Prayers

From April: Kathleen asked me two weeks ago if she could call on me to up-date the blog for her if needed. I told her absolutely. Yesterday afternoon was my first trial run of operating the blog with the accomplishment of a successful update. I would have never dreamed just a few short hours later, we as a family would be en-route to Dillon hospital. These are the words of Kathleen:

“Gus collapsed last night when I got him up out of his recliner to go to bed. I called his doctor and then the ambulance. We now have a second home here in the hospital in Dillon. The chances of Gus ever going back home again are very slim. The doctor was shocked at the change in Gus since Sunday. We will try to keep the blog updated for how we are doing. We are limiting visitors to close family, but please keep us in your prayers.”

Gus' New Wheels

Gus was thinking about some new wheels this summer. Maybe a golf cart, possibly even a four-wheeler with a wood splitter on the back. I myself, being a little more practical, was hoping for new lawn mowers at both our place and the old homestead. Turns out we were both wrong. Yesterday Hospice delivered a walker for Gus. He now has a new set of wheels, just not the ones he had hoped for.

For the first time throughout this cancer walk, Gus’ oxygen levels are dropping. Last Friday, his levels were low. The doctor called me Sunday morning to see how Gus was doing and then he came later in the day to see Gus. He now has a stationary oxygen tank with 50 feet of tubing and he has portable oxygen tanks for leaving the house. You may think that Gus doesn’t ever get his way, but yesterday when the Hospice nurse wanted to bring him an oxygen mask for nighttime, he said “No Thanks”. She then wanted to put a catheter in, he said “No Thanks”.

Today is the neighbor’s bull sale that Gus always cooked at. Lindsey was going to bundle her dad up in his warmest clothes, attach his oxygen tank and take him to visit with his friends at the bull sale. Gus was too weak to go. For the first time, he did not have the strength to walk from our bathroom to his recliner. I found him sitting on his walker in the hallway.

Almost every day brings a first. We are just so thankful for the support team we have. I cannot imagine this walk without those that surround us with their love, compassion and knowledge.

Labor of Love

What a week and what a finish!

Scott and my goal this week was to have everything painted by Thursday evening, so that when TJ got here on Friday, assembly could begin. My part was painting the boards which I had in the garage. Scott’s part was spray painting all the metal which he was doing in the shop. April and Lindsey both helped Scott paint.

It turned into quite the showdown to see who could finish first. I won only by default because the order of green paint Scott needed from Spokane was cancelled. The Napa store in Spokane would only deliver as far east as Missoula. No one knew that until the order did not show up on Thursday as planned. We had already bought everything that Denver and Billings had.

I could not understand why TJ chose to fly into Missoula when his destination was Sheridan. Thursday evening it became quite clear why we needed one member of the crew to be in Missoula instead of the Butte or Bozeman airport. Someone needed to get that paint to Sheridan.

Friday evening was spent spray painting the last of the metal. By looking at this picture taken Wednesday evening, you can see how much was left to paint green. What you see on this table was only the large pieces. All the smaller ones were yet to be added.

When TJ saw the reality of all those assorted pieces of metal sitting on that work table, he knew the true meaning of panic. There was no way they were going to pull this off before he had to be in Missoula Sunday evening to fly home.

Looking at that table of assorted metal pieces, Scott believed that in all likelihood there would be numerous pieces with no permanent part on the manure spreader. He was going to just attach them to the outside edge and call it good.

One of the crew members needed extra instruction

Gus was only able to spend a small amount of time with his sons answering their questions. Even though we had a fire going, he could not stay warm. Gus was there for the beginning and one time in the afternoon. He did not see the completed project until Sunday.

Scott and TJ spent 14 hours on Saturday doing the impossible . . . creating a restored manure spreader from sketchy pictures. By dinnertime, they were confident that they could finish by the end of the night. It was 11:00 Saturday night when that final piece was permanently attached. April and I helped throughout the day whenever an extra pair of hands was needed.



Gus never dreamed he would see his project completed. He really struggled with the emotions of the moment.



Scott has yet to do the tongue of the wagon and he needs to attach the seat. We had the seat painted, but the bar that attaches the seat to the wagon was the wrong one. Scott will design one.

I have to put the green lettering on the side that says New Idea. Both Scott and I have touch up to do on the paint. Then you will see a picture of the final look.

My cousin, John Brim, did the research on the original colors for the horse drawn New Idea Manure Spreader. This is the shade of the green Gus discovered deep in the gears. It is also the same shade of green that is on The Fenton House.

So what do you do when the project is complete and there are parts left over?

You point fingers at each other!!

This was definitely a memorable weekend for all of us, but especially for TJ and Scott. They will never look at this wagon without remembering the beauty of the day and the day they accomplished the impossible. This was a true Labor of Love!

Progress !!!

Scott just starting on the project

Notice how shiny the rotating blades are where Scott is working

A week ago, Gus came up with the brainstorm of renting a sand blaster for removing the old paint. Gus had bought a sand blaster a couple of months ago, but he and Scott could never get it to work.

Yesterday, Gus asked a friend to drive him into Butte to pick up the rented equipment. I never realized that Gus' part ended there.

Scott spent most of the day today blasting sand into the atmosphere. At 4:00 this afternoon, he and April drove to Butte to return the rental. What a difference stripping old lead paint from metal when you have the right machine and the right operator.

All the metal parts on the manure spreader are now a beautiful shiny color just like those blades in the picture above. The next step is to blow the residue sand off with an air hose and then start painting.

How much Gus will actually be able to do, I am not sure. His heart is still in the project, just not the strength to physically do much. Gus was thrilled today even though he had a hard time enjoying himself.

TJ is flying here on the 18th of March to see his dad and help with the manure spreader. Scott, April, TJ and Lindsey will live inside the shop until the doors open and a totally restored manure spreader is wheeled out. Just like in those reality TV shows.