home and a broad

So I cleaned up the last of the leaves at 1046 with my blower/vacuum last Saturday pm, stocked up the three bird feeding stations, and woke up Sunday to 2-3 inches of new, wet snow. Because every Sunday starts the same way for me (arrive at church at 9:30 for pre-service choir practice) it's onerous to have to clear entire driveway before I shower, snack, dress, and head out. But it's nice to arrive at a place "where everybody knows your name".(see:Cheers song). These days I'm rather involved in a number of projects, most having come about because I spoke out about a need and was invited to address the need and follow it through. One revolved around an engraved sign(18.5 x 42 inches) that is to be erected at the south-east corner of the church property. The donor is very skilled at such, and it was a matter of marrying his design to our needs, and following it through to completion. For my part, I had to procure two 4 x 4 cedar posts, coat the lower half with linseed oil, and prime and paint the upper halves with gloss black tremclad, to match the signs outer border. Inner part is burgundy, surrounded by old piping, and white script-style lettering sets it all off. John Q. & I dug the holes and erected it last week, in 2-above-zero weather. The sign reads "The Gathering Place - Worship Center".(see below)

The next project involved getting quotes for two pull-down blinds to cover four adjacent windows, all in an 8 foot high by 13 feet wide opening. These are similar to what one sees at most Tim Horton's sites, and will effectively reduce the glare coming into The Gathering Place, plus hide some rather ugly vertical windows on the south side. The Gathering Place is a large room at the rear of the main sanctuary, where everyone "gathers" prior to and after every service. I was on a committee for 3 years that heard the architects ideas, added our own thoughts, sought quotes, and convinced the congregation that the need existed;and that we could come up with the $175,000.00 to pull it off. It was completed last January, and paid-in-full by end of March. The blinds are the last frill, and will be installed before year-end.

The other project that I'm seeing to the end involves exterior lighting across the front of the church, and this one has been on my plate for over a year, largely due to my inability to get agreement from the property committee as to out ultimate needs. They have, for some years, tried to tackle such projects with a "we can do this ourselves" approach;but they have finally realised that some things, particularly the ones that just have to be done right, are not doable. So, at the last meeting, I convinced them the we should involve the services of a consultant, and that's my current job.

But enough, already. I'm also on the "Celebrate Aldershot in 2008" steering committee, which sprung up when I suggested to our Coucillor that 2008 was the 50th anniversary of Aldershot becoming part of Burlington, and that we should have a party. He jumped on the idea, and asked that I be on the committee. I'm not the chair, so that's OK by me. But we have met every two weeks for over a year, and will continue to do so for another 12 months.

Our new front door is in, and looks great. I've finished the interior trim, and wall has been painted to match existing. I persuaded the company that installed the original ceramic floor to remove it and replace with new, all under warranty, and that may just happen before Christmas.

Right now I am gutting the basement bathroom, as I was able to buy a pedestal sink on sale two months ago, and had bought the floor tile over a year ago. I'm taking 2008 off, and flying to Hawaii for some R&R.(Anne can't come, as she's too busy walking all over Burulington with her best friend and neighbour, Bev Jones.)

If you believe the foregoing, I've some swamp land in Florida to sell you!!!

See you next time. Warren