New Helms Loft Space

Above the garage in our house there has always been some space that we used for storage.  It had a finished floor, some lights and partially finished walls.  We always thought it would be good to finish out that space and put in a bedroom.  

Earlier this year, we were asked if we would like to host a ballet student from Kansas City who would be attending Elite Classical Coaching.  We loved the idea and knew it would be good to have another bedroom.  When COVID hit and I was home more, we thought this would be the perfect time to finish out this space.  So we turned the attic space into a bedroom, kitchen and a bathroom.  The space is being used by Triniti.  Below are some pictures of the process.  

Thank you to Jana Hake for her excellent design work and Smith Custom Homes, our general contractor.

Shawn’s New Car - Lamborghini Gallardo

I’ve always wanted a Lamborghini.  In fact, I had a poster of a Lamborghini up in my bedroom throughout junior high and high school.  I remember doing the math on what it would take to pay for the loan, gas and insurance.  In March, I got one.

It is a Gallardo with just over 20,000.  It’s in terrific shape.  Blue - of course.  

COVID-19 Madness

Just so I never forget...April 2, 2020.

• Gas prices in Heath, are $1.24/gallon.
• School cancelled - yes, cancelled.
• Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6 ft.) from each other.
• Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
• Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
• Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
• Entire sports seasons cancelled.
• Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
• Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.
• No funerals.
• Only online Lake Pointe services as all churches are closed.
• No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 10 or more.
• Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
• Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
• Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
• Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towels, no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.
• Shelves are bare.
• Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
• Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
• Fines are established for breaking the rules.
• Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of COVID-19 patients.
• Press conferences daily from the President and the governors. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
• Barely anyone on the roads.
• People wearing masks and gloves outside.
• Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
• Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.

Lukenbach Texas Stop

Misty and I stopped in Luckenbach, Texas, on our way home from Fredericksburg.  It is a tiny little “town” of about 10 acres with 3 buildings.   It was like going back in time.  I even purchased my first cowboy hat.