First Occupant

Big day at the Barn. John finished the flashing just in time to get the tarpaper on and get us dried in prior to the weekend snows. We went inside to check out the conditions and found out that the first occupant had already moved in. It must be a first rate barn if the Barn Owl has already decided to take up residence. We managed to capture him without much trouble and set him free in the woods. We'll see if he comes back.

House is covered for Snow

With a roof and windows we were ready for snow (at least a little).

Thankful at Thanksgiving

We are very thankful this holiday season for all the Lord has seen fit to bless us with, family and friends most of all. The weekend prior to the holiday we were in Utah for a special occasion with the kids and friends and family worked on the barn (see last post). When family gathered for the holiday, friends and family again worked along side us despite the cold conditions and tempting football games on TV. It was great to have Bishop Smith and his son Josh out working with Eric Zircher on Thanksgiving Day. Josh took a break from work to go hunting cans, pine cones and who knows what else with his BB gun. It was a great reminder of what we hope this place will be (a great place for family and friends to play). On Friday we got the barn site a bit late (truck didn't start) but Jacob Howell was there to help despite the cold and eventual snow. On Saturday Sean King and Scott & Jason Lindsay came to help get the last of the sides on and the windows in. They were lots of help and when we finished later in the afternoon it was really looking like a barn. Thank you to the many helping hands that reminded us again in this season of Thanksgiving that one of the great blessings in our lives is the people we share it with.

What a Weekend

While we were away in Utah visiting the kids and having a wonderful family time, John and brothers Zircher and Matney from the Heritage Park Ward came down and worked wonders on the barn roof. Monday Scott came down and worked wonders on the siding (and then took a short break). We are moving along to try and beat the cold and snow.

Alta, first on job site!!

After a life time of being the 4th child, Alta is finally first. She is the first of the kids on the job site and the first to hammer nails into the barn (actually it was a nail gun and an electric saw but that's the way it is now). We had a lunchable(tm) lunch on the deck, enjoyed the view and got a great start on the barn roof. We will probably get snow this week so every little bit helps.

Measuring Up

Today we spent a long morning with Ray walking the house to get the final framing details right with John who is doing all the work. We talked through the added windows, resized walls, coffered ceilings and lots of other details. It is really coming together and we are grateful for good work being accomplished and for Ray putting up with Dad being a pain in the $%#&. Here is great early morning view of the house. The picture is back lit with the morning sun.

Raise the Roof

Lots of help from many friends (Dave Rutherford and John Merkling in the photo) and the trusses and the rafters are in place. Now we need to get the sheeting on the outside to keep the snow out. It's starting to look like a barn. On Monday Lora and I are going down to walk through the framing to work the closeout list. We'll post new photos then. Lots to do and lots to fix the plumbers and heating folks have taken a few liberties with the basement.