Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Dad Rehabs an Antique on Chappy

 My dad has been going to Chappaquidick Island almost daily all summer 
to work on my cousin Jack's antique farmhouse. 
Dad is going to be 82 next month and he can still strap on his builder's apron
and make things happen.  He is an environmental engineer,
 but his dad was a carpenter and he thats where he learned the trade.
Here is the cupola on an old outbuilding that he just repaired and installed.
 You can only get to Chappy by taking the small car ferry from Edgartown.
This ferry is basically an open air barge.
It holds about 4 cars and has picnic bench seating 
on the sides for any pedestrian travelers.
For sure, dad has had his share of  lobster dinners this summer,
but mostly he likes doing back breaking projects all summer long.
My Dad is just amazing!
 Jack's antique garage on Chappy
Great old doors in a washed out green color.
Annie Sloan has nothing on this paint job.
These are the before pictures of the old dirt floor garage 
and the tiny outbuilding on Jack's property, which was an old farm.
I was happy to see that Jack wanted it restored, 
so all new cedar shingles were ready to be applied after the buildings
were shored up for stability, and some new windows were put in. 
Dad was there to do a lot of this work,
along with a small crew.

A nice drive through garage!
Dad takes a rare break...
The floor inside the garage.

Progress...
Project completed!
 Still retains the charm of an antique property, 
and the shingles will age to a silvery grey.
The inside of the garage has room for everything you need around here~
bikes, life jackets, and a wheelbarrow.
This darling little building looks so cute now!
It used to look like this..forlorn and neglected.
Time had taken its toll on this little building.
I love old properties, don't you? There is a romance to them...
and I am happy to see my Dad helping my cousin save such a special place.
These buildings will last another hundred years now. 
Great job Dad! But please stop climbing up on roofs.

25 comments:

  1. What a great job, Amy! God bless your Dad. He sounds like mine; they can never sit still long enough to chat. Always up and having to do something. : )

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  2. Fabulous rehabbed buildings! Hard to believe your dad is 82--truly amazing!

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  3. How great is your Dad?? I love to hear that he is still doing what he loves at 82! What an inspiration!! Now I see where you get all your energy from :)

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  4. Well Amy, I can see where you get all your creative traits! Your Dad is amazing and cute too!

    hugs
    Sissie

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  5. Wow that is an awesome place! I love it!
    What a great dad you have!

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  6. That is such a wonderful post!
    I love seeing how your dad brought life back to these old buildings!
    I have such a passion for older structures. They are so quaint! They really don't built them like that anymore!
    Your Dad is pretty amazing!
    Have a wonderful day!
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  7. Your father is amazing... tell him that for me please! I love the charm of the old buildings, he captured that and made them new again. Love your blog, new follower from the Ozark mountains!

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  8. Good for your Dad! I lost my dad at age 86. But he would always be there to help me out. He built me end tables, coffee table, a wall hutch. He redid my kitchen one year. He was amazing. And I think your dad is too!

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  9. Wow, it's hard to believe your father is 82! My own dad is 82 also and nowhere near in that good a shape. Your dad must have kept active his whole life. Love the cupola, it really adds to the charm of the building!

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  10. 82! Wow...that is so great that your Dad is active and doing what he loves. How blessed you are to have such a Dad! He is a treasure!
    xoxo
    Caroline

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  11. Good for you Dad. Being active is what will keep him young. My dad who is 85 was very active until a few months ago. But it kept him young. Now that he has to slow down his mind is still in great shape and he is enjoying reading thinks like Smithsonian Magazine.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Traci

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  12. Your dad is absolutely amazing. Look at those buildings now! And look how sturdy he is... There are men 1/2 his age that couldn't do one bit of that. And, the buildings are adorable and functional now! Cool!

    Cindy

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  13. The property is beautiful!! Your daddy looks amazing, makes me miss mine so much he was also a carpenter.. Blessings to you all!!

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  14. Beautiful restoration! Your dad looks terrific! I wanna be like that when I'm 82!

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  15. YOUR FATHER'S AMAZING. IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THE BEAUTIFUL RESULTS OF HARD LABOR. SMILES TO YOU AND YOUR FATHER, SUSIE

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  16. Hats off to Dad! Wow, he not only looks amazing but IS amazing! I can see the resemblance in you two. My Dad is a District Judge, still working every day, and he's almost 84! Hopefully you and I will inherit some of those long living genes!

    The farmhouse is looking incredible!

    Hugs,

    Nancy

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  17. Oh wow, God bless your dad...He's amazing!! Congratulations on being in Romantic Homes--this is so exciting!
    XO
    Cindy

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  18. Hi Amy, you must be so proud of your dad! He did a wonderful job and it's great to see that age doesn't stop him from doing what he loves! Good for him! TAKE CARE, mARYANN

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  19. Hooray for your Dad! I love to see them going and going and going! Did your parents sustain any damage from the hurricane or were they unaffected?

    XO,
    Janie

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  20. Hey Amy,

    I love a man with a tool belt! Nothing sexier

    ;->

    Loved seeing the renovation and that pretty cupola.

    Janet xox

    http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/

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  21. Easy to see where you got your love for fixing things up! You're so lucky to have him happy and healthy at 82...I'm sure you already know that
    Stacy

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  22. Your dad rocks! I wish he could come to Alabama and help me build a traditional English conservatory off my breakfast room!

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  23. Bless his sweet heart!
    The buildings look amazing now.
    I love the pheasant weathervane too.
    What a great job he/they did.
    Wish my dad was still around.
    He loved to build things too.

    Dads are the BEST!
    xx
    Alison

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  24. That generation is so scrappy! My dad is 83 and I found out that he broke his wrist. He tripped on the way home from boogie boarding at Santa Monica Beach. He took the board out for 3 rides and walked home and tripped. Now he's refusing to take the super pain meds and my stepmom is trying to get him to take them so he doesn't wake up at 2am in pain. Silly Stoic Swede! lol

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