I arrived back at our place in Crossville, TN around 5PM Tuesday, I travelled alone this time, Kathy decided to stay in MO. The trip was uneventful. Had some spotty heavy rain in TN, but none of the storms were large. I drove through each of them in less than 5 minutes.
The cooler temperatures in Crossville (when compared to those we experience in MO) never cease to amaze me. It was warmer in MO, when I left a little after 6AM than it was when I arrived in Crossville around 4:30PM. I've been watching the high temps every day recently and over the past 2 weeks Crossville high temps have averaged 6-9 degrees cooler than those in Centertown. According to the 10 day forecast highs will average 2.6 degrees cooler in Crossville during the period. Since Crossville is over 200 miles further south than Centertown, the only reason I could think of was the elevation difference, Crossville is about 1,000 feet higher than Centertown. Doug suggested that it might be due to the jet stream. The jet stream probably at least a part of the reason. After all, it is stunning that temperatures in Denmark, which is located about as far north as Hudson Bay in Canada, only experiences 2 winter months where low temps average slightly below freezing, about the same as Charlotte, NC.
Doug & Antony were in MO for the weekend and we all were able to enjoy one another's company. Lydia loves all the attention from her Indianapolis Gpa's. They were scheduled to Indy yesterday.
Hopefully during this trip I will finish the kitchen electrical wiring, get the drywall installed on at least 2 of the kitchen walls and get the order placed for kitchen base cabinets.
Plans are to return to MO either next Monday or Tuesday.
May God bless you and yours.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Friday, June 20, 2014
June 19th - Back in Missouri
We arrived back home about 9:45. The trip was relatively uneventful, just long.
I can't believe how much "stuff" we carted back and forth.
We stopped for a break at a rest area in Illinois. Lydia was hardly out of the truck when she spied 3 squirrels in the grass. They let her get within 10' before they took off. I went back to the truck and got some peanuts. She threw some of the peanuts to them and they scrambled to get them. Obviously they were used to being fed by people stopping at the rest area.
She was sure tickled to see Andy when he came out to the truck after we pulled into their drive. Kelsey was still at work.
Good night, may God bless you and yours.
I can't believe how much "stuff" we carted back and forth.
We stopped for a break at a rest area in Illinois. Lydia was hardly out of the truck when she spied 3 squirrels in the grass. They let her get within 10' before they took off. I went back to the truck and got some peanuts. She threw some of the peanuts to them and they scrambled to get them. Obviously they were used to being fed by people stopping at the rest area.
She was sure tickled to see Andy when he came out to the truck after we pulled into their drive. Kelsey was still at work.
Good night, may God bless you and yours.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
June 18th - Back to Missouri Tomorrow
We came to TN last Friday and have been having a good time here. Tomorrow we head back to MO so that Lydia can attend a birthday party Friday.
It is almost 600 miles each way. Lydia was a real trooper.
We stopped at Demo's, in Lebanon, TN, for supper. Lydia had to check out the flowering bushes.
She went swimming in Tom & Mary Lou's lake several times. She and Wendy are having a great time splashing while on the "raft".
My major project (it wasn't that major) while here was adding the plumbing and an electrical outlet for our new washer. Kathy and Kelsey found it while "junking" at the Habitat Re-Store in Jefferson City. If I had any idea how much a front load washer weighs I might not have went in and picked it up. There is no way I could come close to lifting half of it to get it out of my pickup. Fortunately Doug & Anthony were at our house when I brought it home and with there help, and Andy's we were able to get it out of the back of my truck and into the shed. I used the loader on my tractor to get it back in the truck. Here in TN one of the neighbors came over with his tractor and loader to get it out of my truck.
Tom (my property manager <GRIN>) keeps the lawn mowed for us. I did do some weed eating while here and also burned the pile of brush left over from my last trip.
Today we ordered the countertop our TN kitchen. Monday or Tuesday we will order the base cabinets. Like an idiot I went to Lowe's first, thinking I could get what I wanted with one stop. I should have known better. As we have with other things for the cabin we are buying the countertop and cabinets from Potter's, a local hardware store. They had cabinet units like we wanted and the price was better than Lowes. Not only that, Potter's will deliver the stuff for free.
