This year marked our 10th anniversary participating with the Salem County, NJ Habitat for Humanity chapter and, despite the rain, it was a great trip.We loaded ourselves on the bus early Monday morning outside the school and traveled to southern New Jersey for our annual Spring Break trip.
This year we were working on the earliest stages of a new home, building up the foundation. And as always, we moved a whole lot of dirt. The Stags were wonderful and we laughed lot and played rounds and rounds of Scrabble on our down time. Their only infraction? Waking me up at 12:45 am on Tuesday. When I stumbled down the hall I found them still awake, crammed into one "bedroom" illicitly playing.......Uno. Badass.
Day One: Mortar and Dirt.
They are building two houses simultaneously on the same lot, both at their earliest stages. One of our jobs was to "parge" the foundations of both, which means to apply mortar to the outside of the foundation blocks to seal them and prepare them for tarring. We completed our task by the end of the day Monday.
Fernando (teacher and alum), Jorge, and Dimitri mix the mortar.
The only juniors, Jeremy and James parge their hearts out. They did a fine job, but Kate's and my walls, well, what can one say about perfection?
Jason, Jaime, and Omari move dirt.
Jason, Jaime, and Omari move dirt.Day Two: Mortar and Mud.
Despite the steady drizzle all day Tuesday, we managed to get about 5 hours of work in at the site before calling it a day and heading for the YMCA for much needed hot showers. We were dirrrtty. Kate and I created make-shift drying and mud racks back at the church we were housed in.
Despite the steady drizzle all day Tuesday, we managed to get about 5 hours of work in at the site before calling it a day and heading for the YMCA for much needed hot showers. We were dirrrtty. Kate and I created make-shift drying and mud racks back at the church we were housed in.
Day Three: Moving the Office.
More rain on Wednesday meant that the site was unworkable, so we applied our muscle to moving the Habitat regional office into it's new digs.
Jamie moves boxes.
Joy riding in the moving van with a crew of Stags was really fun! (Mary, we heard our song twice!)
Dimitri, Jeremy, and Paul (teacher) help load up the van.
We break for lunch back at the new Habitat store/office.
We put in a half-day Thursday before heading home and it was sunny! Our task was to fill in and level the foundation with dirt so that concrete could be poured.
Kate and I grab our hoes and go to work.
Fernando, Kate, me, and Paul. This trip is all the more joyful working with such funny and wonderful friends.
Go Stags.
More rain on Wednesday meant that the site was unworkable, so we applied our muscle to moving the Habitat regional office into it's new digs.
Jamie moves boxes.
Joy riding in the moving van with a crew of Stags was really fun! (Mary, we heard our song twice!)
Dimitri, Jeremy, and Paul (teacher) help load up the van.
On Wednesday night we have our traditional prayer service.
Day Four: Sunshine!We put in a half-day Thursday before heading home and it was sunny! Our task was to fill in and level the foundation with dirt so that concrete could be poured.
Kate and I grab our hoes and go to work.
Fernando, Kate, me, and Paul. This trip is all the more joyful working with such funny and wonderful friends.
Go Stags.
7 comments:
Makes a person wish they were there with you.
See Nora, my love, this is how you post a week! :)
Gramuglia's:
When it's time to move; If you can't find what you want, now you know who to call when it comes time to build your home.
Clare: I always look forward to your yearly Habitat posts and you didn't disappoint.
Pfffff...amateurs.
Nora, you are hilarious. But you see, I only had 70 pictures to work with.
Well, then I tip my hat.
I love our family. (What. no one has said that in like 2 weeks.)
Post a Comment