Saturday, April 21, 2012

My Cousin Craig - Sweet Kid - Amazing Man

When I hear Brian Adam's song 'Summer of 69' it reminds me of the summer I spent in Idaho with my Aunts and Uncles. I stayed for a bit with my sweet Aunt Peg and Uncle Pete and my 5 cousins who were so fun. Craig was a sweet little boy then and was the apple of my eye....I would take him to Charlies for candy and carry him around.....he was my little buddy. He got sick that summer and had to spend some quite time on the couch and I would read him books and watch tv with him. Years passed and that sweet kid turned into the most amazing man and during our Spring Road Trip (separate post) Steve and I were able to spend some time with him on his latest project, restoring a 1912 Dairy and surrounding buildings. He and I share a love for restoration and his visions are truly amazing.....his projects are waaaaayyyyy over my pay grade and I only wish I could spend more time with him and work on some of his plans for this incredible place. He is one special guy! Here are Steve, Craig and I in front of the house on the grounds he is restoring.
There are several buildings on the property and incredible artifacts.....loved this stove....


This is part of his bathroom remodel.....early build.....





He has lots of wallpaper to peel thru, but this place has great bones....



Lots of natural light and even a window seat......for gazing.....if he only had time.....


An outdoor fireplace and patio.....can you just imagine this when finished.....can't wait for the 'after' photo and party to celebrate!






Many of the flower gardens have these petrified rock in the cement.....going to be fantastic when redone.....Steve was drooling to dig in the dirt.....


This little structure all overgrown and with such personality.....



Craig is holding a artifact from the Boise brick foundry that he is going to turn into a fountain.....such vision this guy has!



This is one amazing tree.....it has to be at least 100 years old and he is going to have it checked out by an arborist.....it is huge and if it could only talk and tell us everything it has seen in its years!



This is an old light post from the streets in Caldwell.....






......around the grounds.....




This is part of the building that was the old dairy....love the horseshoes trim....



Looking from the dairy building back to the house....



Another stove inside the dairy.....don't you just drool over the knotty pine!



Farm Fresh Eggs!





Another building on the property.....huge and with great potential!




He loves old things like I do.....his sister Mary Kay gave him this old Doctor bag....


Some of his treasurers.....he also lives in Fairbanks Alaska and has a place there.....



....in that group of treasurers was this adorable apothecary mini chest that he gave me.....I treasure it!




And since I am an organized hoarder - I oiled it up and incorporated it into my family room where I can see it every day and think of my sweet little cousin Craig and his great big project.....it sits by the grapes our grandmother made....I can still smell the resin she would pour in the glass bottles to make these.....


but I digress.....back to the Dairy Farm! Don't you love these Dutch Doors that lead to the stable?



And the outside has great western features and design....there is a STAR in the header as it was once called the Star Dairy.....


The inset is a lighted frame like the ones that used to be in Phx at Bill Johnson's Big Apple in the 50's - ya, we spent some time there!




....and we also spent some time at his other completed to perfection project The Garage Cafe which has the BEST food!!!! Here are a few pictures of that jewel.....

















Cousin Craig - I am so PROUD of you.....you are an incredible man and you inspire me in so many ways.....THANKS for sharing some time with us. Can't wait to see you again later this summer - Let's go panning for some BIG nuggets!!!!!









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