Waterproof roof

Well, my Christmas present was permission to hire a carpenter to get the 'tin' on my building roof, and it's done now. I'll try to put up a picture soon. I'm really excited to have the building 'done'--now I only lack these things... (all upgrades! So I don't have to 'permit' the building)
*finish the floor over the subfloor
*put in insulation in the walls
*build shelves for the Christmas decorations
*put screens in the vents at the top of the walls
*put in overhead insulation and some kind of ceiling
*rip 4" boards down to 2" boards and install on the outside to simulate 'board & batten'
*spray paint the outside
*run power to the building
*install a breaker box
*run interior lights and other wiring
*put in two more treated posts
*build the deck on the back under the porch
*reinforce a beam, install Debbie's 'ancestral' swing under the porch
*put in some kind of walls inside--including lots of perf-board
*paint the interior if needed
*install the woodburning stove as heat, run all the venting for it
So it looks like a full spring. But I can at least do it in the dry!

Skype rocks!

I think of myself as being somewhat "up" on technology. I write this blog, I use Facebook, and of course I use e-mail daily and do my sermons with PowerPoint notes...but I'd never got around to using something called Skype.

The other night, we finally got around to installing the software on Debbie's laptop computer. Our son Nathan in TX helped us get everything configured right. It was wonderfully strange to be talking to him, and see him and the background of his living room in Karnes City.

The next night, we called early enough to 'visit' with our granddaughter Brenna. We carried the computer into the living room so she could see our Christmas tree...she kept asking her Dad where we were...I guess she doesn't get the concept completely quite yet.

Lots of people ask "Where's my George Jetson flying car?" but I'm glad to finally have this version of a videophone!

For those of you with Skype already installed, I will publish our 'address' in the future. Don't remember it right now! (One of the disadvantages of the new technology--remembering your various electronic identities and passwords.)

Blue Ridge TubaChristmas 2009

Well, this year's TubaChristmas has come and gone. I've just received many pictures of the event, and will try to post them on my FaceBook account. In the meantime, here are a few images to enjoy... and here is the link to the full photo album on FaceBook (I don't think you have to be a FaceBook member to view them): http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=41267&id=1454783473&l=8069b784f1

Traumatized...

Here's a list of those in my household who are traumatized by today's visit to the Ocoee Animal Hospital:
· Sweetie the smallest cat—who hissed, growled, and spat at and tried to bite Dr. Beleu.
· Bruiser the alpha-male wannabe—who did his share of growling, too
· Little Lily, the normally subdued—who hid under the bed so that I couldn’t find her, then tried to keep me from taking her OUT of the carrier at the vet, and is throwing off fur like nobody's business
· Tiger—who also hid under the bed and put up a big fight about going in (and coming out) of the carrier, and who got off the vet table and hid under it behind 3 boxes of puppy starter food and a case of assorted cat treats, then had to be dragged out
· Patty Puppy—who was scared of all the other dogs at the vet’s and is now getting a bath, which she hates...
And last but not least…
· Yours truly

Any volunteers to take Sweetie, Tiger, and Patty to the Vet during pet dental health month to get their teeth cleaned?

Fun with Brenna

We're in TX a few days for a visit with Brenna and her folks. Good day at FBC Karnes City yesterday. Lots of fun with Brenna. She's growing up so fast! Seems ready for kindergarten even though she's still 3. Rain, so no outdoor fun today. Back to GA late Wednesday.

Somewhat new picture in the header

I just love this picture of my granddaughter Brenna and me in the swing. She's definitely a talker when she wants to be! (Wonder where she gets it???)

By the way, in case you've forgotten, my wife Debbie is the "Gabby" that "Gabby's Guy" refers to...long story involving a hilarious mis-hearing. The swing that Brenna-bear and I are in goes back a long way in Debbie's family. I first encountered it on her G'Momma's screened-in front porch in Fairfax (now Valley) Alabama. We actually 'courted' on that swing! But it was either made by or purchased by G'Momma's grandfather or great-grandfather. So Brenna is the 7th or 8th generation of family members to sit in that swing!

A Rare Dry Day--Painting!

Can't believe I'm still trying to get the final parts of the roof on my workshop! But at least today we had a break from the constant rain...I managed to get a coat of paint on all the other metal for the roof! So I'm not too far from having all the "Sanford and Son" (Debbie's term) out from under the carport.

We also had to do some involuntary remodeling in my bathroom...Debbie was cleaning last week and found cracks in the blue toilet. So it was off to Home Depot to get an AlGore toilet (you know, the kind that supposedly flushes with a cup of tears from blathering treehuggers?) So far, so good...but I don't know if the good flush carries through with the "stuff" getting all the way out to the septic tank. We'll see.

Now if I could only get the new kitchen exterior door up, finish installing the shed roof, insulate the building, dig a trench for wiring (and find the $$ for the heavy-duty wiring needed to run power to the shed), get my friend from church to help me wire the building, install the lights, etc. etc. etc.

And this doesn't include the "honey-do" list!