Thursday, January 7, 2010

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work we go . . .

The first week of a new year is always busy. The fellows do a physical inventory of our aircraft parts, material and hardware. In the office, contributions sent in December are processed first. Because MMS Aviation takes a break between Christmas and New Year's Day, quite a few donations accumulate. Rena shares receipting duty with Karen Dodson, each working different days of the week. They teamed up on Monday, however, to take care of the accumulation. Rena then worked her regular schedule Tuesday and I took this picture of her.
My agenda this week was altered by a one-hour fifteen-minute phone conversation with the FAA Inspector in Columbus, Ohio that oversees our certified repair station. Just before Christmas, we sent drafts of a major revision of our repair station manuals. Our Principal Inspector saw several points that could be clearer, so Tim Obarow, MMS' Production Manager, and I have spent some quality time this week polishing the manuals. We should send a copy of the finished manuals to the FAA tomorrow.
The fuselage of a Cessna model 206 we're restoring for mission service in Brazil was just moved from the paint booth back to hangar B. Apprentice mechanic Mark Beckwith (left) and staff member Ian Hengst plan a more stable tail stand. The plane will leave MMS on amphibious floats which aren't here yet, and the airframe was shipped to us without regular landing gear. Ian and his crew has to devise something that will support the plane and make it portable until it is placed on the floats.

Monday, January 4, 2010

6 years old on a Saturday Afternoon

We enjoyed having Javin with us Saturday afternoon. So how does a 6 yr old occupy himself at Grandma and Grandpa's house?


Doing designs with a compass


Watching football with Grandpa is great with a bowl of popcorn


Making paper pyramids with Grandpa


Stomping on bubble wrap!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Bill and Mae Tarter

Tuesday evening we had a celebration in Wyomissing, PA. Bill and Mae Tarter (Rena's Dad and second Mom) celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary with a drop-in reception at their home. Although their anniversary isn't until January 6th, we wanted to celebrate a little early while we could all be together during the holidays. It was great to see so many of their friends from church, Christar (their former mission) and neighbors. They are dearly loved.











The Tarter Family - Dwight and Rena Jarboe, Deborah and Bill V. Tarter . Mae and Bill Tarter in front.








Saturday, December 26, 2009

Back to normal

Oh yea! Seems we have our blog back to normal now. Sorry, no pictures today. We are enjoying time with family in PA. Our niece and nephew left this morning to return to Vermont and Florida. My (Rena's) brother and sister-in-law, Deborah are still here as we prepare for Dad and Mae's 40th Anniversary celebration.

Monday, December 21, 2009

It appears we've angered the blog gods. Maybe we got too cute, but we've lost the bells and whistles and got demoted to just plain blog.

Rena and I are still here and doing well. I'm wrapping up some repair station matters with the FAA this week that I don't want to have to deal with next year. Rena is focused on planning a reception for her parents in Pennsylvania on December 29th. It seems like there's something else big going on this week that involves the grandkids. Oh, I'll remember what it is later.

Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Christmas Must Be Coming

The grand kids gave us a little "nudge" and offered to help put the Christmas tree together this evening. In their eyes Grandma and Grandpa were a little slow in getting in getting into the Christmas spirit. They were good helpers.


Off to a good start.


Someone needs a lift.

A job well done!