BARN ROOF COMPLETED

 

The wonderful crew from Dawson Byler Construction

     The new barn roof was completed about noon on Monday, December 3.  I can't thank the guys at Dawson Byler Construction enough for the professional and beautiful job they did.  The next step for me is to begin repairing windows and doors, other inside and outside repairs, and the painting.  For a septuagenarian like me, that's probably going to be spread out over a couple of years.  That's fine with me.  Now that it has a fine new roof, I've got the rest of my life to finish it.  And I'm planning to stick around to enjoy it after that.

The view from the southwest

     But first things first.  I spent the last two days starting to clean up the decades of stuff that has accumulated over the years.  I definitely need a shop area inside the barn to repair those windows and doors.  And a place to dream about the way it's going to be.  I'll be savoring each step of the way.

New Barn Roof is Coming

 The roofers are here, and by next week a new barn roof! 

It started on Wednesday, December 2, with the prep work shown in the 2 pictures below.

     The larger curved section went on one sheet at a time.  It was facinating to watch.

    

     By Friday the entire roof was enclosed.  They'll be back on Monday for the trim work and final completion.   

     Thank you so much to Dawson Byler Construction for the fine work and craftmanship.  They can be rightfully proud of the integral part they played in conserving this historic old barn.  Maybe even prouder of the joy and happiness it brought to this old man, and I'm sure to many others who will enjoy it in future generations.

     Before Christmas I plan to put in more pictures of the completed project, and maybe some ideas for the next steps in this renovation.  If you'd like to see how this project started, click on this link, "fingers in the dirt" that I wrote back in May.  A few changes since then.  Feel free to write in the comments or email me if have any ideas or suggestions

No Radishes, Lots of Eggs

In October I still had hopes of winter radishes

     Who'd a thunk it.  November with so many days below 0 Fahrenheit brought the radish growth to a halt.  Lots of green, but no root development.  That simple cold frame was just not enough to get the best of Mother Nature up here in the North Woods.

a Surprise Gift from the Chicken Coop

    During that November cold spell, the egg production went down to one or two eggs a day from 23 hens, but I was expecting that.  No additional light for the shorter days and switching from layer mash to straight corn and kitchen scraps gives the hens their time for winter rest.  5 eggs this morning  when I went out to give them their corn for today was such a thoughtful gift from my friends in the coop!

     Give them a few days with temperatures in the 20's above 0 F, and they just get a more positive attitude.

The Larder

     For my grandson Alex's birthday supper last night, we ate the last of the potatoes and squash from this year's harvest.  We still have some carrots left, plus some canned tomatoes, beet pickles and jams and jellies, but we'll have to start buying more of our basics now.

     Way down here in December, when I think about the failures and the successes of this past year, I figure that I won the game,  Who knows?  Maybe next year on to the championship!