Back to Rod & Connie's place

Mr. & Mrs. Rod Stover (Album II) .. you are entirely welcome to visit us here or at: 1305 Sweetwater Ave Kearney, NE 68847
		We weren't really serious about finding a new home, but had done a little scouting looking for seclusion and water.  We happened on this home in October of 2001, and that was IT.  Rod still had Colorado values in mind and went nuts. Didn't want to lose this one to another bidder.  We contracted in late October, but had to wait until February (!!) for closing.
What and where:    A two bedroom rancher with nearly full basement and a finished bedroom down stairs. An oversized double garage, wood burning stove in the living room... On about 1.7 acres with two corrals, a small barn, a pole shed and a tack shed. And access to a pond - a mature sand pit with promise of bass fishing.  We aren't in to horses, but the garden site should be fertile!  We have our own well and septic, all else is electric, including a water-based heat pump.    Eleventh St. and Sweetwater Ave. is four miles east of the Runza on 2nd Ave. (The Runza is a major Kearney landmark.) Or, one mile east and two miles south of Cabela's.  Or, one mile east and one mile south of Stone School.  OR, from the Minden interchange on I-80 north .7 mile to Coal Chute, east 3 miles, south about a mile. We can see the fabled Arch over I-80 two miles to the SW. And, the foot & bridge trail north of Ft. Kearney is about a mile to the SE.    We can sometimes hear the drone of the Interstate about a mile south, and at other times can hear the wailing of coal trains about two miles north. But overall it's quieter than the city (town).
Friday, January 31, 2002    Finally - closing day. Which happened to correspond with a taste of Winter that had been otherwise mild.  We visited "our" home for the first time with Connie's parents and brother in near blizzard conditions.    The front bumper of the Subaru got torn off on a previous visit when I wheeled back to turn around and caught a railroad tie lining the drive.  It came off like ripping off a shirt with snap buttons.	Connie's mother made a wise ass suggestion that we just replace the bumper with a snow blade, rather than have it repaired.
The trip from Kearney is not geographically exciting. It is so-o-o flat. There are a few homes, but mostly telephone poles. With snow cover, it's bleak.  The trips reminded me of a scene from "Doctor Zhivago" when he and his family attempted to escape the revolution by sleighing to the country house. The tune might be Jarre's "Russian Troika," but I found myself singing "Laura's Theme" and wanting to rent the video.
Nice (really nice) stove and brick work, but the carpet has got to go.	What do we call it??  The "Cuckoo's Nest?"   The "RoAdmoor?"  Connie's brother suggested "On Olden Pond." Maybe the "Froggie Pad," as a frog theme seemed to develop naturally.    The house is 22 years old, well built and features gorgeous woodwork of dark-stained elm wood, (!) a trademark of builder Paul Otto, now retired. Cabinets are of ash stained to match.    Actually, the house was in good condition and ready for occupancy. But, not yet; we had a few things in mind. And while we're at it, we might do this and that... might as well do it right while we're at it, etc. There's really no rush to move.
Master bedroom: gorgeous woodwork and spacious closets; but the carpet's got to go.	It was soon stripped and NOT ready to occupy. Carpet gone. Wall torn out. Much patching and filling. Wallpaper stripped.  New carpet, flooring, and paint ($$). Decisions and selections were a pleasure; we have similar tastes and/or a desire to accommodate.    Had Rod anticipated a major remodeling project, he might not have been so anxious to leave the lounging security of the townhome.	A tiny bath off the master bedroom is handy, but the corner mounted stool is a knee-knocker, both left and right.
A wall between the kitchen and coat closet creating a hall - out of here.	The dining room - needs paint ? Oddly, the very first purchase even before closing was hardwood flooring; the last thing to be installed.	GOT to do something!  (the graffiti is from the Smokey Stover cartoon strip... Notary Sojak ??)
Connie's parents, Erv and Bev Pulver were just awesome and willing helpers.  Erv had installed carpet and flooring for a living at one time and both were familiar with painting, cleaning & remodeling in general.    Erv's ambition and confidence would rub off on Rod and vice-versa; some projects were completed with both thinking the other knew what he was doing.
