PROJECTS

Sharon and I have finally committed to staying right where we are! We like the idea that we each have our "space" yet are close enough to take care of each other. The things we hated about the house are slowly being resolved.
The chair lifts for the stairs were the first projects - suddenly, we didn't feel "isolated" or "imprisoned" - thanks to Mom (she really wanted us to stay together and the lifts enabled that.)
Next issue was the back porch - the railing was so wobbly that we didn't trust it; neither one of us was comfortable with the stair railing. Edwin redecked the porch, built railings around the porch and down the stairs. He has the first coat of stain on everything so it will match the front steps. The new back door will let me watch Abbey while seated.
Although Sharon never complains about having the smaller of the spaces, we both didn't like that she couldn't see who was here or anything out front. Edwin resolved that issue by installing two cameras with talk-back system! Sharon can see all the way up the steps to my door, her window, all the way down the driveway, and down the street! PLUS -- she can HEAR things outside and talk to anyone out there! The system even has an alarm that's sensitive to sound and motion (the dogs moving or barking next door set it off!)
We have even managed to "spoil" ourselves a little. Sharon always wanted a dishwasher downstairs -- today, Lucas cut out the cabinet and installed it for her.
For me, laundry was a pain! Although Sharon never mined "sharing" the laundry room or me "camping out" downstairs while doing laundry, I HATED having to move clothes down and up the stairs. My unnecessary "redundancy" was the installation of MY OWN washer/dryer upstairs! Who would have thought that an appliance would make me so happy!
Once the 2nd coat of stain goes on the back porch, the solar lights placed, the furniture set back up, we'll be spending some "quality time" outside!
(I think I'll work on getting a new mattress now!)