Here is Jeannie's HOME page. Literally.
It's still under construction... kinda like the house.

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Pictures of our new HOME: more coming soon!


Thanksgiving 2003 - 'aerial' view
This is the best picture we have so far of the view from the balcony. We will have more pictures of the house later that give an overall view. But for now, this shows just how big and open the living space is on the main floor. The driveway is just outside that window (on the right), the kitchen is just beyond the station where Grandma Shirley and Alex are, and to the left (behind Mick and Daniel) is the living room area where we watch TV and sit in front of the fire. This picture was taken by Misty while she was standing on the spiral staircase that leads to the balcony (where the girls' room is). Below are more pictures from Thanksgiving 2003.

Some AFTER pics!!!

Above view of Kitchen shelving
February 2005

 
Shelving next to Master Bedroom
February 2005

 
The new Kitchen Shelving
February 2005
Daniel's bedroom - Painted, etc.
February 2005
"Before... and after? Pics"
More pics of the family and the house on the "family pics" page
The bikes in the bottom floor garage
March 15, 2003

 
The wine cellar - just after Tom put up the ceiling supports
March 15, 2003
Daniel's bedroom - Drywalling
March 15, 2003

The bathroom on the bottom floor
Notice the ceiling work (done by Mike)
March 15, 2003
Shirley working on the chimney and mantle
March 16, 2003

 
Charles showing off the nearly complete chimney and mantle
March 16, 2003
The bathroom on the bottom floor
Another 'before' pic
February 2005
Thanksgiving 2003

Beula Voltin, Grandpa Tom, and Irv Voltin
Nov 25, 2003
Rick and Mary Carol
Nov 25, 2003
Grandma Shirley, Mike, and Misty
Nov 25, 2003
Jean, Gene and Thelma Fontenot
Nov 25, 2003

Charles, Jean and Gene Fontenot
Nov 25, 2003
Alex sitting in front of the spiral staircase in the rocking chair...
Nov 25, 2003		 More pics from
Thanksgiving coming soon....		 More pics from
Thanksgiving coming soon....
Roof Installation, July 2003:

Here's a pic of Jean on the day that the roof was put on. It's from above in the rafters, looking down into the kitchen/office area by the front door.
July 26, 2003
Here's Hobie on the edge of the roof starting out the beginning of the side by the driveway. (Charles' favorite toy is in the driveway... the back hoe.)
July 26, 2003
Here's Mike (brother-in-law) holding the huge sheets of metal up on the roof, waiting for Hobie to get the first screws in.
July 26, 2003
This is dinnertime (the day of the roof installation). Alex warmed up to Hobie right away and sat next to him on her own. (I think she just wanted his beer.)
July 26, 2003

News:

May 2004: The Collins family has a new member!!! Say hello to "Hammy"! ... it's a hamster folks. Don't jump to conclusions. Hammy was adopted by Kaitlyn from her cousin Mick who had two many... I mean too many hamsters at his house.

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Feb 13, 2004:
Hi all,

Well, once again the Collins' family has moved. And, yet again, it was over the holidays. We haven't forgotten anyone, but with moving so much I haven't had a lot of time for the holiday cards. So, better late than never.

2003 was a very busy year. What year isn't? Charles finished up two Master's Degrees (one in African Studies, one in French Literature). We're really proud of him. Two degrees in two years. The kids did wonderful in school. The end of the school year 2003 they received medals for grades.

Over the summer we built a cottage on 39 acres of woods just east of Athens, Ohio. It's pseudo finished, very livable and a really nice place to get away. It also works as storage for a lot of our stuff! I guess you could call it our retirement home. Since we only had the contractors put up the shell and frame the walls, we had a lot of finishing to do before we moved into it the end of November. I became the electrician and drywall hanger. Charles played around with some plumbing and put in the hardwood floor. My mom and dad put up the paneling on the ceiling and dad did the majority of the paneling on the walls. Some old army friends came to visit and helped out with the paneling. Of course my brother came down to put on the roof with his cousin and also did a lot of drywall work. It took up most of the summer. The kids finally learned to go investigate and play out in the woods.

School started back up in September and Daniel, Kaity and Cosette all attended a private school in preparation for the move to New York. They all loved the environment and the teachers. It was a wonderful experience. They also made some really good friends. We're really glad that we did that for the kids. It was more rough on mom than on anyone else. The hardest part of that whole experience was the driving 30 minutes one way to the school. If I wasn't working on the house to get it finished, it probably wouldn't have been so difficult.

Then of course we moved. We got out of the rental and into the cottage. It took a lot of help and 9 trips with 2 trailers and multiple trucks to move everything, but we did it and had Thanksgiving in the cottage. Two weeks later the movers came to take our stuff to New York.

Charles went ahead to sign in and get us a house. We couldn't' move in until the 31st of Dec, so we spent Christmas in the cottage. It was great. We were able to get a 12 foot tree and it snowed all day on Christmas. Of course, over the holidays we had the hunters also. The first round was after Thanksgiving. It wasn't as fruitful as the prior year. Only one buck on the new property. And no luck during the primitive season. But the men had fun with it. I guess that's what matters. I'm glad that we don't have to count on that for our winter food.

We are now in New York. Specifically, West Point, New York. Charles is now a teacher of French at the United States Military Academy. He seems to enjoy his new job. From what I've heard, the cadets like him too. The area is beautiful and it's really nice being so close to shopping and other people. We haven't ventured into the Big Apple (New York City) as of yet, but will soon I'm sure. We're only 1 hour north of the city on the Hudson River. The kids are loving their new school and have found a lot of friends. They've also enjoyed skiing this season. There is a ski resort here on the Academy that is only 5 minutes away. It's really nice for beginners and the kids love it.

We should be here for at least 2 years, possibly 3. Our doors are always open for visitors. Hope everyone is well and enjoys life to the fullest.

Jeannie Collins
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Family Pics (other than of the home):

 

Contact Jean or Charles at: collinsjeanchuck@yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

This page was made by Jean's sister, Misty. If there are problems with this page, please contact her at sommemi@hotmail.com. Thanks!