The functionless wall was replaced by 13' headers to echo the hexagonal theme. All the trim carefully preserved for later.		Paint and plumbing left-overs.  Just a few 22.5º soil pipe elbows discarded trying to get the new stool plumbed plumb. (so to speak)
Rod had this vision of a circular table extended from the kitchen counter with bar stools and had to build it to prove it could be done.  The edges would be beveled, so some 'training' of tub-soaked wood strips was required.    To think that Rod used to have nice soft retired hands. Should have used Fingergloves™.    (Btw, my favorite photo/image manager is ThumbsPlus from Cerious Software.  It's just super!)
An extension ladder and some 2x12s were lying around... used to paint the stairwell to the 'lower level.' (basement)	Click photo for a slight enlargement of the Pulvers (in a new browser window)	The appliances were moved to the living room to make way for new flooring; the kitchen counters were in use for tools and paint... finding a place for lunch took some doing.  Connie would take a break from city 'work' and bring drinks and sandwiches. (many times) 02/22/2002: Erv Pulver celebrates his 80th birthday by doing what he likes best; working.  He was here on their 56th anniversary as well, but took the next weekend off.
Moving was piecemeal. Rod scouted for a utility trailer, but fell for a used Ford Ranger. Whoops, there goes the $$ for the downstairs bathroom.     The toughest item was the washing machine that Rod hauled from Colorado. Nephew Derry Stover helped on many quick trips from the town home.    Laundry appliances had to wait for flooring. Kitchen appliances had been moved to the dining room to make way for flooring, but then stayed there awaiting new kitchen counter tops, which were delayed yet another week. In the meantime, the garage stored the dining room furniture (and gobs of other stuff).    Stuff. Gobs of stuff. Some still packed from Connie's move 7 years ago. And more stuff of Rod's that had been stacked in the town home garage.    Garage sale coming up, even if we have to move it back.	Now all Rod needs is a gun rack for his pellet gun. (Darin's old boom box was used as a work bench)	Redneck camper; pretty handy pickup
	The Subaru Outback was handy as well; that's a complete dining set!	Thankful for an oversized garage.
	We were delighted when a few house finches appeared after several days of waiting.  Soon, a few goldfinches found the feeders and told all their wild cousins on the Platte.    Cranes feed in the fields nearby and sometimes venture within only about 25 yards of the house.  They are awesome when flying, particularly when they're so low one can hear their wings flapping.  They're tough to photograph.    There were days when there were Canadian geese, snow geese and cranes overhead. A cacophony of migrating birds. We've also seen robins, bluejays, turtle doves, chipping sparrows, a few English sparrows, a flicker, blackbirds, red-wing blackbirds, and quail.    Rod is hoping to attract purple martins in the front yard.
Cranes in flight are just awesome !	..right out the dining room window !	Maybe it should be a bit higher ?
Finally !  After SEVEN WEEKS of commuting and toil, we stayed over night !  Not that we had 'moved'.. just anxious to live here. With no kitchen and no dining room (still awaiting formica), it was a bit like camping. The little gas grille and a spare microwave oven provided welcome relief from fast food.	Ham and eggs - note the spatula; it's a plaster knife !	A disassembled coffee carafe is our only pot for microwaved veggies.
Announcing: an addition to the family !  Prepare for a waggy greeting by 'Forman,' a four year-old chocolate lab, acquired from a Poole family friend, Chick Tillson.  Forman stays outside, is well behaved, and loves dressing up to go to town. (He's a Rockies fan)  Rod gave Connie cause for concern when he got Forman after only one night in the new pad, but Rod contends that he didn't want the opportunity to slip by.
Oh, yeah! Huge pollywogs.  Ribbit !	Cranes at sunrise	The east corral is about 65 x 100; to become a garden.  Should be enough for a few melons and some sweet corn.  (Cranes in the background)
Rod has been tiltin' at windmills all his life and finally humored one into submission.  It's a Dempster 12, made in Beatrice as early as 1927.    Not sure how to get it up; maybe we'll have an erection party.
No "after" photos posted. Come see. Y'all come !  Ya hear ??