We followed the pipes from the store outside and found the kitchen sink drained into the flowerbed. That was just a foreshadowing of things to come.
We have not found a sewer line but more importantly we have not found any sign of the septic tank. Our concerns about its condition have changed to our need to know whether there even is a septic tank.
It is just the two of us making a quick trip during the holidays. Bill says, "I don't have a tape measure". Forgot to pick it up as we left. And a few minutes later we are standing hip to hip in the restroom admiring the two pieces of chair rail high paneling we got on the wall last time. When he says, " I also forgot the blades I need to cut the panels". We reposition tummy to tummy and I said, " shh hear that". We stand silent and he says, "what"? and I say, "exactly". He looks at me and says,
" you love this place don't you"?
I say, "lets hunt the sewer line".
So we try to track it down and wonder if we ran over it with the tractor. Still no septic tank we can find. Bill stands next to the cut off so we can make a picture indicating where it is.
I promise to hunt a plumber. Actually I wrote Billie and she emailed back Mr. Shores name. She never used him but said his name came from my Aunt Jane so couldn't be a better recommend than that.
Stephen our oldest son calls him for me and we set up an appointment in February.
He looks at half the work we need done that will cover the restroom fixtures enabled and says 1200. That is double the money we have set aside for this work so some scrambling has to be done. We are impressed he will do a good job and the excitement of progress is helping us get back on track after the holiday lapse.
He gives us direction about finding the sewer line and septic tank and then with a knowing look in his eye he says You know there may not be a septic tank and as if to read our minds...I don't do anything with septic tanks.
We get some more of the wood and trim up in the bathroom. Bill does a poorboy version of venetian plaster with premixed plaster and a gallon of gold oops paint and it is looking soo good. The ceiling and walls seem to be shaping up nicely tho there is still a good bit to be done. I prime and paint the outside of the restroom in a barn red. It takes three coats but is so refreshing to see a change. I think we are bringing the country colors we dreamed about inside. All that time on the HGTV channel may actually have had some benefit.
Mr. Whittle comes calling. He tells us a story about him being a little boy and the old timers pulling his leg and sending him into the store my grandfather ran in Manchester. He said he bought a cork gun for a dollar and they told him Ras was buying cork guns for 5 dollars! Looking for a profit at age 6 he goes to ask about selling his cork gun and of course Ras tells him he isn't buying cork guns.
We will sell cork guns
so some unsuspecting customer can hear this history retold:0) Cork guns have gone up in price considerably! Mr. Whittle promises to come back. He is related to me through the Vickrey's.
We try to find a way to insulate and seal the walls. Bill sees some panel insulation that could stand alone behind the bead board paneling we envision. It is expensive and not as good an insulator but he reminds me we already have two steel walls with blown in insulation so this might be an answer. To attach it we might use glue and nails at the top and bottom where the only wood seems to be placed. It is a plan that needs some thought. Will run it by the sons when they are out at the store again.
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March 10-13
Our two youngest the teacher and the in college to become a psychologist are going to spend a bit of their spring break working on the store for us. So on the 3rd we drag the trailer down and set it up so they can camp in it while they help us out. Bill puts an anti theft devise on the hitch and don't have any real worries about leaving it with the Good People of this community.
Their to-do-list looks like this:
1.wash sand prime and paint one of the cabinets (paper bag brown)
2.remove the old wood off the porch posts
3.follow the sewer line out to find where it leads
These things will be a tremendous help. These two are the least able when it comes to this kind of construction, but they are enthusiastic and willing to learn. Timothy may ride his Harley out to check on them for us.
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Addressing the question of credit extended or not...we took a vote and our children are split on it. Our sons said they will become bill collectors if we do extend credit however several alternate means of helping people in our community are suggested. One of which is unique to us. Timothy says you can give gas credit to someone in a crisis and for 10 dollars of gas you hold their drivers licence until they come to pay you back. It is something to think about because it would be hard to say no to someone in dire straits.
Just one more area where our inexperience may get us in trouble
so needs a hard and fast answer to both help the community and not bankrupt our business. Our daughter says absolutely NO CREDIT, who would want to try to collect a debt from your neighbor, friend or family? She has a point.
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Now to get the water turned on.
