![\"2009](\"https:\/\/www.basilweb.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_0756.jpg\" "\\"IMG_0756\\"")
<\/a>2009 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic<\/p><\/div>\n
February brought even more rides, including our HOG Chapter’s annual trip to Tombstone, Arizona. My wife and son even went with. Beautiful scenery. Loved the Lavender Pit.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Lavender Pit, near Tombstone, Arizona<\/p><\/div>\n
March was my first time out visiting Elephant Butte, New Mexico.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Elephant Butte, New Mexico<\/p><\/div>\n
April brought a whole new aspect to my life for the first time – house hunting. Carol and I had planned on purchasing a house after our current lease expired, but thought it would be nice to go look at the market, just to see what it was like. Turns out we found a house that day that we both liked. And bought it. By the end of the month we were packed and ready to go. We even got out of our lease.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Our unfinished house<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Finished house<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Finished house with landscaping<\/p><\/div>\n
The beginning of May is when we moved and spent most of that month getting the house right\u2026<\/p>\n
June was when we picked out Dolli, our dog. Part chihuahua and part terrier. And spent more time getting the house right. The garage and entertainment center were the focus of the handy-man. Installed speaker jacks in the walls and ceiling\/attic so that no wires would be running visible in the living room.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Cut-outs in the wall for the jacks<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Jacks installed<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Speaker wire drops down from attic<\/p><\/div>\n
Carol started working at her high school in July. Did I mention we did more work on the house? The main focus that month was the kitchen sink and the cupboards. I also rode out to Sitting Bull Falls, New Mexico.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Replaced generic faucet with this one<\/p><\/div>\n
August was the really big project on the house – the back porch\/patio, rock wall on the sides of the property, and another little side porch to hold the trash and recycle bins that connected to the driveway. We also rode out to Alpine and Fort Davis, Texas. It also marked the birthday of Carol!<\/p>\n
httpv:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Cswz6rV9qCk<\/p>\n
September I received my new Bunn STX Brewer that I won in a video contest. Poor Dolli got shaved at the groomers “by accident.” Had to buy her a sweater because she was so cold.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Dolli, shaved and wearing a sweater<\/p><\/div>\n
October brought the changing of the leaves and some very nice rides. Not too hot, not too cold. Rode through the Gila National Forrest and Emery Pass in New Mexico. I also turned another year older. This was the month that Carol bought me my KitchenAid professional stand mixer. That has really come in handy.<\/p>\n
November was the usual. All the holidays and 4-day weekends come en masse. Time to start eating like there’s no tomorrow, and that lasts through December and into January.<\/p>\n
December saw all our toy rides and poker runs for the ramp up to Christmas and the New Year. I also finished up hiding the cables running to and from the entertainment center and the speaker jacks I put in the wall.<\/p>\n