House Hunters

red haired chair climber

I love house hunting - even when it isn't for me. Last weekend we visited Jud and Kara in St. Louis. It was a weekend filled with many fabulous foods and beverages. In addition we got to go on a couple house hunting visits with them and their realtor, Stephanie a Washington, Iowa native who played college basketball at Wisconsin during the Jenny Lillis at Iowa era (now the Drake coach).

We played the Iowa game with her - an offshoot of the Creston game. "Do you know so and so?" Yes, we used to lived right next door to...and so on. Nice young women. Of course. Iowa nice. Meeting Stephanie made me recall the realtors Paul and I have worked with during our lives. We have been fortunate.

Our first realtor way back in 1986, was recommended to us by Paul's predecessor at his Union County NRCS job (it was the Soil Conservation Service back then). Betty Brown knew her way around town. She showed us several properties during our trip to Creston, all while not quite 1-year-old Amy stayed with my parents in Atlantic for the day. Mom said she was happy climbing in and out of a child-sized rocking chair.

view from the north - degreened the siding to

There was really only one house that we had our hearts set on - the one we purchased. It was at the top of our price range but it was one I could be excited about, though it still needed some work. For one thing - it was all green. With some rosy pink fixtures in the bathrooms. Yippy! How very 60's. There was even flat green carpet in the kitchen. How could you?

Our first home had some wonderful qualities too. I loved the light from the large pictures windows, and the entryway. There was a recently installed hot tub in the basement. Mom had a dream that Amy was drowning in it, and she had a broken leg and couldn't rescue her. That didn't come true. Sure, Amy allowed Jud to linger under the water a bit long one time. And Moki the dog tried to turn himself into a boiled puppy once. Thank goodness no real tragedies occurred - phew.

The day we replaced the kitchen carpet - by then stained with Amoxyl pink liquid antibiotic - with oh so 90's linoleum (cream with country blue check) I was in heaven. Then I learned how grimy those little pockets in linoleum can get! Our wonder-dog Moki discovered how easy it was (where there's a will there's a way) to jump onto a chair and make his way onto the built-in desk and across the cabinets to the kitchen counter to eat left-overs. Jud's Spaghettios didn't stand a chance.

Paul and I attempted exactly one wallpaper job together. Evidently he didn't like working with someone suffering from apoplexy when the edges didn't match up well. He worked better with our friend Cheri Finken. Those two paired up to offer themselves up at auction for wallpapering job for bid at the St. Malachy auction. Cheri is much calmer than I am.

A couple times a year the bar sink down stairs would start to gurgle pretty badly when the washer drained. So I'd call Willets and Woosley to come do the Roto-Rooter thing. Soon after we moved in we discovered the furnace was pretty much shot. So we bought a new one through Carrier - and took on more payments. Welcome to the Money Pit! Our concrete block wall slowly creeped inward. After several years of that, Kirby Berry and crew propped up our house on stilts and re-did that corner of the house for several thousand $$. In the meantime we did our best to re-carpet and de-green the place.

In the driveway

We loved most (not all) of the neighbors too. Sharps lived across the street. Amy was one of our first teen sitters. Her brothers were always playing with trucks in their garden. Reicks lived behinds us - both Jenny and Jonathon went to St. Malachy and were both were sitters for the kids. I've often wondered how Jonathon is doing - he had a stroke like brain injury as a very young man. Don and Betty Tyner lived right behind us and they were like pretend great aunts and uncles, loaning Paul their truck to haul things. Betty would ask Amy to play the piano, gushing over the resulting tinkle of the keys. Jud loved watching the construction of their screened in porch when he was 3 or so. He became the builder's best (or worst) friend. "What are you doing now?" The Owens family lived just north of Tyners. Leanne liked to come play HORSE and other games with our family - such a nice kid.

The location of our first house was perfect for school. We could walk the kids one block (Moki even came along) so they could board a bus to take them right to St. Malachy. One year Jenny Reick stopped by to walk with Amy who was so proud in her Velcro Ariel shoes.

As the kids grew up we had a lot of parties there - mostly for kids. For a while the McFees would come over on Sundays and we'd split up the meal - Bobbie would say, "I've got stuff for salad and some chops." and I'd say, "We have beans and some bread" and we'd make a meal together. I so enjoyed those times.

We loved that house - warts and all. It was our first home. There was a lot of living and love there.

great patio

Hanging with Mr. & Mrs. Goldsmith

Paul and I packed Odie up Friday and headed the Subaru south to visit Jud and Kara in St. Louis. We hadn't seen them since the day after they got married way back in April. Wow! We had a lot of catching up to do. We've been places, they've been places. Sure, we've talked on the phone, but it's just not the same as in person, you know.

