I forgot to add pictures for our April 2012 project
We did a lot of painting
And a lot of caulking
Carole cut a lot of old clothes into rags
A a lot of trim installation
We did get a break
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Sunday, July 29, 2012
2013 projects
Things are starting to happen for 2013. We are signed up for projects for February, March and April 2013
February will be at Trinity Pines in Trinity TX.
March will be at Dry Creek in Dry Creek, LA
April will be back to Trinity Pines in Trinity TX.
We don't know what we will be doing in January yet.
February will be at Trinity Pines in Trinity TX.
March will be at Dry Creek in Dry Creek, LA
April will be back to Trinity Pines in Trinity TX.
We don't know what we will be doing in January yet.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Branson, MO
We spent a few days in Branson, MO while on the way to our April Project. We went to the Pierce Arrow show--fun. Also saw the tornado damage.
We are now at NTM missionary training center. Beautiful setting on the shore of the Lake of the Ozarks. Tomorrow will be a tour of the facility and see what will be the work planned for the SOWERs. I even have cell phone and internet in the RV--can't be any better than that. Hope the temp moderate some next week--in the mid 80s this week. I think the forecast is for the highs in the 60s next week--better for working.
nlsower
We are now at NTM missionary training center. Beautiful setting on the shore of the Lake of the Ozarks. Tomorrow will be a tour of the facility and see what will be the work planned for the SOWERs. I even have cell phone and internet in the RV--can't be any better than that. Hope the temp moderate some next week--in the mid 80s this week. I think the forecast is for the highs in the 60s next week--better for working.
nlsower
Sunday, March 25, 2012
March Project-Glenhaven Youth Ranch
I didn't fall off the end of the earth--I just went to the end of the trail and ended up at Glenhaven Youth Ranch which is located about 45 miles north of Hot Springs, AR. The setting is a beautiful valley with a small stream flowing behind the SOWER RVs.
Scooter (the Host) said our project was to work on a house that needed a little TLC--oh by the way it has been vacant of a couple of years. What we really did was an EMO (extreme make-over). Repaired floors, walls, plumbing and more plumbing, windows, skirting, deck, electrical, cabinets, siding, blinds and painted/cleaned. Also built a new deck. Some of the ladies deboned boiled chicken for the house parents--kind of a yuky job but really appreciated by house parents also helped in the classroom and library.
Scooter (the Host) said our project was to work on a house that needed a little TLC--oh by the way it has been vacant of a couple of years. What we really did was an EMO (extreme make-over). Repaired floors, walls, plumbing and more plumbing, windows, skirting, deck, electrical, cabinets, siding, blinds and painted/cleaned. Also built a new deck. Some of the ladies deboned boiled chicken for the house parents--kind of a yuky job but really appreciated by house parents also helped in the classroom and library.
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Truly a ranch: complete with cows, chickens, horses and dogs.
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SOWER parking in the valley
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| Project house--Just needed a "little" TLC This is the front; the back is a different story but did have a rippling brook until it started to rain then a raging stream--not a river. When we finished the interior was beautiful--ready for a family. |
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| Fred the Paint man |
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| Dorothy the Kitchen lady |
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| "Little" Bill the Carpenter |
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| Mike the Wall man |
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| Glenda the School Lady |
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| Maynard the Plumber |
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Arva the Office lady
who didn't get to work in the office--
cleaned and painted instead
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| Rudy the Electrician |
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| Esther the Cleaning lady |
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| Carole the Lady Leader at the "bead party" |
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| "Big" Bill the Group Leader in the kitchen |
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| Host--fishing |
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| Fred fishing |
The project house will be used as a "relief" house when the regular house parents have a weekend off. Instead of moving the house parents, the kids move to the relief house for the weekend. The house has three bedrooms, three baths and a very large kitchen/dining area. Usually there are seven or eight kids per house. The ranch presently has three houses (two for girls and one for boys. The kids are from 12 to 17 years old. The State wanted to duplicate their program because of their success ratio but gave up the idea because the state couldn't include Jesus in their program.
GHYR focuses on the kid's strengths and builds relationships from there--the use of horses is a major part of building these relationships. The kids don't trust adults but form a bond with the horses and many times share feelings while working with the horses. All of the kids attend school on the ranch--academic and vocational training as well as life skills. Most kids stay at the ranch about 17 months and are scholarship funded.
We are now in Branson MO for a few days before our April project near Camdenton MO (NTM missionary training center.) I have internet here so I can catch up on my computer work.
A few more pictures from GHYR.
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| Spring had arrived in AR |
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| View from the back window of our RV. |
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| House on the ridge where we could get cell reception |
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| The fishing pond |
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| Picture from side trip to Heifer International Farm about 35 miles from GHYR |
God's peace. nlsower
Friday, February 24, 2012
Can't believe another project is done
Some pictures from Twin Oaks Ranch in Buda TX.
Carole and Jo making flower arrangement for the Austin Christian Bass Club annual meeting
Roy and Bill's job was to collect sticks and stones for the center pieces--the more moss the better.
Finished center piece
Roy pausing from painting
Watching the Super Bowl-notice how interested the ladies are.
Moved the furniture from one bedroom to another in preparation for tiling
View from the back window of our RV
Strange neighbor
How many deer can you see? They are from a lodge next to the camp.
Look at all the green grass in February--This area of TX finally got some rain.
One bedroom tiled ready for grout.
Valentine's Day at Red Lobster
Termite damage. We moved the bed and Roy walk around the side and said "this floor seems rather soft." When we pulled up the vinyl floor there wasn't any floor board left. He was walking just on the vinyl flooring.
We were short about 14 tiles so had to add another color under the beds. SOWERs have to be creative.
