WE ARE WORKING, TOO

WORK CREWS ~ PAINTING AND SHEET ROCKING

We split into two teams on Monday. One crew went to Pine Tree Street to paint. Our goal was to get the inside of Don and Mary's house painted. Today is Wednesday and we have 3 rooms and the hallway to finish tomorrow..... AND THE HOUSE WILL BE ALL DONE! The volunteers that follow us will be able to lay the flooring.

Our team with Don & Mary and Miss Daisy at their home.

Miss Daisy's home

Paint crew

Kelly and Jeanae at Don & Mary's

Jeanae unloading a truck load of flooring

Jamie helping Teal and Jeanae and smiling too!!!

Jeanae taking care of Grandma!

Kelly having fun painting.

Teal unloading flooring ~ could this be our next project!

The Sheet Rock Crew went to Shawn and Carla's home on Tranquility Road.

The crew has completed two rooms (top to bottom) in 3 days!

They discovered a leak in the roof ~ from a previous crew ~ and choose to do the right thing by taking down the sheet rock and insulating part of the room that had not been done.

The room had to be redone! We think that counts as two rooms.

Go Cindy Go...

Megan admiring her work

Meg and Chance measuring & cutting sheet rock

I like paint better than sheet rock!

Chris working hard!!!!

Chance holding up the sheet rock.

Chance ready to get that sheet rock UP!

Teena the Tool Woman

Now what am I doing??

Chris and Aunt Cindy

Marilyn lifting sheet rock

Cindy (Teena the tool woman) placing sheet rock ~ that would be on the ceiling

Chris ready for work

Chance moving sheet rock to the ceiling.

Lynda meeting Carla ~ the homeowner ~ for the 1st time.

Our crews have worked HARD in the heat, rain and humidty.

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

Our team was invited to dinner at Bill and Sharon's home ~ a plantation on the bayou ~ just outside of Slidell. Their home ~ built in 1890 ~ was ravaged by Katrina. Over 300 pine trees fell, their swimming pool was filled with snakes (those mean Water Moccasin's), and their house was filled with 4 feet of water.

Seeing their home today, it is hard to believe the damage. It took them 6 weeks just to clear the pine trees so they could begin to rebuild. The entire project took two years.

We learned that Mother Nature is not selective in who she chooses. Color, socio-economic status, religion, age are not factors in who is spared from devastation and who is not.

We learned on Bourbon Street that if we ever got in trouble we just needed to call a United Cab and they would help us. Both vans got lost on the way to the Bayou ... no maps could of helped us get turned in the right direction... Becki flagged down a United Cab and the driver most graciously led us to the "Garden Plantation".

Red Beans and Rice and with Corn Bread

The Plantation at Sunset

KidsKids on the dock looking for Gators


The Bayou from the end of the Dock



Our host, Bill and Eleanor nibbling on Sweet Tater pie.

Dinner Line

Jamie, Madison, Jeane, Eleanor and Uta sampling the snacks

Jeanae

Miss Daisy and Mr. John with Jeanae before lunch.

Lunch at Miss Daisy's ~ fried chicken, bread pudding, sweet tater pie, red beans and rice, greens with bacon, corn bread, peach cobbler, and sweet tea!

Who wanted to work after this feast???

Our lunch with with Miss Daisy was the best meal we have eaten.

MEET MISS DAISY

MEET OUR NEW FRIENDS ~ MISS DAISY & MR. JOHN

One crew spent the day on Pine Tree Street painting a rebuilt home for Mary and Don Jenkins. Their neighbors, Miss Daisy and her brother, Mr. John gave us an example of true Southern Hospitality. They opened their home to us for water and bathroom breaks. The best part of our day was to hear their story!

Kelly, Jeanae, Teal, Madison and Jamie listening to Miss Daisy's story.

Mr. John ~ one of 10 (or 15 siblings) who have always lived in the New Orleans area. He found his sister after Katrina and her move to Slidell. They have lived together in this house since November.

Eleanor and Miss Daisy

Miss Daisy is a native of the New Orleans area. In July of 2005 she purchased her little house in Slidell and moved out New Orleans. Katrina hit in August of that same year and her home was one that was lost in the storm.

She shared with us how she was evacuated from her home. She was frightened and desperate but never lost sight of her faith.

Her story is AMAZING... ask the kids to tell you about Miss Daisy!

(And yes, we really did work today ~ painting and hanging sheet rock ~ at two job sites... check back for pics and see our crews in action)

We are all doing well ~ keeping hydrated ~ and making new friends amongst ourselves and in the neighborhoods we are working.

We will be home soon with many stories to tell.

WELCOME TO THE LOWER 9TH WARD

WELCOME TO THE LOWER 9TH WARD

Our team spent Sunday touring the 8th and 9th wards in New Orleans. These were the areas that were hit the hardest during Katrina. Even after all this time only 15% of the area is rebuilt and has housing available to families. We drove through streets in silence gazing at all the empty homes. Several times the kids asked ~ who lived here?? We have no way of knowing but felt drawn to empty spaces, concrete slabs and steps that no longer lead anywhere.

