Praises – Thumb nail still holding together; Illinois family visits; Safe travels; Renewed friendships
Prayers – Rental fixes; contractor to finally finish addition; October audiology visit for John and eye doctor for Connie; Finding water leak to rental mobile home
You will show me the way of life. Being with You is to be full of joy. In Your right hand there is happiness forever. Psalm 16:11 NLV
Hello to our followers, family, and friends:
We got our bikes unpacked and tires pumped up for our first ride around camp! Result, tired legs after going up and down the hills. Connie used her bicycle more for laundry and volunteer work, and was able to gear up 1 notch by the end of the month! We would walk our trash to the dumpster as well as around the loop many evenings, enjoying the sunset and rising moon, sometimes with a stop to check the left-over refrigerator or shut painted doors.
Illinois had great weather this visit and extremely tall corn! The mostly green fields on arrival dried well with harvesting beginning at the end of the month. There were a few days in the 80’s and many mid-70’s with gentle breezes, about perfect for Connie! Perhaps 4-5 days that were overcast with 3-4 days of rain, some big puffy white clouds, and one night of 30-55 mph winds as hurricane Helene finished.
This trip Connie didn’t ‘work’ as much but did some fun volunteer things like packing backpacks and selling trolley tickets. The backpacks have some food and snacks for the middle and high school kids that need a bit extra over the weekends. The big area event is the Apple and Pork Festival and our church had 17 volunteers Saturday afternoon selling tickets for and riding the trolleys that shuttled people around town. There were a few days of painting doors and trim and the more detailed edges of 5 carpet ball tables and, typical of camps, cleaning up the washer, dryer, and dryer vent.
Connie took advantage of this trip to get our computer backed up to an external drive, did some creative cooking with camp left-overs and fresh garden produce, made some doctor appointments for our return, cleaned the stove surround panels and fan screens, tried homemade pizza (turned out good!), and moved shirt sleeve buttons for John (didn’t get to the mending however). With a home base we have to think about what to pack for travel and realized we didn’t have our homemade laundry soap with us. The first time at camp we used some of theirs and couldn’t get the scent out of the trailer for 2 weeks. We finally remembered to buy some soap and spent a long time looking for powdered unscented, finally settling on a liquid with a very light fragrance; we can now sympathize with people with soap allergies!
Good news, bad news – we took our truck in to the local dealer to have the fuel filter changed. Our fuel gauge hasn’t been working well and occasionally the check engine light will come on so they ran diagnostics and found some major repairs (gas sensor, turbo chargers, further investigation) will be coming up in the near future. We also noticed possible tire bulging; they checked and the tread is still ok but we will need new tires likely within a year as well.
Early in the month we moved the RV to a ‘permanent’ site with sewer and found some boards to shove under the wheels that didn’t touch the ground after leveling. We tried a couple of combinations of shower heads, hoping to improve the water pressure, and ended up with the larger one we’ve carried with us for a few years. The stair rail bracket was measured, replacements bought, and installed; no more wobbly railing! Connie’s phone died yet again forcing the decision to switch carriers so she could use a phone we had. After a few calls and a trip into town she was able to have service to ‘publish’ last months newsletter; so far, we’ve had good reception and hot spot access.
John had varied tasks working at the pool building, the basement of ‘Self-Control’ (dining hall), the director’s home, Three Oaks Lodge, and a dock on the lake. The doors and trim of the pool building were sanded/scraped, and painted two coats with enamel paint. The basement game area carpet ball table edges were repaired, the walls plastered (lots of little divots and a few larger areas from the balls skipping off the tables), sanded, and painted. The director needed a new screen door which involved a complete rebuild of the frame and the lodge building needed a new door along with two coats of paint. John finished sealing the dock that a previous volunteer (a gal fulfilling community service hours) didn’t get done; she left once her hours were completed. He was careful to not overdo, no back issues, only a bit of soreness in his knee and feet from being on cement a lot.
