White Church Gallery: July 2012

What is the White Church Gallery?

Mike and Carrie Zaitz are renovating an old Methodist Church in Grindstone City, Michigan. Mike claims he just wanted a place to work on his art. He sold Carrie on it, since she's usually up for adventures. From that happy December of 2011 till now, the investment in time and money has seen the church rebuilt from its glorious bones into a work of art, in progress. Carrie is documenting the process because, well, it's easier to hold a camera than to hold an edging sander. She's done both, because she is having an adventure, but it is Mike who drives this project with his intelligence, talent and energy. Together they are working toward creating an art gallery. A gallery which holds objects of beauty and inspiration, but which always points back to the source, our heavenly Father.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Ugly? Tree

Remember The Ugly Tree?

(The tree behind the camaro)

When we bought this beautiful old church, we cut her down, and Duane made her useful.

Pretty Tree!

But Ugly tree isn't done. She wants to come back!

Ugly Bush!

This tree wants to live. Coming soon: the Stump Grinder!

Meanwhile the youngest Picard takes to the trees!

Nice breeze up here!

The sweltering July heat made activity challenging, but that didn't stop work on D'Barn Door.

I'll start low...

We'll go high...

D'Barn Door is becoming red!

Hey Duane, your Barn Door is open!

UGH! Did you really just say that?

Monday, July 9, 2012

Ah aHHHH

That's supposed to be angels singing. It's the sound we hear (and usually make) when we look up and gaze at the new arch.

Can you hear them singing?

Ron Picard Builders has done it again.

Remember before?

All rectangles and no view

Where's the beautiful window above the door? And what will we do with that long, short window to the right? How about arches, said Captain Ron.

Ok, said Grindstone Mike, and cut through the plaster. That was a hard, messy job, but someone had to do it!

Then came the new supports.

Amazing!

Next the drywall, after wetting it and BENDING it- who knew it would bend so far? Ron did!

You missed a spot...or no?

Mike and Ron wet it and bend it...

Next, the bead board. Nice touch boys.

And the finish!

Ron and son Josh putting some back into it!

And so, before...

and after...

Ah aHHH!

The Rock

This post is all about the Rock. And the poor fellas who got enlisted to get me the Rock.

I love rocks, and when a rather large one was discovered in the nearby brush and burn pile, I needed to save it. Bury it? Really?

So...go get the Rock, boys! Did I say nearby? Only just across the street and across two lawns...

Captain Peer and Grindstone Mike have a plan...

Easy peasy- just tie the strap around it, hook it up to the truck and draaaaagggggg...

Strap broke- let's leave it here!

No guys- can't leave it in the middle of the road!

All right, I'll tie it again...

Persevere, men, persevere!

Snap!

OK- let's try a new strap...

OK put 'er down here

Groovy!

Literally groovy- that's me trying to rake out the drag-damage on Mr. Fisher's lawn.

Have you ever seen such a beauty? We wet her down for this shot- she's all angles and granite and heavy! I love her!

Whew, what a job! I nearly broke a sweat overseeing this!