Construction

Over the last several months we have enjoyed watching an addition to the school next door.  I would like to say that not every day has been a joy.  For instance the days the parking lot was being jackhammered out of existence was nerve-wracking.  There were a few days later on that jackhammers were used to hollow out the bedrock for drainage pipes.   Otherwise, the construction has been entertaining and amazing.

In addition to the building, the water retention pond is having to be expanded.  More jackhammering of the rock in that area.

The workers have arrived before sunup and work till 4 - 5 o'clock PM.  The following photo is a concrete pour for the second floor of the school building.  The workers have long, hot days.  

Last evening the weather report included the statistic that weather service has recorded to date 86 days of triple digits so far this year.  Some days as high as 110℉, 43.3℃.

Trenches being cleared brought more piles of rock and dirt.  Road ways and driveways were damaged and had to be repaired as the start of school approached.

All that digging and jackhammering made more and more piles of dirt and rock.

More than just one day empty dump trucks have backed into the worksite and were filled with the debris.  A truck would be filled, drive out and another one would back in to be loaded.

I bet you would believe that it has been a losing battle to keep our place dusted.

That is enough of this for today.  I have more (probably way too many) photos of this whole process.

Y'all all stay safe,

Janice

Handi Work

 During the days of my youth I was a member of 4-H Club.  Its symbol was a four leaf clover with each frond holding an H.  Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.  The motto was recited at the beginning of each meeting:  

As a true 4-H member, I pledge...
My head to clearer thinking,
My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service,
My health to better living
for my club, my community,
my country and my world.

In our current world we could surely use a few more loyal 4-H's.  

Me, Connie, Linda, Baby Sis, Beverly. 
Practicing the Carrot Ring prep at Tessy's. 

But I digress.  During my years in 4-H, which started when I was ten, our leader helped to instilled the values of sewing, cooking, and interaction with others.  Her name was Tessy Slate.  She had two daughters, Beverly and Connie.  Let me point out that girls were, also, encouraged to raise farm animals.  I do not remember that any of the girls in my group did much in that direction.  There may have been a calf or two.  Maybe hatched some chicks and raised them.  

What I remember most were prepping for county fair and district meets where we displayed our learned skills.  As my Mom was a perfectionist and would have me redo any poor quality sewing, I always placed first in sewing competitions.  My BFF, Reba Jane, decades later said her mom always thought my mom did my sewing.  I assured Reba Jane that all Mom ever did was make me rip out and redo any stitch that was not perfect.  

Never did quite as well in cooking.  My one entrance in cooking competition was a sort of carrot, English pea mold served on a milk glass plate.  It was not very flavorful or attractive in my opinion.  However, the competitions instilled in me an ability to speak publicly without fear.  Leadership skills were another outgrowth of participation in the club, county socials, and competitions.

The milk glass plate is in my cupboard.  I have backed away from the perfectionist approach to sewing and find it much more enjoyable.  Well, so long as the sewing equipment and I get along.  One of the main pieces of equipments are my hands.  The last few years my hands have, at times, decided shaking would be fun.  My head finds this malfunction a bit of a challenge.   While my heart still has the desire to sew especially in service to others my health hinders me at times.  I find other ways to be of service to others, a hug, a kind word, or a silly joke.

Last Thursday my hands were calm.  I had two new articles of clothing that needing hemming.  What pleasure I found doing the simple task of the blind lock hem stitch.  That stitch that Mom taught me some 66 years ago.  The same stitches that I remember having to rip out as the hem in the brown skirt was bunching between the stitches.  After a few tries those stitches were hidden and all laid flat.  I modeled the skirt and won first place at the county competition.  

Thanks, Momma for teaching, encouraging in your way, and driving to the competitions.  Thanks, Tessy for opening your home and heart to serve a bunch of country kids.  Thanks, 4-H organization for instilling such positive values in youth.

The work continues:

New Braunfels River Roundup, June 2023.

Y'all all be good 4-H'ers in our world.

Janice