Looking back over 2010

2010 has been a year of changes for the Deans. We sold the flower shop business; Jon retired; I earned my Ed.D. in Literacy Education; we sold our house on Rankin Street; we sold the greenhouses; and we moved to our Sweet Land of Liberty. We have been living off the grid for a little over six months and loving it. We also did some traveling: Charleston, South Carolina over February break, Omaha for the College World Series, Washington, D.C. for the Class of '63 reunion, and to Florida - work for me, visiting Ralph for Jon.  The Carriage House is very close to completion, and we are looking forward to moving in and beginning yet another new chapter in our lives. We are looking forward to 2011 and all that it has to offer. Life is good. Happy New Year!

Day 59

On this last day of 2010, there was much progress on the Carriage House. This morning the plumber got a great deal of work done; Jon and Ken put in more insulation. This afternoon I painted trim boards, and Jon put up some more fan fold insulation. Unbelievably, I worked outside in only a sweatshirt. The sun was deliciously warm.

I still find it hard to believe I was able to paint outdoors in December.

Trim boards drying in the December sun.

You would NEVER catch me up this high on a ladder.
Doesn't seem to bother Jon a bit.

 

Day 58

My future office with a very cool window.

The shower arrived this morning.

Bathroom sink.

Heavy duty super-duper  insulation.

Charles wiring up the lights.

Ken and Jon putting up insulation

More insulating.

Bathroom insulation

More wiring.

Monkey man Jon in the attic laying down ceiling insulation.

Adding the last strip on this end.

The view into my office from the top of the stairs.

Another view of my office where I hope to write my book this spring.

All in all, things are coming along nicely.

Diggin' out (With help from Hope)

Day 57 - BLIZZARD

 Multiple implements for snow removal.

 Winter Wonderland.

 Note the line to the left of the picture - remnants of the garden.

 Be it ever so humble, it's been home for 6 months. The snow makes for good insulation.

 He's waving a roll of toilet paper at me as he heads off to...

 the necessary.

 Trucky does a good job! (I know, Trucky isn't a very original name but consider that my car is called Jeepy.)

Enough said - spent the day keeping Liberty Farm accessible. No work on Carriage House.

Day 56

The day after Christmas has been productive. Ben the plumber came today and began drilling holes for the plumbing. I bought a bathroom sink, vanity, and mirror at Lowe's. Jon put on some more fan fold insulation.  Bracing for a blizzard in Liberty, Maine. Probably not much work on the Carriage House tomorrow!

Christmas morning 2010

 Homemade cinnamon rolls - a Dean Christmas tradition.

 Red and white tulips to grace the table.

The tree awaits the kids. I don't remember when I've ever had time alone on Christmas morning but right now, I am sitting before the fire knitting waiting for Jon to return with Clint. Marcy and Trent and Lindsay and Chuck are on their way with a delicious brunch. I will miss JD. This will be the second Christmas that he hasn't been home. Maybe next year. I also don't remember a time when I didn't cook Christmas morning brunch. This year certainly has been a year of transitions and Christmas 2010 is certainly very different. But I'm liking it a lot. It is so peaceful and beautiful here in Liberty. I anticipate that 2011 will also bring many new experiences in new places. So, to our blog followers, Merry Christmas.

Day 55

 Going after water. We are quite the pioneers!

 Our pink house.

 Beautiful blue electrical boxes.

More electrical boxes.

Day 53 and 54

Jon is putting fan fold insulation on; Chuck is wiring. Moving along.

Day 52

 Overhead lighting going in.

 Baffles in knee wall.

 View on this snowy day from the southwest side of the Carriage House.

 Hope smack dab in the middle of everything!

 Power!

 Fan fold insulation.

 Super duper highly effective Roxul insulation for walls and ceilings.

 Jon putting up "Pink Panther" insulation.

 View from the front of the Carriage House.

It seems nice to see lights inside the Carriage House.