Thatching the Sun Room Ceiling

Here is the interim report on the crazy wallpapering of the ceiling and a partial shot of the rough exterior paneling that Dad put up last weekend. I am so excited.

I have to add here that I am very grateful to the Lord for the opportunity that we have been afforded by this job change. Having the resources to share is wonderful. Our 2nd counselor hadn't worked in 6 weeks and his wife was laid off last week. This job is a blessing for them, too.

Hand stuff

No pictures--it looks really gross :(
But I only needed vicodin for one day. I am handling the discomfort (we learned in LaMaze classes that pain is only in your head!!) with Advil. The dressing came off yesterday, and I am just wrapped up pretty well until the 16th when the stitches come out. I can sort of pinch with my left thumb free, but no closing of the hand to hold anything. Sewing machines and knitting are out, but I am able to do some hand sewing for a short while at a time. It will be great soon.

The Blue and Gold rules!

Here are the completed pictures from several angles. I love the effect. Check the first bonus shot of a short-legged cat peeking down. His brother is currently perched on my shoulder purring in my ear.
My super wallpaperer is currently trying to set up the task of putting wallpaper on a slanted ceiling with two sky lights and a fan. The one side is 20 feet up and the other is 8 feet. There are three ladders and a scaffolding plank. I would take a picture, but Tom might lose his balance. I offered to help, but the proverbial "one-armed paper hanger" image is too real. I'll update as we go along.

SURVEY--What is your usual speed?

(This is a little challenging to write. I had hand surgery and am doing this as one-handed hunt and peck. Dressing off on Monday and stitches out on the 16th. Everything is fine.)

At any rate, back to the survey.

Choices:
(a) speed limit?
(b) limit +2?
(c) limit +5?
(d) limit +9?
(e) Whatever the traffic will allow?

I have always been a fast driver (e would be me). I've only gotten two speeding tickets in 45 years of driving, though. One was in Tennessee when I didn't pay attention to the fact that the limit dropped after dark. The second was in Ohio when I was driving nursery school carpool, and Julie was sure we were going to jail when she heard the siren.
Usually I cruise at limit plus 9, but I had an epiphany last week. On Sunday Feb 22 I drove over to Dallin's ordination by myself early in the morning. I had shared a couple of days with a young woman who had totaled her car on the PA turnpike just north of me. (That is a long story all by itself, but not for here.) I found myself reflecting on the 12th Article of Faith. Remember that one?

"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."

I thought of how that probably meant I should obey speed limits. I didn't at that moment because I was running late, but it nagged at me. Later that day I had occasion to drive into the Philadelphia Hood and found myself needing the Lord's help to find my way out. The thought was right there that I needed to be obedient to the Lord when I was on His errand. I was led to a corner CVS parking lot where I called Ed and had him Mapquest me out of there. I was the slow driver on the way home.
The next day I continued on my errand and drove to Indianapolis. All along the way there were people passing me, as I drove the limit; and later I saw many of them pulled to the side by troopers across PA, WV, OH, and Indiana. The thought occurred to me what a great way to make up state budget deficits by increasing speeding tickets. I turned around and drove home on Tuesday, and my commitment to being obedient moved me up a notch closer to living the gospel I profess, even if it means leaving earlier whenever I go anywhere. I guess I have given up my high school nickname "Parnelli".