COLUMBUS HOUSE CALL

Mom and Dad had the wonderful opportunity to fly to Columbus on Thursday, July 3rd - July 8th.  It was a chance to see Rachel and Spencer, their environs, their new house and some special people.  It was also a chance to help-out with getting the new house tuned up a bit.

 On the drive from the airport we just had to stop at Dirty Franks for Hot Dogs in downtown Columbus.

 It was worth the trip for dad to have a Slappy Pappy Dog and mom to enjoy a Slaw Dog.

Then it was time to visit Rachel and Spencer's new home.  It is a grand, old, brick home on a street of lovely, old homes.

It was decided to start right in that evening by investigating a slow draining sink and tub.  It was a little more than we had hoped (perhaps just some clogged traps).  After a good part of  Friday day and a few new pipe fittings (and opening the wall under the sink to get to them) and some snaking of the old galvanized drain pipe, things were flowing and going.

(Note the white painted wainscot walls in the above photos.)

For the next few days we worked on a variety of  things from the "to do" list.  We got the garbage disposal unstuck and draining.  It just took the old broom stick trick and dislodging some glass and a screw.  We discovered a snapped off spray arm in the dishwasher and ordered a new one.

We had many a delightful meal on the grand front porch.  All the homes (it seems) in Columbus have front porches.  It was a pleasure to sit and enjoy the good food and seeing the people go by.

Columbus has their big fireworks show on July 3 and downtown is crazy. We ventured into town on July 4th to eat hearty at the Spaghetti Warehouse  and then take a quiet stroll along the Scioto River that runs through downtown Columbus.

Saturday we were invited to Joe and Elana's house, a short distance away on the eastern side of Columbus.  Joe is Spencer's brother and a VERY generous tool guy.  After a mouth-watering barbequed pork dinner we used Joe's wood shop to rebuild the drawers from the built-in cabinets from R / S's bathroom.  We replaced the split sides and nailed and glued them back together.

Sunday, we attended the Marble Cliff Ward, which is right next to the fine Columbus Temple.   Mom got to go with Rachel to Young Women's where Rachel had just been sustained as a counselor in the new YW presidency in the ward.  Dad attended Elder's Quorum with Spencer.

Monday morning we started right into the Living Room wanting to use the paint we bought on Saturday.  There were a few cracks in the ceiling that we took care of and just a few in the walls.

We pulled the old metal gas "fire" out of the firebox to reveal their lovely brick fireplace.

The woodwork in the house for the most part has a lovely natural finish except for a few windows in the living room and the front door.  Part of the "to do" was to strip the white paint off these (see window in below photo).

Thanks to Spencer for dad's hat, to keep paint and dust out of dad's hair

To get ready to paint we needed to cover the beautiful oak floors that Rachel and Spencer have so laboriously sanded, cleaned and varnished.

The ceiling got painted first.  While it was drying dad replaced the rear shocks on Rachel and Spencer's car.  One was really bad, providing brain numbing jolts on the slightest bumps.  The job got done just before lunch and some torrential Ohio rain.

After the shock job it was time to cover the avocado green walls in the living room with a smoke/baby blue paint.

 The wall color is a great look with R/S's couches and other (garaged) funiture.

 Joe and Elana visited on Monday night and Joe and Spencer started bringing in the furniture pieces from the garage.

The above is the dining room with a peek at the stair that goes up to the three bedrooms and bath on the second floor.

 We had many a tasty meal fixed on the new range.

 We enjoyed eating in the cozy nook off the kitchen.  One of the favorites was the Chicago style pizza and IBC cream soda one night.

The door to the right, in the kitchen, goes to a half flight of stairs down to a side entry door and then down to a full basement.

We met Spencer for a late lunch on Tuesday, after getting a second coat of paint on the living room walls.  While the second coat of paint was going on mom and Rachel planted a new hydranga, and put edging around the tree in the back yard.

We ate at the famous Northstar Cafe where Rachel works.  It is a wonderful, wonderful restaurant.  (See number 15 on THIS LIST.)

Before leaving to fly back to L.A. Tuesday night dad had to get one more little job done - covering the hole left under the sink on the first day.  (Note the meticulous stripping, by hand, with a razor blade, of the thick latex paint on the tile patterned wainscot.)

What a great time mom and dad had with that cute Twelmeyer, Columbus couple.  It will be exciting to see their place shine through their love and labor in coming weeks and months.