He's gotta keep busy.

Upper Deerfield Twp,  NJ

With the playhouse finished and delivered, Leonard is searching for more jobs.   He loves to work.  Not working is not an issue when we are traveling and sight seeing.  It especially is not an issue when we are on NOMADS projects.    However, sitting here in NJ for almost two months is more than he can bear if he is not busy.

The last few days he was happily better securing the rack on the back on the rig where we keep our portable generator and small charcoal grill.

We bought the rack at Cabelas in SD last year.  It came with only one arm going into the rigs receiver.   It was by no means secure enough.  The weight of the load would cause it to bounce and eventually bend downward.   The fix was two additional arms, which he added last fall.   This week he changed out to bigger receivers and arms to make it even more secure.

With that done he was searching for today's project.   AHA!    We've talked about adding shelves to some of our cabinets.

This one holds our DirecTV receiver.  When it sat on the bottom we had to keep the door open to allow it to receive the signal from the remote.   Now it sits on the shelf and the signal goes through the glass so the door can be kept closed.

Once that was done - let's see about this cabinet.

Much neater:

Okay, let's do another one!

From this,

To this,

The larger cabinet that previously  held the paper cups, towels and plates is now almost empty.    We will think about what we want to do with that one.

I had a Dr's. appointment this morning (not sick, just to get prescription renewed).  While gone, Leonard straighted all food cabinets and tossed outdated stuff.  They look great too.

He's now thinking about what he can do next.   He is making good use of the shop he built when we lived here and now belongs to daughter and SIL.   As I said, he is the happiest when kept busy.  The man loves to built, fabricate, weld, etc.  He calls it fun.

The last few days

Upper Deerfield Twp,  NJ

Wednesday  11/23.   We spent the afternoon at our church prepping for the next days feast.

It has been the practice of our church for the last several years to serve Thanksgiving dinner to folks who had no where else to go or funds to buy their own feast.   As our church is rural, our attendance was not what we hoped it would be and felt we could serve more by taking the meals to town.

Thursday 11/24.  Thanksgiving.   We finished cooking in the morning and then transported the food to the local Salvation Army.  We fed approximately 75 people.  

In the afternoon daughter Amy and SIL Scott dropped off Charlotte and Abby to us.  My daughters always have their Thanksgiving dinner at their fathers, freeing me from cooking at home and able to assist at the church.

Friday, 11/25.  We spent the day around the camper except for taking the girls to our local small Zoo.

Saturday 11/26.  We met Amy 1/2 way between our homes to deliver the girls back to her.  They were anxious to get back home to play outside while the weather was still fair.

That night Terri's husband Steve played at a local restaurant with his band 4-Wheel Drive.  This band disbanded over a year ago and Steve played (and still does) with several other bands.  They decided to reunite and pulled in a crowd.

However, all was not as planned.  The band was supposed to play in the catering hall of the restaurant starting at 9.  But the restaurant overbooked and had a wedding that was not over until 10.   The crowd was CROWDED.   After 10 they opened an alcove allowing people to move off what had been a very small dance floor.

The country band  4-Wheel drive.   That is SIL Steve up front as lead singer.  Country is not his favorite music, but he is quite good at singing and playing it.

From the right - our long time friends John, Bobbie and their daughter Deanne.  Only partially seen, their friend Gerry and her hubby Bob.

Lens former co-worker Ron with wife Barb.

As Len and I were dancing we saw this couple (Jody and Bobby) waving at us.  WHAT!   They belong  to our Good Sam Chapter and we have camped with them several times.  What we didn't know it they are friends of Terri and Steve through the Red Knights motorcycle Club.  This club supports volunteer fire departments with semi annual motorcycle runs.   

Small world, indeed.

It's there!

White Hall, MD

We had hoped to have another couple go with us to Maryland yesterday to assist in the delivery and unloading of the playhouse as we knew it would be quite a task taking it from the trailer.  But being a Sunday and right before Thanksgiving, everyone we asked had prior commitments.   So we hooked up the trailer and pulled it along with us when we attended church.  When questioned what is was, we just replied that we downsized again.

The ride down I95 was interesting.  We had lots of looks and even saw one lady taking pictures as the car passed us.   When going through the nearest town to our destination, a truck full of 20 something guys rolled down windows and gave us thumbs up.  I rather think we looked like Gypsy's pulling our home behind us.

When we got to the house both girls were up taking their naps.  Amy and Scott were raking leaves.

