Just look at this car!

(I admit, there are also more Washington updates in here, too.)

Today our helper Kimberly and her mother-in-law set out to help pack up the stuff in Aunty’s house. It’s really hard to do this, because all the stuff in the house is so darned interesting, so we’d hoped people not all involved with the family would be able to concentrate more on packing. Of course, while Kim is a neutral party, her mother-in-law is from Cameron. So she just had to go through some yearbooks to see all her friends. The house just sucks you in!

They did pack, though, but quickly ran out of boxes, so I was called in to take some of the unused boxes out of the Gillis House and get them some tape. This, of course, didn’t end up being easy, because of distractions. First, Lee and I ended up showing Cody the contractor around the Gillis house while he helped with the boxes, which is always fun. We’d just showed Lee’s neice Kathleen around yesterday while a nice man came to take samples to find out  how much asbestos is in the house and how much abatement we’ll need to do. In a house that old, there’s just bound to be something.

Final paint colors. The trim is the same as yesterday’s ideas, but the lighting made it look different. It’s more peachy than it appears here.

Then, I went to get tape at the hardware store, where I did my best to extract from our mayor, and long-time Cameron resident, the name of the people who lived in the Gillis house after the last of the original family died. I now have something to go on in my history quest, thanks to her and another friend who remembered these folks. I feel like a detective.

And I also picked a front door and interior doors for Washington.

The window will let in a bit more light at Washington.

Anyway, on I went to Aunty’s house, where the packing team was waiting. Then the people who inherited the house also showed up, and that began a whole lot of looking at fascinating old stuff. I ended up with a lot of old plates that were too fragile to use in a restaurant, which is where all the old cups and mugs are going. They will be so great! I also ended up with the plates that the Gillis House owners didn’t want, so now our Hermit Haus venue has a collection of vintage plates and coffee cups (I brought cups of my own, too). It’s great to recycle and re-use these old things with a history behind them!

Speaking of well preserved old things, I got a better look at Aunty’s 1964 Dodge Dart that’s in the garage. That will make someone a great restoration project. It is in amazingly good shape. Her nephew said he only got to ride in it three times in his whole life!

Lots of old plates ready for a new life. Re-use! Recycle!

After visiting those two projects, I ran by to count the exterior light fixtures at the Washington House and finalize the exterior colors. I changed the accent color to one with a bit more red in it, because the house needs a contrast. The oddly named Molten Sulphur color is actually found in the brick, so I think it will be okay.

I did all that before 4 pm. I still have all my other work to do, so no horse riding for me, boo hoo. But wow, there’s a lot going on here!