Although we missed our ‘date nights’ we had many meals out with various friends. We went to lunch at the Hornet’s Nest a bit north several times, Cracker Barrel, some meals at camp events, a home grilled meal with filet mignon and lots of fresh side dishes, and Connie was taken to ‘tea’ for lunch at La Tea Da. One of the camp meals was before their euchre night; Connie enjoyed joining them. John had a lunch date with the pastor and a friend that lived across from us before we went on the road. We also caught up with friends at the Wednesday morning coffee hour at church. More fantastic memories to store in our hearts! We did intentionally set aside time for a Friday Date Lunch, not quite the same.
One evening Connie heard a weird screaming sound outside the RV and asked the guys about it – most likely it was a rabbit caught by a coyote; we heard the same sounds coming from multiple directions on an evening walk. On a positive note, the humming bird feeder was filled a few times, and there was a big fat squirrel running under the RVs one afternoon. Connie watched a different squirrel hop up a power pole across the road where he sat in an ‘x’ brace for a bit then continued to the top where he remained, flashing his tail, perhaps the designated lookout for the morning?
Back in Illinois we were close to Target and Perkins which made for a great shopping day. The TV commercials for ‘free pie’ and having a gift card since December were influencing factors as well. John needed a new frying pan, Connie a new swim suit, a small speaker for our spa addition, waffles now on the menu, and the elusive Wheaties to use the last bit of the gift card! We made a long day trip to visit with John’s family, seeing his sister, aunt, and nieces/nephews. God’s timing is always the best, we decided the date and found his cousin from California was there as well! It was a great day, a bit of rain around lunch, and supper for 10 at the hummingbird restaurant before the drive back.
Salty Strings was able to share some songs with our church during the senior Golden Years meeting (pastor cooked a great breakfast). We seem to be taking more naps lately (old age??) and having more ‘no energy’ days as well. Connie had another tunnel vision headache day and has an appointment with an eye doctor since these episodes seem to be triggered by bright light. John was able to attend the Area Men’s meeting, have breakfast with the pastor before picking up the monthly backpack food distribution, enjoy a full afternoon of football, and walked around a car show. Our plans are made and hotel booked for our Wisconsin trip next month.
Connie put in many hours with recording and editing two songs (neither is complete yet). Our song “Well Done” was getting close a year ago and she copyrighted it which locked up any further editing. She finally found a backup copy and started the edit process again; once we get a few more parts recorded it can be finished. Connie also recorded multiple dulcimer takes, using both dulcimers, of Frere Jacques and is about half done combining harmonies and melodies.
Lane Christian Church had another project for John as well. He designed, made a material list, and built a “stepped platform.” This platform sits on the steps and is removable for weddings and other events, yet allows a speaker to be elevated, visible, and closer to the congregation. Once approved, he picked up the lumber and another church member helped get it built; we didn’t see it in use however because carpet needed to be ordered.
Our first Sunday in September we stayed at the camp with the Family Campers and an excellent message focused on Psalm 15 followed by lunch and an evening baptism. (Header photo of morning devotions.) It was good to be back to our ‘home’ church and Sunday School the rest of the month and reconnect with friends here (along with lots of fresh produce). We did travel into Lincoln, IL one evening for a mission presentation/fund raiser. A couple we met in volunteer ministry are on the board of this ministry to the Pokot people in Kenya and invited us to join them.
Our Thought for the Month: So often we lead busy lives instead of wise ones. Wisdom is using the opportunities we have to touch the lives of others, how we live our lives.
“One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right,
only to become poor.” Proverbs 11:24 CSB
Please keep us in your prayers . . . and THANKS for catching up with our adventures!
John and Connie Nicholas
Salty Strings Music Ministry
Contact Information:
Mail: John & Connie Nicholas
Salty Strings Music Ministry
30A Hwy 367
Burnsville, MS 38833
Phone – John 909-336-8910 or Connie 909-336-8912
Email – SaltyStrings@hotmail.com
Facebook – Salty Strings Music Ministry
Web site – SaltyStrings.com
ONLINE DONATIONS via PayPal through our web site
TRAVEL PLANS AND UPCOMING LOCATIONS
- October 4-6 – Wisconsin motel; birthday party/family gatherings, visiting friends
- October 8-9 – Travels back to Mississippi, Rental repairs, Guest room
- December-February 2025 – Tentative SOWER Projects, French Camp MS, ABC LA ????
