It's really cold and windy here today, but sunshiny, so an indoor farm chore was needed today. I had the boys clean the barn. A years worth of straw, hay, chicken and horse poop - all shoveled out and loaded into the back of Trent's truck, hauled off to the riding arena to be burned at a later date when the wind dies down.
I'm so proud of the boys. They did a great job. It needs a final dusting, and the laying boxes need to be cleaned out, but it's just about ready for the meat bird day old chicks and 19 week old layers to arrive next week.
Next job is to fix up the pens. The layer pen needs new chicken wire walls, and the meat bird pen will need to be closed up, the horses pulled down some boards and there's big holes in the nest boxes (which they won't be using, but they could escape from).
A few weeks ago the boys and Stuart fixed that hayloft door. Unfortunately they had to nail a big sheet of plywood across both doors to keep them closed properly. I'll have to get someone up there on a ladder to paint it white. It stands out like an eyesore - big brown rectangle on a white barn.
And if tomorrow is nice and warm (please God) then I'll have the boys take down the back barn door and rebuild it. With all the wind and it rattling back and forth all winter, the nails came loose and some of the slats have come off the door completely leaving great big gaps. The horses are pretty good at opening that door all by themselves if you give them an inch by which to lean on it. When they get into the barn, often they go right through it and are loose in the yard and we have to get them back. Other times they just make a mess - like pulling down the back of the nesting boxes, or knocking down the saddles.
And then there's always finishing the fence fixing. There's a gate needing repair. I'm hoping the round pen will be ready for Janney's riding lessons soon.
It feels so good to get some of the bigger jobs done doesn't it? ~ and even better when the kids can do the work! I think part of the reason I welcome the changing seasons is the taks that get done as each season changes. Thanks for sharing your days~lisa
Sombra, Your boys have such good work ethics! My husband learned them cleaning barn, and working a 2 acre pickle patch ~ country life is just good for kids.
Header Banner photo - My ornamental crab apple tree in fresh bloom, in the middle of my circular driveway.~~~~
I am Sombra, and these are the stories from our house. We're a Messianic family where academics often take a back seat to the work and adventure of life.
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Apr. 23, 2008 - Well Done!