We have a LOT of volunteers working on "our" build because it got listed as both a Care-A-Vanner build and an Open build. As a result they ended up with far more volunteers than expected. Sounds nice, but with too many folks there's sometimes a "want" of things to do. So when they asked for 5 volunteers to go to another house today to lay tile, John & I quickly raised our hands. (Of course the thought of getting out of working on the roof in the hot sun may also have swayed John somewhat.) The photo shows one of the prospective homeowners keeping the fellows on their knees. It worked. We got the entire house tiled before we left work for the day. 
The local hospital treated the "tiling" volunteers to lunch. (This shot was taken while they were still able to walk. After working on their knees all afternoon I'm not sure how many of them are going to be anxious to climb the ladder to help with the roof. Don't look at me - I don't do ladders....) Back to the hospital - talk about spiffy! Both outside and inside it looks more like a conference center. It even has a grand piano in the main downstairs hallway. No hospital "smell" either. And the food wasn't bad - only vegetarian offerings. As we started to eat, a short lullaby was played over the intercom. Nap time came to mind but, no, they just play a lullaby whenever a baby is born.
Since this is our last night here, we all went out to eat at the Hotel Jacaranda built in 1923. (Somehow we managed to bypass Don Jose's Mexican Restaurant that advertises "Happy Hour 3 to 10"...) The hotel is the home of the local community college's culinary program and they serve dinners, buffet style. Because the spring semester has just started I won't take too many points off for the canned peas or the frozen strawberries in the shortcake (it is fresh strawberry season here after all). The hotel has been well maintained by the college and is a pleasure to visit. The piano player is also fantastic - plays only by ear but knows every song ever written. He plays at Kevin Costner's restaurant/bar in Deadwood, S.D. in the summer and down here in the winter.So until tomorrow....
