So many pictures I didn't take.

Cullman,   AL

Here we are back in Alabama after a several day trip to the northeast.  A review:

December 19

We left home and as our usual practice after driving 397 miles we over-nighted at our nephews house in Rural Retreat VA.    Forgot to take pictures of the humans...... Kelly, Jason, Lance and Emilie.    But I did take pictures of our boy Biscuit playing with their 4 puppies.

December 20

The next morning we drove a little over 400 miles to our daughter and SIL's Terri and Steve near Hershey, PA.    Again no pictures.

December 22

We drove the 2 1/2 hours over to NJ to attend one of our "home" churches in Upper Deerfield.

Back in November I saw a message on Messenger from a name I did not know.   As Messenger can be a problem, I did not open it.    Early in December Daughter Terri told me she had been receiving a message.   She looked at it and it was from a woman who had purchased our old house in NJ.   That was my message too.

Some of our readers know we owned this house from 1992 until we started fulltime RVing in 2009.  My daughter Terri then bought it from us.  She owned it a few years before relocating to PA.  The house was sold to people who practically destroyed it until the bank foreclosed.   The house was built in 1850 and beautiful.   We made improvements including 2 additions.  Terri and Steve also made improvements.

The house sat empty for two years.   We would stop by to check it out.  We always left it upset.  But now happy news..... this couple researched us as previous owners and were interested in the history of the house and what it looked like when we owned it.    Len and I met with them.

Here are pictures I did take.

Looking from the front entry.    There was a wall and closet here.  The destructive owners knocked that wall and closet out and you can see the steps on the right to the basement.  The tiled floor beyond the basement steps is the original kitchen which we used as a laundry and 2nd kitchen.  Beyond that is the large kitchen and family room.

This is the inside of the front door.   Don't ask me what they did.  We had installed a beautiful wooden door with glass insert.   This is a cheap metal door.  And where is the trim????

This is a 3-season room we added on to the back of the house connecting to the family room.  When we looked at it from the outside all the windows were dirty and moldy.  This couple has cleaned the windows and room.

This is the kitchen and family room.   We added the propane fireplace.  They are installing the island.  We had all floors redone.  They have had to replace some boards as some of the 150+ year old boards got destroyed.

The formal living room.   What did they do!!!!!!

We had replaced all the windows in the house.   We noticed some must had gotten broken as there were no cross dividers.   These are how they should look.


We feel confident that with time (and money) this young couple will restore the house to it's original beauty.   On a side note:    Because of the condition of the house and property they paid only $4,000 more than we did in 1992.

When we left the house we met with Len's best friend, Jim, for breakfast.   Again no picture.

Then we drove the 2 hours to daughter Amy's and SIL Scotts house is Maryland for a few days stay.

December 25

Christmas.

Here is Charlotte and then Abby.

Not sure what this gift was.  But it must have been good.

Abby loves her make-up.  

We had a lovely few days visit and as always Amy is a great cook.

December 26

We headed back to Terri and Steves.    This is grandson Justin and his girlfriend Karlie walking the dogs.

December 27

Justin, Karlie, Len and I met up with my sister Debbie and her granddaughter Siani and friend Dominique at the Lenox Store in Lancaster, PA.  After a few purchases we all went to Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA.   I always find lots of jellies, salsa, beets, pickles there that I just have to have.    After lunch we said our goodbyes to the all as Justin and Karlie returned to Philadelphia and Debbie and girls to NJ.

December 28

Terri and Steve and Len and I met up with our friends Darlene and Jim who are part-time RVers.  They leave this week for Florida.  After dinner we all went back to Terri and Steves house to continue our visit.   No pictures, of course.

 This one I thought to take.   Terri puts several trees around the house.   One is always a live tree.   They all went to a tree farm where one was selected and Steve and Justin cut it down.    They brought it home and decorated it.  The next day they noticed the bottom limbs were dropping needles.   Just a few.  Then a lot.  Each day the branches going up the tree were dropping needles.  The slightest touch caused needles to drop.   IT WAS A FRESH CUT TREE.   After only a few days it had to be taken down.  After getting un-decorated this is what was left.  Bare branches and a mess to clean up.   The tree must have been diseased to have died and dried this fast.  It was kept in water the entire time.

December 29

We head from home.  Again over-nighting at Jason and Kellys where we showed our appreciation for their always hospitality.   (When there earlier Leonard had 3 helpings of Kellys stew).    We took them to Ruby Tuesday for dinner.

December 30

Getting an early start (shortly after 4 am) we got home at 11:30.   We noticed the lid was off the dog food container and it was mostly empty.    That night I put a watering can on the lid.  This is what I found the next morning.

Will get bungee cords and tie  the lid down. 

January 1

We go to Son Lennies and DIL Lois for dinner.   What do you think?   Will I remember to take a picture.   Probably not.

Until next time...... have a great New Year you all!