Fall is here

It's so nice to have cooler weather finally here!  We got out to visit Auburn ward yesterday and enjoyed meeting new people and greeting old friends.  Later that evening we visited some less active friends here in our ward.  I love the gospel and the example of good people around us.  We are all very blessed and I love the Fall season that reminds us of our many blessings.
I got to have a long talk with Dane on the phone and hear his thoughts about becoming a parent and all the new responsibility he will have.  I felt so good to hear his insights and realize what a special young man he is and what  great parents he and Laura are going to be.  Having a family is such a joy....as well as a challenging learning experience everyday.  This life is a time to prepare for eternity.  How great it is to know about the plan of salvation!!
We are planning a shower for Laura when they come to visit Atlanta the end of October.  Of course everyone who knows them is invited.  Write me if you want more details.
Lots to do this week.  I better get busy....

Labor Day Weekend

We've had fun these past three days enjoying end of the summer and looking forward to Fall.  Kydon, Shanna and kids met us at Callaway Friday evening for the hot air balloon festival.  They were a beautiful and amazing sight as they glowed all around the lake.  We swam, saw a dog show, ate a  lot and enjoyed just playing and being together at beautiful Callaway Gardens.  Sure wish we had pictures to post!
Sunday was spent visiting three wards to catch up on my RS work.  Today we went to the "Altrusa Used Books Sale" and went for Chinese Food to celebrate a friends birthday.  Tonight was a yummy dinner and FHE at the Lenhard's with the missionaries and our new friend Connie who just moved here from Utah to work at AFLAC.  Tomorrow I start piano and helping at our new preschool.  Lots to do and I'm glad to be busy doing new things.

new computer

We have a new Apple computer!  The graphics are great and everything is quick and easy to use.  Now to start posting things and putting pictures up.  I have a bad feeling whenever I sit down to the computer...It always takes a while and much trial and error to make things work.  I want to try and do more....hopefully I can be more successful.
Terry had surgery on his shoulder on Tuesday.  Pretty rough few days as he deals with the pain of healing. I keep ice in a portable machine that helps with the swelling.  Meds are such a blessing.  Hopefully he will soon be up and about and riding his bike again.  We are so happy to have Brian and Charlotte Reed here with us until time for them to go back to school.  Their family moved to Singapore this week.  They will be missed here in the ward.

Terry and the tornado relief trip

We left early Saturday morning at 5:00 am for Birmingham Alabama.

We met at a baptist church and got a work order to go to Pleasant Grove AL.

This is the first house we worked. I you have been in Columbus, or Atlanta then you know how thick and tall the trees are in the area. Pleasant Grove was no different. This picture is on the edge of the tornado damage area. Some of the houses and trees are still standing. We drove pick up trucks down into the back yard and loaded all kinds of wood and limbs and debris. Then we piled it at the curb in front of the houses for the city to dispose of.

This is the second house which was right next to the first house.

The rest of the pictures are from the more devastated area. There are miles of this area where there is nothing left. You can see where one house was moved about 30 feet off of its foundation and on to the drive way.

 

The rusty hinge

This is just a little about my life lately. I have been working on three new (to me) wood working tools. You might ask, " why work on a new tool?" Answer: They are very old. First one is a sears jointer. I didn't really want it, but it came as one piece of a set. He wouldn't sell them separately. These tools need restoration. This jointer predates the craftsman series of Sears tools and was probably made around the late 1930's. The tool line is called companion. One of the things I have been working on is the decals. Maybe someone out there can help me with them.

This is a picture of one decal I got from another owner of one of these tools

This is what I have been able to make out of the original by editing with paint.net free internet software. It is kind of like micorsoft paint I think. I have some directions off of the net as to how to turn this into a decal that can be applied. I like to think of it as an old looking decal in perfect condition. I think that is better than the next picture I found that someone made to look like a new decal. I don't like it. What do  you think? new looking or old looking?

This is just too new looking for an old tool.

Why is it that this thing puts pictures in the reverse order, #2 above #1 and #3 above #2 I hate it. Can you tell me how to post these pictures better? As it is I go into edit html and cut and past the photo where I want it. It would be less painful to do it right the first time.

This picture is how I received it. Very dirty and dusty and rusty after 3 years in a barn.

This is after the restoration, but before the decals. The decal goes right in the center on that shinny spot.

I found the bushing/bearings are bad now that I have it all together and running. I can get new bushings for under $10 dollars. This was an exercise to see if I could do this without destroying the machine. All the rust was removed by electrolysis. Basically putting parts in a bucket of water and connecting the battery charger to it for 24 hrs. one piece at a time (not the whole machine). The blue paint is very near the original color. I found it in spray cans at Walmart for under $2.

By the way the rusty hinge is really my achillies tendon. It is really strange you can hear it creak.  If you want to you can feel it creak while I move my foot. I rode 70 miles yesterday and the rusty hinge just showed up.

It's spring in Georgia and the blossoms are so beautiful this year!  This picture was actually taken in St. Louis last year, but it reminded me of the lovely trees and shrubs that are popping out right now so thought I would post something about them.  We've had a lot of rain so far so everything is growing great.  Terry and I even have a tomato plant with blossoms on it by the driveway!  Hope the 70 degree plus weather keeps on, so we can have an early harvest.
We are looking forward to the month of April since the Atlanta Temple is reopening.  We are involved with the open house tours and invite everyone to come and see the newly renovated Atlanta Temple.   We have so much to be grateful for and want you all to know we love and miss you and look forward to our next time together.