DRYWALL MUDDING

Like I’ve said before……I’m an untrained handyman. I really would like to know how to do things. I look at steps and wonder how to build them. And how do you build a ramp or install a door or connect water lines? And what about drywall? When I mention my desire to learn these things, the usual response from trained handymen is “Oh, there’s nothing to that.” But that only reminds me of my teaching days when I was constantly telling my students…..IT’S ONLY EASY IF YOU ALREADY KNOW IT!

I now have two and a half weeks of training on drywall installation! And guess what….it’s really not easy.

Before going to Moss Point, I went to the internet to read up on how to drywall. All of the websites emphasized the importance of getting the right consistency of mud. They all said…..

It’s important to get the mud right. If it’s too thin, it won’t do the job. If it’s too thick, it won’t do the job.

And that was the end of the instructions on mudding.

So, I go to Moss Point. My leader there instructed me and another lady on the joys of drywalling. His instructions for mudding were….it’s important to get the mud right. If it’s too thin, it won’t do the job. If it’s too thick, it won’t do the job.

You’ll be proud of me. I didn’t burst out laughing. Instead, I tried to get the mud right. And I made some progress! I learned that the mud out of the bucket is almost always too thick. For the first coat, that mud needs to be watered down a little. For the next two coats, a lot more water needs to be added.

In just the second week of instruction, my friend and I tackled an archway and a ceiling. I really did not have much hope for that archway. The mud had to be thick enough to cover the edges that were poking out. And the mud had to extend quite a way from the edge so that there wouldn’t be funny-looking bulges. It certainly required more than three coats. But, it ended up looking really good!

So, I can now list drywalling as one of my skills. On the next trip, I plan on learning how to hang drywall. But maybe I shouldn’t learn that!

Ya’ll take care,
Suzanne

WALLPAPER HANGING

This picture shows two of our members studying the wallpaper before they make their next cut. I am NOT in the picture.

I have never in my life dealt with wallpaper…….and I don’t feel inclined to do it either! But, after seeing the difference that wallpaper makes, perhaps, one day, sometime in the future, if the creek doesn’t rise, I will.

Hanging wallpaper is not the usual business of our group. Our group’s usual purpose is to prepare the walls for the final paint and/or wallpaper. But this case was different. The wallpaper had been carefully and lovingly selected to complement a framed picture of a magnolia which had survived the four feet of Katrina water in the house. The lady-of-the-house was dreaming of moving back into her home with the foyer accenting this beautiful picture.

So, wallpapering became a top priority of our group.

Not that I was part of the wallpapering crew!

But, my work in the sheetrock area did enable those two members of our group to concentrate on the wallpaper. When we left, that picture was hanging in the foyer. Another step closer to moving in!

Talk to ya’ll later,
Suzanne

HOME SWEET HOME?

This is a couple’s temporary home.

It is a FEMA trailer, and it is sitting in the couple’s front yard.

Behind it are the eaves of their real home….still unlivable due to Hurricane Katrina. About two weeks ago, the gentleman reluctantly asked for help. And I am fortunate to have been part of the first crew that came to help.

Six of us entered his home and began giving him and his wife a boost to get back in their home. So much work had already been done, but work was at a standstill due to health problems, exhaustion (it has been a year), and lack of skilled labor.

In six days, we were able to give him and his wife the hope that they will be back in their home by Thanksgiving. I think that it is do-able. In our time there, the six of us painted three bedrooms; hung wallpaper in the foyer, hallway, and bedroom; solved major drywall problems in the dining room ceiling and entrance to family room; finished dry walling the kitchen and then painted primer; and almmmmmost got the water lines to the bathtub connected! (The wife really wanted to take a hot soaking bath…..those FEMA trailers just don’t allow that kind of thing!)

I left a few days ago. My assignment was over. But I was so glad that another team was taking over on Monday.

Talk to ya’ll later,
Suzanne

There are many great things about traveling. And for me, one of the great things is the chance to see TV again! At home, my TV reception is pretty darn bad. I can receive two channels, and just recently one of those stations went off the air. So, that leaves me with one channel to watch.

I can get a dish TV system. And one day I will. I just don’t want to bother with that yet.

So, on my first day here in Mississippi, I put up the antenna, crossed my fingers, and turned on the TV. And starting watching football! Wonderful! And then, I realized that this is the first week of all the new shows. More good news! And, I will now be able to see that commercial that my friend has been telling me about.

In case you didn’t notice the time of this blog, it is early morning. I did consider turning on that TV, but I decided to write this blog instead. And while I was up, I decided to make my nametag for tomorrow. (I’m such a new NOMADer that my nametag hasn’t arrived yet.) And while I’m up, I think I’ll also move my keys from that high hook to a better, easier location. And while I’m up, I think I’ll prep my coffee machine to make coffee quickly in the morning…..later morning, that is!

And guess what, I think I’m getting sleepy. Wonderful.

Good night.

Suzanne

The trip from Sulphur, LA, to Moss Point, MS, was pretty easy. All I had to do was get on I-10, set the cruise control on fifty-eight, and head east.

But, I did have a couple of challenges. One challenge I knew about. In fact, most of you probably know about it. I-10 in Louisiana is rough!!! There is this one 40 mile section where the pattern of roughness is exactly perfect for getting the maximum bounce out of my truck and trailer. When I reach that section, I disengage that cruise control and drop on down to fifty miles per hour. Now, what’s interesting is…….not all that many cars pass me!

The other challenge was the swarming of LoveBugs! They swarmed over me and my truck all the way from Sulphur to Moss Point. No let-up at all. I cleaned my windshield five times today, and they still are not all off. And I know that I have to get them off. After all, they are notorious for taking a finish off a truck’s paint job.

But, I made it here just fine. I am part of the NOMADS group which is staying at Caswell Springs United Methodist Church. The membership at this church knew that it would be a long process to put their community back into shape after Hurricane Katrina hit last year. They knew that the volunteers who came would need electricity and water. So, the church installed seven RV hook-ups in their front yard!

It is good to be here. I’ve already met four of the other RV’ers. Two more will arrive tomorrow.

Here’s a picture of our group with the church in the background.



That’s it for now. I’ll talk with you later.

Suzanne