It is done!!! Amen. After years of trying to find a brick mason to do

[Paper Roses]

a fairly simple job for me, I hired a great young man from Guatemala. He worked like a house-afire, finished the job in no-time and was neat, polite and did a good job.

I tried for several years to get one of our local masons to come and rebuild the back of my (old house) kitchen fireplace and do another small job in my cellar. No-one would even call me back.

I happened to meet a woman last week whom I know from shopping at her small consignment store. She recommended this young man. He had done work for her. She said she would have him call for me. Two days later he called, came right over to see the job and said he would be here today. Yup, showed up at 8AM. done in 6 hours. Used some of the old brick I had saved and wanted to use in the back wall. He had to buy mortar and some kind of special brick for the base of the fireplace. After a few fires, that will color up fine and no-one will know. He presented me with the receipts(no mark-up) from the place where he bought the bricks and mortar.

The willingness of these young men to help with jobs that would bring less than thousands of dollars is a help to me. I have had to hire several different non-local groups do some of the jobs I have had to have done. Repeatedly, the people I called locally have not bothered to return my call or have said they would squeeze my job in. It is my opinion that if you don't want the job, just say so. Don't leave me waiting for a call that will never come.

I feel quite badly about hiring someone not from the area but at a point, my dollars and patience have grown thin. I am thankful to this young man and and for the great job he did.

I will spread his name around. Sorry townies, I've had really good experiences with this man and the others and they have insurance!!! I got the copies of their certificates from their insurance companies.

I am an old do-it-yourself-er but there are times when I have to face jobs that I cannot handle.