Jen & Rick left Sophia, Emma, and Cookie with the Smith grandparents and headed up to The Farm Wednesday, August 5.  By the time I arrived a little more than 24 hours later, they had stripped the former kitchen (the west room on the first floor) and,well, here are a few photos:

Before......

......and after.

I showed up Thursday afternoon and gazed in amazement.  Acting only as a consultant, I refrained from disturbing the workers and did not let on how impressed I was.  I did figure out how to get the plumbing working next visit.  I need to recover a little more from surgery (2 weeks ago) first.  Just a little more - as long as I don't get caught lifting weights over 10 pounds.

Jennifer and Richard took me to dinner at The Casselman Inn.  It must have been senior citizen night, and I almost asked Rick and Jen to leave me in the dining room - perhaps they could eat on the porch. 

Here's hoping and praying that Rick gets his next permanent duty station recruiting near home. If he does well, he can complete 20 years active duty as an Army Recruiter, MOS 79R and retire to Fort Living Room, Maryland about 2023 if I did my math right. 

Away too long....

Last went to the farm in October, 2014. Last week in March, 2015, we had a nice visit.  Richard and Jennifer, and their girls, Sophia and Emma, overnighted at the Casselman Inn, but visited at the country place all day.
Greg, our dogs, Cash and Willow, and I stayed in the farmhouse.
I think our next priority is to repair/replace plumbing to give us hot and cold running water, with toilet, sink, and shower, again.
Talking with Michael and Richard on returning home, and we want the future partners to be involved in planning - especially where capital is concerned.  My question, for the group, is, "what is the purpose of The James Morrison Family Partnership regarding the real estate?"
We have some income from coal mining - but it changes with the marketability of metallurgical coal.  We cannot make plans expecting it to continue, giving the state of the world coal and iron use, and steel production.
What we have profited amounts to about about enough to pay the real estate taxes for the next 20 years.
Keith and I are overdue a partnership meeting - maybe we can - and should - let you future partners observe and comment via Skype.