The theme of the weekend was mainly food (and family togetherness). We arrived in a rainstorm Friday evening. Henry the grand puppy was so happy to see us. He is such a lovely boy - I don't believe I've ever heard him growl or bark. He does like to jump up and greet you right in your lap - so hold onto your drinks. Odie was not impressed.

Odie watches Henry like a hawk

Friday we headed out in the rain for yummy cornbread crust pizza. Our son the gentleman, dropped us off at the door and arrived a big soggy at the restaurant. I forget how funny and full of information the guy is. He loves to podcasts and NPR. Kara likes to give him crap when he spouts less than factual information - as a good wife should.  They make a great pair! My mother used to believe everything my dad told her - no matter how far-fetched!

Farmer's Market

Saturday morning we attended a Farmer's Market in the Soulard neighborhood. It was all under roof, which was interesting. There were live chickens and fruit I'd never seen before.

Jud, Kara and Paul place their orders

Ribs!

Next, we arrived early at Jud's favorite Barbeque joint, Pappy's - just to make sure Jud and Paul could get Burnt Ends.
That afternoon, we went with J&K to look at a couple houses - just like house hunters on HGTV. It was fun! I like house shopping, though the kids are getting a bit tired of it. The market in town has been very tough - with houses going above asking price, and quickly! They are trying to be patient, but it's hard when they are so excited and ready to move into their very own place. So we went for Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard at a local place that obviously quite popular. Yum. Of course we had to rest and watch football after that.

Jud and Kara live in the Grove neighborhood where there are lots of cute restaurants and bars. That's what we did last night, when it was so nice out. We walked a few blocks over to the Cowboy bar, which is surrounded by bamboo out back. We could only muster up enough appetite for a few chips and wings. No surprise right? Then we stopped at a couple more bars that were still pretty quiet as the night was young. The Urban Chestnut Brewery is always fun. Odie and Henry were happy when we arrived back at J&K's apartment.

After we left this morning, the kids were going to look at yet another potential future home. We wish them luck! I remember when Paul and I purchased our first house in Creston. It took a while to settle in, but we made that place on Prairie Street our own. We lived there 12 years!

The good news is that we'll see Kara and Jud later in October when they come up for a football game. Yay! Life is good.

Bull Creek

Up Bull Creek without a paddle?

I've blogged before about my idyllic 60's childhood. It wasn't perfect, but in my "Wayback Machine" mind, it was pretty good. We Bullock girls and friends wandered the south edge of Atlantic on foot and on two wheels, investigating it all. No need to worry about property lines, barbed wire fences or culverts.

During work this week I had reason to search the Atlantic, Iowa (hometown) website. On it I saw references to a Bull Creek Culvert. Ah, the memories! There was a culvert at the bottom of the hill by my elementary school so scary cool. It was dark and cool, with just enough water in it to get my shoes wet. There were bugs in there - and an occasional frog!

Above my pal Robyn's house before they built the church, there was a barbed wire fence and a pond. The challenge of crossing that fence was huge! Challenge accepted! You had to step by a post, where the wire was more stable. I imagine we ended up with lots of bug bites, a few scrapes and very dirty. But oh the fun we had. Can you imagine a stinky crew of kids marching in for Kool Aid and Hydrox cookies?

Nostalgic much? Yes I am.

At my Cedar Rapids Grandparents' home around age 7

Hats off to the workers of this great country

Labor Day 2016. I owe a nice day off to celebrate the working man and woman who make life as I know it possible. Just like many of our holidays, many people don't even care or understand what or who we honor on this day. I do.

I started early in life working with some really awesome people that didn't need a four-year degree from college to make a living. They make it in life with talent, intelligence, and hard work.

My first job was working at a gas station with a talented mechanic who had some of the best customer service skills of anyone I've ever worked with. Harry Hjortshoj loved sending me out for warm donuts from the store a couple blocks away when certain people brought their cars in for service. Or we'd take his old pickup with a tire-covered front bumper to collect their vehicle right from their home. I'd drive their car back to Harry's station, and he liked to bump into me at stop signs. I was a new driver and it freaked me out! He'd smile and wave. What a character that guy was.

When I graduated from college, I landed a job (during a depression no less), at a grocery wholesale biz. There were lots of smart, creative people working there. They taught me about working in an office, banking for businesses and how to get along with a bunch of women in an office. The sales staff and the drivers were pro's. Except the ones who weren't - and everyone worked together to either work around them, or eventually ditch them. Face it, there are losers in all levels of occupations.

After we got married, Paul and I moved to northern Iowa and there I experienced my first factory job - Fox River Mills in Osage. I was in the computer department where Karla Smith and I had entered orders. I've always been fascinated by factories - I think it came from those early kid's TV shows where they showed how to make pencils and stuff. And touring the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling plant in Atlantic. The people working at that factory were (and are) good hardworking people that make excellent socks and gloves right here in the USA.

