It is so great to see so many popping in here just to see what we have been doing here at Katrina Relief. I apologise that I have not posted in a couple of days - but I checked to see who dropped in and, besides the usual ISP's, I see many more. It is great to see such a broad range across the county and their home towns popping up as if to say "We support you". So wonderful that I have so many loyal readers.
So, what have we been doing? Getting ready for the construction crew that is coming in today. Our new full time office help arrived yesterday - that is going to be a huge addition to this team of ours. Two more are due in on June 1st and they will go straight to Case Management.
We are going to get two houses up this week!!!!! One Elkview and one custom home over in Middletown. Watch for the pictures! Yes, we are going to follow this closely.
The grant writing has been going on at a furious rate - with a few teams wanting us to colaborate we can add so many more to the planned pile. There is nothing like teamwork
Trixie, our new "child" although a dog, is settling in well. We finally grounded Katrina from getting out under the gate and annoying the semi-trucks hauling dirt on this street to the construction project at the end of the street. She liked to lay out in the road and dare them to move forward as they crawled around the corner trying not to drop the trailer in the ditch. This is turning into a very busy street.
Middletown is meeting regarding Martin Luther King Park this next week - it is so wonderful to see the community coming together and working as a team. That is what this is all about. For the locals interested in attending that meeting - please contact the office at (228) 466.4630
Gulf Coast Recovery was here last Friday firming up details for the impending arrivival of their full time teams (3). We are excited to be working with them and are making plans for the next round of volunteer teams coming down the pike. This gives us a full time volunteer base here of approximately 40. That is going to be a huge addition to the volunteer contingent here.
We have fifteen new homes under various stages of construction right now and more coming down the pike over the next two weeks. The Elkview Project has been kicked off into full steam ahead.
And, just remember. The more you have, the more God expects from you!
Church is planned for this morning - then maybe a little fishing this afternoon? Just maybe if all the chores are done?
And how was your week?
Wednesday April 25th, 2007
Well, we did it again - another dog rescued. Well, one of the clients had to give up the dog as she was keeping it on a chain since the storm and all it did was bark. She had no yard left - so it was not a matter of choice. And the neighbor kept complaining resulting in the Animal Control telling her that if she didnt keep the dog quiet she was going to start getting tickets. So, we have Trixie. A Katrina rescued dog that is homeless again - cute little fat Jack Russell. Max and Katrina gave him a warm welcome and all is well in doggy world here.
One little story on TV and 35 more clients signed up. It is amazing to me how many people still are out there that have done nothing for almost two years.
Friday I have been summoned to a meeting with a major disaster relief organization in Gulf Port to discuss the Elkview Home project. This is fast becoming a popular solution.
Our new long term construction coordinator came onboard yesterday. His first job is to take the troup to Long Beach tomorrow to unload a semi. There are several loads coming in over the next few days. The fork lifts are being moved there tomorrow permanently.
There is a construction team coming in Sunday. We have an Elkview ready for them - pilings are up and the package will be delivered Saturday. And we have a slab ready in Middletown and that material will be delivered Saturday as well. They hope to get both houses blacked in by the end of the week.
We worked on the permit for Mt. Rock today and had a meeting at the building dept. We should be able to get on that project on Monday as well. And the building department was so kind to point us in the direction of more volunteers.
Got a bunch of grants done last night and submitted. Have a slew more that will be out by the end of the week. We are on a roll! We have 14 houses under construction right now. We are humming right along.
Now, lets talk about the box of truffles that arrived yesterday. Yes, a carton of chocolate truffles. Not to mention another carton of just "goodies". Candles, doggy collars, flea collars, all sorts of good stuff for the office and home here. Talk about Care packages - what a bright spot they were in our day this week. When you do not earn any money - you do not get to go shopping. That care package made up for any shopping urges we might have had. And those truffles - hmmm hmmm good! Thank you !
