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, August 26, 2013

It Ain't Easy!

So what's been going on this week? Let me show you, and you can guess...

??? Is it Art???


Holes and conduit! And shavings!
Darn, you guessed it! The Church is being wired. Now that the plaster and lathe is gone, we can wire the walls for electricity before we add insulation and close her up with drywall. Outlets under the windows and in front! The ceiling had already been wired, but now the walls are good to go. Well almost...

Holy Rotted Wood, Batman!
Of course, in renovation, as in life, nothing is ever easy, and there were disaster areas that needed to be tended to before we can even think "Spray Foam!"

Who better to attend to them? Grindstone Mike, of course!

How'm I going to make this better? 
With a little help from a friend, of course. Camera-shy ice cream magnate Paul Fisher helped out, but it's a bigger job than just weekend will allow time and energy for, especially after such a grueling work week and last week's adventure to NY State for a lovely wedding.
Me, Mike, Dad and Mom
Time spent with the folks is always special, and seeing relatives is always a hoot, but the 10 hours in the car each way was a little hard on the nerves tushie!

I did take a day this week to go hiking in Crescent Beach State Park. Summer has flown by, as is usually does, and for me teaching school starts very soon, both High School and College. So I took a day to "goof off" in this lovely setting, only 15 minutes from Port Austin, MI.
"Let's take a walk!"
Moss mountain!


Dunes and waves.


"Look how magical!" 
Ahhhhhhh...
I'm selfishly posting these so I can look back and remember how wonderful it was and to keep me breathing during the long season ahead of working all week, renovating all weekend. Poor Grindstone Mike has been doing this all along, but that's why he's Grindstone Mike. Tough and gritty, but keeps everyone near him sharp too.
"It ain't easy being green!"  

Friday, August 16, 2013

With A Little Help From Our Friends...

That's how we get by!
As we were ready to get started on round two of "bringing down the walls..." we had company arrive. 
John and Chummy were the first to show up! Don't let the white hair fool you. These two are stronger than oxen on steroids! For real! Polish oxen!
"Where's the pry bar? Let's get going!"

Next thing you know, two trucks and a motorcycle pull up. It's Picard and Co., to the rescue once again! Now the pictures are going to get messy. Blurry and dusty. These human tornadoes took the other three walls down before 3 pm.  All we could do was duck for cover!

Wait for me!




"cough cough"


Triumvirate of Tearing Down, Dervishes of Demolition, Tazmanian Devils of Destruction!

On to the side. Move the scaffolding, fellas...

"easy there..."
 And so it went, tear it down, haul it out, go back for more.

Wall #3, gonzo!

What's for lunch?

Next thing you know, it's all over but the pizza! 
 
"That went well. Urp."



What's next?

Keep on keepin' on!


Great things were done today.

all that's left is water...septic...spray foam...dry wall...paint walls and ceiling...lighting...floors...almost done!!