The repair was still wet, not really ready to be taken down. Lisa was skillful enough to work with it though! Here she shows us how the wet material sticks to the blade...a clear indication that in an ideal world it would set up a little longer before she worked on it. The fact the repair was still wet really made us nervous. The falling temperatures... 

29 degrees kept dominating our minds as we wrapped up for the day. We decided to leave the work lights up for the night. Those halogens kick off a good amount of heat, and we're hoping they keep the frost off the repair for tonight.

Tomorrow we're going at it again, but with the forecast for a balmy 65 degrees in the afternoon we're headed out to the Stupa Park to try our new spray nozzle, and see if we can get those Stupas painted and protected for the season. We'll be experimenting, so wish us luck! Of course, you can check in here to see how we managed....

And as always, I'll end with the invitation. We are working in the cold, blustery weather 40 feet in the air with little room to maneuver not because we're gluttons for punishment (well...that may be part of it) but because we wish to ensure these precious structures remain in the world for generations. It is our sincerest desire to restore them to a condition honoring their profoundly sacred nature. To many who come by they may look like interesting concrete structures, but to those of us who have some idea what they are, they are the door to liberation itself. Positioned out in the open air, so all beings may stumble on them, connecting from then on with their own Enlightened nature. So, you don't have to know what they are to receive their limitless blessings. To see them, even here on this blog, is all that is necessary. Come on out to Poolesville, Maryland and see them for yourself! It just might change your life!

October 28th...Plan B....

We're turning our attention back to Migyur Dorje today. We've discovered through further examination that the problems with the gold paint were twofold. One, we were applying in temperatures which were too cold. Two, we were using a method (brushes and rollers) for which the paint was not designed (it was mixed for a sprayer). In addition, the areas Rene found the paint popping off just happened to be the areas where we'd made the mold (see photos from a week ago or so). We'd applied PAM (yes, the cooking spray) as a release agent to keep the mold material from sticking to the Stupa. It worked, but despite our efforts to clean it off, it also prevented the paint from adhering! That's actually good news, in that we now know the gold will work. It just will be tough to apply.

So today Rene went in search of the proper nozzle. Last night I researched alternative gold metallic paints. It turns out the one we used on the spire and gau of the Enlightenment Stupa is an acrylic paint, and was MUCH easier to use. We've run the color options past a the president of the board, and gotten approval to use the same color we used out there at the Enlightenment Stupa. So, we now have a workable plan...

It takes about 10 minutes to fill one of these barrels, so we had time to make calls about the Modern Masters paint while we waited. We have our estimates finally, and though we don't have enough to cover the purchase, we're confident we can make it happen somehow...So at least we now have a plan! 

So here you see the new truck hauling water. It was a piece of cake... 

We had let the stripper sit overnight. Lisa actually came out last night after she got off work to spray it on! The temperatures are chilly here, dropping into the 40's at night, so the chemical needs more time to do it's work. Fortunately, it did do it's work...mostly. We'd had problems before, and they've continued today, but we're getting really close to being done with it. We should be able to wrap the last of it tomorrow.

Though we do have big plans! We'll start priming the spire! We also plan to get as much done on the gau as we can. Sunday, temps are set to rise into the 60's, so we're gonna devote the day to the Stupa Park, with the sprayer and the new nozzle Ani Rene got today. So we're all getting up early and running at it all day to get through this...

Gabriel returned today! He comes from Virginia, so the drive can be pretty tough. It was great to have him though! He took up the power washer eagerly, allowing me to snap a few photos... 

Gabriel hung in there until all the water ran out. Can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to run water when we need it! But, at this point it was getting dark.

Lisa came by briefly to show me the cast she made from the mold we made last week. The M90 we're using broke the mold, but it didn't turn out too bad! Lisa is just a little nervous since this makes it a one shot deal...and you can see how our karma runs on this team!

We worked on figuring out how we'd apply the casts to the Stupa in a way that would ensure they bond properly. As you can see, it was really getting dark. Lisa left to pick Ashley up from her soccer game, and it wasn't long after that Gabriel and I ended our efforts for the evening. Gabriel was a trooper, willing to stay until we were finished removing stripper, but we had run out of water. It was cold. We called it a night, and will work on removing the last loose paint tomorrow.

It's an early call tomorrow, James has evidently promised vanilla lattes if Lisa and I agreed to get to the temple early. James, like Lisa, works 5 days a week, so when he comes out he wants to make the most of it. For myself, I'm tempted more by the prospect of getting ready for painting the Stupa than the latte, but by morning, I might have more immediate desires. : ) We're going to be out there from 08:30 until sunset (or past that if need be), if you want to join us! Or if you just want to see us crazy folks go nuts trying to get the Stupas covered before it gets REALLY cold....

October 26th...Obstacles, Devotion and Faith...

