Shed 2

I see the pic of the couch moved out in the room didn't come through, so I'll try this.

Shed at 95%

Latest set of pictures, very close to final. All in all, I think it's coming along very well. I slept in it last night for the first time, just crashed on the couch. Slept long and hard, didn't wake up till 8:30. I'm almost ready to unplug the RV.

This my latest acquisition, a tansu-style chest with multiple cubbies and drawers. It comes apart (see left end top drawer, booze cubby, and next drawer down) in two pieces, and it makes a room divider with drawers accessible from either side. I love it.

This shows the tansu end next to the door entry, the south window, and the desk/kitchen table.

Here's the other side of the "kitchen" with cabinet and fridge.

This shows the desk on the left side of entry. I've now rotated the desk so the curved corner is in the corner between the two windows. Also, the couch is now moved out into the room (you'll see in next photos).

Shows closet and end of bookcase/stair. We got all the books down from the loft; all I have to do now in put them somewhere.

Shows the couch moved out into the room, angled toward the bookcase. Got my Erte card design print mounted on the picture rail.

Another shot of the bookcase/stair with its stepladder, which becomes my nightstand right behind the couch, when I don't need it to climb up to the loft.

RIP

Oliver Sacks
Eminent neurologist and author, age 82. Wonderful writer about patients and how to treat them and how to be them. Able to inspire others. He'll be missed.

Shed progress

Okay okay, here's some pics of the shed in progress. This first one is the kitchen area. Note the Breville oven on the table, the pegboard on the wall, the 9.2cuft fridge, and the 10-drawer cabinet.

 This next one is the desk. There are two windows to look out of but the west one is covered right now because of the heat. Under the towel on the desk is the TV which will live on the bookcase once it's built.

 This is the closet in progress. I'm going to get some baskets to put folded things in on top of the shelves. And eventually, there will be curtains to soften the look (you can see one at the right end in process).

 And this pile of lumber will be the bookcase. It'll be 8ft long (distance between the lofts), 1 ft deep, and 3ft high. There will be four 2-ft sections for books. I have two really nice 3-step ladders, one will be on the floor to move up to the top of the case and a second one to go from the case to the loft.

When the case is done, there's only minor stuff left to do. I've begun moving backup foodstuffs (soup, boxed mac & cheese, etc) to the big cabinet. 90% of my clothes are hung up. All totes are up from Amy's basement and in one of the lofts. I need to decide where the sleeper sofa will live. Then it's all nitpicky organizing. Fun stuff. It'll be a big day/night the first time I sleep over there, but it's coming pretty soon. Yay.

RIP

Omar Sharif, actor, bridge expert. Had one of the best entrances in cinema, riding up to Lawrence from far away. He hated camels.

Patrick MacNee, actor, esp. in The Avengers with Diana Rigg

Shed Walls Before & After

Below are some pictures of the interior walls of the shed. Some show the studs with insulation in place. Others show the paneling below and red felt above. There will be trim work on the seams -- yet to come. I bought a fridge yesterday, a 9 cu ft Igloo, that will fit next to the big cabinet.

In Memoriam John J. Robinson

This wonderful man, my surrogate father, died today. I cannot begin to tell you what a hole he will leave in my life. I've known him for fifty years and he was always a great support to me. I loved him and will miss him forever.

He and his wife Hazel had a great love story.  They'd been married for over 50 years. Except when he was in the hospital once, they'd never slept apart. They spoke to each other of their love often. The last thing she said to him was "I love you."

With John's  support, Hazel founded the Montford Park Players in Asheville, now the longest running Shakespeare in the Park series in the country.

John didn't talk much about his past, though he would tell a little if you seemed really interested. He was in the Merchant Marine during WW II and served along the Alaska coast. Later, he became senior account at Beacon Blanket in Swannanoa, from which he retired several years ago. He was 92 at death.

He was a master card-player. Years ago, the group of us who hung out at their house played Hearts (cutthroat), but more recently (i.e. the last 20 years) the house game was Crazy Rummy. Saturday nights found a floating group of us gathering to play for a few hours. Last Saturday (7/4), Joe Young and I were there and played a game with John -- and he won.

We're considering keeping the weekly ritual going in his honor.

I asked how he was going and he said "slow." His son Ken had just been home for two weeks, which he told me he'd really enjoyed. Much family business was discussed and settled, and I think he was ready to let go.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Bon voyage, beloved person.