In the span of a week, my church went from fine as it ever was to submerged under seven feet of water at street level (and more in the basement) to filled with residual silt, slime, and flood crud. Not the happy life-giving silt of the ancient Nile, but waters filled with manure, fertilizer, overturned Dumpsters, street oils, boathouse fuels, bird seed, bacteria, anything caught in the path of the powerful river waters.
Our church basement and adjoining office and preschool buildings had to be gutted to the studs. Nearly all papers were unsalvageable. Metal items and plastics without crevices could be cleaned, but porcelain, fabrics, wood, plaster, anything absorbent had to be thrown out.
The sanctuary needed only plaster removed about a foot high, around the lowest parts of the sanctuary.
We had over 200 people from 29 different groups work over 1600 man-hours to get the wet stuff out to the curbs and prepare for the professional drying and biocide.
And now we wait for a plan, for funding, not knowing if our dwindling congregation can afford to stay in this location.
This ATC represents the Creative Mom Podcast theme Here to There (to Where?) as a journey through time at a fixed location. Meanwhile, our congregation has travelled from here to "there," meeting with another congregation across the river.
I also used this card for the Project Spectrum project. I had another project in mind, but didn't finish in time, so I sent these instead. I admit it doesn't use the colors of purple, blue, and black, but it is a testament to the awesome power of water on the move. One building out of nine miles around here and across the Midwest this summer, and now into fall, the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, too, are again hit by the force of water.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Still on the planet
I'm still here. I'm in one of the many area that flooded this spring. Other activities and people need my attention. I'm still making art, and still reading any comments posted. Go ahead and ask any questions about any of my projects.
Project Basement is also stalled. But I can show photos of my church basement...
Christmas 2003 - my church basement, called Fellowship Hall. Serving windows to the kitchen. Serving table that is actually a sewing / cutting table. IN door is propped open. Entry to the kitchen is on the far left.
The flood crested on a Friday in June - this was taken by a church member on the following Tuesday, the first day that property owners were allowed back into this neighborhood to inspect properties.
The reflection under the windows shows that the waters are still receding. Water escaped through the boiler room drain and down five sinks and two toilets in the basement. But once the water was lower than the toilets, the boiler room drain alone had to remove the rest of the waters.
The water went to 11' 11" from the basement floor, and around 7' from ground level. This is not a broken pipe kind of flooding. This was fast moving waters, stirring up everything. It was polluted with gasoline and oil, sheep waste, Dumpster(TM) debris, fertilizers. It ate the varnish off of the wood finishes. I'm told that at a local cultural museum, it at the paint off the lower half of a portrait, down to blank white canvas, but the upper half looks fine.
The acoustic ceiling tiles disintegrated into blobs of ick, but the frame remained intact.
IN and OUT doors are closed. Drinking fountain has been forced from its usual position.
The wallpaper has an eerie - cool texture. The wallpaper wrinkled, then the silt and slime settled on the ridges as the water slowly receded, creating highlights that resemble shadows. Fascinating, once one is detached from the emotions of loss and of memory.
Slightly different photo angle, same serving window wall. Gone is the wallpaper, the drywall, the sinks, the cabinets, the phone, the dishes and silverware, the refrigerators. No more ceiling tiles or frame, ceiling lights or wires. It is a very solid building, built in 1915, and has a beauty of brick and wood to it. It was well designed for use of space and well constructed.
We did the demolition with over 200 volunteers representing over 25 groups for more than 1600 work-hours. Then we hired out the dehumidifying and the biocide, so also gone by this stage should be the excess moisture, the mold the spores, and the bacteria.
Project Basement is also stalled. But I can show photos of my church basement...
Christmas 2003 - my church basement, called Fellowship Hall. Serving windows to the kitchen. Serving table that is actually a sewing / cutting table. IN door is propped open. Entry to the kitchen is on the far left.
The flood crested on a Friday in June - this was taken by a church member on the following Tuesday, the first day that property owners were allowed back into this neighborhood to inspect properties.
The reflection under the windows shows that the waters are still receding. Water escaped through the boiler room drain and down five sinks and two toilets in the basement. But once the water was lower than the toilets, the boiler room drain alone had to remove the rest of the waters.
The water went to 11' 11" from the basement floor, and around 7' from ground level. This is not a broken pipe kind of flooding. This was fast moving waters, stirring up everything. It was polluted with gasoline and oil, sheep waste, Dumpster(TM) debris, fertilizers. It ate the varnish off of the wood finishes. I'm told that at a local cultural museum, it at the paint off the lower half of a portrait, down to blank white canvas, but the upper half looks fine.
The acoustic ceiling tiles disintegrated into blobs of ick, but the frame remained intact.
IN and OUT doors are closed. Drinking fountain has been forced from its usual position.
The wallpaper has an eerie - cool texture. The wallpaper wrinkled, then the silt and slime settled on the ridges as the water slowly receded, creating highlights that resemble shadows. Fascinating, once one is detached from the emotions of loss and of memory.
Slightly different photo angle, same serving window wall. Gone is the wallpaper, the drywall, the sinks, the cabinets, the phone, the dishes and silverware, the refrigerators. No more ceiling tiles or frame, ceiling lights or wires. It is a very solid building, built in 1915, and has a beauty of brick and wood to it. It was well designed for use of space and well constructed.
