May 12 AM - Demo Continues - but not fast

Tuesday - Changed oil in new zero turn mower and mowed lawn with it for 3rd time. A word of warning to those with a hilly yard and who thinking about a zero turn. I was worried about mowing up the hill along our driveway. It does make me a little uncomfortable, because the zero turns have no weight on the front. Mowing down the hill is the problem. The first trip down the hill I ended up under a big cedar tree. I can only mow one strip downhill, the one next to the driveway where I can keep one set of tires on the asphalt. Several times during that trip down the drive I end up locking up the tire on the asphalt to prevent another "run away". Overall I like the mower and think it saves me time but it appears to me that they are suited for smooth, slightly rolling lawns; not hilly, rocky, rough lawns.

Wildlife - we have quite a few turtles on our property. This one was strolling across the driveway Tuesday. Its shell would measure about 9" in length.

Yesterday I had breakfast with the mens fellowship group from church. Six of us there yesterday. We normally have 5-7. It is an enjoyable morning. The local restaurant doesn't open until 9 and we are typically waiting on the sidewalk when the door opens. The first hour is spent ordering food, discussing happenings in our lives, waiting on food, more discussions, more waiting, etc. We normally finish eating about 10 and then have a time of study that lasts 45-90 minutes. Sometimes we have LOTS of discussion on the topic, sometimes only a little.

Later I removed the dry wall above the shower stall and cleaned up the mess.

Doug arrived around 2 PM and he and Kathy did more bathroom remodel planning. Today will be more demo and investigation of what is above the ceiling.

May 9th PM - Bath Remodeling

We started the demo for our bathroom remodel project this AM. First I installed "sideboards" on my trailer, getting it ready to haul the debris.

This PM I started demo. Actually I started yesterday. I took down the towel bars and misc items off the wall then. Kathy removed all the "stuff" from the vanity.

We are gutting the bathroom. Everything in it will be new by the time we are done. Doug is coming tomorrow to head up the project.

May 9th - Back in MO

We returned to MO Monday, May 2nd. The trip was uneventful.

We did some "camping" in our TT (travel trailer) at the end of last week. Great-granddaughter Lydia came over and we spent the night camping. Supper in the trailer and then she and Kathy spent the night in it. Lydia took the first shower in it.

Granddaughter Kelsey hosted Mother's Day for the family. She did a great job (so did Andy, he peeled the potatoes).

Lydia is attending preschool 5 days a week now so she isn't here nearly as often. Kathy baby sits Great-grandson Nolan 1 or 2 days a week.

After being pushed around the circle drive multiple times this morning, and eating, he was worn out. 

April 29th - Long Time Between Posts

Kathy & I are in Tennessee for a short stay. We drove here last Wed & are driving back to MO on Mon.

This morning I spent about 45 minutes running the weed eater. Later we went to the Triple D Diner for lunch. The photo is from Google Maps. The parking lot was full today. I've eaten breakfast there with Tom a couple of times. Good food and very reasonable prices.

Kathy had chicken strips and I has catfish. Both meals were very good. Her chicken strips, fries & a coke was only $6. My catfish, fries, beans, corn bread hushpuppies, & an ice tea was $8.50.

In the afternoon I washed the cabin, not that it needed it. Halfway through the north wall.

The south wall only needed a couple of areas washed with the bleach solution bu the North, East & West needed a complete washing. Finished.

I haven't done much while we have been here but I'm glad to get the cabin washing done. Tomorrow morning, if it isn't raining, we are going to the flea market in Crossville.

March 16th - Mid Afternoon in TN

I'm taking a break and eating lunch. Below are progress photos on the kitchen. Sink is all hooked up, finally. No more washing dishes in a dishpan in the bathtub, HORRAY! I still need to put "end panels" on the cabinets, to provide a finished surface. I also still need to connect the two pieces of countertop together at the corner. The range in on rollers. Kathy thought she might prefer it that way so she has more working countertop. If she doesn't like it I can cut out the countertop and install it in a conventional matter.

The Michigan redneck is coming out in me. My pile of stuff is growing. I really need to wash the vinyl siding again this summer. The algae/mold it taking hold again.

Hope you all have a great day.

God is good, He's so good to me.

March 13th - Tennessee

Lots of travelling since my last post. Kathy's Dad died after a long battle with cancer. We went to Ohio for the funeral. My photography skills are horrible. Below is a photo of Lydia "helping" Aunt Cindy play during the funeral. She is hidden behind the mike stand.

We went on up to Michigan to visit my Mom.

 

We had both driven from MO to Indianapolis. We stayed with Doug & Anthony Wednesday & Friday nights. Kathy, Kelsey, Lydia & Nolan went back to Missouri Saturday. After a great breakfast visit with an old friend from the Lebanon, IN area I drove to our place in TN.

 

I attended church at Cumberland Fellowship this AM. It was a good service, as usual. The have collected over 14,000 "stuffed" (with candy) Easter eggs to give out during the Crossville Easter Egg hunt.

 

this afternoon I did a little more work in the kitchen and switched the way the refrigerator door swings. With some luck I will have a functioning kitchen sink by tomorrow night.

 

God is good.

March 6th - Back in Missouri

Since my last post Kathy went from TX to TN and then back to MO. I drove back to MO last Wednesday. All our travels were uneventful.

Below is a photo of the building we worked on while volunteering at the TX YWAM camp in Dec 2011. We both worked staining the wood for the entrances that are on all four sides of the building. I helped with building forms, for the stairs and placing the concrete for them. I also helped building forms for the retaining walls for the planters. we mixed all the concrete by hand. The stone facing came later. The building is beautiful both inside and out. The kitchen is amazing. The typically feed 300 people 3 times a day. I think I heard that they have had as many as 600 in the building for events.

 On the road. Parked for lunch at a truck stop.

The trailer parked at home in MO.

 

Lydia got to come over Thursday and we had a fun day. Grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. (Sorry, but the quality of my photos stink)

 



 Then work, putting out bird seed.

She also got to come over for Saturday afternoon. She had eaten at home. I was having a late lunch of warmed up pizza. She helped me with it.

Later a nap in the travel trailer was in order.

Next Wednesday we are on the road again. We will be heading to Doug & Anthony's, in Indianapolis, for an overnight stay. Then it will be up to northwest Ohio for Merv's (Kathy's Dad) funeral. Then a short trip to Michigan to see my Mom.

All is well with us. God is good.