2021

Started the year putting the finishing touches on a house purchased in September 2020. Previous owner had health issues after the sale so it took us a while to get possession, then we had to wrest possession from all the flees left behind by their dogs. 

February our first grandson was born. Welcome to the world Caleb Spoelstra.

In March we finished the first house purchased in 2020.

Sharon and I headed for a short get away in the Quad Cities. Had an apartment downtown Davenport right by the river. It was kinda cold on the rooftop terrace.

Painted a house that was finished in November of 2020. When I bought this house, everyone thought I had finally made a bad purchase. No one is complaining anymore since the house is looking much better and is quite nice inside.

In April Sharon and I went for a driving tour of State parks in Northern Iowa. We stayed in a cabin by a lake in Clay county.

Then we remodeled a house we had pretty much rented as it was when we bought it 4 years ago.

In May we finished one of the larger houses we had bought up to this point. Rented it to a couple with a real need for housing and it has worked out well so far.

I spent June and July doing volunteer work fixing housing for nonprofits. Started spending my evenings on our patio enjoying our fire pit. I had not done that for several years. Now I am looking forward to Spring intending to spend more evenings out on the patio this year.

                                           

                                 In August we had to put in new flooring and fix holes in walls, and totally repaint a couple of houses.                  

                                        

                                           The tenants had trashed the houses before moving out

In September we did a major road trip. Down to Oklahoma, swung over through northern Texas, back up through the Oklahoma panhandle and traveled around Kansas. A lot of interesting land formations out there on the "flat" plains.

On our return we finished up a house that was simply horrid when we purchased it.

In October we took possession of the "Big" House. Did some outside essential repairs between working on another purchase.

We finished up this house in November and then could turn our full time attention to the "Big" house.

Our first Thanksgiving with a Grandson. My, how he grew during those few short months.

Then it was onto fixing the "Big" house. It seems like everything in and on it needs repairs.

Just the front door, which is 8 feet tall, needed to be fixed. It had 2 handles, neither of which worked well. It had holes in it that allowed the outside air to come right on into the house. Had to cut blocks of wood to fill holes and apply Bondo to get it air tight and looking presentable. An 8 foot tall door with beveled glass windows was worth all the effort to repair.

The outside is just about all fixed

At least a good month and maybe more to get the inside fixed.

After that we can move on to our next project.

We picked up the windows today.

A whole pickup load. Looks like it will be Spring before we are finished with the projects we have lined up.

I hear a lot of people complaining about the last 2 years. I know there have been difficulties, I spent some time in the hospital in 2020 with Covid, but over all God has been good and He always will be. No matter what happens in your life, God is good. Look for His gifts and His hand in your life. Sometimes everyone needs to look back and see what has happened. Now the perfect time to go back over your last year and see the gifts God has given.