South End of Barn Repair

The end of the barn that faces the south has been needing  attention for years.   Windstorms, sun, rain, snow have taken their toll.    Trim was falling off, siding splitting, and window doors falling apart.   So why haven't we done anything about it?  One reason was time, another the height.  We solved the time issue this summer by Preston deciding not to get an summer job. A decision that has its drawbacks financially, but had benefits in a myriad of other areas of our lives.  One of which was projects in the barnyard.  It took all summer to gather the courage to tackle the sound end.  This meant renting scaffolding and climbing up on it.   It was hot, tiring work  replacing siding and trim, climbing up and down the scaffolding, and keeping your concern about being 40 feet from the ground under control.  Near the end, when Preston was having to climb the highest and was wearing down God provided encouragement.  This was the point of the project where there was  4 scaffolding moves to finish the last little bits of painting....at the top.  One evening Daniel called from football practice to ask if he could go watch the girls volleyball game in Milton-Freewater.  Preston said "Sure, after you come and help me move the scaffolding"  Daniel countered with, "Can I bring some friends to help?"  Preston agreed.  Daniel brought 3 of his football player friends (who also wanted a ride to the volleyball game). They helped that night and agreed to come back the following night and help again.   Thank you Jacob, Matt & Elliot. (My only regret is that I didn't take pictures. )  Then the last day Preston finished up what needed to be done where the scaffolding was about the middle of the day, he was going to wait until Daniel got home to move to the last area that needed painting, but our pastor Bill Dobos dropped by, and helped him move the scaffolding to the final area.   The following morning I was able to help him take it down for the last time and load it up to take it home.   AHHH what a FEELING to have this job done!!  Everyday we & especially Preston gets to see that view of the barn and have a deep sense of satisfaction and pride from a job well done.   I believe that his ancestors from Jesse Z. Winn to the present were keeping Preston's & Daniel's (and others) guardian angels on their toes and are smiling.   Following are pictures that give you a feel for the size of the project

Before:  notice missing trim around windows, the singles tuck into a hole in the siding to plug a bird hole just below the top most window, the damaged window doors ......

 

                                                                

 

It Is Finished!!!

Scaffolding is load.

AHHHHH