This past week Savanna and Billy had their spring concert. Savy played her drum in the band, and sang in the chorus while Billy played the recorder and sang with the 3rd grade. The school used the High School auditorium, and it was so much nicer than cramming into the gymnasium! We were proud of their musical performances~ they both did so well!
The gurters and floor trusses are all in and they were starting the strapping that will support the metal roofing on the back side. The stalls are all laid out and Ive got at least a load of stone dust into and level in each one. A few of them have settled and had another scoop put in. I think the next step is finishing up the strapping than the roof goes up! The rear portion will have a small loft, so the rafters need to be done there... but it's coming along!
I think you can really "see" now what things will look like- on this side it will be an aisle to the left, and stalls on the right. I think the first stall will be my grain "room" and then on the back end it is aisle on the right of the picture and stalls on the left. These stall are "tiered" and we still have to play with the grade; there will be a slope to the aisle. I'm hopeful I can coax Bill into cutting some trees soon so the arena work can begin!
Our front yard (well, backyard really, but that's beside the point) is blooming with dandelions...
Savanna has been helping Wes learn to pick lower down on the stem, not just ripping the heads off
Now, tell me this: what is better than a fist full of flowers from your baby?!
On Mother's day Wes had his first real ride. I finally got a helmet for him, so he was able to walk around more than he has in the past. Usually we just sit him on horseback and hold him there, but on this afternoon he was able to get in the saddle with me and walk down the driveway! Bill held his leg and Savanna (paparazzi) and Billy walked along beside us; it was fun. He was trying to hold the reins and was very cute! Beau was a good boy, even though the black flies are ferocious! I'm sure there will be many more (he was on Squeeke later in the week too) but this was a ride to remember!
Here are a few of my favorite pictures from today... did I mention I took 224 of them?!
The barn addition will sit along the back side and back gable end of the existing shop/barn. We are adding 7 new stalls (I'll have 9 total) with a T shaped aisle. The shop will become hay storage, as we are not going up 2 stories. I can't wait to have a cozy spot to tuck everyone into when the weather is gross, and Bill is thrilled to pieces at the idea of a flat, level spot to shoe!
After the trees were down, stumps and rocks removed; we began on drainage! One of the things I hate the most in barns in mud! I can't stand a muddy door yard, and stalls need to be high and dry! The building lot is on a slope, and I do battle mud and much back here, so Bill was careful to address the drainage. I hope all the time, effort and $$ pay off~ I want a mud free zone around the barn!
I have to admit, that having this space is thrilling me to pieces, but the prospect of starting on my arena space is what I'm most looking forward to! I can't wait!! We have been looking at portable saw mills to have someone come on site to mill up the trees we will drop for my riding arena- then we will use the boards for the interior of the stalls! It's looking like a wet week, so I don;t know how much we will accomplish (and my back is acting up again) but such is life when its a "do it yourself" kind of job~ I'll keep you posted...