Carole putting clean curtains back on the rods for the cabin that was tiled and painted.
Jo cleaning the kitchen walls.
Can't believe I was painting again.
Water softener installation. Sure glad I brought my pex pipe crimper along--made the plumbing easy. Since it wasn't convenient to run the lines in the building, we just buried them outside--only have to bury them a few inches. That may seem easy but it is all rock with about an inch of top soil--pick and sledge come in handy. It is sandstone so with lots of effort you can get a trench about 8 inches deep. Luckily the grounds keeper dug the trench for us "old" guys. He did put the pick through a sewer line so had to do a little repair work.
Roy and Jo have a set of Carol Burnett DVD's so we had several movie nights. Lots of good laughs. Fun to project them on a big screen.
Last night Don and Debbie (Host) took us out to the Texas Land and Cattle Steak House--Wow! was that ever good food.
It has been very quiet at the "Ranch" this month but this afternoon about 100 college girls are coming in for a retreat. Then a family is coming in for a reunion on Saturday. This camp provides the facilities and the groups bring their own program. The camp is continually updating the facilities. Plans are to have more nice rooms for retreats to utilize the facilities during January and February. Also they would like to build a gym for kids recreation during the summer when it is too hot or rainy to be outside. They are also meeting with landscape planners to improve the overall site. It has been very rewarding to serve here.
Interesting rock formation at the "Ranch"
Who needs walls for a laundry room when lattice works?
Joey waiting for the Host family to come home.
Last night Don and Debbie (Host) took us out to the Texas Land and Cattle Steak House--Wow! was that ever good food.
It has been very quiet at the "Ranch" this month but this afternoon about 100 college girls are coming in for a retreat. Then a family is coming in for a reunion on Saturday. This camp provides the facilities and the groups bring their own program. The camp is continually updating the facilities. Plans are to have more nice rooms for retreats to utilize the facilities during January and February. Also they would like to build a gym for kids recreation during the summer when it is too hot or rainy to be outside. They are also meeting with landscape planners to improve the overall site. It has been very rewarding to serve here.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Half done already
Thanks Alice for the comment--it is a crested caracara. I updated the earlier post.
It is hard to believe that we are half done with our February Project at Twin Oaks Ranch in Buda, TX. Roy and I have been working on the Nurse's cabin. Started by removing vinyl flooring and vinyl tile. Repaired the bathroom floor. Then laid backer board for porcelain tile--lots of screws--of course since the room was cleaned out we painted the walls. We have one bedroom tiled and grouted and the bathroom tiled. We need to move all the furniture from the other bedroom back across the hall before we can tile the second bedroom. May wait another day for the grout to set up before moving the furniture. We will grout the bathroom tomorrow and may plumb in the new water softener for the dining hall--pex pipe with crimp rings so should be easy.
CC and Jo have been cleaning the kitchen since it has been remodeled. New tile floor, tile counter tops, hanging racks--lots of dust. CC's knee has been a problem so she has been limited on what she could do. She has been going to PT this month--that seems to be helping.
We enjoyed setting up for the Austin Christian Bass Club annual awards banquet. An outdoor theme with rock, sticks, weeds, fishing lures in the center pieces--Debbie (Lady Host) is really creative. Roy and my first job was to pick up sticks and stones--check to make sure that no creepy critters were attached to the stick or stones. Great meal and speaker.
We have been attending First Evangelical Free Church in Austin (large church). Great SS class on what Questions do you have. Last week the guest leader was a Physicist who talked about the wonders of God's physical creation--very interesting.
We have had several movie nights--St John in Exile, Carol Burnett shows, and the Super Bowl. Celebrated Valentine's Day by going out to eat at Red Lobster.
I don't have many good pictures yet. Cleaning kitchens and laying tile make boring pictures.
This is a beautiful place with big Oak trees and green grass. They are updating the existing building and have plans to update the landscaping and add some additional buildings. A great SOWER project--just needs more sowers to get all the work done.
nlsower
It is hard to believe that we are half done with our February Project at Twin Oaks Ranch in Buda, TX. Roy and I have been working on the Nurse's cabin. Started by removing vinyl flooring and vinyl tile. Repaired the bathroom floor. Then laid backer board for porcelain tile--lots of screws--of course since the room was cleaned out we painted the walls. We have one bedroom tiled and grouted and the bathroom tiled. We need to move all the furniture from the other bedroom back across the hall before we can tile the second bedroom. May wait another day for the grout to set up before moving the furniture. We will grout the bathroom tomorrow and may plumb in the new water softener for the dining hall--pex pipe with crimp rings so should be easy.
CC and Jo have been cleaning the kitchen since it has been remodeled. New tile floor, tile counter tops, hanging racks--lots of dust. CC's knee has been a problem so she has been limited on what she could do. She has been going to PT this month--that seems to be helping.
We enjoyed setting up for the Austin Christian Bass Club annual awards banquet. An outdoor theme with rock, sticks, weeds, fishing lures in the center pieces--Debbie (Lady Host) is really creative. Roy and my first job was to pick up sticks and stones--check to make sure that no creepy critters were attached to the stick or stones. Great meal and speaker.
We have been attending First Evangelical Free Church in Austin (large church). Great SS class on what Questions do you have. Last week the guest leader was a Physicist who talked about the wonders of God's physical creation--very interesting.
We have had several movie nights--St John in Exile, Carol Burnett shows, and the Super Bowl. Celebrated Valentine's Day by going out to eat at Red Lobster.
I don't have many good pictures yet. Cleaning kitchens and laying tile make boring pictures.
This is a beautiful place with big Oak trees and green grass. They are updating the existing building and have plans to update the landscaping and add some additional buildings. A great SOWER project--just needs more sowers to get all the work done.
nlsower
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