New Barn

These are a bit late, but I wanted to share some pictures of the hoop building/barn we helped side this fall. Most of these are cellphone pics- not the highest quality, but at least we've got some memory of it going up!

I'm definitely feeling older with heights...I used to scale scaffolding like a monkey. Now I've found I need to cling to any solid surface with my knees shaking like a new sailor gaining their sea legs. J seemed to not have this fear as you'll see in coming pics! We put a few layers of scaffolding on top of a trailer and moved it around as needed. Worked quite slick!


We had some absolutely gorgeous weather- unseasonably warm many of the days we were out. Here's a pic of Nana and Emily gathering apples from the trees by the lower garden:

Another one of them out with us- probably handing out refreshments and cheering everyone on. And wondering when in the world to start dinner. We would be out until we couldn't see things anymore...a few nights we'd end up getting the skidsteer or pickup lights on and tried to get an extra 15-20mins which would turn into another hour or so. :)


J and his acrobatics. He's on top of the area where the large doors are...and is holding on to the top of the hoop. No problem, obviously! (Everyone else is sweating below!)



Squeezing in those last few minutes at night. Dad in the skidsteer, J in the bucket:


Back of the barn pretty much finished- we added a couple of side pieces later after finishing the front. The doors went up a week or two later as well.


Emily driving the truck with J- she was quite thrilled:


Nana helping Papa get another sheet while we're up on the scaffolding. He got a new saw that cut through all of the steel siding like butter- definitely made the job easier. We would get measurements, he'd cut the sheet and I'd either be down below, helping ferry siding and handing things up to J and screwing it in down below or else up with J as we got higher. One day got pretty windy- not fun!


J making everyone nervous again, putting a new light in. He ended up standing up on the top there, just hanging onto the pole a bit as he worked. It kept getting darker and darker.... I can't remember what the deal was, or if we actually got the thing working that night or not.


Dusk arriving too soon, as usual. You can see most of the front is finished in this pic. I wasn't able to take a good finished pic as it was too dark by then:



Here are a few pics I took the next time I was out. The door on the left went up not too long after:



Here's the back with the doors on. You'll be able to see the mistake more clearly in this picture. Dad was given two different shades of steel, which we totally did not notice until the next day. Argh! By then, nobody cared since it was the back and we certainly didn't want to tear it all down. He did get more sheets because of the error and will possibly be able to use some for the old garage.



They're quite pleased with their new building. They've been planning it for a couple years and got it set up inside how they want which makes separating/loading cows much easier than in the past. The siding definitely made the hoop building look more barn-like. I do miss seeing the old barn at times, although I'm getting used to this one now.

Nana and Papa's Center Garden

I meant to upload these pics early fall but time got away.

Enjoy the slideshow...none of the pics were doctored. It's really that gorgeous! :) I will have to get pictures next summer when more of the flowers are blooming- these were taken late summer.

This is becoming THE favorite place to be from early spring to mid-fall. The kids love splashing in the stream and dipping their toes in for the fish to nibble at. The biggest of the koi is named Joseph and he will even let you pet him as he swims by. Especially if you have food! The raspberry bushes have taken off and Nana, Papa and the daycare kiddos love to pick a bowl for breakfast...and whenever they're out enjoying the day. :)

Lower Garden

This is the garden down by the chicken coop- the mostly vegetable garden. I do this with mom during the summer- we're always on the hunt for new ideas and ways to make gardening easier. New to the garden this year are the hog crates for the vines and the bean teepee for the kiddos. We tried the hog crates for the tomatoes as well...last year we ran twine from posts on the ends of the beds, the year before we staked. Each year we end up having to stake some more and this year was no different. Still searching for a favorite method there.

Click on the pics for a better view :)

Progress

On the center garden circle that is at Nana and Papa's. Here's a few pics 4ya with the liner in the pond and it partially filled. Laid out the patio too- it's coming along! Emily absolutely ADORES the stream...she played in it for hours while we worked.

You can a bigger version of the pic if you click on it:





The couple pics where it looks like just patchy lawn are actually of our Little Buddy...see him? Look close! It's our robin friend who stuck around all day flitting here and there and keeping a close eye on us. I think he appreciated Dad grating the lawn for the patio...unearthed quite a few worms I think. Hope he has more sense around Oreo- Ultimate Bird Killer. I found her around back later that evening with a mouthful of feathers...luckily Buddy was still there when I went to check. :)

A nice restful place...wonder if Dad hung his hammock? More importantly (if he did)- I wonder if he's actually laid down in it?! ;)

I'll do a separate post for the lower garden sometime here.

Easy Breezy Linen

Last week I decided to take a quick detour and whip up these simple handkerchief-weight linen dresses. I had the linen in my stash already...it's a greyish-blue color and so light! I planned on only my dress, but there were enough scraps leftover for a dress for Em as well...I don't plan on ever wearing them together :P I don't mind a cute matchy skirt to her dress combo thing, though I'd still feel odd. But 2 dresses? Nope. Not gonna do it. I could definitely learn to love dresses though...much more comfortable than shorts. I would have to get over my feeling self-concious in our dressed down society. And find a suitable bra. Nothing I had worked with this...hence the shirt!

Can you see my new shoes?? Target $5.74 :D And yes, I cut off my head :P

A fun little photo shoot at the farm for E's dress:

The garden gets crazy this time of year...you can't pick beans fast enough and the tomatoes are always straining to free themselves from the stakes. We're down there every time I'm over tying a few stray limbs back up! It'll be nice though when the season hits...very soon. We've gotten quite a few early ones already. The chickens dug up our new crop of lettuce (grrrrr!!) but we hope to still have a 2nd round for fall. Yum-yum!

Mom's flowers out front are looking good; I took some pics when I was over just for fun...here's a little sampling of what she's got out there:

I had to include this last pic...as soon as J saw it he said Sammy's expression looks exactly like mine in photos...the whole 'I'm unimpressed by this all' look :)

New Shirt for Me!

Asian Floral w/dark green jersey. Based of a RTW tee I liked...I scooped the neck out a little and up a little and added a collar at the neck, altered sleeves to puff sleeves and added bands at the hems of the shirt and sleeves. I'm growing fond of it, but going back I would have used black jersey instead of green. Doesn't feel summery to me either, but maybe w/a jean skirt? I don't have one though :P Sorry for the late night photo shoot!

A new shirt for E...she really liked this fabric:

Fixed her jammies w/the neck that was all stretched out by using picot edge elastic I'd salvaged:

Super soft boxers 4 J based off his fav. RTW pair for Father's Day-though we loved the black 4way stretch and most of all the organic cotton greyish-tan pair (feels like butter!) I think the orange are the best as they are the lightest-weight fabric of the four...so a lightweight jersey is what I'd use from now on. Hopefully is some better prints! Because you know underwear is all about the fun prints :P

Summer is here! Strawberry jam! :)

And I'd emailed these around to a few people, but here are some fun farm pics to leave off with: