Cho-Yeh, Livingston, TX
While located in the south for this project it is STILL COLD! So hard to wake up at 6:30, get out of a nice warm bed, dress for the cold, attend devotions at 7:30 to be on the job by 8:00 - it’s hard when it is 20 something outside! Those days were few but most were in the 30s. Call me a whimp but I still enjoy the warmer side of life!
Leaving North Carolina family and friends was bittersweet AGAIN, but on the other side of the U.S. dwells our other family so here we go……………..1,000 miles to the Houston, TX area. Thank you Lord for a safe and beautiful drive with gorgeous weather to boot.
Our journey inside the camp was like a safari ride! Bumpy, narrow, tree lined, lions, tigers and bears, oh my! Just kidding but it was nail biter in some places, like the narrow bridge with no guard rails wondering once we reached our campsite were we going to be able to maneuver the rig to “get out” 3 weeks from now! Yes, yes and yes, but barely!
Left: Narrow bridge to cross with motor home (nail biter event)!
Above: Our humble abode for the next 3 weeks. Tight squeeze between tree and electric pole.
The ladies this month worked diligently to finish the job that they started the previous month, painting the doors of the motel unit. Yay…….we did it, as Dora the Explorer would say! So between Cho-Yeh and Trinity Pines I would say I have seen enough “green velvet” paint to last a lifetime! We painted a total of 17 doors (including the office and cottage doors) and door jams. What an accomplishment for 3 ladies - Amy Heilman, Laura Shuster and myself. The last day we were finished with our assignment so we helped the guys clean up at the construction site. Might I add that the electrical crew came in and messed up after we left! How dare them!
Amy Heilman painting door frames. Laura Shuster painting doors.
Office and motel where we finished painting all the doors leading to the outside. The green paint seems to be a standard color for camps!
The men worked fervently to take a gutted 1920s bayou style home and turned it into a 3-bedroom stylish rental to be used to house camp staff. It’s difficult when siding has been discontinued and you are literally putting a puzzle together with what you have! Windows and doors were relocated inside and out, walls were moved and removed, outside additions were transformed into laundry, bathroom and porches. “If walls could talk!” The last day the men were scrambling to get the front door in so that the house was “lockable” to protect their new creation and materials now installed in the “new house”.
The men worked fervently these past 3 weeks framing in 3 bedrooms, a great room, kitchen, 2 bathrooms, laundry room and a back porch. The house was nothing but a shell when they started.
Our crew and camp staff seemed to be happy and grateful with our efforts as they presented us with a wonderful luncheon on our last work day. By the way, the first day they greeted us with a pre-thanks breakfast. This camp goes way beyond “camp-food”. Can I quote their chef? “I get bored” with the everyday dishes! He certainly goes beyond the normal food, very tasty and varied.
Like HGTV we are always do upgrades to our rig. This month we added a dehumidifier and a outside motion detector light. Wonderful additions. Thanks, Ed Shuster for the idea of the light, makes walking in the dark so much easier!
The cabin across the campsite was used for devotions and Gail’s sewing room. I was able to make doll clothes for Addison and start back with the quiet pages for the g’girls. Of course a denim patch to Wayne’s work pants was in order, but why when he wore right thru that also! Now they go in the garbage and we will visit Wal-Mart for a new pair! Just say’n!
One Sunday after church we (SOWERs) met for lunch at “The Farm House” on Lake Livingston. Food was incredible, especially the large assortment of homemade pie - Wayne & I shared chocolate chip pecan pie, oh yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ bout! Another volunteer couple at our campsite, Rick & Sherry David, joined us also. We meet the nicest people along our journey.
Our lunch at The Farm House.
Wayne & Gail Fieler starting at 7:00, then clockwise with Doug & Amy Heilman, Rick & Sherry David (other RV volunteers in our campground) and Laura & Ed Shuster.
Left to right: Gail & Wayne Fieler, Amy & Doug Heilman and Ed & Laura Shuster.
While in this area, we were able to visit with the “John Fieler” clan in Houston. Rebekah celebrated a birthday while we were in town, so of course, out to a delicious Greek restaurant after a quick tour of her new town home close to the center of Houston. Yummy as Rachel Ray would say! Another weekend we made a day of it by visiting the Port of Houston, touring the USS Texas and eating seafood at Monument Inn. Mary & Eric continue to let Ellie, Megan & Michael grow like weeds and get smarter than their Aunt & Uncle! John & Eleanor always have a project in progress at their house, this time new cabinetry and counter tops in kitchen & laundry room.
So, next parking spot………….Tucson, AZ at Pusch Ridge Academy for our next SOWER project and visiting with the Carotenuto’s. Sarah & Vince will be relinquishing the girls to us the day after we arrive (surprised?) for 4 days while they celebrate Sarah’s birthday in Sedona. We’ll manage somehow, the verdict is still out as to who will survive! We are the g’parents and we ARE in charge! Charging the camera and practicing our Elsa theme song……..here we come! We plan on a 4 day trip from Houston, stopping just outside of San Antonio & Ft. Stockton, TX, Las Cruces, NM and then on into Tucson.
OK, today laundry, thrift store perusing, checking out Escapees and packing up…………….RV crazy or what?
