Roofs, Decor, and More!

We were able to take my mom up to the cabin on 3/5, after church.  We went to the 8am service, and then headed up.  It was a nice day, and I hadn't been up there with my mom in so long.  Joe needed to work on the roof - will share that story in a moment...  we tested some paint, pulled up some tack strip & baseboard, and then took a walk with the kiddos to the river.  It was fun to get mom in the cabin, given she has had "limited access" over the years as a landlord.

THE ROOF:  We had a note from State Farm that said "the policy will expire on 4/7/17."  WHAT?  WAIT A MINUTE.  SERIOUSLY?!  (And this after I was the one who proactively reached out, wondering if everything was completed.)  Why would you insure something at the purchase/closing date, and then question it?!  From DAY ONE we had been in communication with our local agent, to let him know we were working on things - it was SNOWING, that we had a plan to get it taken care of...  blah, blah, blah...  Anyway - I was upset (livid?) given we have been State Farm customers for over 22 years.  But being the "don't leave anything to chance" kind of people we are...  We had to get up there and get focused - and Joe stepped up to the challenge (with Samuel's assistance.)  We aren't all that excited about using a power washer on the roof (my dad taught me otherwise) - but desperate times, call for desperate measures.  The results?  "Frank" (the cabin) looks fabulous!  Ruby (the outbuilding) needs a bit of attention as the pitch is way too steep to have "amateurs" up there (Joe tried!) so the experts are supposed to be there tomorrow.  Fingers crossed that State Farm agrees he did a great job...

3/5/17:  Joe and Samuel working to clean the roof!

3/5/17:  Looks SO much better!  Moss removed...

THE MEMOIRS:  My Aunt Carol sent us an envelope with all of her "WHITE CABIN" memories written down!  How fun it has been to read through them...  We now have some of the history to share with others who visit!  Pretty cool...

RUBY:  My mom found a picture of Ruby Scott (Fortner), when she was 18 years old.  It is in the original frame from Lipman Wolfe & Co.  And that got me looking up more history (which is all fascinating to me and I had to Google it:  "Wolfe opened a new store in Portland, re-establishing his business. Floods and space limitations forced the store to move three times, the last of which was in 1912, when the flagship store was opened at Fifth and Washington Streets. The new store was just across the street from Meier & Frank's flagship store, sparking an intense rivalry.")

Ruby Scott, 18-Years-Old (Born 1890, so this was ~1908.)

DECOR:  We also had some COOL snow shoes from the BROWN CABIN, that my mom and dad still had... I think they were my Aunt Carol's at one time?  So those are going to go back on the wall in the LITTLE WHITE CABIN!  And tonight while walking through the Craft Warehouse, I spotted this picture.  PERFECT.  I love this art... and this one was perfect.  So it shall go next to those snow shoes.  :-)

SIGN:  Since I can remember there has been a sign on the driveway that leads to both cabins.  We always had a "Wilkens" one hanging up there.  It was taken down when the BROWN CABIN was sold, and it made my heart a bit sad.  So one of the very first things we did was have a new sign made, that will go back up there!  BIG SMILE.  It might be one letter off - from the original, but close enough! 

From Last Sunday:  With Grandma Sharon.

3/5/17:  Grandma Sharon with the Family