The girls have a play area that is fenced it.  Part of the fence had to be temporarily removed, which Amy and Scott did before we arrived.   Len, being a pro at backing up, easily maneuvered between the remaining fences.

Luckily Amy noticed that a tree limb had gotten wedged between the house and porch post.  Had we moved the house more while still on the trailer, it could have caused disaster.

Scott sawed off the limb.

It took almost an hour to get the house off the trailer.  Len, Amy and Scott pushed and wedged. I steered the jack.   Then when the house was near to end of the trailer, I would back the truck away while they wedged boards under the house the pried and pushed.

Eventually, off it came.   We have one small dent in Len's new truck bumper when I stopped the truck (as directed) but the trailer continued downhill.   There are very few level areas in the 4 acres of hilly property.

Abby had woken up as we were doing all this maneuvering.  Charlotte slept through the whole thing.  Her first look:

Butterflies, dragonflies and flowers decorate the interior.

Ah yes, look at the smile on Abby.

The girls have already chosen their side of the table.

We have another 6 weeks before we hit the road again.  Len is never happier than when he is working or traveling.   No traveling for these 6 weeks, so we need to find something else to keep him busy!

Ready to move it!

Upper Deerfield Twp,  NJ

FINALLY - this playhouse is loaded and ready to go.    We borrowed my brothers car carrier and loaded it this morning by backing the trailer under the house.

We then used two jacks to lift and move it forward.

Then it was strapped down.  Notice the colors.  Charlotte loves yellow, Abby loves pink.

Their Aunt T (my daughter Terri) and I did a little decorating today.

We hope to deliver it tomorrow.  However, we are having difficulties with the trailer lights.  Len has made three trips to Harbor Freight so far today.     I sure hope he gets the problem resolved soon.

Sharing meals with Friends

Upper Deerfield Twp,  NJ

We are still driveway camping at daughter's house.  Len is still working on the playhouse.  The house and trim are painted.   We still have to stain the porch.  He is out there now prepping and taping.

Last Saturday night we were invited to share dinner with dear friends from the church we attended some years ago and were married in.

From the left - dear friend Dot, her friend Luther, Marie and Jeff  and our hostess Patty.  (Jeff is Patty's son)

On Wednesday I had lunch with two old friends.   Lois was my very first friend.   I've known her since I was about 3 or 4.   I met Carolyn when our children went to school together.   At one point years ago the three of us worked together and always enjoy our times getting caught up with each others lives.

Lois and Carolyn

While in my professional life I attended monthly meetings of the Human Resource Association of Southern  NJ.  Many years ago I was it's president.   I have not attended a meeting for almost 3 years.   As a dear friend, Jonathan Segal from the law firm of Duane Morris in Philadelphia was the speaker, I decided to attend last night  (no pictures).  My daughter Terri is now a member.   It was so rewarding seeing many old friends.    And I must say - I sure don't miss the daily frustrations and aggravation that comes with working in HR!  Although at one time I loved it!   I now question my sanity.

That brings us up to today.  Later today we might pick up my brothers car carrier and get this building loaded and ready to move.

Playhouse Part Four

Upper Deerfield Twp,  NJ

We finally see the end of this project.  Still Leonard is out in the shop by 7 am and does not stop (except if I insist he eat lunch) until around 5 pm.

The last few days have seen the inside go from this:

To this:

And finally this:

It has not been without incident.    The doorway is but 5 feet and we keep forgetting as we exit.   Leonard has three gouges on top of his head.  I have one knot.   We got wise and made a temporary fix.  This was only good until the inside walls went up making it too wide to hold the foam.

Yesterday he trimmed out both the inside and outside of the windows.

He is out there now installing quarter round on the ceiling and down each  corner.

The girls each have a favorite color.  We will paint the outside one color with the trim the other.   Oh my, luckily Amy and Scott and the girls live out in the country with a neighbor on only one side!  I am withholding the info on the colors until it is painted and posted.

Playhouse Part Three

Upper Deerfield Twp,  NJ

The playhouse is project coming along nicely.   Len worked Thursday, Friday and Saturday from early morning until dinner time without even a break for lunch each day.

Charlotte's school was closed Thursday and Friday for parent conferences.   As Amy was working a project (she is an archaeologist) we kept Charlotte from Wednesday night until last night.   Little sister Abby was in daycare.  

Leonard could not wait to take her out to the shop to show her what he is building.

Over the last few days he got the roof partially on.

The porch floor is complete with the railings started.

Looking inside it is starting to really come together.

The big trick will be transporting it the 95 miles to Maryland.