My plan is to come back to TN in a week or so and get serious about working on the kitchen.
Good night and may God bless you and yours.
It is almost 600 miles each way. Lydia was a real trooper.
We stopped at Demo's, in Lebanon, TN, for supper. Lydia had to check out the flowering bushes.
She went swimming in Tom & Mary Lou's lake several times. She and Wendy are having a great time splashing while on the "raft".
My major project (it wasn't that major) while here was adding the plumbing and an electrical outlet for our new washer. Kathy and Kelsey found it while "junking" at the Habitat Re-Store in Jefferson City. If I had any idea how much a front load washer weighs I might not have went in and picked it up. There is no way I could come close to lifting half of it to get it out of my pickup. Fortunately Doug & Anthony were at our house when I brought it home and with there help, and Andy's we were able to get it out of the back of my truck and into the shed. I used the loader on my tractor to get it back in the truck. Here in TN one of the neighbors came over with his tractor and loader to get it out of my truck.
Tom (my property manager <GRIN>) keeps the lawn mowed for us. I did do some weed eating while here and also burned the pile of brush left over from my last trip.
Today we ordered the countertop our TN kitchen. Monday or Tuesday we will order the base cabinets. Like an idiot I went to Lowe's first, thinking I could get what I wanted with one stop. I should have known better. As we have with other things for the cabin we are buying the countertop and cabinets from Potter's, a local hardware store. They had cabinet units like we wanted and the price was better than Lowes. Not only that, Potter's will deliver the stuff for free.
My plan is to come back to TN in a week or so and get serious about working on the kitchen.
Good night and may God bless you and yours.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
June 5th - Warm Wet Days in Missouri
First - Error Correction - I must have had a brain cramp during an earlier post. I said that Elliott was going to Kenya when he is actually going to the Congo. He is on his way to the airport as I type this.
I previously mentioned that we had to stop for ice cream after fish last Friday night, but I forgot to include a photo. Mom with her lemon cone and Kathy holding her chocolate cone and my lemon cone.
Grammy and Lydia, in the yard picking and eating mulberries.
Kathy has painted Kelsey & Andy's kitchen two coats since we returned, in addition to all her other tasks. She says it still needs another coat.
Lydia headed for Hollywood. (NOT, I hope)
I didn't do anything Tuesday so yesterday I had to get out and get some things done. I went to California for a haircut and picked up the gaskets I had ordered for the carb on my log splitter. Cleaned the carb as best I could and reinstalled it. The splitter started, and ran, fine. I split almost all the wood I had ready for splitting. Now I need to get it stacked and cut some more.
I finished splitting the wood in the rain. It was humid and in the mid 80's, I was already so wet with sweat that the rain felt good.
Today's high is only supposed to be in the mid 70's. The humidity is supposed to be above 80% all day and there is a 40% chance of rain. This is the coolest day in the 10 day forecast so I need to get out and finish cutting up the tree I felled a couple of weeks ago.
May God bless you and yours.
I previously mentioned that we had to stop for ice cream after fish last Friday night, but I forgot to include a photo. Mom with her lemon cone and Kathy holding her chocolate cone and my lemon cone.
Aunt Cindy gave us some tools and kitchenware for Lydia, and Lydia is REALLY enjoying them.
Grammy and Lydia, in the yard picking and eating mulberries.
Lydia headed for Hollywood. (NOT, I hope)
I didn't do anything Tuesday so yesterday I had to get out and get some things done. I went to California for a haircut and picked up the gaskets I had ordered for the carb on my log splitter. Cleaned the carb as best I could and reinstalled it. The splitter started, and ran, fine. I split almost all the wood I had ready for splitting. Now I need to get it stacked and cut some more.
Today's high is only supposed to be in the mid 70's. The humidity is supposed to be above 80% all day and there is a 40% chance of rain. This is the coolest day in the 10 day forecast so I need to get out and finish cutting up the tree I felled a couple of weeks ago.
