Thom and Bobby's Rants, Raves and Pics

ADDITION COMPLETION

2010-06-04T13:55:00.002-05:00

Well, it's all over but the landscaping. Follows the pictures of the addition from the exterior, the porch from the interior, and the guest room refurbished. Now that the temps are approaching 100 degrees, it's good to have this project completed. The landscaping will be done in the fall as the air cools a bit.

Addition Pics

2010-06-04T13:54:00.002-05:00

Porch Images

2010-06-04T13:52:00.000-05:00

THE TV Cabinet!!

2010-06-04T13:51:00.002-05:00

Guest Room Completed

2010-06-04T13:49:00.002-05:00

The Porch Saga Continues.

2010-05-13T07:10:00.003-05:00

Stage 2 of the porch addition, the new roof and roughing in. Now we are waiting for the new siding, and then finishing the inside. Going well, already spending evenings out there.

2010-05-13T07:07:00.001-05:00

2010-05-13T07:06:00.002-05:00

Addition to 303 Hamill, Oil City

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2010-04-08T07:40:00.000-05:00

Easter week saw Dan & T.C. Fulghum and Thom and Bobby Butenhoff in New Orleans for a three day respite from life in Oil City. Good food, great company, fun shopping and walkabouts made for a wonderful mini-vacation. Highly recommended for everyone, but one small bit of advice. DO NOT take rooms on Bourbon Street unless you don't plan on sleeping much.

On The Road

2010-04-08T07:39:00.000-05:00

NEW ORLEANAS VISIT 2010

2010-04-08T07:38:00.003-05:00

Boubon Street Balcony Views

2010-04-08T07:37:00.000-05:00

Katrina Wave Sculpture

2010-04-08T07:35:00.002-05:00

New Orleans WW II Museum

2010-04-08T07:35:00.001-05:00

Longue Vue Gardens Views

2010-04-08T07:34:00.001-05:00

New Orleans Holocaust Memorial

2010-04-08T07:31:00.001-05:00

Dan's PICS

2010-04-08T07:28:00.002-05:00

New Orleans Images

2010-04-08T07:28:00.001-05:00

HOLIDAY ON HAMILL 2009

2009-12-20T20:19:00.003-06:00

These are our Christmas 2009 BLOG pictures --- another successful HOLIDAY ON HAMILL in Oil City!!

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2009-06-29T20:56:00.006-05:00

Our wedding sojourn took us from Franklin Square on Long Island New York to Provincetown MA for a week, culminating with the wedding on the 19th of June. After much trepidation, the weather fully cooperated allowing us our lovely beach ceremony as planned. We honeymooned in Niagara Falls, topped with a lovely dinner at the Keg restaurant on the 9th floor of the EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL on the Canadian side overlooking the falls. From there we headed to the YANKEE CANDLE MUSEUM and "MOTHER STORE" for a couple of hours, then on to Tennessee. Two nights in Memphis and a tour of GRACELAND and all the encumbent museums ended our wonderful adventure. We hope you all enjoy the approximately 90 photos we were able to post here.

First stop, Long Island NY with Fran, Denise and Mary Lou.

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Meeting our dear old friend Pat after many years in P-Town.

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In PROVINCETOWN !! The Pilgrim Monument.

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BARBIE DOLL Pond on the streets of P-Town.

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P-Town from the Monument, BEACONLIGHT is circled.

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Day on Nantucket

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The Rehearsal Dinner Night

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The Rehearsal - done with salt and pepper shakers.

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MANICURES !!

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THE WELCOME

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The Wedding Party Enters.

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THE BEACH CEREMONY

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The Rings.

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After the Ceremony, on the beach.

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The Wedding Cupcakes.

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Our friends Michael Kandel and Jim Robertson, the unofficial photographer.

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The First Dance and wedding guests.

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The BEACONLIGHT on our last night.

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The YANKEE CANDLE Company and Museum.

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From the YANKEE CANDLE grounds.

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The HILLCREST GUEST HOUSE, Niagara Falls, NY.

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"The Watcher" from the house next door, and the view from our room of the river.

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The FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT Prarie Style house in Buffalo, with Gardeners Cottage.

