We are 15 hard working University of Mary Washington students spending our weeklong Spring Break in Newland, NC working with Habitat for Humanity. Here we’ll blog about our daily adventures working with Habitat… they’re sure to be entertaining:)Tumblr (3.0; @asbaverycounty2012)http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0niz7lF621rqetmco1_500.jpg"/><br/> Avery County was incredible.<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0niz7lF621rqetmco2_500.jpg"/><br/> Oh, Bobby.<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0niz7lF621rqetmco3_500.jpg"/><br/> Ross and Sarah working on a saw horse<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0niz7lF621rqetmco4_500.jpg"/><br/> Took a trip to Boone, NC for dinner<br/><br/> <p>This week has made a huge impact in all of our lives and we’ll never forget it. The amount we’ve learned here and the people we have met are extremely inspiring. We have all bonded so closely as a family, and none of us want to leave. ASBNC2012</p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/19041190019http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/19041190019Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:25:53 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0l7zyq7lc1rqetmco1_500.jpg"/><br/> Tar used to seal the foundation.<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0l7zyq7lc1rqetmco2_500.jpg"/><br/> Felysia and Xavier in the muddy trench<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0l7zyq7lc1rqetmco3_500.jpg"/><br/> Regina rolling tar in awkward postions<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0l7zyq7lc1rqetmco4_500.jpg"/><br/> Bring on the cement!!!<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0l7zyq7lc1rqetmco5_500.jpg"/><br/> Lots of teamwork<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0l7zyq7lc1rqetmco6_500.jpg"/><br/> Covered in tar<br/><br/> <p>What a day. Digging deep trenches, pouring heavy concrete, and painting on thick smelly tar to seal the foundation—we are all exhausted. It was a day that required a lot of teamwork and a lot of stamina to get all the work done that we did. Three cheers for ASBNC:)</p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18966917457http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18966917457Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:33:32 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0jhcqlaB51rqetmco1_500.jpg"/><br/> We made it!<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0jhcqlaB51rqetmco2_500.jpg"/><br/> Top of the mountain<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0jhcqlaB51rqetmco3_500.jpg"/><br/> Devon on the mile high swinging bridge<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0jhcqlaB51rqetmco4_500.jpg"/><br/> View of the bridge<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0jhcqlaB51rqetmco5_500.jpg"/><br/> Felysia looking at the view<br/><br/> <p>After we worked a tiring half day at our second site we traveled a short half hour up to Linville where the beautiful Grandfather Mountain is located. We arrived and drove all the way to the top, making our way through winding roads and scenic views. Once at the top we parked and crossed the mile high swinging bridge. The views were incredible, and we all enjoyed sitting on the rocks and taking lots of pictures. After, we went to the gift shop, and finally came back to the community center where mot of us passed out. Great day!</p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18925389953http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18925389953Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:00:21 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0j2af0Dx71rqetmco1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>We spent the morning at our second site working in the mud leveling it out for scaffolding. Others worked in the sloppy trench around the house removing mud and we also worked on digging a three foot deep trench for piping. It was a tiring morning. Above is Ross with a pick ax working hard.</p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18908545325http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18908545325Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:35:03 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0hv22JGZw1rqetmco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Tomorrow we will be here. Hello, Grandfather Mountain!</p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18882923708http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18882923708Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:01:14 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0hfgc3hWD1rqetmco1_500.jpg"/><br/> Regina, Bobby, and Sarah working hard<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0hfgc3hWD1rqetmco2_500.jpg"/><br/> "Spin the Caulk" during lunch (jk)<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0hfgc3hWD1rqetmco3_500.jpg"/><br/> Everyone posing at the end of the day!<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0hfgc3hWD1rqetmco4_500.jpg"/><br/> Banjo, the cutest dog ever.<br/><br/> <p>On our first day on one of our work sites we all had a great day. It was a chilly start, but the sun came out and warmed us up quickly. The outside crew worked on shoveling dirt to fill a ditch, moving gravel, cutting pipe, cutting roots, and planting grass seed. We were a muddy mess, but the yard is starting to look better. The inside crew painted around the house, caulked, and touched up the molding and holes in the walls. We got to know Terry and Mike a lot better, the construction supervisors on our trip. The neighbor had an adorable dog named Banjo, who everyone loved, especially Cameron and Regina who played with him. Overall our first day on a work site in Avery County was great!</p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18862089658http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18862089658Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:24:09 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0hejwR5Ar1rqetmco1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0hejwR5Ar1rqetmco2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>The always entertaining game of Paper Pass. Each person has a pile of 15 pieces of paper, and starts out with a short anecdote (we chose your favorite childhood memory). The next person draws a picture of what’s written, and the game continues the same way. The game gets crazy when interpretations of drawings go wrong. It was a great way to spend our night.</p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18860999005http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18860999005Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:04:41 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0he19YAOP1rqetmco1_500.jpg"/><br/> Men's kitchen!<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0he19YAOP1rqetmco2_500.jpg"/><br/> Amanda chopping veggies<br/><br/> <p>Monday night spaghetti dinner! We all enjoyed it thanks to Regina, Prarthana, Nazia, Jarae, and of course Bobby dancing in the pantry.</p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18860403134http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18860403134Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:53:32 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0fc0gwTER1rqetmco1_500.jpg"/><br/> Bundled up to go sledding!<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0fc0gwTER1rqetmco2_500.jpg"/><br/> Felysia and Bobby going down tandem<br/><br/> <p>Since Felysia had never been sledding, we decided to venture outside. Terry, our construction director, found us a red metal sled to use. The hill was daunting at first, but we all survived…for the most part. Ross and Bobby made a ramp, which was probably a mistake, but it was definitely an experience to remember. </p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18797281373http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18797281373Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:14:38 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0f7abPiZQ1rqetmco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Bobby and Prarthana went exploring outside in the snow and wrote this little message on our van. This is going to be a very cold week in Avery County.</p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18793646981http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18793646981Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:32:34 -0500<a href="http://www.averycohfh.org/">Avery County Affiliate</a>: <p>Check out the website of the affiliate we will be working with. We had a great info session with Terry this morning (our fearless guide!), and learned all about the HFH organization and how it works.</p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18793606221http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18793606221Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:31:28 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0f6vqOie21rqetmco1_500.jpg"/><br/> Welcome to Avery County, NC!<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0f6vqOie21rqetmco2_500.jpg"/><br/> Our first night...<br/><br/> <p>The closer we got into the mountains of NC, the snowier it was. We drove through winding roads up to the community center we’ll be staying in for the next week. This morning we woke up to lots of snow outside with ravaging winds and bitter cold air. Needless to say, we’ll be cooped inside for a bit!</p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18793357589http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18793357589Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:23:49 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0f6h76GTS1rqetmco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>One of our vans packed full of sleepy ASBers…this is only fifteen minutes into our 7 hour trip.</p>http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18793080423http://asbaverycounty2012.tumblr.com/post/18793080423Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:15:07 -0500