It's Off to Work We Go!

🎵"Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to work we go!" 🎵 Can't resist starting this week's update with that catchy tune from Disney's first animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)- a fact that our associates would ace on any Disney trivia quiz!  We were off to Eaton Corporation on Wednesday and Thursday where Jorie and company put us to work on inventory and assembly.  This was an exciting development in our evolving program.  We have been working on projects for Eaton that were brought to us at AFCC, but to be invited to work onsite took things to a new level.  Check it out!

Chris, Chloe, Meghan, Kacie, Bo, and Alexis packed up their lunches and water bottles and headed out the door Wednesday morning after Tai Chi.  They were so excited!

They spent the day assembling PowerSlide Doors...

...and taking inventory of parts.

While they were at Eaton, the rest of us kept busy at AFCC.  Wednesday was Paper Bag Day so we learned about the development of paper bags over time and the addition of plastic bags to our daily use.  We compared the pros and cons of paper and plastic, and found out that they are equally unhealthy for our environment (even though plastic does not break down for up to 1,000 years, they are more energy efficient to produce; paper bag production uses more water and energy, and emits much more greeenhouse gases).  The best way to go...reusable bags!

We decided it would be more fun to make a paper bag craft than to learn about them, so we created maracas, which we then used to cheer our Eaton team upon their return that afternoon!

Earlier on Wednesday, we had our Tai Chi class.  You'll notice this week that we are not wearing our jackets.  Tai Chi is not generally intense as workouts go, and we have the AC blasting, but it's still hard to keep ahead of the current heat wave! 

Our Wednesday Eaton team could not keep up with the amount of work to be done, so on Thursday, we took everyone.  We weren't sure on Wednesday what our responsibilities would be or how much space we would have, but it turns out that Jorie set us up in a huge (and very cool) work room and there was an abundance of tasks to do that included something for everyone.

Applying gaskets...

Counting...

Sorting...

More counting...

Tallying up the numbers...

Still counting...and box assembly in the background!

We even brought Meemaw along to help on Thursday!

Jorie pointed out where some of the parts end up on the finished products.  Next week she's going to give us a tour of the Eaton facility.  She was highly complimentary of our work!

We will be returning to Eaton next week on Wednesday and Thursday.  Everyone enjoyed this experience!  We had a cool room, access to ice cold water and bathrooms, and our favorite Disney and dance tunes cranked up in the background.  The only thing we forgot to do, was take a dance break!

Here, most of the gang was on hand to pose for a picture with the pedestals that Eaton makes.

Here's a closeup of some of the pedestals.  We make a significant contribution to the production of these, as all of the parts we gasket or screw together end up on them!

Of course, we danced before we left the center...and on Thursday, Meemaw join the fun!

Some of our guys do better working "part time," so Lisa returned to AFCC at lunch time with them.  We then spent the afternoon preparing the base for our ice cream (that we would make on Friday) and using the zucchini we picked at the garden at Freedom Park to make zucchini bread. 

When the rest of the Eaton gang returned, we were given rave reviews for our zucchini bread!

On Tuesday we went bowling and enjoyed what is arguably some of the best pizza in Williamsburg!  Thank you to our pizza sponsor, the Tyree family.  In fact, we need to take a moment here to thank all of our families for your continued support.  You do so many things for us, and don't seek recognition, but you are so appreciated.  Thank you for the pizza, the outings, the paper products, the use of your personal gadgets and gizmos, ALL the donations of everything from glue sticks to aprons to toaster ovens, and most of all, thanks for your kind and encouraging words!  We value each and every one of you!

After bowling we made a quick stop at the Botanical Garden at Freedom park to pick a zucchini we grew from seed!  

We also grew these "chocolate sprinkle" cherry tomatoes.  They have brownish markings on them that do look the color of chocolate!

Can't blame these guys for finding some shade at the garden.

We "forced" them to stand in the sun for 9 seconds while we took this picture!

So of course we had to reward them with free Slurpees...the date was 7-11 after all, so the 7-11 stores were celebrating their 90th birthday by giving away free Slurpees.  We stopped by the very busy store on Longhill Road and all we can say is..."Oh, thank heaven" this only happens once a year!  It was a little hectic there!

On Tuesday we also received our finished pottery that we had made on our visit to Paint on Pottery.  Here is a sample showing how adorable they are!  Thanks again to the Klines for this experience and for picking up and delivering these to us!

We ended the week with a Fun Friday!  We celebrated Beans and Franks Day (July 13) by calling upon our many chefs-in-training to prepare lunch!

We decided it wasn't right that all the sunshine was outside but too hot for us to enjoy, so we made our own sunshine and of course...we sang and danced to every song we could think of that had anything to do with sun or heat!

Earlier we had to dance...a lot...to prepare for eating our homemade ice cream, since how could we not celebrate Ice Cream Day (even if it's not until July 16)?!?!  Here's some of us "shaking it off." 

Then, enjoying the chocolate or strawberry ice cream.  Or a little of both, in Patrick's case!

Devin is super fond of Wendy's Frosties, so he was delighted to see that the consistency of our chocolate wasn't too hard! Chloe was happy for him...he really, really loves Frosties!  Thank you to Laura and the Palmers for the use of their ice cream machine again!

As if we hadn't already done enough for one week, we also had time on Friday to prepare The Arc's August mailing!  We enjoy this monthly job and our guys love getting to take their letters home before everyone else gets theirs in the mail.  (Be sure to check the August Arc calendar of events and send in sign up sheets before the deadline of July 21st!)

So, what's up for next week?

Tuesday:  POOL PARTY!!  We are going to Kevin's house where his family is treating us to hamburgers, hot dogs, and swimming!!  Wear your suit under your clothes (or you can change at the center) and bring towels and sunscreen!  There is plenty of shade at Kevin's, so we will be careful not to overdo it in the sun.  😎  Thank you to the MacMasters!

Wednesday:  EVERYONE will travel to Eaton to work onsite.  Some will stay longer than others.  Families, please know that our guys get lots of breaks and no one is asked to work longer than they feel capable of.  We have music and lots of Eaton friends stopping by...it's really a fun time.  LUNCH on your own...and there are microwaves at Eaton!

Thursday:  We are planning to take everyone to Eaton again on this day.  Plans may change depending on how things go on  Wednesday. 😉 LUNCH on your own!

Friday:  Time to celebrate another birthday!  Mr. Howard, the head custodian at JRES who is filling in until Soup's successor is named, has a birthday on July 22 so we will prepare one of our all-time favorites in honor of him:  blueberry and apple grilled cheese sandwiches with chips and a side salad.  There will also be cake!

Here are some reminders of upcoming events:

Friday, July 28:  Arc Membership Dinner and Resource Seminar at the JCC Rec Center, 5:30-8:30.  RSVP to amy.payton@thearcgw.org .  Dinner is free for caregivers and Arc clients; $5 for guests.

Saturday, July 29:  Private consultations with resource speakers.  Contact the Arc at 229-3535 for a time slot.

Friday/Saturday, August 18-19:  The Women of the Moose sponsored golf tournament at Kiskiack with dinner each evening at the Moose Lodge.  They would like for us to volunteer (we did this last year).  Details coming soon.

Saturday, October 7:  The 8th Annual Arc 5K at Williamsburg Landing!  Please let us know if you or someone you know are interested in being a sponsor for this major fundraiser.  Registration is now open at The Arc of GW's website .

Have a great weekend,

Lisa, Carol, and Nan