April 16th -- In Tennessee

I drove to TN last Monday, the 13th. The trip was uneventful, just LONG, 580 miles. When making the trip to TN I often stop and fill up with gas in Union, MO, before getting on I44, about 40 miles west of St. Louis. I was shocked to see that their diesel price was less than regular. I can't remember the last time I've seen that. Just down the road I saw another station with the same prices. Diesel $2.23/gallon, regular $2.29/gallon

Tuesday morning I waited at the cabin for a material delivery, 1 door, 4 windows, 20 sheets of drywall and misc other items. Tuesday afternoon I had an appointment to get my teeth cleaned, and checked, at the place that pulled a tooth when we were here in March. The dentist said everything looked good.

Tuesday evening I went to Mamie Burgess's for supper. She puts out a great meal for a lot of her family on Tuesday nights. Roast pork, a whole chicken fixed on the gas grill, potatoes, sliced tomatoes, a big pan of vegetables that I couldn't identify (but they sure tasted good), green beans, corn that had been cut off the cob, corn bread and cake for desert. I think there was more, but I can't remember what.

Mid-morning Wednesday Marvin Burgess, our neighbor and a great carpenter, came down to help with construction. Actually I am his helper.

These are the "before" photos. The south exterior wall.

 West wall of a future bedroom.

 West wall of main bedroom.

 South interior wall.

 

South interior wall after I removed the insulation and pulled out the electrical wiring.





South exterior wall with siding partially removed.

South interior wall with openings framed for a 5'x5' window and a door. We still have to frame in a 3'x4' window on the right side.

We planned on getting the other window framed and the windows and door installed today, but plans change. Marvin stopped down about 7:30 this morning to say he had a dead new calf that he had to bury, and that he had a Doctor's appointment in the afternoon. It has been rainy while I've been here and it was thundering this morning when he was here. We decided to hold off on the next phase. (It wore me out to watch him work so I was glad to take a day off <grin>)

I went down and visited with Tom & Mary Lou for awhile this morning and then came back to the cabin where I have been putzing around all day. Yesterday we ran down both of the batteries for Marvin's reciprocating saw, he had forgotten his charger. I got mine out and we couldn't get a blade to stick in it. This morning I spent at least an hour trying to get it to hold a blade but was unsuccessful. Guess I'm going to have to take it to the Hitachi repairman when I get back to MO. This afternoon I put the wiring back in the wall area where we framed the window and door. I have lines ready to stick out through the wall, for an exterior outlet & light at the door, when we put the siding back on.

Last night Kathy told me a great story about Lydia, our great-granddaughter. Lydia stayed overnight with Kathy Monday night. She is big enough, almost 3 years old, that she wants to dress herself now. When they were getting ready for bed Lydia had her clothes off and was putting a pair of panties back on. Kathy noticed her tugging and tugging, trying to get them up. Finally she told Kathy, "Grammy, my butt is to strong for these panties." She had both legs in the same leg hole. Kathy said Lydia had her legs wedged in so tightly that it was really tough getting them back off.

I had mowed our MO lawn last Friday. I knew it would be really tall when I got back. When I talked to Kathy today she told me that Andy, our grandson-in-law, was over mowing the lawn. She said it really needed it. WHAT A GRANDSON! Thanks Andy.

May God bless you and yours. He has sure blessed me many times over the years.