Friday, January 28, 2011

This is for the person who said the well picture was fuzzy. That beautiful clear blue sky is what we have had here for the last few days. Today was a gift--January 27 and 74 degrees. Lovely weather. Anyway, this is the rig. The blue stuff on the side is pipe (for those as ignorant as I about well drilling). They have reached about 10-11,000 feet deep now. How do I know this?  Because Dave loves to go down there and talk to drillers.

Today I was perusing Craigslist, as I am wont to do. Every few days I search for Marshall, thus pulling up items for sale or wanted, ones which would be close. We have a nice-looking washer donated by Dave's sister Joanne and her husband Jim, but we need a dryer. Thus the search. While I was looking, the phone rang with the news that someone was delivering a washer and dryer at that very moment. Have not received the name yet, but whoever you are, thank you ever so much.

Progress is slow, but steady. Hot water, a shower, heat, lights, stove--all those are realities. The director's apartment is nearing completion, and painting and patching continues. We had an energetic crew of youth attending a retreat at First Baptist Church. They helped tremendously, spreading hay in the yard, and moving a mountain of paint, tiles, and other items. Several of the girls washed many, many floor tiles that we had left over from remodeling houses. Now they are ready to lay. That will save a pile of money.

We have always used whatever materials were good, available, economical, and usable. There are many of those around, reducing the cost of completion considerably. Our local Habitat for Humanity has been extremely helpful, supplying building materials excess to the houses they build.

So here we are, almost February. What was it I was saying last fall?  That we would be in by Christmas?  Sure. I should know better by now.

Good night and God bless. He certainly has blessed this project. We pray for that to continue.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Maybe This Will Work Right Now . . . Or Not

This is a test to see if you are being notified of posts. For those of you who have asked, I would appreciate a response if you get a notification of this post.

Carolyn

Saturday, January 15, 2011

More Progress on the Shelter

Time goes so quickly. It is Saturday, and then it is Saturday again before we do much of anything. But this week we did make what seems like more progress, despite the snow and the ice and the rain. Today was a mucky, get stuck in the mud day. Since the ground has not grown new cover since the land was cleared for the shelter to be put in place, it is slick when the drizzling rain keeps on and on. So one of our helpful volunteers got stuck today when he was tired and hungry and ready to go home. Between Dave and the volunteer's father who was also working, he got out. Then Dave had a hard time getting his big Chevy truck out, and did some fancy sideways-sliding, so the father pulled him out, too. My Toyota Sienna hesitated a bit, but climbed right up that hill. Go, Toyota.

But back to progress. The water heater is hooked up and working. That is a blessing, because that is one more item in the house we had moved in that we just had to wait to see if we would have to replace. One shower is in place, and the sheetrocking, bedding and taping in the apartment are complete. When the doors are installed, the floor covering down, the plumbing connected, and the painting completed, then our directors could move in. Maybe a couple of weeks.

If you read about the couple in Houston who had to quit feeding the hungry in downtown Houston because they lacked the necessary permits, and according to authorities, were not likely to be able to get them, and wonder if we will have to quit, we won't, at least for that reason.  We have a certified kitchen and the necessary permits, and should be able to get those for the shelter, also. Can't predict other events that may occur, but at least those items are okay for now. Lots of questions come to mind about that situation, such as how much protection do we need for anyone?  One of their defenses is that the poor have less health care; therefore, we need to regulate what they get to eat. One might wonder if it is better to get food prepared in homes than the leftovers from the dumpsters, or that they might at least have some food. Whatever number of meals these folks were serving  will be absent. Sounds like more hunger to me. There were suggestions that they partner with other groups. Might work, might not. We shall see.

I wanted to upload some pictures, but Linux and I are not getting along well enough. (Later--remember when we used to put that in letters when we would get around to adding something to it? Don't see that much in email).  The picture is of the shelter kitchen, before we installed the pantry shelves so we could put some of the clutter away. Mary Kathryn, see your old microwave being used?

Monday, January 3, 2011

Snow New Year's Resolutions Here

That's right. There's no resolutions here. Just a keeping on trying to get the shelter done. But wait. That is a resolution. So maybe there are some. Progress is happening! We now have water hooked up, toilets functional, heat and a/c working, and several more large items going. We still are working on floor covering, and today the glass company came out and fixed the broken window panes.


For instance, the director's apartment is taking shape. Still needs the outside door installed (brr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), the sheetrock finished, and then the painting, floors, and bathroom installation. That clawfoot bathtub is in place. Good soaking tub. Whoever does that job will need some relaxation. That may be it.

The picture below was taken from the shelter. Far up about three trees from the big tree, you might be able to see the new gas well. We are very thankful for the well, even though we own a very, very tiny percentage of it, because it may be what puts food on the table at the shelter. God is good, all the time, and takes care of us in ways we could never imagine.


 That doesn't mean that we don't need help, because we do, and all help is welcome. We are using some of the plumbing parts that Marshall Hardware donated a while back, and a man down near Ben Wheeler, close to Canton, donated a shower stall and some cabinet tops. It is really neat to either be able to put some of those things together to make something useful, or to watch those more skilled than I do so.

One of these days I will get the PayPal donate button on here, making it easier to send money. Until then, just keep sending it by snail mail.

Happy New Year to you all.