Then there was the two gift cards that arrived via Joan today - we just have some great people out there who understand that every little nail costs something, every little plumbing part - costs even more, and that gas does not grow on tress. Well not yet anyway. So, to that donor - thankyou, thankyou, thankyou! We will use it wisely.
So we ended up a great day by going to the Amish Camp. Ruth and Dan are such neat neat people. It makes my entire week that precious time I spend out there for sharing night.
And how was your week? Better yet - how was your day? How could you not love it with all this sunshine and goodwill among men?
Monday April 23rd, 2007
What a ripping day - foot traffic in the office and the phone at a pace to be believed. I cant wait for the full time office help to get here. One full time office person is coming Wednesday and June 1st will be two more. We have a full time construction coordinator arriving within the next two days - that should fully round out the team excepting we need a full time long term carpenter.
Sunday's dedication at Macedonia was testimony to determination - on the part of Rev Sheppard. All of the Pastors from the other churchs' in Middletown were there and sitting beside him while the minister from Coal Mountain gave the dedication sermon. What team work! It was wonderful to see the alliance sitting up there supporting each other.
WLOX was here today - wanting to do a positive shot. Interesting considering the questions. The outcome on television was very positive and the closing was surprising indeed. I had a conversation with a dear friend the other day who said, in his opinion, that working with DRO teams in relief is like herding cats. I grinned when he said it and I have to agree. But some of the cats sure can purrrrrrr making this job easier. And to those I say "Thankyou! "
Lots of hits on the website today - not sure what that was all about. Just grows and grows. You never know what drives people to drop in everyday.
We are working on Martin Luther King Park tomorrow - going to get it all disked up and ready for planting. Also planning to work on the fountains and get them repaired. I really want to get this done by the time school gets out.
So, thankyou one and all that make this work possible. Its your die hard support that I truly appreciate as it keeps me going.
And how was your day?
Sunday April 22nd, 2007
Well John, we miss you. And we thankyou profusely for all you did this week and what you plan to keep on doing for this operation. The trailer will be done by the time you get back - you will understand then. And I promise the garden you created at Spanish Trail will be watered everyday.
First thing this morning we had to make a dash to the Macedonia Church to pick up the trash the volunteers had stashed on the corner. I had forgotten about it. The dedication is at 3pm today. Wow - I cant believe the project is finally at that point.
The Mount Rock Church project will be undereay soon. Everyone is gearing up. We just have to get the footing drawings done over the next 24 hours and we will be on our way. We could sure use the services of a draftsman if anyone is out there that has some time for some future projects.
We have a Bucks-Mont crew booked in for work next week - those attorney's are a hoot and we look forward to working with them. Gulf Coast Recovery was here to inspect their work sites - that project kicks off the middle of May. They went out and inspected one of the Elkviews'. I cant promise such a pristine location for the balance of the sites - but the project is being embraced by several organizations at this time.
We have a house to tear down in Long Beach, two houses to build in Poplarville, and two houses to work on in New Orleans. As the volunteer pool dwindles - they are reaching out more and more to the established organizations. Catholic Charities is out of funds and are gearing down. I have a Catholic Charities client with a $10,000 grant and they are going to pay it out at the rate of $3,000 per month to help make up for the shortfall in cash flow. This is so so sad.
We are gearing up for summer at a furious rate - at Katrina Relief we are gettin it done!
And how was your week?
Saturday April 21st, 2007
Click on photo to see in full view
From my days growing up in Australia there is one thing I recall with a passion - my mother's love of a song, that was actually a poem, written in iambic pentameter, that was played, from time to time, on the radio recited by Helen Hayes.We had no TV until I was about 16 - so the radio was our form of entertainment. It was not the love of the song that impressed me - it was her passion for the song. My parents, even today, walk hand in hand - they had such a passionate marriage.
