Good Worker - WITH TOOLS

Got to visit with Grandson Jack yesterday at his new home. His folks had LOTS of TOOLS, but He Had NONE!

Went to Harbor Freight Tools - their Kids Tool Set was half price. Said 8 and up - I think that means "8 months" Anyway the hardhat is OK for now and the gloves, and the tool belt - nylon canvas cloth, and the suspenders. The REAL METAL Screwdrivers - hammer etc will have to wait for later.

Another bright spot of our day was to receive the FINE GIFT from Janet Westfall, a beautiful photo - taken by Shayne Beschta - in a Croatian Cemetery. It depicts An Angel Resting, for truly when our work here is done we will all rest in the Lord's Arms. The detail of the photo is beyond description, and the photo does not do it justice. The photo temporarily hangs outside our bedroom, along with family photographs. Anne says it will hang over our fireplace - when that gets finished.

Here is another photo - showing the picture to Miranda - in their new home.

Making The World Better - the Old Fashioned Way

Hi Folks,

After getting more sunburned mowing, I decided it was time to do an indoor project.

I dumped the contents of the computer desk ( my son's old desk from adolescence) onto my bed. As Capt. Marko Ramius- in Hunt for Red October said,"When he reached the New World, Cortez burned his ships. As a result, his men were well motivated"

I knew I had to fix the desk or in defeat load the contents back in the drawer and put up with the broken drawer slides another day.

Now, The desk has served well - holding scores of model paint bottles and over the years 5 1/4 and later 3 1/2 inch floppy disks, but as one slide had broken in half, the drawer could only be opede an inch or 2 before it would fall in your lap - NOT HANDY.

SO today was the day!

What to use? pine would most certainly crack under the 4 countersunk screws. But OAK - yes

that would be the ticket.

Good neighbor Warren Schulz left some oak pieces from a sawmill project, presumably for my fireplace - or woodstove, but some of the pieces seemmed TOO GOOD to just burn, So I set out to cut strips - without wormholes. Finally I cut about 6 that seemed as possibilities to 1" x 1".

Then measuring them against the drawer- 5/8 inch high, and the same thick. 

I cut 4 then chose the best 2  and using the old plastic slide, drilled the pilot holes for the screws.

Then countersunk those holes and took them upstairs to mount. The drawer DID NOT FIT!

TOO TIGHT! (better that too loose!)

Off they came, and one saw kerf off each side, and PERFECT FIT!

An old desk has bee renewed, and now the table saw is ready to go to the Daughter and Son-in--law's for a few weeks to help on their house!

Busy Day - Neighbor Sick

Our day began at 0730 with a call from our neighbor Yolanda - She is in Peoria in the hospital for heart tests. We are caring for her cats and dog. We went down and fed them, then it RAINED - all had a BATH. At the end of the day - all were DRY AND HAPPY and Playing. Actually saw a kitten bounce off a tree trunk and onto another cat. Hockey players have nothing on them.

Anne went to lunch in Bishop Hill today - P L Johnsons. With old friend Millie Peck - Mille it seems is looking to move to the CITY - Galva. We wish her well.

While Anne was gone I dug in in earnest on the downstairs bath.
I got the new washer out of the box, and the vanity and top and the medicine cabinet - It appears we have a PERFECT FIT along the South wall, And Anne is Happy - so, next is the finishing of the south wall, then the linen closet insert, and tub along the north wall, - then TILE and Paint choices, etc.
In addition, I filled the truck with a load for recycle - and drove to Galva. Met a Famous Lady Golfer at Casey's.

Dogs had their usual Sausage treat.
Gas finally down to $2.49
Could be $1.49 as far as I am concerned.


Well, I AM TIRED
Good Night and God Bless,
Martin

Feeling NEEDED - At Home and AWAY

One of the biggest hurdles in retirement was feeling "Not Needed" that was cured in one fell swoop today with three phone calls. McNabb Lutheran and Granville Lutheran Extended an offer to Preach August 16, 2009. Messiah Lutheran extended an offer for me to preach August 29th and 30th 2009. Finally Kewanee First United Methodist extended an offer for me to preach July 19th, 2009 with a possiblity of also preaching July 26th. In addition, I was sked ot do pastoral care for   Kewanee First United Methodist July 15th through July 28th, 2009.

AH! I Feel NEEDED Again!

Oh, I am still needed at home, and with my motto of "one small task a day completed". Today Anne and I installed the LAST piece of downstairs bathroom/laundry room subfloor! Only had to take it out and trim three times to make it fit!

Oh Well, 

God Bless, and Good Night,

Martin

visit with grandson

Yesterday we got to visit with our grandson. I drove him around Home Depot in a CAR Cart.

We went to Village Inn- We Shared my favorite and his first - Banana Cream Pie

The First Week in July

Today I began to try to start a new page.

Last week I buried - eulogized two brothers of my wife's brother-in-law Wendell Westfall - Harry Bill Westfall and Kenneth Bud Westfall. In the past month so many well knowns have died - M Jackson, Karl Maulden - real name Mladin Sekulovich - his folks are buried near mine.

Whether you live a long time or only a short one the true measure is what have you done with it?

It is now time for me to DO AGAIN - enough rest..

Tomorrow is a NEW DAY!

God Bless,

Martin