The Apartment, coming to a close in a couple weeks

 I am hoping I have some pictures.  I feel so dumb at times just trying to use a phone, PC or my simple camera.  I ordered a simple camera (I THOUGHT).  I am only a point and shoot kind of guy. But I do not know when I am taking  a movie or snap shots.  OUCH!

Some pictures, methinkss...

Above  is what I started with..

This is the main open area, living room, kitchen, dining areas. That ceiling was tough. I have a rough time working over my head. A contractor came thru once as I worked on the ceiling and asked where was my help, you  certainly cannot do a suspended ceiling by yourself? I pointed out my two 'dead men' (A term used for extra supports as I work) I move them around to hold up the 12 foot stuff while I level and tie it to the floor above. LOL

Kitchen stove to be added later of course.

looking into bedroom #1

This is the china hutch with the doll I saved from the trash. That doll waS OWNED BY OUR NEIGHBOR for over 50 years. (Long story there)

above ios Bedroom 2 according door on closet.

This is a necessary room, a pump room. the basement is below sewer level so waste must be ground and pumped up and out to city sewer. This was one of the hardest jobs I had to cut thru 4 inches of concrete. That container is buried 30 inches into the ground.

Bathroom of course.

Terrible shot of the shower; I had messed with this camera too much and the battery was dying.

This is looking from the pump room back to the entry way which houses a 8x10 storage room and a foyer.

My doll has kept me company as I worked.

My working and staging area. in the joining garage. The washer and dryer will be here in this area.

I hung 68 sheets of drywall and finished and painted it. added right at 900 sq ft of suspended ceiling. I plumbed and wired this place. I had help unloading one load of drywall.

Sherry hasn't fussed (much) but she has made it clear this is the last BIG job of an 86 year old man.  I am tending to agree with her.

I am trying to settle down and realize I cannot fix all family problems.  I  pictured retirement as having NO problems. I was once teaching a SS class and mention a friend in the audience. I said, "Wouldn't it be nice to be like the Rev.  QJ Cox. RETIRED and not a worry in the world.  He smiled really big and winked at me.  After class, he came up and said, "It may take a few years son, but you will learn a lot of things when you get OLD!"

Boy, was he right!  LOL

Sending love and good thoughts your way

Nite Shipslog

Trying, but not too much success, LOL

 Photo of the day:

This is the rear of the Duplex (condos). On the far left you can see the door to the basement apt on that side. Now I have cut a door into the grey concrete on the far right.

This is the front of the duplex. I am working under the left side.  We live in the far right (at present)

For now

In trying to keep my mind off ‘ current events’ (both family and national) I have lost myself in creating a 2 BR apartment in the basement of our ‘other’ condo.  Also in the planning stages is a move for us.

Above is the basement I am working on now.... This shot is just inside the open garage door on the right in the top picture.

Background: years ago we bought what we planned as our retirement home. An old house with several add on’s (LOL). We added a big carport for the motor home.  We actually never actually moved into the place but lived in our motor home in the back yard.  We finally sold it to our Granddaughter, and moved back here to our original condo. WE own the two condos (actually this is a glorified ‘duplex’ I built over 30 years ago), we traveled for years on the income from the two condos.

We approached Sherece our Granddaughter  about a trade.  We suggested  she move here into the Condo and we take her home back as our retirement home.  It is a little complicated, but she is agreeable to the trade. She lived here once as a teenager with her family for about a year while her dad (our son Mark) built their home.  She really likes the place and I think her daughter Stella is very happy with the possibility. Stella starts HS next year and this place is pretty close to the High School.  Stella is looking forward to claiming her mama’s old bedroom as her own.

The condo is valued a little more than the home.  The condo is in the city limits, the home is not. There are pros and cons about being in the city limits.

I have been trying to put this entry together for a few days. I will try to take some pictures of the bathroom, it is finished. The electrical is done, the drywall is hung finished and mostly painted. It needs flooring and a ceiling. Since I said that the ceiling is 90% in place.

I cut thru 12” concrete block to put an entry door in place.

More in the next day or two.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet, in person. and here on the net, thank you for being here…  I have been trying to keep up and have enjoyed your blogs and comments….  Until later……. jack