Solana Condo: Before and After

 It was Aug of 2020.  Tom was looking at some condo apartments in CA and on the spur of the moment we decided to drive to CA and look at them.  He was interested in Vista but I was looking along the beach.  This is just as the world was starting back into life after Covid.   

We looked at 190 Del Mar Shores Terrace #73, Solana Beach CA.  Tom was thinking it was too small, but I said, "I can make this work".  Besides, it is just for you and me and it's big enough.  So we made an offer but it was contingent on the sale of our VA house.  We had 2 offers fall through on the VA house and we kept thinking we would lose this condo.  Finally the 3rd offer went through.   Turns out the owner had died, and the kids felt it belonged to us and hung in there with us.  We bought it for 767,000.  Closed in Oct. 2020.  We got it fixed up enough to rent and rented until Dec 2022.  

In December we drove to Solana from Monterey to meet with our new contractor and his workers.  George Kelly was hired after being referred by Vicky Nazat the HOA President.  She had used him and he came highly recommended.  I worked with Vicky to get permits but in the end they were rejected because I had to get approval from the Coastal Commission.  We took a chance and did all the work without permits, and George was willing to do that.  

Finally on Jan 20th 2023, the work began.  Tom and I were living in a hotel and then Tom had to work in Kosovo and Czech Republic so I was there alone.  The demolition seemed to take forever.  We had to put in all new plumbing and electric.  We took out the fireplace and moved the refrigerator into it's place.  We pulled out the hallway closet to open it all up (Tom's idea).  We put in double sinks.  Pulled out the bathtub and put in a shower.  We decided to eliminate all upper kitchen cabinets.  We put in an island.  

On May 25, 2023 our workers finished, we gave them a tip, and said good-bye.  Javier was the main worker, with Maurice as his trusty sidekick and we really loved their work.  In the end we were very pleased with the finished product and so far (April 2024) we have yet to spend more than a few days in the renovated apartment.  Our plan is to live there starting in October for an extended period.  I hope we do it!

2023 travels. Only 25% of our time in Heber

We flew to San Diego on Jan 5.  Celebrated our 46th anniversary at the 101 Diner with Acai bowls, and to the San Diego Temple for family names.

We waited and waited for George Kelly to start on our apartment.  Finally on Jan 20th they began....but at a snail's pace.  We only got 4 days of work the first 4 weeks we were there.

However, the more they dawdled, the more ideas came to us.  

Tom was the brilliant one to say, "why do we have the closet?  You want to walk into the apartment and see the sea right away.  Down with the closet!"

The idea was approved by Kelly!  Next the idea came to move the fridge over to the opposite wall, and to also have no upper cabinets!

While we waited for Kelly to begin his renovations, Tom had two international trips with IDARM.  One to Bruno,Czech Republic.  Back to SD for a week, and then off to Pristina Kosovo for another week.  While he was away I took many, many walks on the beach.

We left SD on Feb 21, happy to leave the renovations for a while, and flew to JFK.  Only one night at Jake's and then drove to VA and hooked up with Mike and Debbie.  Cathy lives in Richmond, we visited the hospital where she works, and we spent a night in her newly purchased home.  The brothers being 'cool'.

Drove to Steve's house and had a wonderful day visiting with their family.

 And Mike and Debbie drove down for a visit as well.  While at Jake's we babysat their crew while they went to Peru!

After CA, PA &VA, we arrived home to a buried world in snow.  It was an epic year for snow, 2023.  This is the backyard and you can see the hot tub completely submerged in snow.  We missed most of it and our neighbors were good to keep our driveway clear.  Still it took a LOT of work to shovel out the hot tub and then we tied a rope around my waist and I climbed out on the family room roof to shovel off the heavy snow!  Home for a couple of days and then off to Monterey for IDARM. 

Ca had their fair share of winter storms as well, as you can see from the photo where the sea heaved itself up on the beach planks and destroyed them.  There for 2 weeks and barely made it home b/c Tom was deathly sick!  

