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Apr. 19th, 2013 11:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
greatbearToday I made an old man cry. And it made me happy.
We were up in Pennsyltucky to take the slightly-scorched trailer to a local RV dealer to have an estimate done for repairs to the damage caused by the fire. Since Jeff's father's birfday is coming up and we couldn't be there for the actual day, I presented him with two of the reprinted photos lost in the fire, saying that I didn't buy these, I had to make 'em, 'cause no store carried them. I gave these to him because I had heard him talk about losing them the day of the fire. Poor guy broke down crying, but in a good way.
He's never hugged me like that before either. Best hug I got in a long time. :)
Next thing I did was hitch up the slightly overcooked trailer and we headed down to the RV dealer. Of course, we had to have a look at some of the new and "previously enjoyed" models on the lot. There just might be an upgrade in our future.
From there we took off for the most important task, which was to get Dad a new place to hang his hat. He had settled on a model from a nearby manufactured/modular home company, and he wanted us to give our "approval." While this too was essentially a double-wide similar to what he had before, it was of much higher quality, with solid construction, 6" walls with R19 insulation, above-average fittings and trim, and overall good quality. My only gripe was the interior used a paneling product rather than drywall, leaving the walls with vertical trim strips every 4 feet. The paneling did seem to be sturdy however, and the various prints available looked like good quality wallpapers. There were lots of custom touches included, with a great deal more extras and goodies available. We fussed over colors of siding, trim, roofing, counters, fixtures, etc. We had the place configured all the way down to the window treatments. He'll be getting a new home with a beautiful, wide-open floor plan for the kitchen, dining and living rooms, plus three bedrooms and two full baths. The thick walls and copious insulation on top, bottom and sides will help a lot with energy efficiency, and the interior should be nearly silent even when some of the loud local pickups roar by with their glasspack mufflers and mudbogger tires. Dad's only lament was he was doing all of this without mom's involvement. It was plainly obvious to all of us that she would've been thrilled with everything he had finally settled on. Jeff's sister, brother and sister-in-law were there for their inputs as well, and I think it's gonna be some sharp lookin' digs. The crowning exterior touch will be the end of the house that overlooks the yard and the field across the creek with the grazing buffalo, the entire end will be fitted with high-efficiency, floor-to-ceiling trapezoidal windows. I told dad to take the recommendation from the salesman for the roof prow, an extension to the eaves on that side which will act as a shade during the summer months to keep the sun out of that side of the house, yet let it in during the cooler seasons. This is something similar to what I had designed into La Casa Mayhem 25 years ago, and it does wonders for free heat in the winter. Unfortunately, I don't have the buffalo.
I think Dad is feeling a little more at ease. The burned up debris is gone, the old foundation had been dug out, and there is a nice hole in the ground that will soon have a fresh foundation going in. In fact, if things work out as they are planned so far, he might be moving in sometime in June, if not earlier. And, yes, I will have more framed surprises when there are places to hang them too. I want more hugs.
We were up in Pennsyltucky to take the slightly-scorched trailer to a local RV dealer to have an estimate done for repairs to the damage caused by the fire. Since Jeff's father's birfday is coming up and we couldn't be there for the actual day, I presented him with two of the reprinted photos lost in the fire, saying that I didn't buy these, I had to make 'em, 'cause no store carried them. I gave these to him because I had heard him talk about losing them the day of the fire. Poor guy broke down crying, but in a good way.
He's never hugged me like that before either. Best hug I got in a long time. :)
Next thing I did was hitch up the slightly overcooked trailer and we headed down to the RV dealer. Of course, we had to have a look at some of the new and "previously enjoyed" models on the lot. There just might be an upgrade in our future.
From there we took off for the most important task, which was to get Dad a new place to hang his hat. He had settled on a model from a nearby manufactured/modular home company, and he wanted us to give our "approval." While this too was essentially a double-wide similar to what he had before, it was of much higher quality, with solid construction, 6" walls with R19 insulation, above-average fittings and trim, and overall good quality. My only gripe was the interior used a paneling product rather than drywall, leaving the walls with vertical trim strips every 4 feet. The paneling did seem to be sturdy however, and the various prints available looked like good quality wallpapers. There were lots of custom touches included, with a great deal more extras and goodies available. We fussed over colors of siding, trim, roofing, counters, fixtures, etc. We had the place configured all the way down to the window treatments. He'll be getting a new home with a beautiful, wide-open floor plan for the kitchen, dining and living rooms, plus three bedrooms and two full baths. The thick walls and copious insulation on top, bottom and sides will help a lot with energy efficiency, and the interior should be nearly silent even when some of the loud local pickups roar by with their glasspack mufflers and mudbogger tires. Dad's only lament was he was doing all of this without mom's involvement. It was plainly obvious to all of us that she would've been thrilled with everything he had finally settled on. Jeff's sister, brother and sister-in-law were there for their inputs as well, and I think it's gonna be some sharp lookin' digs. The crowning exterior touch will be the end of the house that overlooks the yard and the field across the creek with the grazing buffalo, the entire end will be fitted with high-efficiency, floor-to-ceiling trapezoidal windows. I told dad to take the recommendation from the salesman for the roof prow, an extension to the eaves on that side which will act as a shade during the summer months to keep the sun out of that side of the house, yet let it in during the cooler seasons. This is something similar to what I had designed into La Casa Mayhem 25 years ago, and it does wonders for free heat in the winter. Unfortunately, I don't have the buffalo.
I think Dad is feeling a little more at ease. The burned up debris is gone, the old foundation had been dug out, and there is a nice hole in the ground that will soon have a fresh foundation going in. In fact, if things work out as they are planned so far, he might be moving in sometime in June, if not earlier. And, yes, I will have more framed surprises when there are places to hang them too. I want more hugs.
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no subject
Date: 2013-04-20 03:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-04-20 12:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-04-20 01:05 pm (UTC)I send you "more" HUGS! :)
no subject
Date: 2013-04-20 01:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-04-20 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-04-20 03:37 pm (UTC)Having done so with several photos, including my last photo to Mom. I gave it to her Christmas of '11. It was a snapshot from a slide I stumbled upon when finding photos for the slideshow for Mom's 80th birthday party.
It's me at about a year or so old, sitting on the floor at the top of the stairs, just outside the kitchen door (typical 60's era split entry home), next to the aging Collie we had. He would be put down in 1969, I think before we moved back out this way because we didn't think he'd make the trip back out here and has severe arthritis and needed assistance to get in and out of the back of the station wagon.
I literally brought her to tears nearly when she unwrapped it and told of it at dinner later in the day. She loved that photo.
I have it now and it's sitting on a hanging bookcase that Dad had made back in the late 60's.
no subject
Date: 2013-04-21 01:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-04-21 04:08 am (UTC):o)