Awning removal & deck cleaning

Today we worked at our ice cream shop. Katie did alot of cleaning , while Jerry and i removed the awning because it was really worn. When we removed it we found cool thick blocks behind it. We decided we may not put a new awning back up, cause we like the glass. It also allows alot more light in the store. The company we hired came and replace the front windows, looks great.I brought my pressure washer down and cleaned the deck , i plan to seal it in the next couple of days.We have already had customers come in to see if were open yet. We also met with the coca cola rep. to order some product. We also have a radio station across the street , that plays commercial free oldies music, perfect. The dj also does lettering and is printing our signs.

Graded ?

I graded the area where i put the window well. It has a nice pitch away from the house now. I also installed a steering stabilizer to the dump truck to make it steer easier. Brakes work good now that i fixed them and it runs pretty good too. Going down to work on the store tomorrow!

A concert, a newspaper and a lid !

Last Friday night we went to the state park to see our friends play. They do a mix of storytelling and bluegrass music , based in West Virginia. The name of their band is " The Pullman Road Band" , what a nice night out ! Then we made the front page of the "Ritchie Gazette" as a vendor for the farmers market. I guess in our small town , you could call us celebrities ,lol . Then after installing the window well , i looked up a cover online for it. They wanted $200 bucks for it , wrong , so i made one. We had two pieces of plexiglass from the solar panels we built and with so ingenuity the cover was born, for way less !

Mug Shots ?

I had to quit early today because our local newspaper" The Ritchie Gazette " wants to take Katie & my picture for the paper. No , were not wanted , it's to acknowledge our participation in the farmers market. This week i did install a window well so i can raise the grade to pitch the soil away from the house. It.s always been wet there and i'm tired of the mud. I also started painting the house, we chose olive green . Soon i have a twist for the concrete walls that the guy who poured it told me about. Also an old high school buddy i lost contact with, found me! He had gone in the army and i started working out of school and we lost touch. There's nothing like a reacquaintance with an old friend , we are doing some catching up !

Firewood & Paint

We had some hickory trees come down in the woods from the last storm. I started splitting some up to season for winter. Also painted basement walls with drylock for extra protection and it looks nice.

Shemp's in Cairo W.V.

I wanted to post some more pics of our store. In the second picture , we own the deck and land up to the bridge, which crosses the Hughes River.

Fulfilling a dream !

Katie has always wanted her own restaurant . We received an opportunity to purchase an investment that we couldn't pass up. We bought an old 50's style soda shop / restaurant. It's in the town of Cairo only 15 mins. from our home. There's an apartment upstairs that needs alittle work but the restaurant is ready to go ! We are really excited about the fact that the Northbend State Park has a rail trail which ends in Cairo. It's a bike path that follows the old B&O railroad and is known to have a haunted tunnel. Come one come all , then stop and have a snack at our place.We are calling it "SHEMP'S" , don't ask it's our little secret !