Good blogging karma

Sunday turned out to be quite the good blogging karma day. Found a new renovation blog of an incredibly cool MCM house with great stories about connecting with previous owners and how the new homeowners were able to solve many of the mysteries that kept popping up.

What caught our attention, however, was a picture of a built-in grill in the very MCM kitchen, http://retroattic6969.blogspot.com/search/label/grill, that seemed like a potential retrofit for our BBQ room. We contacted the blogger and very quickly received an email response with more great pictures of the grill. Turns out the manufacturer is still in business but, unfortunately, they now only make stoves and fireplaces. But the blogger's husband says the grills can still be found on eBay. Oh boy, something else to lure us back into eBay….

But the karma continued. Sunday evening our iPhones told us we had a new comment on the blog. And it was quite the comment: "I was very happy to see your blog. I am George's great grandson. I have many great memories of that house. I also believe I still have pictures from family gatherings there. If you would like to contact me my email is…" Of course, we made contact.

We've now had two great email exchanges with Mr. Tombleson's great grandson, Chris, and many of our mysteries about the house have been solved. Lots of great stories, too. In an earlier post we talked about the two back-lit mesa paintings in the BBQ room. Turns out they were more than just paintings. Chris remembers Mr. T had a toy model stage coach complete with cowboys and Indians set up in front of the one above the bar.

The best story so far, however, is about his great grandfather's love of the wildlife in our area. According to Chris, George would feed the quail twice a day. He would spread out a 3 pound coffee can of bird feed along the driveway directly in front of the house and then return to the living room to watch the hundred plus quail enjoying the feast.

It gets better. Every night, shortly after dark, he would go outside with dog food and hand feed the foxes. Chris remembers joining him a few times and thinks he may even have some pictures. As karma would have it, last night we saw a fox in the same exact place Chris described.

If everything goes as planned, Chris is going to stop by Sunday morning and we'll get to meet him in person and show him the renovation progress. We're expecting even more great stories….

Meanwhile, back at the construction site, it's been all about the tile. Two tile guys in the guest house installing the shower tile and one guy in the BBQ finishing up the floor. Tomorrow is grout day!!!

Like everyone else in involved on the renovation, the tile guys are really good at what they do. We're convinced Mr. Tombleson would be impressed. We sure are.

Loving the MCM and tiki vibe of the shower tiles. It's nice when you know you've made the right choice.

Today, the three pendant lights (finally) got installed. They kind of look like warming lights you might see in a diner but we're still loving them. Tomorrow, the LED strip lighting goes up in the BBQ room and the guest house bath room. We may also see the shelves installed in the BBQ room. Things are moving pretty fast on Steinback Mountain. Thursday, there are many things to be thankful for….