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!

Barnyard Improvements- Landscaping

I thought you might like to see some of the growth and improvements at Winn Homestead. It is an encouragement to me when I compare old and current. I hope you will enjoy it too.

The alley way on the west side of the barn before ramp repair,
cleaning up the debris and weeding.

The following pictures were taken in May of this year and show some of the improvements.
My goal is to make it a pleasant resting place. I transplanted plants from my home yard: Hostas, Tickseed, Coral Bells, Ferns and others. We also purchased SliverLace Vines, Lemon Grass, Dragon Leaf Begonias (and other misc. plants of interest, I have a weakness for pretty plants...kind of like some women collect jewelry.)

We put bark down to control weeds, mud,and improve moisture retention..... besides... it looks nice.
We moved a park bench into the shade of the new ramp
July 27, 2009
I am pleased that all of the plants are still alive and growth has been better than expected. I see that some plants are gets more sun and heat than I originally realized. I may have to give more thought to the plant I use in this area. But... I think I will give it more time... see what it looks like next summer.

I am pleased with this little area to the north of the barn. The micro irrigation system we put in the alleyway, and extended to this area, really helped the sedums and creeping phox thrive. I also added some ornamental grasses and red dianthus to provide height and interest.


This picture of Tim and Kendra (son-in-law & daughter) was taken August 2008 and shows the size of the Lavender at that time.

The following pictures were taken July 2009. Our winter was a fairly harsh one this year. Early this spring I thought I had lost at least 2 or 3 of the the Simplicity roses. But they came back and are doing wonderfully! I think I will protect them a bit better this winter.
The Lavender has grown well. The honeybees have thoroughly enjoyed them. I have also seen hummingbirds enjoying my flowers! I have been able to harvest some of it's fragrant blossoms for arrangements in my home as well as preparing them to give away at Bridal Shows.

The Windmill another place that shows plant growth.

8/2008

7/2009

The Silverlace and Virginia Creeper are really taking off.

There just might be leaves above the reach of nibbling deer this fall.

This is an area we planted last fall. There are supposed to be 3 large Rose of Sharons, with white blossoms, in the back as the back drop for the rest of the bed. Our winter nearly killed them. I had given them up for dead and we purchased 3 more. When Preston began to dig them out he found the faintest sign of life. We decided to let them live. This what they look like 7/2009.
Not the 3-5 foot bushes we bought, but very much alive.
Let's hope they do better this next winter.

This little willow tree..didn't look much like a willow tree last summer....

This summer it is actually taking on the shape of a willow tree.
Ahhh, a potential resting place in the shade of a weeping willow!

The water trough planters of 2009.
I am very thankful for SoilMoist, which makes it so I don't have to hand water these planters everyday!

There is nothing like a summer evening with the irrigation running!
Notice the cottonwood trees in the background.
Last year they were hardly visible. They have grown too.

Yes, they are along the upper fence in this picture.


We acquires some old farm treasures to create landscaping interest. I am looking forward to working these into the plantings.

Two old scythes

Old mower

two bottom plow

May Improvements- Floor

Since April we have accomplished many big and small improvements.
One of the big ones is the wood floor on the ground floor.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words I will let pictures to the lion's share of the talking.

Several FFA Slaves help with this project and learn a little about
floor joists, sub flooring and using a hammer.

This is our 1x4 tongue and groove salvaged from an elevator in Helix

Daniel and Preston installing the floor. Thank goodness for a nail gun.

It would have been an all summer job without it.

We were thankful for this floor on June 6th.
Our first paying event, a wedding, used this area.
The day was blustery, thunderstorms were predicted and building.
The caterer moved inside because it was level and out of the wind.

The dancing was moved inside to avoid the wind and rain.

Barn Floor

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.

A White Christmas!!! Really?

We have been blessed with a week of winter weather, with more winter weather predicted for this next week. We have begun to hope for a White Christmas. The only white Christmas I can recall in recent years was created by fog. Definitely not snow.

small spruce tree by the road

We were delighted (Daniel , Preston & I) to have the first storm (Saturday) to be snow falling straight down. The trees and landscape were beautiful... a sight we don't often get here because in Eastern Oregon the wind blows! But, alas, Wednesday the wind started blowing, we were disappointed, but found it interesting to watch the drifts being created. The swirling and sinking snowflakes give the ususally unseen wind clear visibity. I thought you might enjoy seeing our drifts.

North end of the our house

The East side

South Side

West Side

The culvert drift in front of the barn in which Daniel built a snow cave.

What a wonderful, beautiful, new world we have outside!

old Douglas Fir

Old Locust