Ladies & Canadians...

Never let it be said that volunteers are not dedicated hard workers. One of the work crews (all ladies) had only one more piece of siding to put up when it started to rain/pour... HARD. The youth of the group opted to put it up anyway - after all how any many times can you work in warm rain in February especially if you're like the woman on the ladder from Saratoga NY?!









After the rain stopped the rest of the crew came out to celebrate.













And then there are the Canadians (seems this is a VERY popular time of year for those of us from the north to come south). These folks are from Edmeston, Alberta. Flew down for the week to help with this project even though all of them are active volunteers with their own Habitat project in Canada. They're staying in a hotel (smart folks!). By the way, the house they're in front of was framed by Canadians and this group is doing the painting and the finish carpentry on the inside. It's great to have such friendly neighbors to the north!!

PS - Those U. of Michigan students I mentioned in an earlier blog turned back because of the snow. The Montreal students here last week made it just fine even though they had several hours of very slow going - once again they drove it straight through.

NOT all work and no play...

Finally, more building supplies arrived! We were out of lumber for the house we were framing, missing doors and windows for others which held up siding etc. All of us felt very productive this morning so of course we took the afternoon off. It was 89 degrees after all - a perfect day for a swamp tour.

The swamp is really beautiful and our boat guide was great. He was one of 11 kids, all raised in the swamp - in fact, he paddled 5 miles to school every morning (this was at least 50 years ago). The swamp he grew up in is no longer there - destroyed by the rerouting of the Mississippi by the Corp of Engineers. The house he owns now was 89% destroyed (insurance company analysis) by Hurricane Rita but FEMA will not give him any assistance. (I'm telling you, it's a toss up in Louisiana who surpasses who on the thumbs DOWN scale - FEMA or Corp of Eng.)

But back to the swamp... The alligators are just coming out of hibernation so are rather lazy -our guide could only get a couple to take chicken fat from his stick (personally I wouldn't want it either!)

Also sighted - 2 types of snowy egrets, 2 types of vultures, 2 types of herons, a red-eared turtle - we didn't get close enough to see if he actually had red ears. Our guide said they used to be sold in pet stores but it's now illegal in Louisiana. However, it is legal to sell all the supplies to keep a turtle at home and then they can give you a turtle - go figure.


By far the cutest bird was an owl (sorry - I don't remember the kind) that hunts snakes during the day (more power to them - the owls not the snakes!). The owl we saw sat in a tree about 20 feet away and "whoooo-ed" at us. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately we didn't see any snakes to feed him.

How were the mosquitoes? We got lucky - they weren't out today. The guide said just wait until night... and then there's spring, summer, fall. Actually, we were told they were really bad up until the week we got here. Now they're only coming out once the sun goes down. We'll hope our luck holds through the end of the week!

Bird's Eye View & Mules...

Joe stopped by this morning to take a few more pictures. One of our RV friends suggested we might like to take a photo from the top of their rig. Not wanting to get more than 2 feet off the ground myself (Joe was a Naval aircraft photographer so is MUCH more experienced with heights than yours truly), I sent our camera with him and this photo is the result. All the houses you see were built by Habitat volunteers. Bon Jovi donated a million dollars to the project so the street is named after him. Oprah "sponsored" 28 houses - they're on the "have" side to the right. She saw to it they were completely furnished as well. The others are on the "have not" side and home owners purchase their own furnishings and mailboxes. As with anything, EVERYONE has an opinion on the subject.

So what does this have to do with mules? Nothing. However, I thought you'd be interested to know the animals used to pull the "tourist wagons" on the streets of New Orleans are mules, not horses. This is because of the heat. Horses are so good to people they never complain and will walk until they die. Mules on the other hand will just sit down if they think they're being overworked and refuse to budge. So... they use one set of mules for six months, then swap them with another set that have spent the last six months getting fat in the pasture. The photo?? Is that in New Orleans?? Nope. Saw them just north of where we're staying and thought you might enjoy it too. (I have NO idea if they're horses or mules.)