I always thought the song was about the "tree" and grew up wondering about that tree and that white flower. I didn’t have a picture of the flower, the tree or even access, in those days, to an encyclopedia. So I sat there and listened to that poem/song and had great visions of that flower and the power that it had. I visioned the tree to be strong and powerful with cool large leaves that matched those large white flowers.
Now I understand my mother's passion for the song was akin to her passionate love of my father. But it took many years for me to understand that.
And now, some fifty years later, 20 thousand miles distance hence, here I am where the white Magnolia Tree blooms in its natural environment. And I still love that song. And I now love that tree, its unbelievable bloom, and now fully understand its tenacity as it thrives after Katrina tip tapped across its bows and only made it sway to the wind. It did not succumb. It is a survivor - a symbol for me of the work we do here in the aftermath of Katrina.
And here in Hancock County it is Spring again - and the white Magnolia is starting to flower. It started last week with one flower here and there - and by next week the trees will be a mass of flowers. I did not see one last year - but then the trees and flowers did not bloom last year like they are this year. I can not wait until next week - it will be a true testimony to the power of mother nature to overcome and a true symbol for all of us working here.
The picture above was taken in the "secret garden" around the corner from where the office is. The historic house did not survive - but if you climb beyond the weeds and overgrown shrubs - what you will find a secret garden of Camelias, Azaleas, roses, bulb plants of all kinds. Now as all the other flowers fade the secret garden is showing us the power of the Magnolia tree in its midst. I show all my visitors my secret garden if they show an interest in such things as gardening.
White Magnolia Tree
The year when I was twenty-one, (John that year was twenty-three) That was the year, that was the spring, We planted the white magnolia tree.
"This tree," said John, "shall grow with us, And every year it will bloom anew. This is our life. This is our love." And the white magnolia tree grew and grew...
Oh, youth' a thing of fire and ice, And currents that run hot and white, And its world is as bright as the sun...
I was twenty-one... And I wore a plume in my hat. And we went to the movies and wept over" Stella Dallas", And John sang "Moonlight and Roses" (a little off-key, but very nicely really),
And we hurried through our crowded days With beautiful plans, boundless ambitions, and golden decisions. There is so much the young heart clamours for, That it must have, and that it cannot live without, And it must be all or nothing, For aren't we the masters of creation?
Oh, valiant and untamed were we, When we planted the white magnolia tree! And the white magnolia grew and grew, Holding our love within its core, And every year it bloomed anew, And we were twenty-one no more.
No more untamed, no more so free, Nor so young, nor so wild and aflame were we. Dearer to us grew other things: Easy sleep, books, a day's quiet holiday, Good talk beside a fire, the beauty of old faces...
We have known many things since then: The death of a child and the bitter lesson That a heart which breaks can mend itself again (That it can and must be done), And what loyalty can mean, And how real a word like courage can become, And that solitude can be rich and gratifying And quite different from loneliness...
There is so little the serious heart requires: Friends, faith, a window open to the world, Pride in work well done, And strength to live in a world at war And still maintain the heart's own private peace...
Dear Heaven, I give thanks to thee For things I did not know before, For the wisdom of maturity, For bread, and a roof, and for one thing more...
Thanks because I still can see The bloom on the white magnolia tree!
Helen Deutsch
Friday April 20th, 2007
TGIF ! I didn't get all that I needed to get down this week. In fact, if I could start at Monday - I might get a chance at that. So much to do, so little time.
I spent some of my time in Gulfport yesterday at the Caring Women Luncheon as they acknowledged the nominees of the award "Outstanding Women from the Gulf Coast" - myself being one of them. Wonderful luncheon at the Beau Rivage and the guest speaker was Lucymarian Roberts (Robin Robert's mother). What a genuinely wonderful gracious woman - I was most impressed.
And the Bea Rivage - good grief you would not know that building was in the same world that I deal with on a daily basis over here. Truly makes the case for the belief that this is a third world country apart from the "rest" of the United States.
