November 24 – “On the Shelf”

For anyone who has ever been through the retreat center kitchen at Seaside … you need to make a return trip.  I joined Chris Passons yesterday for a Raise the Shelves workday.  Between the two of us (and my Chris’ participation by bringing us some Subway sandwiches for lunch), we waded through Home Depot and WalMart and Jamaica Beach Hardware Store.  We cut boards to fit.  We rounded the corners.  We sanded.  We painted.  Chris screwed in the brackets to the wall, and re-screwed when there was no stud where there should have been a stud.  Oh, and we put up a third bracket in one case because the spacing between studs put on behind the stove instead of conveniently next to it where we had hoped it would be.  Not that that has ever happened to a construction anywhere).  I got a pretty nasty splinter in my finger (I know.  But I had to add a little whining in there somewhere.  Don’t worry, though, all you medical specialists who were instantly concerned about my health and well-being.  My Chris managed to get it out with no complications once we got home).  We placed the microwaves on the shelves.  Yep.  That would be plural, microwaves.  That was the WalMart stop.  We got one to replace the broken one that we tore out way back on demo day so long ago.  We even re-placed the stuff that was sitting all over the counters and put much of it on the new shelves.  Of course that will all most likely be re-set to its most effective location when someone gets up there with more of a fashion/kitchen practicality sense (dare I say “feminine touch”) than either of us had after our full day of manly, construction, grunt work.  Aaar, aaar, aaar.   We still need to hook up the ice maker for the refrigerators, but that is a job for the indomitable Bob Wyrick.  We will be happy to act as his sidekicks should he need any assistance when that time comes. 

So, great job Chris.  Everyone else … get up there and take a look.  Or better yet, check it out when you come to the Bethlehem Market Craft Fair on December 12^th from 10 to 4.  How’s that for unapologetic, in-your-face advertising?  See you then.

James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Father, grant Chris some extra blessings this week for all his hard work yesterday.  Amen.