They Work -- We Wait

 Day 3 - Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021

Yikes!  It is 32 degrees in McKinney at 5a, but thankfully, it warms up to 43 by ten o'clock.  Yep, we are using the diesel heat furnace, because heat pumps don't work below 40 degrees.

Brian brings Herb a package delivered by Amazon to this address, then returns to the shop where we can hear saws and drills working on our shades and trim.  Nice to know that you can run, but you can't hide, from that Amazon truck.   Smiles can find you no matter where you go.

It is evident from all the deliveries that MCD Innovations gets, that it contributes to the economy.  A FedEx truck comes here three times; Old Dominion comes twice; a packaging truck comes once, and late in the day a FedEx 18-wheeler comes in. UPS comes once and I notice the door it backs up to is labeled for UPS-FedEx.

I assume all of them bring supplies necessary for the manufacturing process, but what is the packaging for?  I would love to have a tour of the facility, but fat chance on that!  Maybe I could put my journalism hat on and interview Brian or Bill.  (Willie smiles with the facitious remark.)

We take advantage of the free time to run an errand to Costco for some items we need, then relax for the rest of the day, enjoying a lovely orange, yellow and pink sunset at dusk.  How beautiful the scene is with the leafless trees against the sky.

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown

   and of Walldog and Willie

   December 7, 2021

Step One of Four of the Shades Project

Day 2 - Monday, Dec. 6, 2021

At MCD Innovations in McKinney for our shades installation, we wake at 5 in the morning to 55 degrees outside and 69 inside Sweet Georgia Brown, a few degrees difference from our home south of Houston.  However, the temperature quickly drops to 45 and it becomes very windy by 9a.  This causes the window awnings to make a lot of noise, and we think it is time to retract them. 

Brian and Bill, employees of MCD, are in charge of shades installation and come over at 9:30 to see what we would like them to make for us.  Bill is shown explaining to Herb what they will do, which includes measuring our windshield and windows, then showing styles and fabric to allow us to make our selection.

He and Brian investigate where they should put the controls for operating the motorized windshield shades, with Herb's approval of what will work for him.  They also give recommendations for where manual operation would be the best practice. They 'talk us out of' some of the high dollar things we had in mind, and explain why.

Once all is decided, we go into the showroom to see some of the window treatments that are on display.  This is also a good opportunity for Brian to show us the 'over and under' roller plan that should give us more warmth in winter.   The one he uses is for demonstation only, and not the one we choose.

On one wall of the showroom is a display of various models of RVs that they can accommodate - from very large Class A's to many sizes of Class B's and C's, as well as Fifth Wheels.  To the left of the clock is one of the photos of several restaurants in the area where we could have lunch or dinner while in McKinney.    The lady at the reception desk, Jonquil, names a few restaurants and begins to tell us how to get to each one.  We ask her just to write them down, and we will simply use the GPS to get us there.

Hmmm...I wonder if they give discounts if you say MCD suggested them. 

Bill also shows Herb a screwdriver they have for sale that has a magnetic tip for retrieving nails and screws that happen to fall into small spaces during installation or repair work.    He holds a screw in his hand, and asks Herb to grab it with the special screwdriver.  In the second photo you can see the screw on the tip.

Seeing me check out another wall of products, Bill tells me that their sister company produces them.  The small firepit gets my attention, and I can see where it could fit beside Sweet Georgia Brown in her canopy at Livingston.  As a famous politician has been known to say, "We'll see what happens!"

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown,

   and of Walldog and Willie.

   December 6, 2021

Sweet Georgia Brown has a Vision

 Day 1 - Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021

Sweet Georgia Brown didn't like the windshield shades that were factory installed, so Herb was happy to remove them and leave the occupants with a clear vision to the outside world.  He then makes an appointment with MCD Innovations in McKinney TX to install motorized shades, which include a day shade that lets in 90%  of the light.  We can see to the outside, but no one can see inside, making us totally private.  Of course, the night shade is a blackout, also totally private.

Before and before:

Here is a nighttime photo through the left side of the windshield showing some Christmas decorations on coaches parked in front of us at the RV park;  the right  side is mostly a reflection of our kitchen.  No privacy screening.

The photo below is taken at daybreak.

With good weather for travel -- 68 degrees and partly sunny --  we leave Livingston at 8:30a, driving Sweet Georgia Brown for 6 hours, stopping an hour for lunch,  and arriving to McKinney at 4:30p.  

There are 15 parking spaces, but only one other RV here, so this speaks well for the individual attention MCD gives its customers.

Tonight we sleep well, while visions of progress on the shades project dance in our heads.

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown,

   and of Walldog and Willie

   December 5, 2021