May God bless you and yours.
Monday, June 2, 2014
June 2nd - Feather Factory
Several weeks ago Kathy and I did some "research" and took a drive around to the northwest. We had no particular goal in mind, we were just checking out what was out there.
Our first surprise was that what we thought was downtown California, MO is not really the downtown. The town has a nice town square and courthouse. It made us feel kind of dumb, since we have lived here for nearly 2 years now.
Our second surprise was when we drove by a "feather factory", out north of California. We saw all these bag, supposedly containing feather and could not fathom what their use might be. David and Elaine Ott knew of the place, but did not know what use was made of the feathers. Now we know.
In yesterday's Jefferson City Tribune's paper there was a reprint of an article from the Columbia Missourian. Below is a copy of the article as well as some of the photos. I tip my hat to Abby Kass, who wrote the article for the Missorian.
Our first surprise was that what we thought was downtown California, MO is not really the downtown. The town has a nice town square and courthouse. It made us feel kind of dumb, since we have lived here for nearly 2 years now.
Our second surprise was when we drove by a "feather factory", out north of California. We saw all these bag, supposedly containing feather and could not fathom what their use might be. David and Elaine Ott knew of the place, but did not know what use was made of the feathers. Now we know.
In yesterday's Jefferson City Tribune's paper there was a reprint of an article from the Columbia Missourian. Below is a copy of the article as well as some of the photos. I tip my hat to Abby Kass, who wrote the article for the Missorian.
Columbia business provides feathers to famous
The phone rings. It's Beyoncé's manager, asking for 80 white ostrich feather fans for the singer's upcoming tour.On the other end, Abby Arauz catches her breath and looks at the calendar. She has just 10 days to put together the elaborate showpieces.But her team of 20 will make it happen. They will work long hours gathering the feathers, washing and dyeing them, and sewing them together with dental floss. They will, through sheer determination, meet the deadline.In the past few years, Arauz has fielded dozens of similar requests — masks for Mardi Gras, headdresses for Carnival in Brazil, feathers for the costumes in "The Hunger Games," thousands of wings for Victoria's Secret holiday displays, The Columbia Missourian reported (http://bit.ly/1jUNA8T ) .Arauz and her family own The Feather Place, a far-flung operation with an office in Columbia, showrooms in New York City and Los Angeles, and a wholesale business in California, Mo., called Zucker Feather Products.A former Rockette at Radio City Music Hall, Arauz opened her first showroom in New York in 1998, added another in Los Angeles eight years later and moved to Columbia four years ago to run the venture while raising two children.She is the third generation of her family in the business, founded by her grandparents in the 1960s as an outlet selling feathers to fly fishermen. Her parents added the wholesale business in the 1980s, and Arauz has taken it to the entertainment industry and beyond.As a leading U.S. supplier of wholesale feathers, Zucker Feather Products sells to a variety of businesses, including big-name retailers such as Hobby Lobby and the Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft stores.The Feather Place is the retail side, assembling ostrich plumes, peacock "eyes" and a variety of bird feathers into fans, headpieces, lingerie, jewelry, masks, holiday feather trees, wreaths and more.To market the business, Arauz collaborates with Broadway producers, fashion designers, pop stars, big chain craft stores and others who need feathers for costumes, retail displays and high-end couture."We keep thinking of new ideas that you can do with feathers," she said. "I think it's our responsibility in the industry to keep providing new uses."Every year, she works with Victoria's Secret to create the wings models wear for the company's annual fashion show.Last year, Arauz's crew used ostrich plumes, pheasant and peacock feathers, and long, droopy rooster tails to create the elaborate wings on the backs of angels during the fashion show. Her company also makes the extravagant holiday displays seen in outlets worldwide.For "The Hunger Games" movies, costume designers visited the Feather Place showroom in Los Angeles to find feathers for costumes. According to the New York Times, feathers and flames were used in clothing for Katniss, the heroine, "to keep her the Girl on Fire while also representing the Mockingjay."To see how the feathers are stored and dyed requires a drive on Highway 50 to California, Mo., about an hour southwest of Columbia. If you head down the main street, with its red-brick store fronts, restaurants and corner gas station, you'll