How many projects can one farm start?? Well, the question actually isn't how many can one start, but how many can one finish?? We are racing against the calendar as we still have so many critters that need shelter this winter and so many buildings that are not done. The master plan of tearing down the old buildings to build new ones sounded great in June, but now we are pushing to finish the new ones and thanking God for the nice weather to work on them. I am trying to keep it all in perspective (while working at mock 10 speed and enlisting every young able body in the meantime) and remember that at this time last year we were putting plastic up on the old buildings to keep some of the wind out for the winter. If I can keep reminding myself that it really will be worth it in the end, and that next Fall we won't have to work so hard to get ready for Winter, and the end result will be a beautiful functioning farm that might make some money one day, and that we are living the dream (was this really the dream? I sort of forgot) I can keep plugging along. So a little "now and then" is just what I need to remind myself of how far we have come.
The Granary was one of the first major remodeling projects we started due to the fact that it was the closest building to falling down. Even tho the barn was not much behind it the Granary either had to be restored or tore down for safety reasons. This simple project of just residing it turned into weeks and months of tearing off 2 layers of old siding only to reveal that things were much worse than expected and that most of the supporting wall beams were rotted at the bottom. Besides that there was the lean to on the side that was nearly completely caved in and had to be jacked up and a new roof and wall built.
A couple of new windows and three times the amount of primer and paint that we expected, only to get a heavy rainstorm that same night which washed a good amount of it off. Sort of gives it an old farm look. Next year when the 2-for-1 paint sale is on we'll be the first in line.
The old Log Barn. Now I am one for keeping things original for nostalgic sake, and given the old log barn was guessed to be one of the original buildings on the homestead and probably going on one hundred years old, I still could not have been happier the day we tore it down. For nearly 4 years we kept critters in here, and for nearly 4 years my mother waited anxiously anticipating the call that the old barn had finally collapsed.
The old doorway sank a bit more every year, and the gaps got a bit bigger every year, but until this past summer we couldn't justify the time or money to invest in starting this major project. It actually took us only 2 days (plus a few kids and a skid steer) to tear it all down, but the clean up and rebuilding has been a bit slower. We kept the main header beams in the hopes of one day using them in a log cabin for out back and the rest of the old logs were sold to a company that restores old barn logs and rebuilds new homes and cabins with them. The old steel milking barn behind the log barn has great potential to one day be every goat milker's dream but first it has entailed totally gutting it of it's old stanchions and cement bunk feeders. Then it was discovered that the posts were all rotted at ground level and had to be cemented and built back up before we could start on the stalls, interior work, rewiring, etc., etc., etc., so we can finally finish up the walls and put in some windows and doors.
It's not glamorous yet, and my yard is still showing the signs of the project, but we did get a new, cute chicken coop out of all the salvaged lumber and there is still money in the farm account. Poor Rob has worked so hard (as well as the rest of us) to try to stay ahead of it all.
And then there's the old calf shed. Being that strong wind never did come along and give it the final push, the kids and I tore it down this spring. We hauled the front piece of it out back for a slingshot range (oh yes, I had better get back to that project some day).
Before the ground freezes, and now that the roof design is finally agreed upon, we are racing to get the new calf shed up before the snow flies. There is still some plywood and salvaged lumber and roofing left around here to hope to only have to invest in steel siding.
As if that wasn't enough to keep us busy, and the projects that I can do are nearly done, I am going to invest some of my Fair checks into fence posts and start the wooden fences. The kids helped tear down the hog panels yesterday and we are going to have a hole digging party this week before the ground freezes if anybody wants to come help.
So...... what's left on your Fall schedule????
Who would have ever thought that I would be kissin' and lovin' on a Red Bone? After perusing the Yellow Paper Rob and Trent got the itch for coon hunting again and called on a little Red Bone pup. Next thing you know we were taking an hour drive to look at this sweet little fellow. He has claimed his spot on the couch and in our hearts already. His name?? What else~ Dan! And now that I've seen those cute long ears and heard what Red Bone's go for I just may be looking for a Little Anne for myself. Christmas is coming ya know!
Most of the hay is bought and ready to sustain the animals over another winter. The horses are getting their fuzzy winter coats and hanging around the open pastures to soak up the sunshine. And even I am feeling the starts of a hibernation mode as my mind shifts to cozy inside things like books and quilts and algebraic equations and hot chocolate. Fall, glorious Fall. 
I was absolutely giddy when I saw this cute little hot plate, and for just under $7.00! I already have the perfect pantry planned all around this cute little treasure. It just needs to be built, and then I can find the perfect old cabinet to set it on, next to the antique sink, and the old cook stove that's in the garage, and those open faced cupboards with all the antique dishware that will look oh-so-cute sitting in them. Of course we'll probably never be able to use the hot plate~ with that old cord I'd probably burn the whole house down and then we'd have to start all over again. But it sure is cute! 
The Mission: To build the calf shed before the snow comes, or at least get the posts in before the ground freezes so we can finish the walls and the roof and the fence when the snow is flying.
The Helper.
We figured out how to install the doors~ the nice heavy inside door and the cute {free!!} screen door from an Uncle Jim job. I had to break down and spend some money on hinges and hardware (ouch ~ those are expensive!) 
Russell saw us out there working so he came over and lent us his muscles, carpentry know~how and some big screws.
I am almost looking forward to winter and snow (did I really just say that??) so I will have a good excuse to just be done with all these farm projects for a while and not feel guilty about snuggling on the couch with the kiddos and reading some good books while sipping hot chocoalte and eating donuts, working on quilting projects, and visiting with friends and family, and returning all those calls and e-mails, and becoming a regular blogger again. But there's still the calf shed to build, and the fence posts to get in before the ground freezes, and a horse barn to start, and a goat barn to finish ....... Time's a wasting~ better finish my coffee and get out there.
They now have 4 walls nearly completed and are contemplating how to put in a sky light, a roof and a loft, and some beds. I've had to fight them off for the salvaged lumber and supplies lately. We have forts and cabins and building projects galore around here, which, in my opinion, is the greatest thing that boys can spend their time doing. 
And the best part about it is that when they work together they actually forget about fighting with each other.