Time in Nashville

Bobbie Bisher and me

We went to Nashville yesterday. Time was spent with Dwight's Aunt Ruth and my (Rena) friend (from India boarding school days) Bobbie. It's lots of fun to reminisce. That evening, we visited Grace Baptist Church in Mt Juliet to give a report on the MMS Ministry.

Down in Kentucky

On Monday we drove Dwight's parents home.

We are in Kentucky right now visiting Dwight's family and supporters of the MMS ministry. However, not everything goes as planned - and that is OK. Our first day here Dwight crawled under the house to investigate why the clothes dryer was not venting properly. He did not have any work clothes so borrowed his Dad's - needed a clothespin to keep the pants up!

At the same time my 93 year old father-in-law was mowing the lawn. He is amazing!

Week with visiting family

This past week Dwight's parents came from KY for a visit along with Dwight's older brother, Marvin, and his wife, Paula. Us ladies and Javin spent a day the the nearby Amish Community. (the Ohio community is the largest in the the country, spreading over three counties)

Kay, Jen, Javin, Rena

Marvin and Paul returned home the next day and Scott and Stephanie joined us on Sunday for the day. We had lunch at the local airport's weekend patio grill and watched the airplanes fly in and out.

Two New Aircraft Mechanics

If you've read our previous posts you are aware I'm an FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner (in the economy of acronyms, a DME). Normally I administer eight to twelve mechanic oral and practical exams a year to applicants who qualify for mechanic testing through civil or military aircraft maintenance experience. Because of my normal duties at MMS, I try to not schedule more than a couple mechanic exams in a month.

Last week I tested two of our MMS fellows who recently met the experience requirement. They first had to apply at the FAA office in Columbus, Ohio and then pass the general, airframe and powerplant "written" tests. (Written tests are taken at a computer equipped testing center.) Then they came for the oral and practical exams that take about eleven hours to complete.

The goal is achieved! I hand David his temporary A&P mechanic certificate.

I tested David Mozombite on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday I played "catch-up" at my office desk and spent some time in the afternoon with Dad and older brother who were visiting from Kentucky. Thursday was spent at MMS in a group meeting, answering e-mails and preparing for another Mechanic exam.

Friday morning I began Gertjan Kamphorst's oral and practical. This test was observed by my Principal Inspector from the FAA, which seems a bit unfair to the one taking the test, but regulations require an FAA Inspector to observe a DME administering an exam twice each year. In spite of that, Gertjan did very well under the added pressure. We finished his exam at noon on Saturday.

Gertjan checks the internal timing of an aircraft engine magneto, one of many practical projects he completed during the test.

It was a full week, and a good one.

Busy weekend

We started at the annual hot air balloon festival at the Coshocton Fairgrounds, Friday evening

Saturday included a visiting group who took a tour of the MMS facilities, followed by a graduation open house for two of our MMS MKs.

Sunday afternoon we attended Chanelle's dance recital

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Chanelle, front row right

Jen, Jason, Chanelle and Javin

The Moo Chorus

I (Rena) would like to consider that I have become quite accustomed to living in the country. The farmland around us (now only across the road since houses have popped up around us), the quietness except for the occasional passing of cars, and the chirping of the birds and the chorus of frogs on a spring night. However, last weekend it was a little more than I could take!! The cows across the road had been separated from their calves and they mooed day and night. Now Dwight, having grown up on a farm, enjoys the mooing of cows and slept quite soundly. I on the other hand, made several attempts to shut the noise out. Our neighbor's granddaughters were spending the night with them, and not being used to the noise - especially in the night were quite alarmed not knowing what the noise was, until they were assured it was only cows. Moooo!