Are you going to Scarborough Faire?

Parsley

Sage

Rosemary

and Thyme

Jeffrey's Great Race!

Jeffrey with his 3rd Place ribbon for the 400M

April 30, 2011: Jeffrey's first Special Olympics track meet, held in Fredericksburg, VA at Chancellor High School.

A beautiful day, a little on the cool side, but sunshiney and exhiliarating. His first race was the 400M, and he was disappointed to come in 3rd, but happy to show off his gold ribbon!

The next race was the 200M, and he really hit his stride!

Congratulations, Jeffrey--a blue ribbon day!

Gregory's Eagle Project: FINISHED!!!

April 23, 2011: The final project work day--at Lake Ridge Park to install all the signs. I took Gregory to home Depot at 7am to rent a power auger to drill holes for the posts. People started gathering at the park by 8am, and without much ado, everyone set to work under Gregory's direction. Gregory had 8 reserve signs/name signs on posts to put in the ground at the various picnic areas and pavilions, an additional 4 name signs to attach to wooden pavilions, and a two-post sign at the docks regulating boat traffic during crew practice times to install.

Gregory sent a team out to the four wooden pavilions

to remove the existing reserve signs and screw on the

new name signs. Here are Ben Rasmussen and Kristy Graff

hard at work!

Great results!

Another team carried posts and signs to designated

areas for installation

and to drill the holes for the posts.

Again, superb results!

Dad, with a new reserve sign in the ground.

Final step, to put in the crew sign at the docks. This

took a little longer since all the cordless power drills

had lost their umph by this time, and Ben had

to go pick up another drill from Aaron Lattin.

Congratulations, Gregory! We are so proud of you!

Thanks to everyone who helped make this successful!

Gregory's Eagle Project: Part II

March 19, 2011: Gregory's next step was to put the signs together and stencil the lettering on. He had quite a group of ward members come to our house to do the work, and he directed their labors expertly.

Patrick Wells and Dave Johansen putting on hinges, hooks, and screw eyes.

The Weaver family stenciling lettering on the crew sign.

Mom making stencils with Gwen Reese's Cricut Cutter.

Christian Graff staple-gunning vinyl pockets onto reserve signs.

Name signs for the pavilions and picnic areas.

Crew sign for the docks.

Reserve signs

Looking good. . .

Gregory's Eagle Project: Part I

Gregory's Eagle Project: February 26, 2011

After much investigation and consultation with various county organizations, Gregory decided to do a service project for Lake Ridge Park in our neighborhood. Gregory rows on Gar-Field High School's Crew Team, which uses the docks at LR Park for practices, along with four other high schools, and so he felt a desire to do something to improve the park that he uses so often. The park manager, Jane England, proposed several possible projects, and Gregory chose to make reserve and name signs for the eight picnic areas and pavilions in the park; and also to make a sign for the crew teams to regulate dock usage while the teams are practicing.

Gregory approached the store manager at Home Depot about discounts and donations for the materials he needed to make the signs. Mr. Vernon Maupin was so impressed with Gregory's manner and professionalism. He agreed to give a 10% discount on all wood purchased from Home Depot, and all other materials (such as hardware, paint, hinges, etc.) would be donated free of cost.

Gregory's first work day was dedicated to painting all the wood brown--6x6 posts, 4x4 posts, and boards for signs.

Christina and her brown fingers.

Dad painting signs

Gregory painting posts.

Our own little "Stonehenge" in the garage!