Eagle Project

This afternoon, I took Brandt down to the Pioneer Village to help Gavin Drake with his Eagle Scout service project.  We were to help re-oil the log structures, and were counseled to come in grubby clothes as we were likely to get linseed oil all over us.  We were given milk jugs with oil, paint brushes, and booties to cover our shoes, then told to start painting all the wood on a building.  We worked on log cabins, the store, and the outhouse.  Initially, there were only the scouts starting, but then all the youth showed up for the big finish.  I think about 30 gallons of linseed oil was used, and we got several cabins covered.  It was somewhat messy work, but you didn't have to be super precise in application, so it was just the sort of job for the group working. 

In addition to painting, we raked, picked produce from the garden, and made little wooden toys out of wood discs and string.  We all felt good about our efforts.

On a somewhat gruesomely related note, the mayor of the Pioneer Village was there in advance, helping Mike and Gavin Drake, as well as Jeff Niven, get things set up.  For some reason, he felt that they should move an incredibly large, incredibly heavy millstone away from the side of a building.  Jeff said, "No, let's not move that.  It's way too heavy."  But the other man was adamant and began to try and move it.  It fell onto his hands, smashing the fingers.  When he was finally able to pull them out, he scrapped off lots of skin.  He was bleeding profusely and had to be rushed to the ER.  Blood splatter was all over the millstone and got lots of looks as everyone eventually heard the story.  Gavin said he nearly threw up, and Mike got lightheaded, too.  Jeff related it wasn't the first time this man had done something foolish and seriously injured himself. 

This is the outhouse Brandt is oiling.

There's a somewhat creepy looking mannequin inside, looking as though he's using the facilities.

Brandt and Paul swept inside the blacksmith shop.

Brandt harvested tomatoes.

I am helping oil the outhouse.

Small toys

Big group