Monday, August 29, 2016

3rd and final week in Jordan, MN

On Sunday night at the beginning of our third week, we held a cookout campfire in the parking lot with the whole gang and Pastor Larry and his wife Vickie

On Monday morning, Mike is back at the tile in the bathroom...
as is Stel who is measuring for more holes to cut.
Jodi is cleaning last week's work in preparation for grout,
and Ruth Ann tries her hand at installing tile.
Stel & Jodi cleaning more tile for grouting.
After grouting, Bev and Celia are washing tile for the final time.

Meanwhile, Dave is cutting ceiling tile to fit around the perimeter
as is Roger

and Jack
and Steve.

The guys have set the cabinets which do not fit the plan because the plumbing is in the wrong place and now are trying to fit the countertop but it does not fit either.  Next project.
Coleen, Celia and Bev are removing carpet from the original part of the building to allow for new carpet into the new building.
A big job for little Bev but Celia is tall enough to pull it free.

Celia and Barb pulling tacks and remnents for the old carpet.

Meanwhile, Dave and Roger have moved to installing window trim previously stained and finished by the ladies.
Bev installing  insulation around the trim.
Barb doing a little touch-up painting.

Bev doing final wall cleaning.
Coleen doing final floor cleaning.

Stel helping to cut the perimeter tiles.

and then installing it.

Dave, Jack and Roger measuring for tile.  Nothing much left for us to do. This is our last day and we've run out of materials and/or time.
A final look at what we accomplished in the nursery,

and another view.
a final look at the main room from the entrance..

and the same room from the other corner.
A final look from the new wing bridge to the old building.
The old bathrooms repainted


A final view from the old wing to the new.
A final look at our tiling in the women's bath
and the other side.
Thursday night was our last meal together at the Pastor's house.  The whole group is present with Celia seated to the left, Jodi seated to the right and the first row from the left is Steve, Ruth Ann, Barb, Bev, Stel and Coleen, and the back row from the left is Mike, Jack, Roger, and Dave.  A happy time but a sad one as well.  It was a wonerful 3 weeks.
The pleasure of the project was due in no small meaure by the duo of Vickie and Pastor Larry.  We will not soon forget these wonderful people, but it is time to move on.

Fun times in Minnesota

On the weekends we did the usual of laundry, grocery shopping but we save some energy for fun.  The first weekend we went to the famous Mall of America in Minneapolis.


Some of you have probably been here but if you have not, this is a view of a very tiny section of this place.
But you can always run into someone you know..

Or you can find the biggest of every toy made.

Like these LEGO toys...

or these...

or these.
Or you can play in the huge amusement park.
and have lunch with the bunch.  From the left, around the table are Stel, Jack, Barb, Steve, Ruth Ann, Mike, Celia, Dave, Coleen and Jodi.   Roger and Bev were with family on this trip so they are not included on this first weekend trip.
On the second weekend, someone got the bright idea to go Ziplining so a bunch of us hopped in our cars/trucks and headed down the road to ....

Sand Creek Adventures.  Not sure how adventureous this will be.
Scrared to death but Stel goes first
How do you turn this thing around?  Can't see where I'm going to land.

Got the right direction now but not sure I want to see that tree at the end of the line.
Yes my friends, that is Jodi but they are having trouble getting her to let go of that post.

There she goes (eyes closed of course).

Second stop with Stel, Ruth Ann, Mike, some other zipliners and Jodi and Jack.
Jodi takes the final plunge down the slide board.

Jodi still holding on for dear life and eyes closed.

Ruth Ann is a real star at this.
Mike wasn't to sure about this but got away clean.

Jodi got a ride up from the bottom.
But what about me?

The whole Zipline gang.  In the back from the left, Stel, Jodi, Jack, Mike and Ruth Ann.  The man in from is our host.
On our final friday in Minnesota, we went to the "world's largest candy store" outside Jordan, MN




Apparently, they claim to be the world's largest soda selection, and puzzle selection as well.
 
Jodi is here to prove how large this place is,
but this end view gives you the same idea.
There is a lot more inside, including soup mixes, baking mixes and all kinds of foods like popcorn, hard candy, licorice, and you name it.
And this is only a small part of this place.  
 Time to head back to the RV and pack up to head on down the road.