reach the Old Heck Saddlery Building on the outskirts of town.From 1978 to 2004, the old saddlery building held the entire operation. Ten years ago, another building was added 5 miles away, and the old place became the dye shop, where feathers are cleaned, bleached, dyed and dried. The new building became the location where feather products are assembled.Most of the business' 65 employees work in either the dye shop or the factory in California, Mo., with the remainder in the New York and Los Angeles showrooms. Many have been with the feather company for more than 20 years.All of the feathers are by-products of industries that would have otherwise discarded them. Most are from farms across the nation, with the exotic ones imported from other countries, including the ostrich feathers from South Africa.Turkey feathers are the most common staple of the company. The feathers are stored in one room of the old saddlery building in large canvas bags. From there, they are hauled downstairs to be washed and bleached, a process that takes about a week.The dye station sits next to the washing and bleaching station. All of the color samples are kept in a box with a binder that holds the recipes for different shades. An employee will match a recipe with the exact color requested by the client.Once the perfect match has been made, the feathers are dyed, typically in bright primary colors, then taken upstairs to be washed again. Finally, they are placed on shelves or hung on clotheslines to dry.When the process is complete, the feathers are driven to the factory 5 miles down the road. There, sewing machines are used to assemble the variety of feather crafts the company offers.Arauz's grandfather started the company in the 1960s to serve the fly fishing industry."They were dyeing feathers out of the basement in their washer and dryer," Arauz said.Her grandparents traveled around the country for years, selling them out of the back of a van. From a young age, Arauz tagged along in the summer and learned all about the business.In the 1980s, her father purchased Zucker Feather Products, a wholesale feather business that allowed the company to integrate the operation from feather to finished product. Now, Arauz and her brother, Anthony, run the company, along with their parents. Anthony is the CEO."I enjoy traveling to meet suppliers and customers in all parts of the world," he said in an interview.Abby Arauz said the family aspect is important to her."It's all about having a team; that's for sure," she said. "I have really dedicated people who are enthusiastic about their work."Diane Puig is one of those people. She began working for the company nine years ago in the New York City showroom. Now, she focuses on customer service, sales and information in the factory in California, Mo."I really love it here," she said. "I get up every morning and don't mind coming to work."In college, Arauz was a dance and accounting major. After graduating from Stephens, she moved to New York City and toured with national theater productions, including "Singing in the Rain."When she became a Rockette, she spent 10 years touring and performing in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. During that decade, she began consulting with costume designers and realized she had the knowledge to purchase feathers at competitive prices.While still a Rockette, she opened The Feather Place in New York City. With just one subway stop between her two jobs, she started to cater to Broadway shows and fashion houses.When her career as a Rockette ended, Arauz teamed up film designers and opened another showroom in Los Angeles in 2006.Four years ago, she became pregnant with her second child, which prompted her and her husband to make a change."I loved growing up in Missouri myself," she said, "so we decided to move back to Columbia."Arauz lives in town with her husband, Jack Chase, and their children, Sophia and Gus. Three days a week, she commutes to California, Mo., to oversee the factory operation.She opened The Feather Place on West Broadway six months ago as office space; Arauz calls it "a feather think tank." She and one employee work together to create do-it-yourself projects and to work with schools on crafts and events.Recently, they supplied feathers for the Lee Expressive Arts Elementary School's production of "Seussical the Musical.""I deal with large-name designers on Big Bird's feathers, as well as for little crafters," she said. "There's something for everyone."Her biggest challenge is moving quickly enough to keep up with the latest trends, she said. But Arauz is also pleased that her business has deep family roots."Looking back, it makes me kind of proud to continue the business that my grandparents started," she said.---Information from: Columbia Missourian, http://www.columbiamissourian.com
June 2nd - Back in Missouri
We arrived back home in Missouri about 2:30 this afternoon. It is good to be out of the car.