A Louisiana Sunday Afternoon...

Wow! It's amazing what Habitat workers can build once they set their minds to it, isn't it? This project only took 50 "not-so-voluntary" workers 2-1/2 years to build in the early 1800's and even then, it didn't have plumbing or electricity. It's the Oak Alley Plantation named for the twenty-eight 300 year old Virginia live oak trees leading up to the door. (No, I didn't get my math wrong. Some unknown but foresighted person planted the trees but never got around to building the house of his dreams.) If you look really hard you can see John & Joe (our friend from Florida who drove over for the day) sitting to the right on the veranda. Then, if you look really really hard in the close-up photo of them, you'll see they're sipping mint juleps. (Locals sure know how to enjoy their liquor - the tour guide said Louisianians were born without livers...)

The other photo shows some of the trees. Can you guess what you see at the end? It's a BIG ship going down the Mississippi and the rise in front of it is the levee. (Was that a lucky photo or not?!)

One last item I you might find interesting... Traditionally, pineapples are a sign of welcome and early plantation owners always cut a fresh pineapple to welcome their guests. Because distances were so great, these guests sometimes stayed for weeks or months. What I didn't know was an uncut pineapple left at the foot of the guest's bed signalled "you've overstayed your welcome, go home". Modern day Louisiana hosts have apparently switched to leaving canned pineapple at the foot of the guest's bed instead. Just thought you'd like to know that little "tidbit" in case you're planning to visit friends in Louisiana.

New Orleans revisited...

New Orleans is still full of spirit in spite of the toll the hurricane, government & now the tornado have taken. We happened to be enjoying a coffee & beignet when this wedding party went by led by their jazz band.

John & I had driven through New Orleans a year ago - the devastation almost incomprehensible. Today we took a "Katrina" bus tour of the city. The scope of the damage is still clearly evident although, in a year's time some things have changed. The removal of a large part of the trash/rubble/wrecked vehicles/downed trees is clearly evident - an enormous undertaking in itself. The houses damaged, which is most of them, are being semi-repaired, gutted, or slated for demolition. It is by no means neat and tidy but if you'd seen it before there has been some progress. Whole areas such as the St. Bernard Parish and the Lower Nineth Ward will probably be leveled. Folks here are no longer blaming the damage on the storm but on the government. One MAJOR error was the government's decision to build a canal from Gulf to the City. It not only allowed a path for the storm surge but it destroyed the wetlands which are a major factor in controlling flooding. The levees built by the government to protect the city were to have had 30 feet of steel reinforcements set in concrete - instead it was found that parts of it were built with only 11 feet of steel set in peat. Our guide bitterly told us the government had the NASA facility that builds the fuel tanks for the space shuttle up and running again before the last of the residents of the city had been rescued (and these folks were rescued by the Canadian Mounties). FEMA & the Army Corp of Engineers are dirty words in the this city. On and on it goes. The city is VERY grateful for the thousands of volunteers who have come to help.
And they're very happy the New Orleans Saints are back playing again! Go Saints!!

We're still here!

Our computer decided to STOP (one day it works, the next it won't ever turn on) so is in the shop for repairs. Took it to the place recommended by the local "jambalaya guy" (he made everyone a GREAT lunch today so John figured he must know about computers too). They'll look at it on Monday - guess some folks are still recouperating from Mardi Gras.

The photo is from yesterday's after work social. Of special note is the "RV" in the left of the photo. It's a truck frame with a custom made "unit" on the bed. Inside is Bill the Baker's professional kitchen. Last night we not only had his wonderful homemade wholegrain sourdough bread, but he also cooked up a pan of redfish with a brandy/cream sauce that was absolutely delicious. Bill took courses at the Culinary Institute of America so knows what he's doing. He had planned to leave today but as luck would have it, he decided to stay on. We're looking forward to more samples... It's a tough life here at the job site! By the way, the exterior walls and most of the interior walls are up on "our house". We've all had a great time working with the students from Canada and will be sorry to see them leave tomorrow. Would you believe the ones from Montreal drove down, straight through - 36 hours?! They plan to do the same going back - most of them have mid-terms on Monday. I don't want to think about it.

