Volunteering & 'dem Bathrooms

I have never built in Florida, I have done some remodeling but Block homes built on a concrete slab poses some problems.  I have just completed a learning task. We want a bathroom in the master bedroom. There is a good space for it, but water and sewer was the question. Sewer is at the front of the house, water at the side and the proposed bathroom is at the rear wall. After a couple days I completed running sewer around the perimeter of the house, keeping the fall on the sewer line so it will drain. I also picked up the hot and cold water from the side as I passed and ran the lines in the same ditch. Naturally if we had an attic I could have run the water over head, but I do not like water over head anyway, so that was out. As of now, there is pressure on the lines to make sure there are no leaks and they are buried awaiting the resurrection day when I do install the bathroom, it I ever do.

For a short time we did volunteer work (unorganized). I put it on the net on a forum I attend and I got a call. WE were in Maine at the time. The call was from a pastor in Arkansas.  “Could we travel to Lapanto, Arkansas?  A house where the local Alcoholics Anonymous meet needs a new bathroom.” 

“Sure we can.” 

 (Arkansas was the first place I ever did see rice being grown I thought it all came from Oriental countries)

(Below is a field being harvested using tractors)

 (Of course we had seen cotton fields)

Young Johnny Cash, 'Jump down turn around, Pick a bale of cotton'

“What will be their cost?”  I said we are hoping nothing, but we will come see the job.

It was a good drive out to Arkansas. We met the pastor and a guy who headed the AA.  We took the job. Lapanto is truly out in the boonies. Closest small town to where Johnny Cash is from.  The only place we could buy plumbing, tub and commode was 65 miles.

(Sherry putting the finishing touches to the bathroom.)

It was a fun job and nice folk. But also a pleasant surprise. John Gresham, one of our favorite authors, is also from the area. The Film "The Painted House" taken from one of his books was filmed in Lapanto. We got a personal guided tour of the house and barn where the movie was filmed. That was worth the trip.

The job was satisfying. We did some extra stuff before we left in less than a week.  Then a leisure trip back to NC for another volunteer job.

I thought I could tell about Sadie, but I am out of words. Sadie? Maybe tomorrow.



Nite Shipslog.

Remember the song   by Johnny?