly nothing as moderate as northern California.
Anyway, I like it here, it's a good, close "second" in weather, and the quality of life here is far better than in Cali, because of the lower cost of living, and lower population density.
But, this week, we're getting DUMPED on by snow.
You saw the earlier posting about the Crown Victoria in the ditch. And the moose on the road (if not, well then scroll down and read them and view the pics).
We have many inches of snow now, and the kids are LOVING it!
Alas, as of today, I can't even get the car on the road, because it lacks the clearance to get through the depth of snow on the road (piles up on the bumper), and Karina has the Red Bronco for her craft fair, and the black bronco still has the broken ring gear on the flywheel, so very hard to start it.
The kids wanted me to take them to Holmberg park on such a great snow day, but it will have to wait alas. And I need a means to get to the library to pick up keys for the meeting tomorrow there, hopefully the Red Bronco will be back in time for me to get down there in time.
Anyhoo, here's some pics (click the images to see larger versions):







Our north facing deck (it's a little over 70' long and 4.5' wide on the north side, with an east side (covered) measuring about 16'x32') covered in snow.







Looking north from deck and our backyard, our gorgeous view of the forest around/below us, covered in snow. This will be even better when the sun comes out (eventually). ;-)







Part of our front yard, and the snow covered road. We live on a nice cul-de-sac dead end road, which is great for kids, but is the last to get plowed.







Part of a nother piece of our front yard, looking at the kids sledding on the neighbor's front yard.

Well, it's been a long arduous road, but I, and my family finally made the move to Spokane, WA.
The whole process started back in July/August 2003 (See archived articles for details), and it is now January 3rd, 2004, and the movers are finally unloading the truck today.
Unfortunately this is only temporary for the next six months, but the next move will be a far shorter distance thankfully. (Click Read more, for rest of this article).

We are renting a place up on "Five Mile Prarie", just above the Spokane city. The house is a bit small, and rather "cabinish", but it will suffice for the next six months while we house hunt for the purchase of a permanent home.
It's been snowing like crazy for days. Karina drove the car into the center ditch of the freeway (over 300') just south of Pocatello. Luckily all she suffered was whiplash, and the car by some miracle didn't get any damage.
 It's been a trip from Hades. I will come back later and fill in the details in this article later in the next few days. At least we made it in one piece.
I'm back to continue the tale of our trials and tribulations as we travelled through our travails.
Monday, the movers arrived with their 48' semi.
It had been snowing record storms for days in Malad City, Idaho, and was continuing to do so. And now the winds were really kicking in too, and the snow drifting like crazy.
The drivers, through Crown Transit, part of Mayflower Movers (I don't recommend them after this experience) showed up. I had just driven my 4x4 pickup truck out onto the side of the highway in front of the driveway to wait for the drivers who were somewhat lost trying to find us in the snowstorm.
I parked the truck just off ot the side, I was at a complete stop, when the truck just suddenly slid sideways, and towards the ditch. I released the brake, and put it into gear and reverse, but couldn't get out. So I had to have a neighbor quickly pull me out as the movers arrived.
The this was all before getting breakfast. I drove off to get breakfast while they stood deliberating about how to pull into the driveway.
When I returned from Burger king, they were partly jacknifed in the driveway and highway, and feet from taking out the fencing, and completely stuck in the snow. The fools hadn't bothered to chain up before trying to pull in, and were now thoroughly stuck. They were trying to put a chain on, but a bit too late.
Eventually a snowplow with the county drove by and stopped, and called in a 10 wheeler. They arrived, and with a chain from a neighbor (same chain and neighbor who kindly helped me out before), pulled the semi and trailer back out.
They had not brought, or arranged of a shuttle" to go from the house to the trailer.
So I ran down and rented a 24' (they didn't have anything else available) Uhaul truck for $60 for the day.
.... continuing in a few hours....

This article and these photos are originally posted September 1st, 2004 or so. The date stamp on this article has changed from server moves and edits made later.

Finally, after all these years, and so many moves, we're at last settling in.

Before marriage, I moved over 30-40 times from when I moved out of my mothers home at 18, until marriage at 25. At one point I moved 21 times in a little over 2 years. Boy my furniture took a beating. :(
And since marriage, we've moved 8 times in 9 years of marriage. We plan to stay here for at least 5-10 years, if not forever. ;)



  The wonderful view from the living room/deck.

It's hard to really appreciate how great this view is with this cheesy old 1998 Sony Mavica Digital camera, but it'll give you a little idea of what a great view we have from up here on the edge of the plateau facing the hills and mountains to the north, all covered with so many trees, most of which are evergreens, so it's beautiful year round. ;)

The deck has two parts, long and skinny north part, and wide 16' wide, by 32' long east covered deck. The north deck is about 4.5' wide and 72' long! This shot is from the East side of the north deck. facing northwest.

This is from the north deck looking at the back yard to the northwest side of the yard.

click "Read More" link for more pics and descriptions....

This is also from the north deck, taking a shot of the middle of the yard. It's two tiers. The first upper tier is lawn, the slope and second tier are covered with plants, bushes, trees and fruit trees. We have 2 types of apple trees, 2 types of cherry trees, a plum tree, raspberry and blackberry bushes, horseradish, chives and garlic-chives, tulips, oregon grapes, wild roses, yellow showers roses, poppies, and many others I still haven't quite identified already planted and thriving.You'll see the top of a japanese style stairway going down to the lower tier. I plan to create a waterfall on the slope, and build a Zen rock garden, and a Shinto (japanese style) garden complete with pond and little arcing wooden bridge over teh stream. ;)


This is the back of the house viewed from the west side of the upper backyard, facing west to the houses north (back) side).

This is the front of the house (40 years old maple and blue spruce kind of hide it well) from the street, this is the west side of the house.


This is the east side of the house, with drake on the street playing in his truck. We're on a dead end cul-de-sac, so very little traffic, and a number of kids from 3 years old to 13 years old for the boys to play with.