In prasie of Craftsman

In the nineteen days since we began this remodeling project we have worked with a series of teams who work with their heads, hands and tools. The structure and sheet rock crew was talkitive and jovial, gladly following the orders of the head carpenter.

The cabinet installation team, just two young men, were more deliberate and artistic, even the music they played while working was different. We marveled at the care and creativity of the way they dealt with the eccentricities of our particular space.

The one man who laid out the template for the granite counter had to get it right for his calculations would be set in stone permanately. He told me he loved making model airplanes and cars growing up. So did I, but I am a clutz with my hands.

The two men on the tile crew are very focused, and it is physical and artistic at the same time. Watching the master tile setter create the angles of my daughters design for our entrance tiles was amazing. I honor all those who are in the building trade and hope for boom times again.

I love the scripture that tells us to find work and do it with passion and care. We are made in the image of our creative and careful loving God, who is working still.

Goodbye slippery green apple tile

Mud and Trowel, tools of the tiler's trade.

When we bought this home 8 years ago, it had green apple carpet and dangerously slippery white tile with green apple swirls. The carpet went quickly but the tile remained until yesterday. It was the main thing we disliked about the home. We are glad we waited as we have learned so much about design as our daughter has studied interior design in college. It felt so good to walk on the new tile this morning.

Watching the tornado recovery in the south has been heart wrenching. I still love the Bible belt, all teasing to the contrary. When the Mississippi Governor uses the word "hunderds" instead of "hundreds", it brings a smile to my face. That syrupy language is part of my life experience.

When I was 16, at ball practice one spring afternoon in 1966, We took cover when we saw a tornado, which would later hit a small but busy shopping area, killing over 40 when stores collapsed. I still remember the helpless feeling huddled in the hallway of Murrah High School listening to the roar.

1000 posts

Two weekings into the project with two weeks to go until counter tops are installed. This is fun...and expensive.

Once again I thank the Callaway High School class of 1968 for inspiring me to start a blog in August of 2008, and my love of sharing pictures of life for keeping me at it. My family for telling me that they can keep up with us through this medium which for me is easier than letter writing or emailing. For the members of my church who say they enjoy checking in on my daily doings and odd thinkings.

I was getting more heart health lectures from the educational staff at Banner Desert Sam Hospital yesterday and she was using this most excellent computer program that is available for everyone on the Web which shows all the things going on with heart disease and heart health. Fascinating. She used an illustration of the heart being like teflon when we are young, and scrambling eggs with a fork as to how our heart lining is damaged by excess glucose and other irritants in our diet.

All disease has its roots in inflammation as our bodies try to fix the damage and the fix goes wrong. Excess triglycerides enter the arteries behind cholesterols attempts to smooth out our irriated vessels and get stuck so the plaqueing gets enlarged and narrows the arterial wall.

When and if the plaque ruptures, the fat explodes into the artery and the blood instanly begins to clot in an attempt to heal itself, The clogging brings on a sudden and often fatal heart attack. So its not our miraculous bodies, but our dietary abuse that creates the problem. This may be more information than you wanted, but for me this knowledge is about life and death.

Someone asked me if God knew the length of your life. Yes, from God's prospective, but from ours we have all kinds of opportunities to take proper care of ourselves, live wisely, so that from our perspective we are extending out life. It's a beautiful joining of God's knowledge with His encouragement for us to do the things that lead to abundant life.

Pumping on all cylinders

Having problems getting online . Home and resting. More tomorrow

Succesful Stenting

Overnight stay at Desert Sam , I feel fine

Cabinet installation Day

It was very exciting to see months of planning and years of thinking about how to improve our dated Kitchen. We are definitely going to have to have a step ladder to use those high cabinets but the effect of going to the ceiling we think is nice.

Tomorrow I will undergo another heart catheterizing procedure to relive a plaque build up in the arteries of my heart. Your thought and prayers are appreciated and meaningful. At least we are acting proactively on this one, and my dietary changes are keeping my insulin needs and blood sugar levels very steady and low.

A one night stay in the hospital, resting at home for a few, Lord willing.

Cabinets are on the way

Saturday we had Jack the Painter over to paint the ceiling, priming the walls and putting one coat of our future kitchen color, which is called "front porch" and is a shade of grey. He just painted the areas where cabinets will meet wall, so the finished work will have a paint line go behind the cabinet.

The Cabinet installation crew will be here today to begin installing the kitchen. Our new kitchen is getting closer and closer each day.