We did the demolition with over 200 volunteers representing over 25 groups for more than 1600 work-hours. Then we hired out the dehumidifying and the biocide, so also gone by this stage should be the excess moisture, the mold the spores, and the bacteria.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Valentine's Day Countdown
Once again, quickly, go visit Lisa Volrath at Go Make Something, for her Valentines Day free images. She makes great pieces for collage. And since Valentine's Day was yesterday, go quickly before they disappear.
http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/
In other news, the basement has stalled while the rest of the house gets some attention, we get lots of snow, CHG takes ill and gets some attention, and other life bits.
http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/
In other news, the basement has stalled while the rest of the house gets some attention, we get lots of snow, CHG takes ill and gets some attention, and other life bits.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Wii did it!
One master goal for 2008 has been accomplished.
"Wii" have set up the Wii Nintendo game system. In the basement. Without a lot of stuff in the way.
At least in that corner of the basement.
I still have boxes and totes in the garage, stacked two units high, covering one shower curtain and one tablecloth. It's more than I need, but I have to weed out the chaff from the wheat.
CHG fetched two more shelving units for me today while I was doing other errands. Same store as in years past, same brand and style, but these are 48 inches across (122 cm) instead of 36 inches (91 cm) like our other eight units. These shelves are intended to hold my hanging files for reference materials and art supplies. These can hold file boxes three abreast instead of two with an unusable gap. I am pleased. They are already assembled and holding enough staged material that I was able to put the couch where it should be. Huzzah!
Still a lot more to process, but this is a milestone for the family.
-- Heidi
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Basement Translation Day
E-mail entry, second try...
Today [Thursday] was Basement Translation Day, in the mathematical sense of sliding something at an angle, without rotation. CHG and I move the bar from the corner of the Craft Zone to around the support post. I think this will work.
Ganoush is eager to get barstools or tall chairs, like at Goof's house. Gonzo was delighted at the open space, then rudely disappointed that the Wii isn't ready yet. We have a goal of Saturday night.
A big mess of stuff is in the garage tonight, which allowed translation to happen. I have extension from CHG to Saturday night to get a car back into the garage. Tomorrow I need to move back the stuff that was in the way of the bar, then prepare a path to move the TV and couch to the desired locations. Then I can concentrate on the Craft Zone and the Art section. I know that all in the garage will not fit. It will still need to be filed, culled, recycled, donated, and all. Still too much
ephemera. Too many possibilities.
I listed categories in my journal, ways that I want my stuff grouped. I came up with at least eleven: cross-stitch, rubber stamping, cards, ATCs, scrapbooking, paper making, yarn-knitting, beads, hot glue, props making, basic supplies, sewing-quilting. Plus the reference files, the collage files, the art bits files, and the uncategorized photos of 14 years (pre-digital). And books for all of these topics.
-- Heidi
Today [Thursday] was Basement Translation Day, in the mathematical sense of sliding something at an angle, without rotation. CHG and I move the bar from the corner of the Craft Zone to around the support post. I think this will work.
Ganoush is eager to get barstools or tall chairs, like at Goof's house. Gonzo was delighted at the open space, then rudely disappointed that the Wii isn't ready yet. We have a goal of Saturday night.
A big mess of stuff is in the garage tonight, which allowed translation to happen. I have extension from CHG to Saturday night to get a car back into the garage. Tomorrow I need to move back the stuff that was in the way of the bar, then prepare a path to move the TV and couch to the desired locations. Then I can concentrate on the Craft Zone and the Art section. I know that all in the garage will not fit. It will still need to be filed, culled, recycled, donated, and all. Still too much
ephemera. Too many possibilities.
I listed categories in my journal, ways that I want my stuff grouped. I came up with at least eleven: cross-stitch, rubber stamping, cards, ATCs, scrapbooking, paper making, yarn-knitting, beads, hot glue, props making, basic supplies, sewing-quilting. Plus the reference files, the collage files, the art bits files, and the uncategorized photos of 14 years (pre-digital). And books for all of these topics.
-- Heidi
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Basement East Air
My design program, Punch! 5 in 1 Home has both a walkthrough and a helicopter view. These highlight the corners of the main part of the basement. The red and purple post in the center is a support pole. The two doorways are to stairs and laundry.
Lots of shelving for my Craft Zone. I think I'll only have to buy one unit, and even then, I'll hold off until I get stuff rearranged.
Thursday is set to be the Grand Shift. I'll move a bunch of unprocessed boxes and gatherings out to the garage to spend the night. Then CHG and will rearrange the big pieces play with it for a while, and see if our design is livable. Once we're set, I'll start *properly* putting away what I'm sure will live where and start stacking up what is still to be processed, so the car can have the garage back.
That's the plan.
More design photos at Flickr.
Lots of shelving for my Craft Zone. I think I'll only have to buy one unit, and even then, I'll hold off until I get stuff rearranged.
Thursday is set to be the Grand Shift. I'll move a bunch of unprocessed boxes and gatherings out to the garage to spend the night. Then CHG and will rearrange the big pieces play with it for a while, and see if our design is livable. Once we're set, I'll start *properly* putting away what I'm sure will live where and start stacking up what is still to be processed, so the car can have the garage back.
That's the plan.
More design photos at Flickr.
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