Easter!  We had snow so of course we all went skiing.  This was our first time to ski Deer Valley, and it was thanks to Julie Grossen giving us free passes!  We had Jake, Seth, and Colie family over for Easter. We also put our back 5 acres on the market at this time.

Mid April we went to Idaho Falls and 'held the fort' while Dan and Lara went to Peru.   Levi wanted to play baseball with Tom non-stop and Tom actually hurt his arm.  Scarlet chatted for hours, a rare treat.  Levi was involved with getting the Idaho state dinosaur recognized and we were there for that ceremony.  Around this time, Jacob quiet Gallup and became his own boss.  Steve and Felicia separate b/c Felicia becomes an active Lesbian.  We also go under contract on the back 5 with the Sungails and also with Loxi on apartment 74 in Solana.  (Both fall through however!)

By middle of May we are back in CA to finish up the renovations.  It was mostly May gray and June gloom.  We moved in on May 31, 2023 to our apartment.  We flew back on June 6th.  All during this time we are debating about #74.  This bottom photo is with George Kelly who was the contractor for the renovations.  We were up to his house on the hill overlooking Solana.  He has had pancreatic cancer for 6 years.  I don't even know if he is still alive, but I would doubt it.

June.  We had another fabulous trip to Rehoboth Beach and on the way home we visited University of Delaware to see Rach's campus.  Great trip.  In June we also met up in Ogden for Levi's bb games and Seth's family came over as well.  We brought Seth's kids home with us for a couple of days while they worked on their renovations.

Tom was honored to baptize Cora on July 1st.  Cora was literally glowing she was so happy.  Colie and family and Seth's family came to Heber for the 4th of July.

July 15-22, 2023.  A successful family reunion in Solana Beach CA.  Almost everyone was able to make it.  Together we 1)went to church and a pot luck dinner 2) Fidele's mexican 3)Acai bowl at 101 Diner 4) Movies and family photos 5)Clubhouse gathering for pizza and open 2010 time capsule and make 2023 capsule.6) Bankok Bay Thai 7) Del Mar Races.  In between was beach, pool and hot tub.  We were 30 people.  The reunion baton has now passed to Dan.

August we were back in Heber.  Tom celebrates his 72nd birthday at the Montage in Park City.  We also attended Education Week in Provo.  It was great b/c of Lynne Wilson and seeing Sarah Jane Weaver.  

September.  Second month in a row we were in Heber!  A record.  We were on a float for the Midway Swiss Days as part of our calling in the communication council.  It was fun!  We attended a mountain bike race that both Taft and Luke were part of in Snow Basin.  While there we were able to go out in their boat on Pineview Lake.  We also went up to IF for Homecoming, Levi football game, and went to the IF temple.  Stopped in Morgan to see Jonah play football. 

Our next 7 weeks were spent in Europe.  Our favorite stops:  Brussels (visited with Leticia after her son Joshua committed suicide.  We spent an entire day with her and she was able to talk freely about her feelings.  We were so glad to have that opportunity.)  Rome (old friends are the best, went to the temple with Louisa/Luigi, and we also love to visit our fav spots). Paris is Paris.  Can't beat it.  Found Chantier a great brasserie that we will visit again. We fit in Bonn and Dreesen and bike rides on the Rhine.  Did stop in Lyon to see my brother and Renee who were serving a mission.  That very night Steve has prostate issues and decides to go home for treatment.  We go home on the same flight!

November.  Went to Eden to babysit for Seth and Heidi so they could go to Paris.  Good kids.  I like my 'rule' about babysitting:  only when all the kids are in school!

December.  Load of family to visit and to ski with and to spend the Christmas holidays together.  It was magical.

It is now mid April as I make this post.  So easy to forget your life if you don't record it.  This is of course a very modified version, but at least I have recorded that I have lived and loved and enjoyed.  How long can I keep this up?  2024 is already speeding by!!!