THE OLD AND THE NEW.

This is our old house being transformed to look like new.  Sad in a way because we had so many memories of our happy times there.

Looking back over the years remembering happy times.

Three big bedrooms upstairs with a amazing view and a balcony off the master bedroom.  It was three stories high overlooking a sheer cliff  right below.  I was extremely nervous going out on it at first and was also worried about the little children like Mary and Kim who were about 3.  I was busy doing something and all of a sudden I looked around and they were no where in sight and they were out on the balcony trying to climb up to get a better view.

 

Here is a view of the side of the house and a lower balcony.

The bath rooms were very small but there was a shower and a bath tub but no on suite also a powder room on the main floor and a bathroom down stairs.  The area could be and was used as a suite for Rick, Oliver, Kim and Christopher.  Leah spent some summer holidays with us doing crafts etc.  Theresa and her made menus and served us tea.  Lots of fun.

Stephen and Cameron stopped by when they were working for their day in the days when he had a moving company.  Very hard working and always a joy to see.
Sandra and Mary often made a trip, one time to paint our hallway ,just before my lung cancer operation.  Ken and Rick were also here during that time.

The front of the house has been complete;y changed.

This home brought us together as a family.  There were Christmas gatherings as well as summer holiday fun.  There were Easter egg hunts and late night sleep-overs.  A happy occurrence was when we got a phone call from a lost adopted child who had often come to mind but we wondered if we would ever find her. She too came home and has gradually become a part of our family.  A happy, helpful caring intelligent bunch.

We had a neighbor's dog who would come into our house and take a shoe home with him.  There was also a stray cat that made his home with us.

The flowers we planted are gone and big bushes removed but out big rock remained.  It was very hard to leave and start a new life in a smaller house in a more developed area.  We really felt the loss of our old house when Ken and Melina came with their three children.

This is our new home.  Looks bigger than it really is.  It is small and cozy, a perfect home for a grandma in retirement.

This picture on the right is Melina and Ken and family in Australia.

We still had lots of fun here and although it was crowed everyone where good sports.

We have room for our grand daughter Kim to settle in here for her latest adventure at colledge .  She will have a busy schedule with finding work too.

Below is the picture of big brother Jesse with Matthew  and Jesse.  It is taken in Melbourne and this is before their trip here.  I have spent a long time trying to find pictures of them here but did not succeed.  Fortunate now others in the family will have pictures and will have the big parties.