Farmer on the Roof

The Barn roof is in need of repairs. In January of 2008 we had a horrendous windstorm that took off two pieces of ridge cap. Since then we have lost singles from the ridgeline. Preston has dreaded this project for over a year and a half.

This last week he was finally able to muster the courage to take his maiden voyage to the top of the barn roof. He began by scouting around the farm for a good, long rope... for his lifeline, and a good ladder. Our friend and pastor, Bill Dobos has a good ladder so he went to check with him about borrowing it. While there he asked him about rope. Bill loves to backpack and other dangerous recreational activities. Much to Preston's pleasure Bill had a climbing rope AND harness. This project was looking safer! Daniel rigged up a belaying harness from a webbing tie down Preston keeps in his pickup. So.... up the ladder with climbing harness firmly installed, leather worker belt loaded with nails and hammer, the ridge cap handy and a few shingles (at my insistence) close at hand. The first order of business is to secure one end of the rope around one of the cupolas. Daniel was on the other end of the rope as the anchor man.. letting out rope or taking up slack as the need arose. He has had a little bit of belaying experience with YD Adventures at Oregon Camp Cedarbrook. He knows that you keep the rope snug to prevent a long fall. Preston was not amused by the snug fit while trying to work. He kept asking for more slack than Daniel was comfortable giving. A little test of wills there. :) I hoped that the rope was short enough to prevent Preston from hitting the ground.. should he fall.

Now to get to work. Preston thought it was going to be a quick job of nailing the ridgecap back in place. I, on the other hand, knew that there were some singles that had blown off. I could see the holes inside the barn and had seen the shingles laying on the lawn. I suspected that the pigeons were using these holes in the roof as access to our barn. I wanted them closed up!

Sure enough, when Preston got up there he found about 2 hours of work replacing missing shingles, reinstalling the ridgecap and hammering nails back into the cupolas

One of the areas he had to put numerous shingles was on the south end of the roof. The hole there was a veritable freeway for pigeons.

Preston was able to get the job done and there was no mishap!
Praise God for His protection!
We are very happy that project is off the ToDo list!