4th and Final week in Wisconsin

On Labor Day, (the beginning of our final work week) the entire team stayed at the church to work on the addition for laundry and showers for volunteers.  We began by unloading supplies just delivered and

then began removing the temporary bracing in the building frame.

 Then we install rafter hangers

while others try to salvage used materials by removing old nails.

Once the framing was secured, we worked on the roof and 

finishing installation of the roof metal.

While the roof was going on, others started cutting siding and

Pastor Deb installed insulation in the corner posts so

the siding could be installed.

We ran out of roofing at the last panel and it's late so we call it a day.

Next day, we return to Nate's house since the plumber has finished the rough in so we start securing the floor that was not attached so the plumber could access the pipes.

Now where were those floor joist?  Found them.

Rick is cutting studs to create a wall to hide the vent pipe for the shower.

Now we're ready to install drywall and

this is a perfect opportunity for Nancy to learn new skills using her driver to install the drywall.

Those Dremmel tools come in handy for a proper fit without measuring.

End of day,Tuesday.

Next day, back to drywall in the bathroom with Gary

and Rick working on the inside

And Nancy and Stel working in the hallway.

Finding a place to cut the sheets is a challenge but we get 'r done.

By lunch time, we have finished all the drywall we can do

so we head back to the church and finish the rest of the roof.

Thursday, our last day, we prepare to finish the siding by installing more insulation and securing more of the framing.

Gary found a way to seal the end of the roof and

then we finished the siding.

We used all the material on hand

and called an end to the work.

This is the end of the project for NOMADS this year.  Hopefully over the fall and winter other volunteers will step up the get this addition finalized for future VIM team members.

Weekend Fun at Wisconsin Dells

One Friday, a few of us headed to Wisconsin Dells and took the obligatory upper lake boat tour.

Everything looks like what we saw at Mill Bluff State Park a few weeks ago except that we're on water.

They make a couple of stops and allow us to walk through the cuts in the rocks and make the walk so long and beautiful that we are forced to buy their snacks and beverages at the top of the hike.

Back on the water we continue to see some gorgeous examples of God's handiwork here and

on the next stop, we watch a dog jump from one ledge to the other.  No, I wasn't able to catch the dog with my camera.

More views from land and

a chance to get our pictures taken.

After a wonderful lunch at the High Rock Cafe, we stopped at the local Dairy Queen.

Now are trip is complete.

Third Week at Wisconsin Disaster Recovery Project

As the 3rd week begins, we have welcomed two new couples to our team.  This week's group from the left are:  Gary & Nancy, Mary Sue, Rick, Jodi, Stel, Betty, Tom, Anne & Max.

Some of the team returned to Rhonda's house but our group went to a house that had some work done previously by NOMADS.  This finished basement had such torrential rain and surface water run off that it knocked out the sliding glass doors that had been on this wall.  Recently, a concrete wall with glass blocks at the top was poured to fill the spot.  The homeowner did not want the doors reinstalled.  Now that the cement work is finished, we have been asked to finish off this wall.

We begin by removing the old door framing.

We have also been asked to install this kitchen sink in it's new cabinet so Betty is going to see if the tools we have with us will do the job.  It won't so we will get back to that later.

We build the new wall framing

and install it

then insulate it above the window and

below it.

So we are ready for drywall.

Anne and Betty are cutting drywall while Stel is adding nailers to the top for support.

Max showed up in time to assist with the installation.

We decided to just cover up the window and will cut it out later.

We are either supporting drywall or have watched too many episodes of  Law & Order.

Time to start cutting out the window.  Best method we have available today is a hand drywall saw

but it worked OK and we are ready to close in the window frame.

First the sill, 

then the sides and the trim.

Anne and Betty install corner bead in preparation for mudding.

Max brought another saw so we get back to installing that sink

and Betty tries her hand with another new tool.

Max installs the plumbing fixtures to the basin

and then puts it all together.  We don't have the drain parts we need so that will get finished next week.

We caulk all the trim (remember, we do our best and caulk the rest)

and Anne teaches Betty how to "mud".

Some of the previous drywall work needs some work so Stel adds another coat of mud.

On the way home at the end of the week we stop for some ice cream but have to wait our turn in the "trot-thru" line.

After dinner, the Pastor asked for another group picture so we insist that she and the Disaster Co-ordinator from the Wisconsin Conference of the UMC join us.  The latter is Lynette on the far left and Pastor Deb is on the far right.

One more week for us and for the NOMADS at this location this year.  See you then.