We left Wednesday morning and our first night out we stayed at the West Baden Springs Hotel in French Lick, IN. If you have never been there it should be on your "bucket list". We went there around 2005 and toured the place after Bill Cook had poured millions into it, just to stop the deterioration and spruce up the exterior and lobby. In 2007 we went back for an overnight stay soon after it re-opened as a hotel. It was awesome then, and still is. Our recent overnight stay was our Christmas present from Kelsey & Andy, our granddaughter and grand son-in-law. Thank you K&A, we sure enjoyed the gift.
If interested you can read about the hotel at http://www.frenchlick.com/hotels/westBaden/
Thursday it was up to Indianapolis and an overnight stay with Doug & Anthony. We went to La Parada for supper and I had my favorite, a chimichanga. It was great. The only problem with it was that it was so large I could only eat half of it.
Friday we went up to Michigan and spent the day and night with my Mom. Kathy had to go to the Moose lodge in Fremont, IN for fish Friday night. The fish was good and so was the lemon ice cream cone we had for dessert at the soft serve ice cream parlor in Fremont.
Saturday we spent the morning at Mom's and then headed down to Auntie V's (Kathy's niece and sister run/own the place). We had "prime rib burgers". Oh so good. Then it was on to Hamilton Lake to stay overnight at "the cottage" with Nate, Judy (one of Kathy's sisters), Emily & Kendahl (N&J's daughters). We had a nice visit with and a took a very enjoyable "pontoon boat" cruise around the lake at dusk.
Sunday we went to church in Edon, OH and stayed for Elliott's (one of Kathy's nephews) "going away party". Elliott is leaving for a 6 month stay in the Congo. While there he will be doing maintenance on the planes used my Kenya's missionary pilots.
Sunday night was another overnight stay with Doug and Anthony and then back to Missouri today.
We got to do a lot of visiting while gone, and see some folks we hadn't see in years at Eliot's party.
I hope everyone had as enjoyable weekend as we did. May God bless you and yours.
PS. I'm going to do a "double blog post" today so that I can also tell about the "feather factory" we ran across in California, MO.
We left Wednesday morning and our first night out we stayed at the West Baden Springs Hotel in French Lick, IN. If you have never been there it should be on your "bucket list". We went there around 2005 and toured the place after Bill Cook had poured millions into it, just to stop the deterioration and spruce up the exterior and lobby. In 2007 we went back for an overnight stay soon after it re-opened as a hotel. It was awesome then, and still is. Our recent overnight stay was our Christmas present from Kelsey & Andy, our granddaughter and grand son-in-law. Thank you K&A, we sure enjoyed the gift.
If interested you can read about the hotel at http://www.frenchlick.com/hotels/westBaden/
Thursday it was up to Indianapolis and an overnight stay with Doug & Anthony. We went to La Parada for supper and I had my favorite, a chimichanga. It was great. The only problem with it was that it was so large I could only eat half of it.
Friday we went up to Michigan and spent the day and night with my Mom. Kathy had to go to the Moose lodge in Fremont, IN for fish Friday night. The fish was good and so was the lemon ice cream cone we had for dessert at the soft serve ice cream parlor in Fremont.
Saturday we spent the morning at Mom's and then headed down to Auntie V's (Kathy's niece and sister run/own the place). We had "prime rib burgers". Oh so good. Then it was on to Hamilton Lake to stay overnight at "the cottage" with Nate, Judy (one of Kathy's sisters), Emily & Kendahl (N&J's daughters). We had a nice visit with and a took a very enjoyable "pontoon boat" cruise around the lake at dusk.
Sunday we went to church in Edon, OH and stayed for Elliott's (one of Kathy's nephews) "going away party". Elliott is leaving for a 6 month stay in the Congo. While there he will be doing maintenance on the planes used my Kenya's missionary pilots.
Sunday night was another overnight stay with Doug and Anthony and then back to Missouri today.
We got to do a lot of visiting while gone, and see some folks we hadn't see in years at Eliot's party.
I hope everyone had as enjoyable weekend as we did. May God bless you and yours.
PS. I'm going to do a "double blog post" today so that I can also tell about the "feather factory" we ran across in California, MO.
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