Once again slave labor

When we did the storage room several weeks ago, Dad said that maybe he would take the duct work from the furnace out to make more room. I agreed it would be nice but didn't really expect it to happen so fast. The very next week he tore some of the ductwork out and made the biggest mess There was black soot everywhere. I wanted to get the shelves out and everything cleaned but he wanted to do more of the ductwork. On Columbus day he didn't have to work but I did. He took the rest of the ductwork out and made an even bigger mess. when I got home from work I took all the stuff out of the room again and with the help of the Shelton boys brought some sheetrock and the old blackboard downstairs and we put it up on the walls of the storage room. I then spent parts of the next three days washing off every can, bottle, shelf and bucket and then put it all back together.


Dad would really like to take out the whole furnace but that is an even bigger job and I don't want the mess again. It would make that room a great storage room but I am satisfied with it the way it is. The wheat grinder is actually inside the furnace in the space dad emptied.

Treasures ( junk) from the dryer

So, the dryer was making a horrible grinding noise and after several times of reminding dad that it was on his to-do list but not on Saturday when I can actually use the dryer, he finally took it apart to find out what was wrong. I expected to find all those missing socks but they must have wasted away to lint. Instead here is what he found.
Kellie student body card 1993-94
Jim lunch card grade 11
Jake Middle school card 1995-1996
Kate Middle school student body card 98-99 8th grade
Jared middle school student body card 2002-2003
Evan Fullmer Preston library card
7 pennies that have slightly melted from the heat and one good quarter.
Now we know where all those cards went.

The dryer makes less of a noise but still doesn't sound very happy about working. It must be mine ;) Maybe John still has a card melted in there somewhere.

From the Newsletter

This picture and article were in the newsletter that I get about every month. Way to go John. We know you are the best.
Marine funny

Soon after being transferred to a new duty station, my Marine husband called home one evening to tell me he would be late. "Dirty magazines were discovered in the platoon quarters, " he said, " and the whole squad is being disciplined."

I launched into a tirade, arguing that Marines should not be penalized for something so trivial.

My husband interrupted, "Honey, when I said 'dirty magazines' I meant the clips from their rifles hadn't been cleaned."

Keep it clean John.

Atta Boy John!!!

I received this letter (Dad said "He has only one parent?) about John's promotion. Way to go John.

6 hours of slave labor

On Saturday dad and I completely changed the furnace room/storage room around. I needed more shelf space so I could really use the small room more effectively. I started moving all the stuff out of the room while Dad did the dishes (yes, without being asked he did the dishes). He then helped me move out the old shelves and put in the new. He moved the lights that John had put in so they were in more convenient places and gave good suggestions on the shelves. My room is now much better and it also made it possible for me to move all the cans out of the cupboard by the bathroom and just use it for crackers, chips, snacks and such. We were both pretty beat by the time we were through and dad's comment was "I suppose you want to do this cleaning and organizing in every room in the house" (He saw my list).

I am so grateful for dad's help. He certainly makes it easier.

It's Finally Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My project that was going to take four days and dad wasn't going to know about until it was all done is finally done--well almost. I need to clean the carpet and get a black garbage can but that will come. Notice doors on all the cupboards.

The new refrigerator that Kimber and LeRoy got us. I love it and it was Kimber's idea for the black to complement the colors.

After my neighbor Willie Lish got involved it became a more professional job but took more time because it became his schedule we worked around. It is so totally worth it as you can see from the pictures. I must admit that under the sink was all my idea and my work. Dad cut the boards but I did the rest including stuffing insulation in every possible place I could under there to maybe keep the pipes from freezing.

Of course, this now makes the rest of my house really need a make over but maybe just a good cleaning will suffice.

More of the Story

While Kells and Shawn took the kids to lunch and to show off to his co-workers I had about 2 hours to see Colonial Williamsburg. I just took off and walked down Duke of Glouchester Street--otherwise known as Dog street and saw what I could see. I enjoyed the atmosphere and even though I couldn't go into the original buildings because I didn't pay the exorbitant fee of $37 I was able to get some good pictues. My favorite part was the drum and fife corp of young people. I somehow didn't get pictures of the church except the sign and it was another favorite because there was a cemetary behind it. The sign is from the church. The capital building is the next one with the arched doorways. The next one is the original guardhouse and then the Govenors mansion. My favorite is the kids. After Kellie and Shawn picked me up we took the kids to a really cool hands on museum. There were all kinds of animals, fish and birds and many thinks they could do. It was rainy and cold so the outside exhibits were done in a real hurry but we still enjoyed them. We really saw some awesome things. This turtle had a deformed flipper. Eagles that had been hurt so couldn't fly. We also saw wolves, deer, beaver, foxes, and lots of sealife. There were areas where we could look at skeletons of animals, tracks, learn how different shells were formed and other hands on thinks to do. Brendan really seemed to enjoy that part. The kids liked the playroom about the best though. There was a cave that they took all the foxes and fish into and had a whole story going about the animals and needing to eat. I love the imagination of children.
We then went to Applebees for dinner and then to our hotel. Because it was early when Shawn and Kells dropped us off because they had the reception at 7:00 I let the kids watch cartoons for awhile before putting them to bed. They decided to sleep in the beds instead of on the floor this time and were very good to go to sleep. I watched tv but I was probably asleep by 10:00. I guess I am getting too old to stay up and watch tv just because it is there. It was a good day with lots of fun things to do and see.

The rest of the story tomorrow--or at least more of the story.