We feel over whelmed with so much kindness

We were rescued by our daughter Mary Frances and her husband Chuck who brought our Grandsons Charlie and Clint. They came bearing burn barrel gifts and cut down one tree that was too close to the store and one sequoya sized red oak that had fallen years ago and was somewhat petrified. It was wonderful to have so many helping hands and of course the hugs, encouraging words and company were priceless. We felt loved and very grateful for all the help.

While Bill and Chuck were moving limbs Mr Houston came calling. He said he was born in 1922. He told them years ago a post office had been straight across the road from the store. He was very friendly and informative.

We had a visit from Michael Bryant who kindly loaned us a prob to help find the septic tank. Unfortunately gravel was poured over the sand out back so the prob kept finding rocks. We appreciated the generous thought anyway. And it was good to see him again.

Tuesday John Shores came and he made short work of the bathroom fixtures and water heater move and installation. He is not just a professional who does excellent work but he is a kind man too. He wouldn't even take money from us until he has completed the kitchen sink install. Again we were blessed. Mr Shores wife is not well and we promised to keep her in our prayers.

Billie Bell stopped by to introduce herself and wish us well. It was good to finally meet her. We look forward to seeing her again.

Mrs. McCoin came calling after she finished helping Mrs. Crutchfield. She promised to be our customer. It is always a happy day to hear someone say they will buy from you even if you haven't opened your doors yet.

On our visit to Paris Bill got information from Stephen on where to buy propane. This was very helpful.

Bill used his new burn barrell once before we had to leave. I think he just had to give it a try. He also helped me roll a big stump from the redwood Chuck chopped onto the porch to be used in the store later.

We covered the front of the cabinet that faces the front door with chicken wire and moved the other cabinet to the U shape we think will best serve our needs. It was difficult to remove the old contact paper, scrub shelves and drawers, remove old formica top and sand and paint but the work was very rewarding. Everytime we looked outside at Chucks chainsaw cleared sunshine view and everytime we looked inside the restroom at the bright white fixtures which function as well as they look we got encouraged.

paper bag brown

The camera was recovered Sunday as we checked out the cabinet Mike and Will worked on for us. We have a picture Will took of Michael and a shot I got of Will as he lectured me about the cash register and inventory.

The cabinet looks really good in it's new shade of paper bag brown. We will use this same paint for quite a bit of the inside shelving and counter top area. it is the color we want Tim to paint the outside.

We are finalizing the placement of walls and shelves which have been drawn in so many different shapes and widths I can not say how many, but on Sunday we drew in the final version on the concrete floor with chalk and it made a few things clear. We had not left enough room for someone even with a small cart to navigate the asiles. So we enlarged them to 4 feet not three and we also had a few places mismeasured which actually worked to our advantage.

We drove to the Walmart in Clarksville and looked at the cabin samples Mr Hines told the boys about. We could not get inside but were thinking we would ask about prices/floor plans when we saw him next.

Bill sprayed the poision ivy again. But we do seem to be winning this battle. Some bulbs had come up probably from Cathy's efforts. There is a pretty red bud in the flower bed that is also too close to the store so must regretably cut it down too. It is small and should not pose much of a problem.

The store is beginning to change. Thank you again guys.

just imagine...

Two sons 17 and 25 single full of well you know what and alone in Kanawha. There were three things they were to get done for us.

1.sand prime paint a long counter that is topless and backless.

2.find dig and follow the sewer line to hopefully a septic tank.

3.remove old wood from porch beams.

When the labor is free from children you love one out of three is not bad at all.

It came a torrent of rain and had them inside trying to stay dry and not blow away which led to some interesting conversations and lots of laptop computer games. They did find the sewer line which should be very helpful when the old folks try to dig it up next week. They got the cabinet in pretty good shape for a top/back and touch up next week. Also folks job.

All in all they had some good brother time that included a poker game with Tim's Harley buddies and Stephen's friends. There is the beard challenge where they are all four trying to grow a beard. Tim seems to have the corner on this one. Tims beard is bushmans dream. Michael is looking like the devil with his red pointy chin one and Will looks like a Wolfman with his werewolf version. I have no idea where this will lead or how it relates to the store but should be a deterant to anyone thinking about robbery. I have not seen Stephen's yet, that might be for the best.

A man who owns some picture pretty 20 acres in Kanawha came by and talked to our two youngest sons. He has a deep fryer, metal table and other cooking supplies for sale but we will be roasting and baking food. Our tables will be sturdy wood versions so we capture an era gone bye. He did say he is a builder of cabins and wanted us to see his samples in front of Walmart. Possibly something to check out. I am sure the impression the guys left since they were into their third day of no bath was one to remember. No one in Kanawha has seen us clean since we bought the store as everyday has been a work day. I hope we can live that stinky image down.

All in all the guys had a good time and we got some work done that is one step closer to JUST IMAGINE...opening a store. That was one L O N G cabinet and with many coats of paint to sand through. Thank you Mike and Will! You done good!!!

There were some pictures camera man Will took but they are lost in a sea of dirty clothes at the time of this post.

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Meanwhile back home, Bill removed the old uneven tiles in the center of the rectangle table and he discovered too late they were glass and very sharp. I sanded it down between serving on jury duty and the big storm. The red stain we put on it is to mimic the wood on the round table we will also be using in the store.

We want to put wood pieces back into the table and make a checker board so it can be played on. Nice addition to the store if it comes together.

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Mary said Chuck will cut chop and haul the two trees in question at the store. She said he would not need any help unless they were sequoyas...I am so glad because this is one more thing we have been very concerned about. I know Stephen will be sad we had to get rid of the tree that is beside the store but its roots are tearing up the concrete floor, it is in the way of the cottage we plan to build on that side of the store, and it is a sweet gum which is one of those trees that has balls and Bill likes his trees without balls tho I can't say why.

Just call me Noah and Delay not Tom

The 410 Water Supply will turn on the water to the store with a deposit of $110.00. We expect this to happen before the end of March 2007.

We now have three monthly bills:

store payment, electric and water.

So far with some answered prayers and a few lifestyle changes we are staying afloat.

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The Income Tax Man

Seems the work and expense of the store will be tallied up when the store actually opens. This delay makes that interim time expensive, but it takes the burden of trying to file bits and pieces for several years off our shoulders. We bought a portable filing system with pockets to keep up with costs trips and other information about the process. I got this information from the IRS number I found on line for small businesses.

the Plumber cometh

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.