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NIAGARA FALLS VIEWS

2009-06-29T15:44:00.000-05:00

The "MAID of the MIST" boat ride.

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A Lonely Gull.

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NIAGARA FALLS, American Side

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Chihuly Chandelier and the KEG restaurant, Canadian Side, Niagara Falls.

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GRACELAND, Memphis TN

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Kitchen, Jungle Room and museum displays at GRACELAND.

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The Mempnis PEABODY HOTEL "March of the Ducks"

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"RETRO" Chandelier purchased in P-Town with part of Wedding Gift Money.

2009-06-29T15:19:00.000-05:00

GUSHER DAYS IN OIL CITY

2009-05-16T17:55:00.003-05:00

This whole week was an annual event in Oil City called "GUSHER DAYS". It celebrates the "old" Oil City, when wildcatters came to make their fortunes, and several indeed became very wealthy. Today Oil City is a small town, struggling with the same problems that exist everywhere else. This year's event was bigger and better than ever. Bobby spent the entire day helping me (Thom) and caught much of it on film. We have posted many of the pictures here to give "y'all" an idea of what it's like to have a celebration in a small, rural southern town. We have become proud to be part of this town, and are also proud to say that we are no longer "damn yankees", but just simple "yankees".

May 16th, 2009

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Lawnmower racers.

Interesting Float!!

The Mayor "Chip" Dickey and his wife Clella.

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The "floats"......

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The "SOC" Club of Oil City

Seniors of Oil City --

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One of our more interesting food vendors with an historic backdrop.

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"Reno Hill" Float. Reno Hill was the "red light" district in Oil City in the "wildcatters" days.

These are our friends Neicy Bass and Carol Schmidt.

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Entrance to the carnival on Land Avenue, "downtown" Oil City.

GUSHER DAY IN OIL CITY 2009

2009-05-16T17:25:00.005-05:00

Thom getting GUSHER DAY MAN OF THE YEAR award at dignitary luncheon at the Oil City Oil and Gas Museum.

GARDENS AT THE NORTON ART GALLERY 2009

2009-03-24T05:39:00.000-05:00

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This year we had a truly wonderful surprise when the Carolina Jasmine on our deck went wild with color. We have a "ceiling" of wonderful yellow flowers, a pleasant fragrance and a great interest by the bee population.

Carolina Jasmine on the deck.

2009-03-08T10:21:00.003-05:00

POSSUM ADDENDUM

2009-02-07T09:54:00.003-06:00

Possum story still pending!! However, this did appear in PEOPLE in the FEB. 9th issue. This is our "MAMA" possum. We'll let you know when our episode will air. (Click on pic for larger view.)

LINK TO YOU TUBE "HOLIDAY ON HAMILL" VIDEO

2008-12-21T09:47:00.004-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyWiRGzmzfU&feature=channel_page

More Holiday On Hamill

2008-12-21T05:54:00.002-06:00

More Holiday On Hamill

2008-12-21T05:52:00.003-06:00

More Holiday On Hamill

2008-12-21T05:49:00.002-06:00

2008-12-20T08:38:00.001-06:00

It's Christmas on Hamill Street again, and here are a few interior pictures.

Displays, Holiday on Hamill 2008

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Christmas Trees, Holiday on Hamill 2008

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The HAMILL STREET saga of the POSSUM FAMILY.

2008-04-15T05:53:00.004-05:00

Monday, April 14th 2008 proved to be one of the most unusual and interesting days in our seven year history here on Hamill Street. Bobby and I have both been concerned in recent weeks with strange noises we were hearing from inside the shower enclosure area in our bathroom near the pool. In the morning and later evening we were hearing what were essentially "scratching" sounds coming from behind the walls. We tried to evaluate it, and attempted to remedy it with an ultrasonic pest repellent. It didn't work, so we decided to open the wall and take a look. We were expecting no more than a couple of mice or a squirrel, so after Bobby left for work on Monday morning, Thom got out his trusty dry wall saw, and cut a whole approximately 5" x 10" into the wall next to the john in our '59 Chevy Motif bathroom. When the piece of dry wall fell inside the wall, Thom found himself literally face to face with a Momma possum, and an indeterminate number of her offspring. Understandably, a quick fix cover was made for over the hole, and a whole new set of problems were now needed to be addressed.

