Scrape, fill, prime, paint, scrape, fill, prime, paint, scrape… well you get the idea. Just before the last of the summer work days come and go I have turned the corner on completing the exterior of our Swedish House make over. I didn’t quite think about just how labor intensive this kind of siding would be to finish. With the north and the east sides complete and the south side ready for the final touch up, I have moved to the last section of the west end of the house to finish. This view is the south side and the ladders on the left are on the west side.

The house looks like it has a case of the measles after I fill each nail hole with caulking. I want a good tight finish so every seam and every nail hole is caulked before the final coat of paint goes on. Some wasps had got ahead of me and started a nest under one of the eve boards before I had it all sealed up and I didn’t notice that they were there. I came along with my caulking gun and before I could get out of the way I was stung right on my index finger. Hard to believe one little sting can make the whole back of the hand swell up but that is just what happened. Good thing I have a nurse close by to take care of me in these critical situations! Thanks Cynthia for the Benadryl!

The west gable next to the chimney is the last high spot to scape and paint. Work is limited to mornings as the sun is too hot in the afternoon.

Lots of sun has slowed down the painting but it has sped up the garden. Julia and Steffen and Cynthia and I have been enjoying the early harvest but I can’t wait to get at those potatoes!

Last Saturday I returned to ministry mode and helped with a memorial service. Jason and Heather are good friends from Billings and Jason’s dad, Warren Wintrode, died suddenly at the end of May and they asked Cynthia and me to help plan a memorial service which was held on the bank of the Missouri River.

Pelican Point was one of Warren’s favorite fishing spots and so Jason and Heather decided it would be the perfect setting for the memorial.

About half way between Helena and Great Falls, it was a good location and the day was absolutely beautiful.

“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth…”

Jason read a letter that his dad had written but never mailed, and it was a wonderful remembrance directly from Warren’s own hand.

Heather was the events coordinator for the day and she and Jason did a splendid job of making arrangements and making the day meaningful, especially for Warren’s close friends, fishing buddies and colleagues from the AP.