Work Day One

     Wow, what a day!  It began in earnest at 7:30am when we gathered together with our work groups to meet our leaders and head off to work sites. We are 4 work groups. Group 1 is working here at our HOMES home, turning the old office building into a dorm for volunteers. Group 2 is working at a HOMES rental house, cleaning it up and turning it over for the new tenants. Group 3 is working in a "holler," what we know as a hollow, putting a metal roof on a home. A holler is a road with a group of homes where, at least at one time, everyone was related. The patriarch of the family would build a home at the top of the holler. As the children had families of their own they would build homes of their own lower down the holler.  The families would take dinner together and when it was ready, someone would "holler" down the hill to the rest of the family.  Group 4 is doing what Doris Ann lovingly refers to as "landscraping," the KY version of landscaping. This involves using metal rakes to scrape a hard patch of dirt to remove the rocks, putting down fertilizer and grass seed and then a layer of hay. It was hard, hot work and they win the day's award for toughest work group.

     I have to mention the food because it has been great, as we have come to expect. Tonight was baked ham, mac and cheese and a great fresh salad. Last night was pulled chicken, beans, and salad. Gerry and John are keeping our energy up, for sure!

     For any Gloucester readers, you can be proud of Christine and Gerry.  They are representing well.  In fact, Christine earned the nickname Christine the Machine today because she wouldn't let those landscrapers give up until the job was done. Woot!

     We would love it if our viewers would sign up to be commenters. I like to share your messages at our nightly meetings and hearing from home really keeps us going.

     Another thing we learned about the area today is that there are 2 major mining companies still operating.  One just laid off 200 workers and the other laid off 1,100 workers two weeks ago. Just a few years ago, a longtime mine employee was making $100,000.  It's really hard for the folks here to make ends meet.

The view from the top of the trail to Bad Branch Falls.  Three folks did this 1 1/2 mile hike yesterday afternoon.

A sign along the hiking trail.

Bad Branch Falls.

Jim G. at the roofing house.

Deb M. moving rocks. To quote her, "Smart like fox, strong like bull, smell like goat."