I can't believe it is the middle of April and I have yet to post anything here for 2009. I will be giving every effort to blogging more often for the remainder of the year. However, I wouldn't advise holding your breath in anticipation. Life just seems to take time.
Last fall Preston found some 1"x4" Tongue and Grove flooring that had been taken out of an old grain elevator in Helix. He came home very excited about its potential for the floor of the horse side of the barn.
About that time we received some very discouraging information regarding the State and County Building Codes. Something about ceiling clearance, soil to wood distance, jacking up the barn to put in pressure treated lumber on top of the concrete walls ... which caused us to turn our focus to cleaning the upstairs and remodeling it for use.
Once again Building Codes, regarding the required number of toilets (6) for a building the size of our barn brought those plans to a stand still. We are currently contemplating and praying about how to proceed with those plans. We would welcome your prayer for wisdom in these matters.
Preston turned his attention to using the flooring to put a "new" look in the "Sleeping House" which we will be calling the Groom's Cabin. (See September 2008 blog for pictures)
But... Hope Springs Eternal. With the occasional warming of outside temperatures and intermittent sighting of flowers bravely pushing through the late snows Preston began again to dream of his barn floor. He went back to forming up the footings and purchasing sacks of pre-mixed concrete. He started out mixing the concrete in my new PVC wheelbarrow. I was dismayed, but then figured if he ruined it I would get a new one. Preston and Daniel discovered just how hard that kind of work is. They came in exhausted, sore and wondering just how long it will take to get that floor in there.
Preston then decided to hire a RATT. (Rent A Team of Teens) from Daniel's youth group to help with the mixing and pouring of the footings. Their leader, Dave Conlee, knew where there was an electric cement mixer.
With the young and strong teens and the mixer the work load was much lighter, and the footing were poured and curing! 
The next project was the floor joists. Preston and Daniel along with another RATT and some FFA slaves that stage was well under way. They even got some of the subflooring in.
Of course you have to feed hard working teens to keep them going!
This is the last project our dog Mannie was able to participate in. He really enjoyed all the activity and being able to be in the middle of it.
About that time we received some very discouraging information regarding the State and County Building Codes. Something about ceiling clearance, soil to wood distance, jacking up the barn to put in pressure treated lumber on top of the concrete walls ... which caused us to turn our focus to cleaning the upstairs and remodeling it for use.
Once again Building Codes, regarding the required number of toilets (6) for a building the size of our barn brought those plans to a stand still. We are currently contemplating and praying about how to proceed with those plans. We would welcome your prayer for wisdom in these matters.
Preston turned his attention to using the flooring to put a "new" look in the "Sleeping House" which we will be calling the Groom's Cabin. (See September 2008 blog for pictures)
But... Hope Springs Eternal. With the occasional warming of outside temperatures and intermittent sighting of flowers bravely pushing through the late snows Preston began again to dream of his barn floor. He went back to forming up the footings and purchasing sacks of pre-mixed concrete. He started out mixing the concrete in my new PVC wheelbarrow. I was dismayed, but then figured if he ruined it I would get a new one. Preston and Daniel discovered just how hard that kind of work is. They came in exhausted, sore and wondering just how long it will take to get that floor in there.
Preston then decided to hire a RATT. (Rent A Team of Teens) from Daniel's youth group to help with the mixing and pouring of the footings. Their leader, Dave Conlee, knew where there was an electric cement mixer.
With the young and strong teens and the mixer the work load was much lighter, and the footing were poured and curing! 
The next project was the floor joists. Preston and Daniel along with another RATT and some FFA slaves that stage was well under way. They even got some of the subflooring in.
Of course you have to feed hard working teens to keep them going!
This is the last project our dog Mannie was able to participate in. He really enjoyed all the activity and being able to be in the middle of it.