Fast forward to the mid-1990's when I worked in Creston at Gits Manufacturing as a production planner - one of the most stressful jobs I ever had, (not so) magically making purchased parts and manufactured parts come together to complete a complex part to sell to the automotive and other industries. Workers would take pressed sheets of steel and make them into parts. Others would had bolts and vents. It was tedious work, and could be steamy hot. Some of the people at that shop could fabricate anything. How cool is that? These people, and all the service people make our lives possible. We thank you!

I love Sundays when we have Monday holidays. Yesterday our friends Bobbie and Jeff came up and we rode bikes down by Cumming. Fun time - seeing friends and having a couple beers. Later we sat on our deck and chatted, then watched that exciting Texas Longhorn victory over Notre Dame. Life is good!

It's my dad's birthday

Dad's been gone almost ten years already, but I think of him often. He was in lady's underwear. That was one of his jokes. Dad was a sales representative for Lorraine Lingerie, selling that line including slips and panties, across Iowa for nearly his whole working career. That meant he traveled Monday through Friday almost every week of the year, leaving Mom to the daily drudge of raising four girls.

When we were young we were always excited to see Daddy on Friday! He was a fun and funny guy. He pitched in by grilling for supper. I have fond memories of Dad with the big wood meat platter trotting out to the grill outside the back door. In the winter, we had a fireplace downstairs where dad would ply his grillmaster trade. I even remember eating down there with Bitsy Betsy in a little baby chair and a bottle.

That downstairs grilling must be why the charcoal lighter was kept by the fireplace. I drank some on New Year's Eve one year. My antics ruined Susi's chances to stay over night with a cool friend. (it was all really a plot by 4 year old me). I got my stomach pumped, I'm told. I was a poster child for child-proof packaging!

Dad liked to play with words and names. We had several nicknames. He relied on actresses, flowers and everyday items
All of our names with "O" on the end. Suso, Cindo, Leslo, Betso
Swoozey, Soocee
Forsythia
Looseleaf, Lulu
Betso Bean, Lizzie Borden

I'll have to rely on my sisters to help me remember more of them. He kept them coming. Funny, I don't remember him having any nicknames for Mom. Unless it was Dammit, Pat.

Dad had many friends in life. He collected them. None were better than his longtime Atlantic pals that he grew up with. And those others, like our friends from Creston, that he then really grew up with (age 30 on...)

That's not to say he was universally loved by all. He could be a bit of a pill - especially as he grew older. He used binoculars from his townhome on the Back 9 holes of the Atlantic Golf and Country Club to make sure nobody was playing shirtless (men) as that was against the rules. Yep, he was one of those. A sometimes fun-hater. He also felt the need to comment on people's body types - like how side their asses were. The sad thing is, sometimes I feel myself turning into that whistle-blower rules person. It's my former lifeguard and Dave B. coming out in me!

My aunties, Dad's sisters, tell good stories about my dad. A few years ago Marty sent me a CD she made when she interviewed Dad about his memories from childhood. It was done before his stroke, so his voice is so strong and vital! I need to find it and listen again.

Dad loved to have fun. He was a good tickler. I would sit on his lap while we watched TV and he would tickle my arms and back and say a cold wind was coming - giving me goose bumps! He'd also torture us with those mean big brother like things that hurt a bit like cranking your finger or "snake bite". He rode on the roller coaster at Worlds of Fun with me - wild man. Dad always found parking spots in the front row even before he cheated by having a Handicapped Sticker. Even now when Paul and I find that lucky spot we say "Dave Bullock".

Dogs loved my father. He was a pushover - they knew he was a dropper. He'd sneak them little bites of steak (grilled by him) during the meal. Odie would climb right up his lap, causing him to recline in his barcalounger, and lick his face. He'd just laugh! Our full-sized wiener dog Jud (yes, I named my son after my dog - who was named after my father David Judson) would rub up against Dad's chair and Dad would twist his ears, making him "Yipe". All of us girls would yell "Dad stop hurting him!" and he'd say "He likes it!".

Dad worked hard all week, traveling throughout Iowa to small stores and large. On Sundays he could often be found digging through samples hanging on racks downstairs. He'd load up his car - he'd buy a Buick every year, putting 60,000 miles on it. Then he'd trade it off with his pal Dandy Don Deter and get a new one. Later in life, his taste turned to Cadillac. He tried one Lincoln - it was a huge boat and we teased him that he was docking the boat every time he parked.

Dad was a snazzy dresser. In my mind he's wearing plaid pants, a white belt and loafers, a golf shirt and cotton sweater. He wore suits when he worked. The shirts were done by Albertson's Cleaners in Atlantic and they'd bring them by the house. They'd ring the doorbell, and since like most houses in town, the front door was open. They'd walk in and hang the shirts up in the closet in the front hall.

Dad would be 88 if he were alive today. I miss him. Happy Birthday Daddy!

Check out the wallpaper! And my cute haircut. Mom and Dad so snazzy.