Back to work...

This morning we awoke to that dreaded work condition - rain. However, being a bunch of die-hard do-gooders, we donned rain ponchos & forged ahead to the work site. Seeking shelter only during the worst downpours (would you expect anything less from do-gooders?!), we managed to get the first wall nailed and up. We can testify that Louisiana mud is a whole new animal clinging to everything. Several of the college students were working on moving wood from the dirt/mud heaps. They were a mess by lunchtime. (I'm happy I'm over my mud pie years even if it did look like they were having a good time!)

We were rewarded with a delicious lunch of hot & spicy shrimp pasta (one couple who was here last week said they had shrimp 4 days for lunch - a real hardship but I think I can live with it!) and a great salad. The weatherman said the skies would clear in the afternoon and, sure enough, they cleared at 12:30 to give us a beautiful 70 degree afternoon. (I'm guessing forecasting is a bit easier down here. It's so flat they can probably see the weather at least a day ahead.)

The second wall was constructed a bit faster (although in the photo to the left it does look like the group was a bit undecided about where it went).

Are you wondering about those pink studs? Well so are we. We know the house we're building is for a woman, but don't you think pink studs is carrying it just a bit too far?!

Mardi Gras

We now understand why there was NO question Mardi Gras would take place after the hurricanes. It's like one big tail party all along the parade route (President's Day was all but ignored... Mardi Gras on the other hand everything closed down for). Almost no street vendors either so if you didn't bring something to eat you were pretty much out of luck. In Houmas there were two parades today back to back (it's still a mystery to me why they called it two parades since there was no separating the two but so be it). The amount of beads and stuff the folks on the floats throw people is incredible. We figured at least one village in China must be able to eat for a year on what they made selling beads to the US. The theme for this parade was something to do with Holywood (John's trying to bring himself a little luck by posing with the Oscars).

With the thousand of pounds of beads they throw (I'm not kidding!) I'm sure your mind runs to clean up... Turns out they bring out the convicts. We happened to be at the half way point of the parade where the floats dump their empty boxes and bags over the side. The convicts rake them up and load them in the garbage trucks. Efficiency Louisiana style. I still do NOT know what everyone does with all the loot they collect, especially folks who come year after year. It seemed like everyone was going home with bags of the stuff - certainly everyone in our group except for John & me had at least two BIG bags full. I thought we only had a small amount until John began unloading all the beads he had around his neck. The weight must have been too much for him as he took a two hour nap when we got back - almost missed happy hour around the campfire. Guess some days can be more trying than others...

On the Job at Last...

We must say, this Habitat site is impressive. ALL of the houses in the photo were built with volunteer labor. In fact, last year they built 100 houses in this area and hope to do at least as many this year. The new owners of these homes are people displaced by either Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita - Rita actually hit this area harder than Katrina.

The house our team is working on is all the way to the end of the street on the left. Sometimes it's better to be old than young and this is one of those times. Our team was assigned the job of framing the house. The younger college team (all Canadian - 10 students from McGill U. in Montreal & 10 students from Queens College in Kingston) got to level the big dirt piles around the house just being completed. If they didn't seem to be having so much fun, we might have felt a bit sorry for them.

After work, John & I went to Houma (pronounced home-a... guess keeping the u in there is just a trick to separate the locals from those who aren't). The plumbing in Rambo needed a part. Got back at 7:15. Only a couple of the other RV folks looked like they had their lights on. Guess the first day has taken its toll...

Tomorrow is Mardi Gras and a day off. Houma is having yet another parade, at least the third we know of in as many days. Its parades are reportedly second only to New Orleans. One local lady told me to go and hold up a sign saying I'm from New York & this is my first Mardi Gras and I'll come back with bags of trinkets they'll throw me. (Think I'll go disguised as a local with a beer can in a huggie - bags of trinkets we do NOT need).

We have arrived!