Musician's Village ~ built by Habitat for Humanity ~

This project of homes, started by Harry Conick Jr, has built rows of new homes for families.

Each family is responsible for "sweat equity" and are assisted by the Habitat as well as local and not so local musicians.

Houses on Johnson Ave in Musicians Village

We thought this was most appropriate for Ray Johnson and had to have a picture.


Kelly, Jamie, Megan and Lynda walking in the 9th ward.

Uta and Becki sitting on the porch of what was once a home in the 9th ward. We felt drawn to these steps and wondered who might of lived here and what memories this porch held. Becki crawled under the porch and found a plate buried in the dirt ~ the last possession of this family left by Katrina. What a tug on our hearts!

Home in the 9th ward that has not been rebuilt.

Make it Right Home ~ project sponsored by Brad Pitt ~ in the 9th Ward. This home is under construction. We saw several homes that were had residents. The streets were still very quiet and we saw no children!

The Levy Rebuilt

The white buildings are the Make It Right Project Site

Home that has been left since Katrina ~ markings still on the doors.

One of the most profound images in the Lower 9th ward is that all the homes ~ rebuilt or simply left ~ had the Katrina markings on the door. We saw many homes that were marked by SPCA. Each door listed how many animals were left or found in the home. One house said "lucky dog". We hoped that meant a lucky dog had been found.

THE SIGHTS OF NOLA ~ NO PICS ~ JUST WORDS

We had a great day seeing the sights of "Nawlins"

There is so much to do within just a few blocks of our "inn". No matter what direction you go we encountered someone and something that was new to us and most definetly New Orleans.

Our team gathered for a late breakfast ~ no lines this way ~ in the French Quarter. Trying to eat authentic we tried Gumbo, Crab Cakes, Crawfish and Crab.. and Cornflakes! We wandered through Jackson Square and took a quick nap on the lawn in the SUNSHINE!!!!! We took off in different directions to see the sights.... We had a full day...

Voodoo is everywhere. A bit intense in some stores! Megan found a Voodoo shop and met Mimi the "witch". Several got Henna tats from her.

Carriage Rides will take you anywhere around the quarter. Our group got the "rookie donkey" and had a ride much different from any other. The donkey only wanted to go where he wanted.. I believe they saw more sights than they anticipated or the guide knew about.

Becki and Chance followed the MUSIC everywhere. They saw street performers and listened to JAZZ all day long. Chance discovered that you shoes are "always on your feet on Bourbon street" as he mingled with the locals. We learned more than we could of gathered from any tour book. People are very nice and truly love their city.

Uta and Teal found the Hattery and spent part of the afternoon trying on hats. Big hats, little hats, fancy hats, and very expensive hats. (No Photos allowed). We all went back after dinner and got an odd look from the ladies in the big hats. Too many kids and too many hands touching all the pretty hats.

Becki got a ticket on Bourbon street. She was a bit taken aback when security approached her looking very official. She was cited for being a party pooper (can you imagine) and was released into the custody of Chris and Chance her bodyguards.

We saw a Cotillion parade in Jackson square ~ beautiful girls and even more beautiful dresses ~ as they strolled through the square and were introduced. These events carry on all day and night. Their parade continued through the streets. Musicians, horse drawn carriages, flowers thrown to the crowd, the beautiful girls and Uta and Becki who just had to be apart of the parade. You cannot stop your feet from getting caught up in the music.

We had a great day. The sights and sounds of the streets are something to see. There is nothing like this in Vancouver!!! Kelly and Jamie arrive tonight so we all want to show them what we saw today. I haven't figured out how to add pics and get them in the right order yet.. working on that piece.

More tomorrow... pics too..

Becki

SEEING THE SIGHTS ~ ALL IN PICTURES ~ NOT IN ANY ORDER

STREET MUSICIANS ~ Uta and Becki crashed the parade ~ it was some young things Cotillion ~ the music was everywhere ~ we couldn't control our feet with the music calling our names.

KATRINA DOOR ART ~ these are doors from homes that were lost in Katrina. They were salvaged by local artisits and works of art were made. You see them everywhere... The red markings are original ~ A group from FL found 0 bodies. The other numbers/letters represent the day they were there.

JACKSON PARK ~ STATUE ~ OUR IF WE GET LOST MEETING PLACE

NAPS IN THE PARK ~ NOTICE THE SUNSHINE ~ AFTER BREAKFAST

STREET MIME ~ ARTISTS ARE ALL OVER THE STREETS ~ MUSICIANS ~ DANCERS ~

AMAZING TO WATCH ~

OUR GROUP AT JACKSON SQUARE

OUR FIRST OUTING WAS BREAKFAST ~ We took a short walk toward the French Market and found the resturant with the shortest line...

Cornflakes for Chris

GUMBO FOR LYNDA AND CINDY

CRAWFISH OMLET FOR CHANCE ~ CRAB FOR BECKI

TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO ORDER...