As I work on the house more and more I am gaining a real respect for all the work my Father did. I don't know how he did it; raising 4 kids, working full time, doing most of the work on Vacations and on weekends. I spent most of my life involved with this house in one way or another. I helped my Dad growing up. I did my best in the years before he died.

I am really attached to this house and the property. I am not selling it. We are making a lot of changes to update the house and make it more maintence free. But with all those changes the house will always remain the house my Father built (Mother too). While removing the Baseboards and other trim to do work we found that my Mothers finger prints are in stain on the back side off all the trim. So my Mother will always be with the house. In fact I wrote "Marie was here" on the back of one of the baseboards...some day someone will find that and ask "What the heck is this?"

I can understand why my Dad was grouchy at times (OK it seemed like all the time). It's a lot of work to take care of 2 houses. But this house is something special to me and will always be special.

Joe