Final phase

Floor is sealed, baseboard down. Final phase: work table. I have decided on a work table around the wall instead of a desk because it is cheaper, easier, I already have everything I need, cheaper, quicker, better for hiding wires, etc, changeable, and cheaper. Certainly into cheap.

Found this fan on clearance table and adapted it to reflect the color scheme of the room.

This is a map Jill gave me to keep track of where I have been. Not that I've been a lot of places. I have spent time in Kansas, Oklahoma, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia here in the US; the RPI, or Republic of the Philippines, Kenya and Argentina. The trip to the RPI, courtesy of Uncle Sam was 15 months. Both trips to Kenya with the Christians Broadcasting Hope division of the Church of God were 2 weeks each, and the trip to Argentina with the Nazarene Work & Witness program was 2 weeks. Todd and I spent just about 2 weeks in Peru with our wonderful friend, Barbara in 1999. Great trip. I've landed in many other places, but can't really say I've been there. Hawaii, Wake Island, Thailand, Japan, Alaska, Amsterdam, Dallas, Las Vegas, Miami, and others. I did spend a week in Japan. Cool place then, expensive place now I understand.

Stones and bees

Yesterday I spent the day with Chad hauling crushed sandstone to put around and under his decks. I think it is turning out very nice!!

While I was waiting for Chad I spotted this bumblebee flitting around the flowers of this weed. And you thought weeds had no value!

In this picture I was able to catch the bee's wings in motion. You can just see them. Not bad for an unplanned encounter and a grab and shoot event.

Outings

Last Sunday, July 15th, Georgiann and I went to Natural Bridge,VA after church. It is a nice place, scenic and serene, but a bit over priced. I think. It is $10 for each of the five things you can do. But you can buy a ticket for any two or more parts that is discounted. The toy museum is NOT worth $10 or your time. I didn't think the wax museum was either, except for the very last scene, which is DiVinci's Last Supper. Well done and interesting. So if you are interested in wax figures, spend the $10 and see it. You can do a lot worse with $10. The caverns we didn't see. But the whole trip was worthwhile because of the bridge.


Today, Sunday, July 22nd, Georgiann, Daniel and I met some from the church's photo club at Silver Lake outside of Bridgewater. We had a good time, and Daniel seemed to enjoy himself. He took to the water very readily.



Here are some pictures from both.

Floor down, lights up

The floor is down and grouted. We need to finish cleaning it and getting the haze off. then I plan to seal it to bring out the color. I have run a wet mop over it to bring out the color.

I put in three recessed lights over the area where the desk will go and they are wired, trimmed and lighted. So progress. A little. I hope to have the floor cleaned and sealed this Friday. More then.

Study Pictures

It's been 9 days since I posted, and not a whole lot has happened in the Study. Small things, but not much that has a visible impact. I had to redesign my desk because the original design would have covered some of the cross. I had to rethink my lights, but they are now located and the attic checked for clearance. So they can go in soon. The floor tile is down and grouted. I need to keep cleaning the floor to get all of the residue from the grout up. Georgiann has been helping me so much in that area. The chair rail is all installed with just some small touch up for nail holes, etc. left to do. Once the floor is completely clean we are going to seal it with the hope that the sealer will bring the tile colors out more vividly.

Not too much happening at home. Work is really challenging me. I begin my management training Thursday the 19th. I am looking forward to that.

Visit Jill's web for the latest on our trip to Ethiopia plans. That all seems to be falling into place. The Wheeler's blog that I have a link to has lots of great pictures of them at the beach and the National Zoo. They must have found the prettiest girl in China to bring home. I'll post more as things happen.

If you click on this picture you can make out the cross. We are hoping the sealing of the floor makes it very visible.

This is the corner where my desk will go. I won't put the baseboard down until the floor is sealed.

I made my own trim, but won't bore you with details. I think it turned out OK. For sure it leaves my signature on the room.

Summer shots of the Blue Ridge

My brother, Phillip, and I spent several hours together today just chatting and enjoying the opportunity. Phillip is pastoring in Tulsa and working full time for American Airlines, as well as taking care of a family, helping a daughter and son-in-law get settled into a home, and all of the other things that life throws at him. I am working for a company that believes they own you and you shouldn't want much less need vacation. So we won't get to see each other much in the next few years most likely. So we had lunch at a wonderful restaurant in a place you wouldn't believe would have such a place. It is called Griffin House and is located in Flint Hill, VA, about 11 miles from Sperryville which is just down the mountain on Route 211 from the Skyline drive. A beautiful setting and a great, reasonably priced restaurant with great food. Just out of the way of most of America. You can check it out here: http://www.griffintavern.com/links.cfm.

This first picture is taken from the Skyline bridge at about mile marker 32 looking east along Virginia route 211. The rest were taken just south of Stanley Virginia on the south branch of the Shenandoah River. I was experimenting with the settings on my camera so some of them have different lighting. I don't always get the results I want using the automatic mode, and I am finding digital settings very different than my old manual Nikon. Enjoy.

Madison

Nothing much to report on the study. Because I'm basically too lazy to work on it. Right now the work is HARD. Still working on the floor. I just wanted to share some more pictures of Madi.

Holly Echo holding Madi. Holly Echo, and there is a story behind calling her that right now. She has been Echo to all of us until last Friday night. She announced that she would be known as Holly. Which is her prerogative since both are her names. So, until it all settles out, I'll call her both. Holly Echo is Phillip and Susan's youngest. I think that makes her Madi's first cousin. I'm not good on family tree relationship designations.

Since Lesa now has a mother, a step mom, and a mother in law, we need seperate names for Madi to know them as. We believe that Georgiann is going to be grandma.