Thibodaux (don't pronounce the h - just say tea), Louisiana is a loooooong way from NY but we finally made it!!! It's not only where we'll be working on Habitat houses for the next two weeks, but is the home of the Venetian Bar & Donut Shop (why don't New Yorkers think of such creative food combos as donuts and Bud Light?!!!)

Today was Thibodaux's Mardi Gras parade and we managed to catch our fair share of "beads" which we trust will bring us good luck the rest of the trip. I can't imagine how many pounds of those things they must throw to the crowd. Folks bring BIG bags to carry home all the loot they're thrown. My question is what happens to it then?! This float was just one of 50 in just one small town. Apparently parties/parades have been going on all week with more to come through Tuesday. Guess we picked the right time to come.

Spring has started here. A few trees have leafed out and what looks like wild mustard is blooming. Stopped and bought freshly picked Louisiana strawberries from one of the roadside vendors. Crawfish are in season so we had freshly boiled ones for supper - messy but nice & spicy & sweet. We scoffed down 3 pounds of them with hardly a thought (the thought was then how to dispose of the shells & heads - NOT something one wants to sleep with in a camper all night. John found a dumpster far, far away...)

This is our first night to actually sleep in the "beast" which John has now decided to call Rambo (it has a Dodge Ram engine after all... and the name sounds so ridiculous it makes me laugh so...)
Do I dare tell you after all this we don't QUITE have water yet? John turned it on & it proceeded to spring a leak under the sink and give it a good soaking. I hear Home Depot calling after work tomorrow. Sweet dreams...

Hot tea????

After George, good "Elk" that he is, took us to the "Club" for a fine southern breakfast (you know it was southern because they looked at me like I was out of mind when I asked for a cup of hot tea - cold tea is what you get in the south) we headed west. Wait!, you're probably saying aren't we supposed to heading south? Well, since "the beast" (John really does need to decide on a name for it - none any of us have suggested so far have been to his liking) seems to be running fine, I suggested we take the slightly longer scenic route through Asheville & Knoxville before heading south.

This route is beautiful taking you over the eastern Continental Divide and through the Smokies. Again we knew we were in the south because the farmer's market in Asheville had fresh beans (not the type of green beans we get in the stores in the north, but string beans that you're supposed to cook to death with a piece of fat back), a BIG display of turnips, fresh okra from a crate that was already half empty (from sales - not because it came that way), and a token bunch of asparagus for the "half-backs" (folks from the north who moved/retired to Florida until it got too crowded, then they moved half way back to NC).

On to Knoxville. As we began to drive through snow (why don't we ever learn to ALWAYS check the weather where we're going?!) I begin to worry. We pass the Ultimate Beef Jerky Outlet featuring 200 kinds of jerky. To take my mind off the snow I begin to mentally list all the types of jerky I can (when I begin to wonder if it's legal to make raccoon jerky I decide I might be better off worrying about the snow). We pass the exit in Knoxville for Broadway Hall of Fame Drive. (Do you suppose there's a Broadway Hall of Fame down that road - they don't tell you that, or do they just like the name?)

Finally, we drive out of the snow heading south at last. Slowed a bit by the route through the mountains and the snow, I reluctantly let John drive by exit 60 (remember that exit) where the billboard said they sell the "softest socks in the world". Next time...

Chattanooga is next and we wave at the Choo Choo (we stopped last year - that visit was plenty to last for several years). We blink and almost miss Georgia (you catch the top western most corner, 8 miles of it, before you get to Alabama). Birmingham is next, home, of course, to "John's Plumbing - We repair what your husband fixed".

Tonight we're in Meridan, Mississippi and confess we aren't camping yet. Tomorrow. We're hoping for an early start so we can make it to the Habitat site by noon. Apparently there are parades in the two neighboring towns tomorrow afternoon (Mardi Gras is Tuesday), so we want to be there to enjoy them. The project is even giving everyone Tuesday off for Mardi Gras - should be fun. We have no idea what the internet connection possibilities will be so don't be surprised if we post or don't post - will keep you and us in suspense.

