The Sink is Sunk

We sank the sink and it works fine after the plumber and his trusty sidekick finished. Every trip is a trim, spray, mow, weed eat trip. This one included some burning as well. Will had an allergy attack and had to quit early but every single bit of help is appreciated. The hole where the mower is resting contained a whole nest of large Wolf spiders who did not take kindly to the mower invasion.

Michael is not holding his head because he got whacked with a board he is saying ...
DUH, we coulda done it that way! As you can see Bill and Mike got the cabinet top on with the hole cut and a sink sunk. This was truly a miracle and so fast too.

A good deal of Bill and Michael's time was spent putting the backing on the sink cabinet. We bought some kitchen and bath paint that should help keep it fresh looking. That painting part will have to happen next time.

We discovered several interesting things...the overhead cabinets are not hung evenly over the window which had us splitting the difference when it came to sink placement. The overhead cabinets will stay crooked as it would be a monumental task for 4 strong men to just remove them and that many more to put them back an inch and a half is not worth it. We stopped short of the second sheet of board that will finish off the back splash and window casing, but it is a difficult but doable task for the future.

The cabinets under the sink were scrubbed, sanded primed and old paint covered with the light brown we are using. We left the old aged shelves and plan to fill them with baskets.

We had a visit from Mr and Mrs Pryor. They invited us to their church and shared some of their history with us. Both natives of Red River County they purchased land near Kanawha in 1973 and after many years working in Dallas retired to their property in 2001. They used to eat in Kanawha when Van Brock ran the store.

We had the sad occasion to see a young man named McCoin hit a tree at the turn in the road. It is a big event when an ambulance, two wreckers, the Highway Patrol, The Sheriff and a fire engine all come to Kanawha.

We had a yellow stripe cat and a white with grey patches cat come into the yard to hunt. We do not know who they belong to but are very glad to see them visiting.

A Bob White family has taken up residence across 410. It was so comforting to hear them call one to the other with great confidence there would be an answer. Bill has taken up bird watching when he is not spraying wasps or poison ivy.

As usual we are both so stiff we can hardly walk. Actually Bill is so stiff he can hardly limp as he stubbed his toe and walks like Chester on Gunsmoke. We have determined we can only put in about three grueling days of this labor intensive work before we freeze up and can't move.

This trip we started several projects we will finish next time. Sometimes the thinking it through and try as you go phase take so long the fix part doesn't happen as in the cover up the pipes in the bathroom and repair the damaged wood on the cabinet.

June is going to be very exciting as we hope to gather the children and grandchildren to help Timothy paint the outside. This face lift will make a distinct impression for the better.

Before we left I tried to wash off as much dirt as possible and we drove to see my Aunt Jane Boulware in Kimatia. On the way we debated where Scrap used to be. I think it may have been at my Aunt Minnie Peterson's old place that sits on a hill to the right of 410. My Aunt Jane is in her 90's and still she is pretty as a picture. She is very quick and her mind is as bright as she is. I apologized for not calling. Our cell phone doesn't work correctly in this area. She was kind and welcomed us. She has a lady helping her out, I think her name was Charlese, who is very sweet. We could not stay long but I just wanted to tell her I loved her and would keep her in my prayers. She remembered Bill from Uncle Ernest's funeral.

Michael has volunteered to work at the store some this summer. We are excited to see so much progress until we see how very far we have left to go. Still it was wonderful to see a functioning sink in the kitchen area.

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.