build-a-barn ~ taking it all in

So much happened in a span of two weeks, it was hard to take it all in. Before we knew it we found ourselves mid way into the last week of the barn build. Brad had an overnight work commitment, so I stopped up at the barn that evening alone. He had been keeping a close watch on daily progress and I knew Brad wasn't thrilled to be away. He really wanted to be here...so I went to check the progress for him. 

With just me, myself & I...my thoughts carried me away. Eventually Koda, Nemo, Cierra and hopefully Harmony, will be looking out these windows. Someday... 

stall walls are close to being done

It won't be too much longer, and we will be walking our horses in from the pasture. We will come through the back entrance below, weather permitting. Probably Nemo & Koda together...and Harmony & Cierra...assuming they rebond. The girls were inseparable. That feels like so many years ago. It will be different now. Cierra is all grown up, but I think these two special horses will remember each other...it probably won't matter who walks with who anyways. They all got along great, and were such a happy herd. I cannot wait to see them all together again...

back entrance

As I took these photos, I started to wonder...is this where we will ride up from our woods in the distance, to dismount, tired and happy? Then listen to the methodical sound of our horses as we walk through the front entrance, into our looong awaited barn filled with everything we hoped for, love and cherish?? 

front entrance

The human door below will no doubt be one of the most used when it's cold out, for more then just people. It was suppose to be on the same side as the stalls. After the foundation got poured Brad realized that even with back filling, the elevation drop could be problematic. Needless to say, we moved the door to the front. The flow with a horse in hand isn't as ideal, but the entry will be better then stepping up on an incline. I wonder, with cold winds blowing, what it will feel like to shut that door...

still a little door, for now

Someday the floor will look so different...the entryway & aisles will eventually be concrete...

icy reflections

I had no idea how much wooden panels would change the interior walls...it's hard to imagine what the barn will look and feel like when it is finished. All of it, not just the shell...

future wall coverings

My mind wandered back to the stalls...and our horses. This is all for them, so they can live with us...forever...

the most important part of the barn

It was getting dark. I got in my truck, and started to leave...then this happened...

the start of a sunset

The sky erupted into the most magical sunset!! It rendered me speechless. I couldn't leave. The people we bought the land from mentioned the sunset views were really pretty. I was skeptical, the land is surrounded by tall pines. Now I know what they meant...and it all but moved me to tears. 

You know those rare moments, when nature is so peacefully beautiful, that it is surreal. All encompassing. For a few moments time stands still, and you feel like you are in a dream?? You've either experienced it, or you haven't. You can't look for it, it just happens.

Well, this was one of those moments. Where nature puts everything into perspective. The entire sky was constantly changing color, and highlighting interesting cloud formations.

When sunsets are this magnificent, you can seen them most any place you can see the sky. But this sunset view, where our house will be one day, is our unique view.

As I tried to soak it all in, I was periodically sending Brad sunset phone pics. The intense colors lasted over half an hour, after the sun set. He was loving it!! Of course we wish we were watching it together in person, but I wasn't really alone anyways. Hopefully, there will be many more sunsets for us to watch together.

so many ever changing bright colors

I couldn't help but think, is this really happening??? This land, the barn, the view, all of it...are we really going to live here some day with our horses and "ride off into the sunset" together?? 

I am so very grateful for the opportunity to care for this land, and especially our horses. I got all choked up again...it was then, that I knew everything was going to be okay.

a sunset to remember

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build-a-barn ~ rapid change

Two weeks into our barn project and already so much has changed...

birds eye view

Below is a short 360 degree video of the big picture. It starts at the barn. The house will be where the snow covered hay is spread out (near bottom of screen, about 18 seconds into video) then you'll see our neighbors barn & house in the distance through the trees, the field where the outdoor arena will eventually be, and end back at the barn.

you won't be able to see through the barn for long
unless the doors are open

view through the peak

things were starting to warm up & melt
it made for great reflections

we opted to forgo a dumpster to cut costs
and dispose of building materials ourselves

For the first time in years, we didn't travel for Valentines Day. It's one of my favorite holidays. It's gotten a bad rap. For me, it is not a holiday created by Hallmark for couples to spend money proving their love. To me it's a day to celebrate love, of all kinds. A day to do whatever it is that you love doing. Brad & I don't gift each other anything. Instead we spend time together. This year we stayed home in part because of the barn, but mostly because he had a work commitment the following two days. Darn work gets in the way of everything, but it also helps fulfill dreams.