Rollin'

Rollin' at last! Personally I think it's because "the beast" experienced two nights outside (a first -it's been in one warm shop or another since we've had it) and decided it would much rather go where it's warmer. John & I on the other hand were getting used to being spoiled by Judy & John with 5 star food & drink, movies, a hot tub, toasting our toes by the fire... But all good things must come to an end.

Moving south proved almost as difficult as keeping "the beast" running earlier in the week. Some highways were closed (our connecting road west was one of them), high WIND ("the beast" is a bit more stable than Tillie but...), traffic slower than slow going south, an accident closed one of the main roads south we intended to take and so it went. However, if we had not taken yet another alternate route we would not have seen the first robins heading north (they're in Virginia so maybe spring's not so far away after all). Nor would we have seen the sign near South Boston (that's VA nor MA - at least we weren't headed in the wrong direction) for their Mud Festival in Sept. If you're into red clay mud, this is for you!

Finally, just 5 days late, we're at George & Vicky's in Hickory, NC. Who would have thought it could take so long to make a ten hour trip?! Our lesson? Always head STRAIGHT to Cousin John & Judy's when starting a trip - if nothing else, they'll make sure you have air in the spare tire (it does now).

Relocating to NJ???

We're growing quite attached to New Jersey and seem to be finding it VERY difficult to leave. However, John & Judy's woodshed seems to be getting a bit low on wood so we better start heading south soon!

The Johns put in the new alternator with the extra "something" on it yesterday afternoon. The snow & ice had let up so John G. drove "the beast" all over town picking up goodies (valentine cookies, a movie, etc.) and it ran fine. This morning we load everything in "the beast" and it has the same problem it had two days ago. (Tillie is looking better all the time - so what if she doesn't have heat or a toilet!) This time Cousin John takes "the beast" down the road to the electrical expert... diagnosis - voltage regulator. A new one is expected in this afternoon so we're keeping our fingers crossed.

This may sound unlucky to you, but it turns out it may have been lucky. If we had started out as planned we would have gotten stuck in one of the worst traffic situations ever created. The main road between here and Harrisburg was completely closed down (not expected to clear until this afternoon) which means John & I would have been sitting there for hours with a "flaky" voltage regulator in wind chill temps below zero and probably getting towed. As it is the Johns are entertaining themselves at the shop and Judy & I got to go shopping. Downtown Hackettstown is really kind of fun... especially in comparison to the alternative!

Cupids in Winter Gear

NJ may be getting ice & snow & wind, but the Johns were out and about in Cousin John's dump truck with the snow plow on the front. After all, "the beast" was waiting for new parts, John & Judy are trying to get rid of us before spring thaw, and John & Patty WOULD like to make it to Louisiana by Sunday.

The good news was the part came in this morning. The bad news was it had an extra "something" attached to the side. The good news was they didn't cut it off. Another mechanic from down the street was able to tell them the "bad" part we had was jury-rigged in the first place and the new one should work IF the "something" was attached.

Anyway, the Johns are off attacking and attaching and hopefully getting "the beast" running again. In the meantime, Judy & Patty are napping and cooking and staying cozy in front of the fire. Not a bad division of labor.

A new day...

Aw, a new day! We're up at 5:30, John to go start "the beast" to make sure it's still working (guess what... it's not not NOT - it starts but is not charging correctly). Patty is watching the weather channel (not good on that front either - looks like we may be heading into ice). Oh well, things have to look better after breakfast. On the cheerful side we're NOT still at home in NY where 2 feet of snow is expected AND we're NOT in Lousiana where tornados have just gone through. John calls Cousin John to get his take on the situation. We decide to be at the Dodge dealer in Scranton when they open.