The crews thrived in my absence. *G* Hmmm........and got miles and miles of work orders accomplised. From skilled to unskilled work - we moved forward again. But, again, we desperately need skilled volunteers
I ended up at the Amish camp last night as they couldn't get all their tools in the truck with them.John and a resident were with me. Always a pleasant evening although I left early when I found out that they had started working on Martin Luther King Park again. I wandered over there to see the progress on the building and take some pictures. While I was there I did get a shot of our infamous toilets, insitu I might add. Yes, there they is, all three of the $2,500 wonder toilets !
So, there was our week in all its glory. Just like the sun coming up in the morning.
I see the Magnolia trees are starting to bloom - its going to be a great great summer.
How was your week?
Thursday April 19th, 2007
The expenditure vouchers came up for approval at the Waveland Alderman's meeting last night. On the docket was $2,500 for toilets at Martin Luther King Park. The Mayor popped up, when challenged, and justified the cost as it included all the fittings. I had two volunteers put in those three total toilets that the City had purchased, 8 months prior, for $50 a piece. I paid, personally, for the fittings to install those toilets. Total cost: a little less than $200.00. I am not sure who got those twenty five hundred dollar toilets - but it was not the residents of Middletown or the users of Martin Luther King Park. And I have the receipts to prove it along with a work order and the names of the vounteers who installed those three toilets. Very very interesting and very frustrating as the $35,00 grant for the Park, that those funds were charged against, were for the people of Middletown and their park.
The rest of the day was a hive of activity. Fence over at the annex, a crew down working in Middletown, spruced up Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church for the dedication on Sunday, and a myriad of other work orders today done by a team out of Mission On The Bay. Thank you guys you did a great great job!!!!
And tomorrow is going to be very very interesting.
And, how was your day?
Wednesday April 18th, 2007
And here is a picture of our aligator country secret crab pot hot spot at dusk. Looks like a fun place to be in sandles wandering at dusk doesnt it?
Very busy day at work yesterday. The fifth wheel has arrived and we are gutting it out - well John from Chicago is doing the gutting or was at dusk last night. During the daylight hours here he was busy accounting for our expenditures here in the office and got a spread sheet up and going for us. Thank you John - you are awsome!
Our long term electrician is fixing up his quarters at the satellite station on Spanish Trail. They have flowers down there to plant tomorrow and will be doing upgrades there all week.
The office traffic and phone is frantic - we have to get more long term office staff. Pearlington is also reporting the same foot traffic. The long term volunteers can not keep up this pace.
We are expecting a team of 27 in here early this morning - most of their assignments will be in Middletown tomorrow and one in Diamondhead.
And that was Tuesday. Another fantastic day!
Tuesday April, 17th, 2007
I can see why they resorted to making stew out of racoons down here. Always thought they were cute little things and why would anyone want to kill racoons. We have stored the gargage in cans - doesn't work. We locked the garbage in cans and locked them in the dog pen - doesn't work. We turned out Max, our toothless guard dog, with access to the dog pen - that didnt work. In fact - the coons and Max are now the best of buds and they share the pickings. So I say make stew out of the coons and auction of Max. Well, not me. I dont have the heart to hurt one little hair on the Coons cute little head. I set Rich on em - that's what I'll do. As for Max - he is fired!
Pat and I went to check the crab traps late yesterday evening after work and also took along a bucket to pick Blackberries. All was well until we got halfway to the crab pots, along the railroad track, and along comes a long long freight train. We had to exit to the brambles on the side of the track. Pat now wants to talk to Art about this "great spot". There were six good sized crabs but we put the traps back until this morning. We did pick blackberries and she wouldnt let me eat any and brought them home to fix em for breakfast this morning. Hmmmm....see how house Mommy is !
Then we went out trash pile hopping to pick up items I had spotted while out doing assessments. And what a haul. What is one man's trash is another man's treasure. Got a gorgous shower stall - can not imagine why the owners had thrown it away? But I got their permission prior to loading - so I know they wanted it gone. Also got a basketball hoop for the volunteers. That we have needed for a while. We didnt get home till long after dark.
