All Nations Brew Pub

click on photo to learn (lots) more about Kevin

Kevin Degen was our cousin and our inspiration.  He was a tremendous human being who overcame incredible adversity in order to help others.  Kevin was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was one; this left him with one side of his body completely paralyzed.  Once he learned to ride a trike, however, there was no telling him he had a disability.  He rode tens of thousands of miles to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charitable causes.  Kevin was 52 when he died.  If you are wondering about a great cause to support, consider the foundation established in Kevin’s memory. We’ll miss you Kevin.

credit: Melinda Penkava

The national weather service calls it the “biggest snow event in Eastern NC since 2003,” what with a whopping 6 inches. I know the kinfolk back in Michigan have to be laughing at (envying?) this fact. Regardless, it’s rather post-card like, no?

So, we didn’t get much work done over the holidays, but we did have fun.  We traveled to Michigan (and northern Michigan) to see the family.  Bora had a riot, doing all the “surfing” (as he calls it) that he wanted.  Now, if only these local temps could get above 30, we’d get some work done around here.

We give thanks that we are all happy & healthy and nearing completion of the siding of the pub. We set timelines and benchmarks, but usually reality gets in the way, and we get there when we get there. According to my schedule, we were supposed to have completed this side of the pub somewhere in late July…que sera sera. At the very least, we hope to have this wall completed in time for Spirit of Christmas (Dec 12). Monitor Towndock for details as one of the two biggest weekends of the year (for Oriental) approaches.

(photo courtesy of Melinda Penkava)

Look at those pythons! Who’s gonna mess with this guy at the door? (“anyone step out of line and I’ll make you change my diaper!”)

Took advantage of some great fall weather on Friday to knock off the last section of this wall.  There’s one board left at the peak.  Ran out of daylight on Friday, but cut it and fit it on Saturday.  Now we turn our attention to the main entrance wall. Once that’s done, it’s on to the soffets and boxing them in.

We’re getting there.  It has really proven difficult finishing this side wall without Scott around.  We have just been putting up a board here and there, and not really making any progress.  This past (gray, chilly) Sunday, I spent most of the day trying to make headway.  Didn’t exactly finish, but it was a big leap forward.  Another 3-4 hours and the job is done.

I also closed up the gap that was over the top of the double door.  This needed to be done before we put up the trim around the door, followed by siding.  Stay tuned for developments.

photo credit: Melinda Penkava

Scott’s last two days in Oriental were semi-productive ones.  We headed over on a very rainy Thursday afternoon.  The weather broke long enough for us to knock off almost all of what remained on the back wall.  Working under a flood light, and an assault from mosquitos, we finished up with just a few rows hanging.

Friday a.m. started off nicely, but by 9:30 the rains started and it never really let up…until, of course, we got in the car to leave.  As we were headed over the bridge, and onto the ferry, we got to see one of the more amazing sunsets you’ll see in Oriental. [back to Morehead for a trip to the Cape on Saturday, then the boys hit the road at 4:00 a.m....they have since made it home safely]

But, while it was raining on Friday, we did stay hard at work.  We went over to Joe’s and picked up the doors (which we are excited about installing next weekend).  We also prepped a lot of wood, which is now ready to go for the last major wall. 

And, just to make sure that the last wall was not left a blank canvas, we ceremoniously hung three boards before heading off to the ferry.

Thanks for all of your help this summer, Scott, and Evan.  You really helped us make a lot of progress.  My only hope is that we open before you’re old enough to drink!

This was a day in mid-August when we were scrambling to get as much done as possible because it was Scott’s last day (or nearly last day?)…but it started drizzling in the a.m. and by noon we were surrounded by water…I’ve never seen so much standing water in the area around the pub.  But we spent the day prepping siding, and Melinda happened by with her fancy SLR digital camera and took a bunch of action shots of Scott and I at work.  I think these photos sum up the quality of work that Scott provided us over the summer…he was a non-stop workhorse.  We only hope he’ll want to come back next year.