A Return to Payson House

Note: This blog was written last October, but we're just now getting around to editing and posting it.

It has been just over a month since our last visit to our house up north, but almost three months since our last posting. Our last two trips did not involve any work around or in the house that were worth writing about, and, though this trip was not much different, we thought we should bring our status up-to-date.

One of those last visits was devoted to enjoying time on our own, which we have been trying to do more of rather than just coming up and working.  The other weekend we had visitors at the house.  Our nephew, his fiance, and their 4-year old, Jayson,  joined us for a weekend getaway.  It was fun having the little guy at the house and esp. nice that we do not have to do much to kid-proof the house at this time. My nephew brought his guns and we went to the Jim Jones Shooting Range just south of Payson.  He let me shoot his 9mm guns, a shotgun and a 22 caliber rifle.  It was a nice quiet range (not many people) and not a bad price for public admission. The ladies had a good time going thrift store shopping and the rest of the weekend was spent relaxing, playing games, going to the park and bowling (it was Jayson's first time).  We have not spent a lot of time with many of our nieces and nephews and it was good having them up (they really liked the cooler weather) and getting to know them better.  They will be getting married October 27th.

This weekend was spent getting the place in shape so that the same nephew and his new bride will be able to stay here a couple of days for their honeymoon.  Due to our lack of being here the last few months, the weeds had taken over and needed to be cleared and the grass needed to be cut again.  We filled 6 trash bags with weeds from the front and back yards and still had more to do (but ran out of time).

In the first year of owning the house, we bought an old TV from a neighbor's garage sale and it has done us well through all the dust and dirt of the remodel.  But now it is making a loud buzzing noise and, when we watch movies, the picture is distorted due to the square screen.  We took a look to see what Walmart had and found a display model at a really good price and it just happened to be a 3D set.  We have some friends who recently bought a 3D setup with TV and Blu-Ray player and they enjoy it, so we thought we would give it a try.  It definitely looks better in the house than the old unit.

Our new 3D TV

We have had the ability to try a number of restaurants in Payson using PaysonDealz (a "Groupon" like discount offered through the Payson Round-Up newspaper).  We recently purchased one for the Journigan House.  It is a restaurant that we had been to a long time ago when it was called Main Street Grille, but it has been closed for many years.  It was recently purchased and remodeled and we were happy to get the coupon to give it a test run.  Sorry to say we were disappointed.  We found the dinner menu to be overpriced and the meal did not live up to its cost. In addition, we were the only people there until another couple came in about halfway through our meal. Laurie ended up getting violently ill that night and we wondered if the food had been sitting out and gave her food poisoning.  We still have one more coupon to use and decided next time to try their lunch - at least it would be cheaper and sandwiches seem safer at this point.

We left the house all ready for the newlyweds and made our way back to the valley after spending another great weekend in Payson.

Stats: 0 Home Depot trips; 3 Walmart trips
Remodeling expense 7/31/12-10/22/12: $321
Remodeling expense to date: $45,203