Load stuff into "the beast" and (probably because it feels threatened) "the beast" starts and runs perfectly. We decide to take our chances and head south. Stop at rest stop for John (who, in his stewing on the problem, has consumed FAR too much coffee for traveling any distance without stopping). John starts "the beast" and it once again decides to turn beastly. Patty decides to use the rest stop too (perhaps John & "the beast" just need some quiet moments together). When she returns "the beast" starts and works fine. Cousin John & Judy call (aren't cell phones GREAT?) saying the roads are icing where we're headed - suggest we come their way instead. (NJ sounds like HEAVEN to me!!!)

We're now in New Jersey with what looks like the full crew from Red's Body Shop (John & Judy's business) at work on the problem. New alternator definitely needed (the crew is VERY polite & don't mention all the other stuff that's probably needed as well - I think they're all amazed "the beast" is running at all!). Part ordered but won't come until tomorrow. Ice & high winds will be here tomorrow as well so will probably enjoy NJ hospitality for a couple of days.

Judy thinks perhaps we should consider taking the "street rod" in the back work room. As she so tactfully put it - the guy who owns it has probably put more money just in the tires than what we have in "the beast" (and, although she refrained from saying this, it's probably going to be a WHOLE lot more reliable!)

Grapes of Wrath

Remember the movie "Grapes of Wrath"? Well "the beast" could probably play at least a supporting role in an updated version.

Listening to the weather this morning and hearing of the approaching storm, we decided to toss some belongings into plastic bags of various sizes and "hit the road" a day early totally unorganized. Our goal... North Carolina.

So... instead of leaving at 6 or 7 like we had planned to do on Tuesday morning, we left at 9:30 this morning. Stopped in Earlville to touch bases with our "manager" Jeff who will be looking after our house, mail some things and pick up some cash at the bank. So far so good until... I try to "step" out of the beast at the bank only to find my foot entangled in the "not always functioning" retractable seatbelt. Luckily snow is soft... a bit wet and a little dirty but soft so no harm done.
Finally, we're on our way at 10:07!!!! Stop in Norwich (about 20 miles south) at the light and everything goes dead. (Where is Mary when we could have used her to help push as we did Tillie?!) However, a strong "guy" showed up and, for once, I got to steer as John & our "guy" pushed us out of the intersection. Across the street was a collision/repair shop who very kindly came to the rescue and got us going again (no charge - people are great!). However, before we left Norwich, John decided perhaps we better swing into the Dodge dealership and have them test things. Stopped the van in their lot - wouldn't start. Their diagnosis... low battery. They get us started (no charge) and we swing over to a friend's house (thank you Betty!!!) for hot tea (since we were heading south and didn't expect to break down so soon, we did NOT bring our winter coats) lunch and cookies and to recharge not only the battery but the auxiliary battery charger (why don't we leave home with things charged???!!!)

Anyway, 12:45 and we're on our way again!!!! Until we get to Scranton. The battery has drained once again. We exit, we ask for a garage, we make it there. The mechanic is NOT there (nor is anyone else for that matter) but the mailman thinks the owner will be back in 10 minutes. Time goes by. John gets out the battery charger and plugs into the garage's outdoor outlet - very handy. I go to the dentist office just down the street (I seem to have this thing for dentist offices) and ask for advice. Come back and the guys from the car sales place next door have decided to come back from wherever they have gone and have come over to get us started (no charge). They recommend another repair place and off we go.

Southside Collision may look like a junkyard but it's run by angels related to Click & Clack. They took us in right away (by this time it's 4:00), determined the alternator wasn't working properly, went after another one, found they didn't have the right testers to make sure it would properly connect with the computer, put the old one back on finding in the process one of the connectors wasn't "good", repaired that. Meanwhile, the twins, Jerry & Jim had been keeping me entertained while Jeff & the two nephews worked on the van. Bottom line... they felt the bad connection was probably the problem but gave us their cell numbers, directions to a good hotel, directions to a Dodge dealership in Scranton if we need it in the morning, coffee while we waited, beer at 7 - no charge (didn't I say before that people are great???!!!).

So here we are in our "hotel" having had a great Italian dinner across the street, not very far along in our travels but feeling very lucky. Can't wait 'til tomorrow to see what happens next??? Can you?