History continued........

Click on each photo to see them up close and personal! When Charles (Bud) and I were still in Dallas, we began brainstorming on what we really wanted to do with the remodeling and renovation of our retirement home in Somerville. Out came the pencils and paper! Pencils...because we knew from experience that changes would be made to the original designs. Charles wanted a large clothes closet of his very own, a big working kitchen (He loves to create and cook. His food is so yummy!) and he also wanted a roomy bathroom with a large shower. I wanted the same as Charles in the kitchen, since I love to cook and bake. I also wanted a "secret place" for my office . Since Charles would have his own clothes closet that meant I would be have my own. We both sketched out what we wanted our "spaces" to look like, especially our closets. He let me design the kitchen according to my liking. (What a sweetheart he is! I thank God for him every day.) Today, we both are pleased with the kitchen and love being in there with each other and with our guests who gather around the island to talk as we are preparing something yummy to eat. Charles has a 12' X 12' clothes closet with closet organizers arranged just as he wanted them. Everything has its own place and he seems to be quite pleased with his own space. For the master bathroom, we installed an extra large shower with two corner seating units! Charles can sit and have his morning coffee, or simply sit and relax as the water cascades over him! The bathroom is his dream come true! The bathroom can house a small Bible study group, but be assured we will not use it for that while Charles is in the shower! :) I believe Charles is satisfied with his designs and now enjoys them. My office is attached to my closet in an "L" shaped design, which wraps around two sides of Charles' closet. From two office windows, early in the morning, I watch the birds come to feast at four bird feeders, bathe in the bird bath, dangle from the handmade hangers to feast on fresh fruit hanging there for their pleasure. ( Oh, yes, there are certain birds who love apples, oranges and grapes!) I love my office space! Cozy and tucked away! Okay, back to the house..... We did something FUN and FUNCTIONAL between Charles' and my closet. We put in a door! Yes, a door! Can you find it in any of the three photos here? "FUN", I said, because it is like a "secret passageway" from one closet to the other. The grandchildren have discovered it and love it because GranBud and Grammie have something "secret" in their home! A little mystery! What fun! Did you find the door? Hint...... Check out behind the dresser in Elaine's closet! Just because there are clothes hanging there above the dresser doesn't mean there isn't something behind it! Secret, huh?! Me thinks the secret is out now! "FUNCTIONAL", also, because, if needed, we can use it as a safety escape exit. When you come to visit, be sure to check out the "secret passageway"! Oh, yes, the grandchildren love to climb under Grammie's dresser and go into GranBud's closet to hide. FUN! FUN! FUN for all! Dismisses the myth that grandparents are boring, not creative and old! Some of us are still young at heart and extremely creative! Please make note of another thing in my closet.....the shelving that houses my shoes and the organization of personal and household supplies. Those are glass shelves! There is a wonderful and interesting story behind those shelves. Climb up into my lap, get comfortable, I am going to tell you the story.... Charles went to Brenham one day (a 15 mile drive) to check out a men's clothing store where he had shopped many times when his mom and stepdad were still living in Somerville. They were having a "Going Out Of Business" sale. While Charles was there he noticed glass shelving set up to organize the neatly folded men's dress and sport shirts. He had a marvelous idea! Knowing I love to organize everything, Charles asked the store owners about the shelves. They told him EVERYTHING in the store was for sale! So, Charles purchased all the glass shelving units for me and my closet! The store owners even thought what a great idea for a home closet! They said they would deliver them to our home in Somerville. Well, that became a real project! We all discovered to transport 12o GLASS units all intact would be almost impossible. So we hired a furniture delivery truck, the store owners disassembled each unit (each unit being 11" wide x 10" high x 16" deep) and placed protective paper between each piece of glass and had them delivered to us! What a job! My sweet husband spent several days putting together 62 units to house my shoes, books for my office and units to store additional household supplies. You can see it all in these photos. Perfect! I love them! And what an act of love on Charles' part to do this for me! I love him! And, thanks again, honey! If you fell asleep while I was telling you this story, that is okay, I will scoop you up and place you in our guest bed. That is what Grammies are for, right? The aroma of GranBud fixing your breakfast in the kitchen and the roosters singing their songs to you in the neighborhood will get you off to a great start as you awaken tomorrow morning! A little more history of our home in Somerville and what the Lovells have been up to in their retirement. Come and see for yourselves! Coffee is on! There might be freshly baked cookies, a cake or a sweet bread to go along with the coffee! Come on, ya'll! Charles and I are waiting on the front porch for you!