Week three:

walls & ceiling are done on storage side

it's all about the horse side now

working on the walls

looks like we are going to have to crawl
to get through that human door on the right ;)

a wide path will be made in this tree line
for the horses to come in from the pasture
(where I am standing)

putting up tongue & groove boards

The barn changed rapidly during the third week. It won't be long before the builders are finished with their part of the build...

off-topic
day 45/365 ~ photo challenge

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first outdoor ride of the year

If you told me we would be riding outside in t-shirts on February 22 in 68F degree weather in Wisconsin, I would have laughed. I did, but in a different way. We have been hitting record high temps most of this week. Yesterday we rode outside, late afternoon in the outdoor arena, in beautiful unseasonably warm weather!!

What a difference being outside makes! Especially for Mr. Nemo. The problems Brad was having with him in the indoor disappeared. They had made progress, but it was back to the beginning the following week.

Koda watching Nemo

I always wonder what the first "spring" ride will bring...I did get some ears. So silly, considering the pasture our horses have been turned out in for years borders the arena. Apparently everything looks different when you are on the other side of the fence! 

I failed to bring my phone on my outdoor ride, so no pics :( instead enjoy a few pasture shots from a few days ago.

celebrate
day 49/365 ~ photo challenge

Cierra

pasture buddies
L-R Charlie (not our horse) Cierra & Koda

portrait 
day 51/365 ~ photo challenge

Our fling with spring is over for now, but it will return soon for all of us. Hope your weather finds you outside riding sooner then later!!

build-a-barn ~ making progress

The builders continued making good progress on the barn. It was interesting to see what they chose to work on. Much was dictated by the weather. The snow, cold & ice prevented them from working a couple days, now the wind picked up. They worked through it, but the second half of the roof had to wait. 

when the wind finally calmed down
it took four guys to maneuver the long metal sheets

we are putting six stalls along the west side
and one double stall with a removable partition
on the interior wall for injury recovery/foaling

36x40 stall windows

The photo below shows several noteworthy things, besides the ratchet "traps" that seems to have made it into almost every interior photo in some way shape or form!! Notice the "crack" along the center line of the roof? The two sides of the roof intentionally do not connect for optimum airflow. It does get covered with a ridge vent.

At the far end are giant rolls of insulation. The builders will insulate the horse side of the barn walls. To save on cost, we are insulating the storage walls & the entire roof. 

To the right of the rolls of insulation is another framed square window. Any guesses what that window is for?? Nope, not the double stall. That will be on the same side but complete opposite end of the barn. From about the end, to the second wall post ;) ha ha

The window is for a small room, for us - and it will have a BATHROOM!!!!!!! I've been telling anyone, it's the one thing I am the most excited about! Even more then the house. Having a bathroom, IN the barn!! SO happy about this! People look at me like I am really weird, but I mean it. Wholeheartedly. Yes, it's one more bathroom to clean - but, it will be small and worth it!

A girls gotta shoot for the sky, so I threw the bathroom idea into the mix of possibilities. Right away, it got shot down as unnecessary. I pick & choose my battles wisely, and made my reasons known. They start and end with, do you know how often I have to pee?! After more thought, Brad realized it really was a good idea. It won't be anything fancy, but it will be nearby! 

Brad walking through the service door
into the horse side

our ice skating rink aka storage side
will have six matching windows for natural light
and potential stall expansion

back of barn looked like this
for what seemed like a long time

front of barn didn't change for a while either
(see our stack of boxed windows)

at the end of the very next day
the storage outside wall looked like this!

inside storage wall
will need insulation & finishing

father-son barn talk
one of my favorite inside storage views

I really really wanted to photograph the cupolas being set...but I just couldn't make it up to the land earlier in the day. Sigh. The next best thing was seeing them with my hubby & son for the first time!!

close-up 

we have two cupolas

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Day 42/365 ~ photo challenge

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