This photo is from April 15th...Norbu screaming in frustration as it became clear our method for removing paint from the Enlightenment Stupa wasn't working...our stripper just didn't penetrate it. For those who have not been following since then, we ended up spending a month sand blasting it! It was heavy, labor intensive, dirty work. But we did it.

So why bring this up now? Well, while I worked at the hospital today Ani Rene and a team attempted to complete painting the Stupa Park. There's the key word, attempted. Ani Rene reports the paint isn't working. Not only did it run, but it didn't adhere. She's guessing the temperatures were a factor, but she also said a closer inspection of already painted Stupas revealed bubbles and paint coming off already, like it never really stuck in the first place there in all places either. So, we're scrambling for a plan B...

Don't worry though...we'll find one. For those of us working on the Stupas, it is our practice. We recognize obstacles as an indication we're getting close to accomplishing something!

The Enlightenment Stupa from August. Thus, you can see we overcame the obstacles in completing the renovation of this Stupa. It took months, and thousands of dollars more than we anticipated, but we never wavered...

Thus, the Stupa Crew won't give up now either. Prayers for our success are welcome! We are doing this for the benefit of all beings, for the end of suffering of all kinds. The Stupas are here to offer peace, healing and blessings to all who encounter them. We are working to keep them here for you!

October 25th...Obstacles, devotion and faith...

Well, I've been fighting a cold for a few days, so missed a day or two of posts. I'm feeling better today though, in fact, dreamed about painting Stupas all night and woke up early, did my practice, and was ready to go really early (those who know me know that's rare). Unfortunately, despite my eagerness (some might say obsession), it rained ALL DAY.

I drove out to the temple, and literally sat in my car listening to teachings watching the rain hit my windshield, waiting for it to stop (Lisa did encourage this behavior, as she was earning her living today and couldn't be out there). Finally, after a few phone calls trying to convince Ani Rene to join me in my madness, she instead convinced me it was one of those times when giving up was inevitable. So I came home and did a little administrative stuff, trying to get supplies lined up (we're hitting a financial crunch now, so it's not so easy) so when we CAN work, we have what we need. Thus, it turns out Lisa's episode of insanity on Sunday (we MUST paint!) served us really well! Thanks Lisa!

Here's a photo from earlier this month, when James was tapping the gau to get a sense of how extensive the soft spots are. As we work on finishing the gold out at the Stupa Park this week (Ani Rene will be leading that charge for the next two days while I earn my living), attention again embraces Migyur Dorje.

Of course, all of this is weather dependent...prayers for sunny days please!

My next day out will be Friday, I took an early prayer shift to ensure I'd be there for anyone who is interested in helping move this project to completion (don't worry anyone, we'll be working on Stupas until we're old and grey, but hoping to get this phase done before freezing starts).

The rain today forced me to sit in front of the Stupa instead of spending time on one, but it was a great opportunity to recall what they are here for. Khenpo, in his teaching this past Sunday, described them as "Enlightened Mind" in a form we can see with our not so Enlightened minds. Thus, they offer us constantly the opportunity to catch a glimpse of our own true nature, to have contact with unconditional compassion. They offer their blessings ceaselessly, and unconditionally. Please do come out and see them, whether in Poolesville, or here online. That's why we're doing all of this! To share them with you!

October 23rd...Green Tara....

Today was a day of teachings and empowerments with Khenpo Norgye. I personally had planned on spending the day doing just that. We did make a run out to the Stupa Park to see how the Stupas faired after the rain interrupted our work the other day (we'd not been back out since, as it has continued to rain). The beautiful sunny day lit a fire in Lisa....

The Long Life Stupa did well. It only looked like this on one step. This Stupa, Miraculous Feats, was the one KT started painting the last time we were out (Thursday) when it poured, did have some running of paint. Not a big deal though...it was only a first coat, and a partial one at that. We'll fix it. That's a Stupa Crew mantra...."we'll fix it". It's taught us not to be afraid to try new things, or make mistakes, we know we'll get it right sooner or later... 

During the break between the teaching in the morning and the empowerment in the afternoon, James helped settle Sophie. What a start in life! Her first empowerment at less than 2 months old! 

After the empowerment with Khenpo this afternoon, we headed outside (sunny, warm day...we couldn't let it go....). James, with help from Malik and Howard with the ladder, climbed up onto the roof of the temple to replace damaged Dharma flags.  

Lisa, unable to contain her drive to get another coat of gold on the Long Life Stupa, pulled us away from James (don't worry, we left him with Malik and Howard to ensure his safety) to utilize what sunlight we had left... 

Lisa wasted not time...she was a woman on a mission...up onto the bumpa she went, roller in hand! 

LIsa's children (Malik is almost a man, but still her son) joined us for our dash out to the Stupa Park....