Asheville - Habitat for Humanity (3)

Day 4: Taco Tuesday

Today was our second day on the work site. Monday's volunteer crew warned us that the Tuesday group would be more challenging, and they lived up to the challenge. After our safety talk, we were divided up for different tasks. Five girls (Kate, Allie, Julia, Paige, and Noelle) worked with Robin on a project called "Women's Build," which was a house that only women volunteers worked on. Their balancing skills, strength and coordination were tested as they helped put a roof on a house. Joyce, another retired volunteer, taught these girls not only about constructing a roof, but also bonded over humorous hobbies.

Blake and Conner worked on the roof of the house next door. Unfortunately, Blake's favorite Habitat for Humanity worker, Carol, was not here to be his buddy.

Abby and Danielle helped Kenny's group hammer floor support in another house. Even though it took them about 20 swings to every 5 of the men, they still learned how to nail down a board, and remove even more of the nails they bent. They got confused (and teased a bit) when asked to find the "square," which was a tool that was actually shaped like a triangle.

Nick E, on another separate house, helped build the frame for a side deck. He was the first to get experience using a miter saw.

Grace and Nick D dug some ditches to prevent run-off at the beginning of the day. Then for the majority of the day, they painted wooden beams. They both enjoyed getting to know more about each other while working together all day.

For dinner, the Three Amigos (Abby, Julia, and Conner) turned the kitchen into La Siesta de Asheville with a Taco Tuesday fiesta. There may or may not have been a small fire, but everything was fine and the food turned out great. Even Blake Toth said, "The tacos were better than the hot dogs I cooked last night."

We ended the night playing games. Mafia was a game that created some heated competition, but we ended up laughing after several rounds. The second day was both gratifying at the worksite and relaxing at the cabin. We are all getting a little bit sore, which confirms our hard work. Some of us have found our hidden talent among the various assignments at the construction site.

Julia and Abby