2nd week of Build, Storms, and mor Storms

 We attended the St. Paddys Day Parade and got lots of vegetables.   Cabbage, potatoes, onions, carrotts etc and a very badly broken fingernail..    Oh did that hurt.  Oh well, as Ally said it was the purple polish I had on that was a great target. LOL
We had a good second week of the build but missed having the college students.   Also it decided to RAIN, like Hell. I thought I was back in Michigan and had a storm coming across the lake.   This one came out of the Gulf of Mexico and just sat and spun around for a couple of days.  We did not work on Thursday due to the storm.   Now we have friends with us, Jim and Linda Matheny, who have been stuck by lightening three times and this was no exception.   Lightening hit a transformer right in front of their motorhome and I about jumped out of my chair when it hit.   Needless to say all of us were a little jumpy the rest of the day.
We left Louisiana on Saturday morning heading to Natchez Mississippi, oh by the way, with Jim and Linda.  We are staying in Vidalia La just across the river from Natchez and are sitting right by the river watching the barges go up or down river. What a wonderful sight and so relaxing.    We did lots of sightseeing here in Natchez, went to a Casino and now tomorrow we are heading up the Natchez Trace and will arrive in Nashville Tennessee on Friday. 
First picture:   Last day of build, happy hour. Second one"  Riverboat Casino in Natchez,Ms. 3rd:   Tub pushing barges up Mississippi River, One of the houses in Natchez, Linda and Mem in front of Visitors Center.

LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!!

First Week in Louisana 2012

We arrived in Houma, Louisiana on Sunday (11th of March) and on Monday morning started working on another Habitat project.    This Build we have a group of 18 college students from St Louis University , SLU, for short and they have been GREAT.   In fact on of the girls is from Indianapolis and just might be a good fit for a babysitter for Ally 's kids this summer.,  You never know who you will meet and how things will work out.
Jim and Linda Matheny our friends from Virginia, Larry and Tracy Saulsgiver from New York are with us and two other people,.  Mike Kennedy travels by himself as his wife would rather be at home with the grandkids, and Dyana Todd is single and is from Washington state. 
The weather has been great except for rain on Monday afternoon but it waited until we were done working and the rest of the week was good. 
Last night we went to a place called the Jolly Inn to enjoy some real Cajun music and we really had a good time.   These people in La. really know how to party.

The kids are leaving today so we will be working by ourselves next week.   After that the Mathenys and us are heading to Natchez Miss and up the Trace to Nashville for some good country music.

I forgot to add that we are going to a St Paddys Day parade tomorrow and I understand instead of throwing beads they throw vegetables.    We don;'t need any though as we are having our cornbeef and cabbage tonight for dinner.
Later.

Pictures of Habitat Build Louisiana 2012

Future Habitat workers:    Bella, Noah and Kate

Kris Massey (Indy, possible babysitter for Hedrick family

Papa eating crawfish

Group of students from St. Louis University St. Louis Missouri

Baker Bill making bingets for breakfast

painting baseboards

Friday, 3-9-12

Sine we will be traveling tomorrow I thought that today would be good to catch up the Blog.
This week started out with lunch over at Becky & Lew Moyers place with several friends of theirs from Canada and other from the Valley who work at Habitat for Humanity. We met Becky and Lew in Dade City several years ago and then they came to Texas to work. It was good to see them and visit with the other people.   They suggested we contact the Affiliate here to see about doing some Care A Vanner work here in Texas.
The rest of this week has been just do whatever.   On Tuesday we decided to go into Progresso Mexico.   We have been several times when we have been down here but now with all the violence in Mexico, (which is further down in the country) some people were saying dont go and other saying it was okay.   Progresso is just a little tourist town and we park on the US side and walk across the bridge.   We spent about 3 hours over there and got back ok.   I texted Bry and his buddy Shane if they did not hear from us by 5 pm to send the "big guys with the big guns".   They understood my meaning. 
Yesterday we went to the Border Patrol Headquarters in Welesco and we given a very informative tour and information about what happens when they find illegals trying to come into the US.   It was really interesting and the Border Patrol people really have a hard job and work hard.
Tomorrow we are heading to Louisiana for a 2 week build for Habitat.

Sunday March 4, 2012

I was been an interesting week in south Texas.  As usual the wind has been blowing and blowing. That is just part of being in the Valley of Texas.   We went to visit friends from West Virginia who are down in this area working with Habitat, on Tuesday. Wednesday we went on the bus tour to different farms in the area.   Some were produce and the one that I liked the best was the Aloe Vera Farm.   I had never seen it growing in fields just in flower pots.   Very interesting to learn all the uses for the plant.
Another big thing in this area are the Flea Markets.   Now this is an experience. You can find old things, new things, probably things that you don't want to know where they came from.   I got some very pretty hair bows for the little grandaughters. 
Today I am baking pies to take to our West Virginia friends tomorrow as they are cooking lunch for a group of people and ask us to come.  
Tuesday we are going into Mexico over at Progresso .  I need a new supply of vanilla.
People are still going over there but no other towns on the border.
The rest of the week is just whatever comes along other than I think on Thursday we will go to a seminar at the Border Patrol Headquarters.
Not much else going on.