Looking for a house

29 March 2008 Crockett

(Entrance with snake door handles)
The Greger family invited us to check out this foreclosed home in Crockett. They had seen it just last night and wanted to see it in the day time. So we headed out there and came upon this sorta odd but interesting house.


(inside the entrance)

(Kai and Brennan on the stairwell)
It appeared to be worn out and definitely needed a lot of exterior and interior work. It was obvious the previous tenants were an artsy group. However Greg thought they were a bit on the gothic side due to the obsession with the dark faux wall painting in "every" room.

I thought it had a lot of Southwest influence due to the big heavy doors, cabinets, and metal hinges.

Marla looks a bit skeptical here.
My opinion? I would take another 100 grand to get this place in ship-shape. The (3-level) deck outside is about ready to fall apart, the garden will take a lot of maintenance as the cobblestone is falling apart (Kai pulled one out), and the (3) bathrooms are not finished. All the walls need to be painted, the rooms appear to need re-wiring, and the windows need to be replaced. Due to the big windows also, the place will need central heating or cost a lot in heating. But I am not the expert. I just followed also what the other experienced folk found.

A castle door, medieval door? hanging for show on the wall.

But hey, you never know-maybe the Greger's would take up on the challenge if they have the time and are willing to spend the bucks! I would love to see it go through the remodeling phase.

Dead Fish

Cheri had this mean craving for crab and even went as far as doing a web search for a restaurant nearby. Greg watched the kids for us, and after I got Hope to sleep (she likes to fall asleep on my chest- I must be boring!) we took off to Crockett and ate at the Dead Fish Restaurant.

Feed me! Feed me!

You would think with a name like that, it would go under real quick- but to my surprise, the atmosphere was good, and I felt I was under-dressed having worn jeans and a fleece jacket. We each ordered a 1-pound crab and some garlic fries.

Do I really need a bib?

And the waiter came back with bibs! Cheri and I were about ready to die laughing as the waiter was so serious when he tied each one around our neck. Hmmm- he knew we would be messy eaters?

~

The food was delicious. The garlic fries and garlic crab was strong and well worth it's pretty penny. Well, Cheri after all got her craving under control. She did not want to leave California without eating the dungenuss crab here!

We refuse to let vacation end so we head to Benecia!

3 June 2007, Sunday
Refusing to admit vacation was over, we headed to Vallejo.
Driving on Hwy 80 I noticed this statue on one of the hills in Pinole.

We wanted to check out the RV show on the Solano Fairgrounds in Vallejo, which were on display, literally, hundreds of RV of all sizes. The largest ones were as long as a bus and looked like a semi. When you entered its confines, you entered a house on wheels!

One RV had 2 bathrooms in it, and was bigger than the apartment I once lived in in Walnut Creek years ago. Carpeted bedrooms, slate floors, sunlights in the bathroom, a full fridge and freezer, and a 4 burner stove! Not to mention the full tv and 20-inch computer screen it can hold. Worth at least $250,000, no doubt.

Kai pretending to drive and likely with a vision to run over me. The little boy just reached his terrible 2's this past week!


Kai is attracted to the colorful wall mural.


Again, Kai is behind the wheel of this big machine and looking menancingly at me, again.


This 5th wheel allows motorcycles or ATVs to be driven up the ramp and into it. Some features include a seperate "garage", dining room/family room, and upstairs to the bedroom. GEEZ!


Later we visited Benecia and happened to be around during the children's art festival. There was quite an amazing fort-play structure on the grounds off Military Street. And I did not worry too much about Kai on top of the structure as it was well closed off, to prevent any falls. It was primarily a maze for kids to run through.


And at 9th Street, we hit the beach. A windy day, but still hot. Kai saw a couple of chics and tried to hang with them, for real!




And when he got bored with me...

...he ran off to play with some other kids mother. Greg runs over to claim Kai, as he is knocking over their sandcastles.


To end the day, we visit the Greger family in Crockett, who have a great view of the newly built Alfred Zampa bridge from their house. Kai decides to terrorize their 3-year old Brennan by taking apart his toys, and making himself at home (as seen above).