Yesterday was a hive of activity. Salvation Army was over with some grants, Willie was in from Ohio Disaster Relief. We got the sign frames built and installed at Tabor and on Spanish Trail, our long term electrician arrived, another volunteer arrived from Chicago with a super donation of copy paper and dry erase boards - what a deal! We were desperate for both.
I was out in the field yesterday checking on pilings and other work. I need to get out more but the restraints of the office will not allow it.
And, how was your day? We desperately need skilled volunteers.
Monday April 16th
And its another Monday in the Gulf with a mountain of paper work still on my desk that says we have much work to do. In fact - my desk is a disgrace and I am going to try and wade thru it before the clients hit the door this morning. And that will be right after I figure out how to turn on this new cell phone of mine. Not sure whats going on with it.
Saturday the Canadians worked on the trailer bearings and got it all fixed up. Then the Canadians took us out to dinner on Saturday night at the Casino. I have to report I gambled about a whole dollar and got back $1.46 at the nickel machine. Shame, shame on me. Dinner was fabulous and we all had a great time including Jason who was in town.
The Cadadiams headed for Calgary on Saturday night. What a crew they were. They left enough behind that we need to semi to haul it back up there. Good grief - glasses, mail, gloves, the brand new tape they bought. *G* Must wanna come back and get it all. *G*
The crew from Fredericksbug, Virginia, headed out on Saturday morning bright and early. They really plowed thru the work orders last week - what a great crew. And they got my warehouse clean - again. They deserve a merrit award just for that ! Rich is running around shaking his head and mumbling the warehouse is clean I can find everything. *G* The group declared the satellite on Spanish trail a success and it is now ready for the next group.
Sunday was church for me. While I was gone everyone was in the mood for chores. I got back from church and the girls were outside straightening up the garden, weed wacking, mowing and sprucing up the yard. It was an absolutely gorgous day albeit a tad windy. I had a client from New Orleans come after church. We have to gut out her home and refurbish. Its one of two church members from New Orleans we will be assisting.
I toddled off to check the Macedonia Missionary Baptist landscaping issues - their dedication is on Sunday next. A very big deal for the neighborhood !
The Sea Coast Echo wrote an article declaring it was safe to eat blue crabs excepting if you are pregnant. Wow - what a deal. We all fit that criteria - not pregnant that is. So we are back to our favourite past time here - its free, takes up a lot of relaxation time, and the end result is "food" - crabbing that is. Not the Casino! Rich and I decided to drop in the crab pots in that secret location out of south street in aligator county - the new spot Art told us about. So off we went to find that railroad tressle and the path off along the creek in the swamp. Well, let me tell you - there aint no path there since the storm. So I crawled up the newly placed rocks to the elevated railroad track and wandered down to the turn in the creek.Still no path. I felt like I was a part of an age old novel of Huckleberry as I wandered down that track on a gorgous southern afternoon. When I found the "spot" I stopped. The spot being chosen more for the massive ripe berry patch more than the ideal crabbing spot - although it met all the criteria as it was deep (despite low tide) and on the turn in the creek. And then the train went roaring by pointing out we would have had to taken refuge in the brambles off the track if we had not made it to this opening prior - thanks Art, remind me to thank you for this "ideal" spot next time I see you. *G*
I found a lid to put the berries we were picking on. Actually I was doing more "eatin than pickin" but I did manage to get a lid full (coffee can lid). Rich and I wandered back down the railroad tracks to the tressle. It really is a steep climb down over the rocks - so I on the rails and ate the berries for the girls. Hated to waste em I was thinking. The girls were just going to have to come out in the early morn to this gorgous spot and get their own. Yes, I could sell that I was thinking as I ate the last berry.