A frantic series of telephone calls followed to animal control, to several pest control companies, and eventually to the Louisiana Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. They referred me to a couple of companies that did actual "removals". Most other suggestions involved setting traps and waiting for the animals to wander into them, which could have taken weeks. Once we realized we had a family living in our walls, getting them removed seemed an immediate concern, so I called a company called VEXCON. They were very cooperative, and promised to take care of the situation immediately. That proved to be a defining moment for the day.

Soon after the call to VEXCON, I received a call back from a young man who said he represented a movie company, and could they film the removal of our possums. I said sure, thinking it would be for a commercial for the company or something like that. I called Bobby and advised him of what was going on, wishing he could be here to help with what was apparently becoming a "project" of a much bigger dimension than originally envisioned. Little did we know what was yet to come for the day.

The "filming" turned out to be sponsored by a new reality show for A&E called "BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR". It's a new show which will premier on A&E in the fall, and will feature "BILLY" doing unusual pest removals, much in the format of the "DIRTY JOBS" program already airing. The "possum project" seemed just right for a segment on this new show, and within minutes a crew of 8 men, plus BILLY showed up at 303 Hamill and began setting up for what would be a full day of "shooting". Unfortunately, Bobby was working, and because of that the show was set up with Thom as the home owner, and principal "protagonist" in this endeavor. They arrived here early in the morning, and left around 7 PM. It took most of the day to remove the 5 (yes - FIVE) baby possums, and set a trap for the Mama possum which will be removed today (Tuesday the 15th).

What follows here is a series of pictures we managed to take while the A&E crew was here working, and of BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR doing his job. He is a real character himself, and a truly nice man who is careful to do his work without harm to the "critters" he is charged with removing.

Here are a couple of links to sites related to BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR.

LOUISIANA MOVIES BLOG

VEXCON (Billys Company)

When we know the air date for this show, we will send out an E-mail to "alert the media".

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This was our introduction to the BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR show, and the beginning of one of the most interesting and strange days of our life here in Oil City. Paul was the first to arrive at the house to evaluate the situation, and see if it was worth of a segment on the show. He, and subsequently the director, were "blown away" by what they found, and were eager to proceed with the project.

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There were the first vehicles to arrive. It felt like an invasion of the "MEN IN BLACK".

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BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR'S vehicle, the first to arrive.

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Our first view of BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR. This isn't what we expected. But then the events of the day turned out to be totally unexpected as well.

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The arrival of the A&E crew on Hamill Street was a real event. We really didn't know what to expect, but this group could not have been more friendly, informative, and helpful.

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Billy and Harland (the director) begin to set up the sequence of events for the day.

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The A&E crew beginning to set up for this "shoot". They had incredible HD digital equipment, and were kind enouogh to share everything with us as they proceeded to get us all ready. This is Dusty, and Leo the sound man.

2008-04-15T05:35:00.004-05:00

BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR about to embark on his quest in the Butenhoff bathroom!!

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This is where it all began. Our modest second bathroom, here stripped of any decoratiion just in case the "critters" get lose inside. The brown wooden area in the lower center behind the "john" is the access point we originally opened, and where we first saw our unwanted residents. This area proved to be too difficult for the extraction.

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Billy's foot is the last of him to disappear under the house in an attempt to lure the possums out from underneath, after the failed attempt to get them out through the bathroom.

2008-04-15T05:25:00.003-05:00

After the attempt UNDER the house, the only remaining possibility was to go through the outside wall and try to get into the area under the shower stall where the nest and been built, and where there was great hiding space.

2008-04-15T05:23:00.004-05:00

This was the hole that had to be created to reach into the space in the bathroom where the possum family had nested. After the attempt in the cramped bathroom space, this seemed like the only realisitc way of getting them all out.

2008-04-15T05:21:00.003-05:00

Trying to reach into this incredibly difficult space to retrieve what turned out to be a Mama and 5 baby possums was a daunting task. When asked, Billy said this was really kind of a "routine" job.

2008-04-15T05:18:00.006-05:00

The A&E crew worked very hard, and in tight spaces to try to capture this event. Luckily, the weather was breezy, cool and clear.