Habitat Build - Marquette, Michigan Aug 24

Exterior of one of the HFH houses to be finished by Thursday.

This build is very different from the one in Iron Mountain. In the first place, we're putting finishing touches on 6 houses, all of which will be turned over to the new owners on Thursday August 26. The fact that 6 houses are involved and to be Dedicated all at once is unique, according to “Mike” who is the executive director of HFH here in Marquette County, Michigan. HFH got a rural development grant from the federal government on the condition that the houses be located outside the urban area and that no owners could move in until all houses were complete. (there may be other conditions, but that's the gist of it.)

Following usual HFH criteria (living in sub-standard housing; sweat equity; ability to pay interest-free mortgage) six families were chosen, and work has been underway for about 18 months, I think.

So, at this build, we 7 Care-A-Vanners came in 12 days before the dedication ceremony, by which date ALL 6 houses have to have passed building inspections, etc., as well as be in ready-to-move in condition. Most were pretty much ready, but the new owners and we Care-a-vanners have been doing touch-up painting; caulking missed nooks and crannies; putting in window blinds and doors; but also constructing, roofing and painting sheds; installing and painting molding / baseboards; building interior and exterior stairs; helping lay cement pads for stairs. We have an onsite supervisor - Matt, who is 25 years old, and has built 46 HFH homes, 40 in Washington State, and 6 here. He reports to Gerry, a retired staff sergeant in the Air Force; she oversees all of the construction, purchases materials, deals with inspectors, etc. Gerry has the final word, but Matt is the on-site director.
This is a view of the interior of the kitchen on the day we arrived.

Our Care-a-vanners group is small – 5 rigs, but only 7 people, as I and two men are sole occupants of our rigs, joining two couples to be a small but might force :) Jim has been on 40 builds, Leroy and Janice about 15; Skip and Dave have not only done HFH, but also helped with Katrina rebuilds and other Red Cross rebuilding activities; Larry and I are the new-bies, but Larry has sophisticated skills in fine carpentry and cabinetry and has been doing the precise work. I'm a good go-fer; and am learning so much. All are patient with me, and will take the time to teach me new skills, and coach me as I try to do the work.

Our days are simple – work; beginning each day, and each meal with prayer; a “Happy Hour” in late afternoon, where we talk over the events of the day, and tell many tales of our travels – my goodness, have we as individuals put on the miles around the world and over the years! Several times Leroy who has been a professional musician plays bluegrass on guitar and sings his own and other's music – mostly of the Johnny Cash variety – and we try to sing along. Music around a camp-fire is a wonderful thing. An early supper; and early to bed as we have to be on-site 15 miles away by 8:30 a.m.

I shower at the Y (15 miles away), as I don't have facilities – the others do. I also use the bathroom at the Casino, as again I don't have facilities – I don't mind, generally – it's the price I pay for living full-time in a 13 foot trailer.

We're housed at the local Casino, about 10 miles from town; we have electricity but no water, and no dump facilities. The Casino had set aside 5 sites for us, for 2 weeks, and the out of towners who come by in their big rigs looking for a nice place to park, look sideways at us. We offer them a hammer and 2 weeks worth of volunteer work in exchange for a site, but so far, no one has taken us up on that.

The site is very sandy, as much of this part of Michigan seems to be, so keeping sand out of the trailer is an on-going challenge. However, right out my door is a forest bedded with blueberries, so I add them to my granola every morning and get my vitamins that way. The Casino parking seems safe – well lit, with lots of security. And, to my surprise it's relatively quiet; some cars coming and going, but not much people noise, though occasionally, very rarely, we hear someone in the parking lot yelling “I won, I won”. I've not been tempted yet, but who knows!

Enough for now – bye all.