We got lost after leaving the berry batch. Well it didnt help that I turned left instead of right as we saw a trash pile off in the distance with pallets on it. We always need pallets. Then we continued down that windy dirt road to see where it went - and it came out on the hard top to the Silver Slipper. As we went by the pier on the beach where we normally crab from - we noted the tide out for a mile or so and nothing but bare sand (mud here in the Gulf but they still call it sand for what ever reason - must have something to do with tourism). So we stopped and walked out on the pier where I noted a brand new crab pot lost by its owner on the "sand" under the pier. So I returned to the start of the pier and walked out to retrieve the net.
Well, let me tell you I learned that it truly is mud and not sand like they are selling in those tourist brochures. I sank up to my thighs in mud just as I got to the end of the pier. But I was vowed and determined to get that net and crawled over the rest of the "sand" to the net. Actually found a wayward crab hiding by a very small pool of water by the pier. I played with him for a bit while, Rich from above, was asking if he was big enough for supper and wanted to know if they "bite" as I retrieved my thumb. Now if he thought I was going to crawl out of there with crab in one hand and crab pot in the other - it wasn't happening. The crab pot won! *G*
So mud and all - smelly mud I might add. We headed off to Arts' to get our wheelbarrows and a shovels our crews had left there. Art wanted to know what on earth had happened to me. Now let me tell you Art and while we are at it I wanna chat with you about that aligator secret crab fishing spot.......
And when we got back Scott Blackwell was here with the new signs for Katrina Relief. Wow - what a great job he did. We will get the frames for them built today and get them installed. Scott and I visited for a while - he is such a neat neat man.
And so went Sunday. Right now we are off to check those traps of ours before the sun gets too high in the sky. Going to take my camera this time. We will be right back - its just a hop and step from the office here. A great way to start off a Monday and Pat is going to stay and watch the office for a few minutes.
New article on the Home Page - I was busy writing this weekend. I knocked out two more.
That was our weekend - how was yours? Would you like to come volunteer here? The work is long and hard - but the rewards are great!
It is so great to see so many popping in here just to see what we have been doing here at Katrina Relief. I apologise that I have not posted in a couple of days - but I checked to see who dropped in and, besides the usual ISP's, I see many more. It is great to see such a broad range across the county and their home towns popping up as if to say "We support you". So wonderful that I have so many loyal readers.
Well, we did it again - another dog rescued. Well, one of the clients had to give up the dog as she was keeping it on a chain since the storm and all it did was bark. She had no yard left - so it was not a matter of choice. And the neighbor kept complaining resulting in the Animal Control telling her that if she didnt keep the dog quiet she was going to start getting tickets. So, we have Trixie. A Katrina rescued dog that is homeless again - cute little fat Jack Russell. Max and Katrina gave him a warm welcome and all is well in doggy world here.
TGIF ! I didn't get all that I needed to get down this week. In fact, if I could start at Monday - I might get a chance at that. So much to do, so little time.
The expenditure vouchers came up for approval at the Waveland Alderman's meeting last night. On the docket was $2,500 for toilets at Martin Luther King Park. The Mayor popped up, when challenged, and justified the cost as it included all the fittings. I had two volunteers put in those three total toilets that the City had purchased, 8 months prior, for $50 a piece. I paid, personally, for the fittings to install those toilets. Total cost: a little less than $200.00. I am not sure who got those twenty five hundred dollar toilets - but it was not the residents of Middletown or the users of Martin Luther King Park. And I have the receipts to prove it along with a work order and the names of the vounteers who installed those three toilets. Very very interesting and very frustrating as the $35,00 grant for the Park, that those funds were charged against, were for the people of Middletown and their park.
And its another Monday in the Gulf with a mountain of paper work still on my desk that says we have much work to do. In fact - my desk is a disgrace and I am going to try and wade thru it before the clients hit the door this morning. And that will be right after I figure out how to turn on this new cell phone of mine. Not sure whats going on with it.