And the heaven's opened up.........

Well, the demolition is done but it had to be the worst time in August beach weather history. After an hour of work on Monday we asked ourselves who was out to get us because the circumstances were too extreme. Gale force winds that grabbed at the wood, rain that drenched just to make the wind feel even colder in the deep bone way. Although we anticipated the wind could help us by wiping out the studs it only made it more difficult, definitely not helpful. Monday we were so blessed to have John William (nephew) join us who had experience working with Arne on demo of Grandma Kay's house. He was able to get us organized and suggest approaches to make Monday most effective. Unfortunately he had worked all night and some of the previous day so he was exhausted before we started. I'm afraid we may have taken some years off his life working him so hard! But he sure helped us get it done. Then later on Monday Grant and Matt joined us. Hamburgers, Dairy Queen Blizzards and they were off and running to make the walls "come a tumbling down". Actually it was the roof they did the best job at! Through it all Saint Trisha was there packin' the dumpster, carting the wood, ripping the T11. We now call her Saint as the next day she was the only one besides Arne and Colleen who showed up to work. Grant and Matt had other jobs and other friends cancelled. Check out the photo's to see the "dumpster diva's". Although she had recently been frustrated by GE Healthcare, Arne and Colleen are thinking the company timed their lay off's just right. We never would have made it without her. As to be expected Colleen had to bail out because the heavy work, wet rain and cold wind took out her neck/spine and it's arthritic sensitivities. Good ole' Saint Trisha worked yet another day before she left. Arne keeps going, through it all. He gave up Wed as Colleen and Arne's 20th wedding anniversary, possibly a chance to re-sign up for councilor, maybe even mayor of Rivergrove, and Thursday night a warm bed as he slept in what was left of the house. Through all the difficulty and challenges we celebrate the help we did have from wonderful family and friends and know the end will make it worth it. But really .............did we need a winter storm this week of August????