"Turkey Manor"

For the past week, Sadie and I have been working as much as we could on the turkey building and if I do say so myself, with a bit of paint, it has spruced up rather well. In fact, we have fondly named it "Turkey Manor". It took two coats of stain and three coats of red on the doors, and will still need another white coat on the trim, but all in all.. the little old building has come back to life.

Then at the end of the day, Ed has come to finish the rest of this project (after working on the house!!!)






He cut a door way in the side so the turkeys will be able to come and go during the day. We will definitely lock them in at night, due to the predators!!! And he made a sliding door so we can close them in...

Sadie put a nice red paint on the turkey door... to match all the other color schemes.















We had a number of ideas with regards to the pen itself. I have seen all kinds of turkey pens and everyone seems to have their own ideas. We were looking for something strong, quick to put and cheap. Turns out that a dog kennel seem to fit the bill the best. Home Depot had a 10x10 dog pen for under 300.00.. and with the house being one end, and taking a panel from our real dog pen... we ended up having a penned area that is 12x20, (roughly) which should be plenty of space for the outside.

Now, turkeys can fly, to some extent..and they certainly would be able to get over the top of the dog kennel. Some folks suggested that we clip their wings, which isn't a bad idea except we really don't know how to do that, and secondly, they're pretty big now, and we weren't too excited about handling them that much.... so, it was just as easy to put a top on the kennel. Ed made a big wood frame, and we got some "bird wire" and simply stapled it to the top. We still have enough head room that we can walk around the inside of the pen (for cleaning and the like).. and the wire is open enough that we don't have to worry about a snow load next winter. The birds won't be able to fly thru the top.


By the time we got all this done this evening, we had just enough time to move the birds in. They haven't had the chance to try going outside, that will for tomorrow. Moving them was an adventure!!! They're getting quite big... Sadie was in charge of the door of the shed, Ed handled the birds, and I kept track of the door in the barn. Ed was pretty great with the birds, he wrapped them in a towel and one by one carried them out to their new house.

So, this evening we left them to settle in and the last I saw was everyone chowing down on supper and getting use to their new surroundings.

I can't wait to turn them out tomorrow.. I am sure they will appreciate the extra space and the chance to poke around like birds.

And now we will have Turkey Manor already for raising future generations of birds. I can't say that raising our own turkeys has saved us any money, especially this year. But I like the idea of raising some of our own food, and knowing that these animals have been raised well, and treated kindly during their lives. I not so sure we will raise anything "bigger" than turkeys, but I have come to know... never say never....

the LAST piece....

THIS is the piece that we have been looking for... the last piece of vinyl!!!! It was actually a "race to the finish", because at one point, Ed wasn't sure if we had enough of the house color to finish....

but they did!!!!

Now, it's back to the very top to finish up the trim.. and the outside house work is totally done!!!

Sheet rock and landscaping take the next order of business.... hope to have some grass started before the snow.....

treasurers!!

This will be one of the FIRST projects that will go into Ed's wood working shop, once he sets it up!!! Is this a sweet little sleigh or what.. I think it would look pretty grand behind a big black horse!!!



We actually have "owned" it for sometime now, it's been tucked away in the back shed at our "old" house, and Ed dug it out this weekend and brought it "home". This little sleigh belonged to his grandparents (they lived in Canada) and his Mom could remember hitching their horse and going to town in this little sleigh.









It's in pretty rough shape right now but it's a diamond in the rough. All the "bones" of it are good, and I think it will be a great restoration project. It's all "there".. including a holder for the whip, and some of the original pin stripping can still be seen!!! It has the original set of shafts, which will probably not be safe to use, but they are there...

And the runner's look decent.

So maybe some winter day, we will pull it out and take it for a spin....definitely something to look forward to....



Our next "treasure" will be used much sooner. As you know, the design of the garage is to look like a barn attached to the house. So, we made the "false" front door and have been looking around for hinges that would go on the doors, appearing to make them look like they could open.

A friend of Ed's, Al, is quite the blacksmith, and we ran into him not too long ago and asked him if he might be able to forge us a set of hinges.

But, he had "one better" than that! He had a complete set of hinges that had come off an old barn. He thinks they were forged in the late 1700's and they were just sitting around his shop. He GAVE them to us to use on our "barn" door.

Ed cleaned them up and we'll put a coat of black paint on them to keep them protected, and then, they'll go into place. That might happen over the next couple of days, so stay tuned for an update!!!

big doings on the farm

labor day weekend... day 3

On "day 3" of Labor Day weekend there was "no labor" at the house. Ed, Nate and John had done so much with the sheet rock, and Ed has been siding the whole week before, that he decided it was time to "take some time"... good for him!! So, instead we went down to my parents house for a fun cookout and a day just to catch our breaths. I actually had woken up with a sore throat and the start of a cold, so, I was just as happy to lay low myself.









Along with good food, good friends and conversations, we were entertained with great art work on the driveway.

How many pregnant ladies can sit on the ground just weeks before delivery... Sadie has done such a good job taking care of herself, "baby Abbie" will certainly have a good start in life!!!

We were glad to be traveling "north" instead of "south".. we Mainers know that on Labor weekend, you stay OFF the turnpike !!!! There certainly were plenty of folks visiting the grand state over the weekend....

And now onto the fall season which is already looking as busy as the summer ever was.....

labor day weekend.. day two

I simply can not get over at how much was accomplished today!! Yesterday, Nate and Ed finished the "master room and bath"... and it looks just grand.... (and suddenly small)...

Today,they were right back at it. Nate gave up another day of his "three day" weekend to come and give Ed a hand. Plus, my brother in law, John (Rachel's hubby, Naomi's Dad) came for the day. Between the three guys, the work seem to go lightening quick....

Working in Sadie's room...

And in "baby Abbie's" room

and then they moved to downstairs... this will be about the last time of "see thru" walls down here

A wall in the downstairs bathroom

Baby Abbie's room..... all done except for the closet .. this is such a nice bright room with the afternoon sun!!!

And Sadie's room which will get "sun" in the morning, but still nice and bright during the afternoon....

I am so excited and pleased that with "walls" the house still has a nice open, airy, bright look. Sadie and I are talking "paint colors" already, and I can almost see "my things" in it. I can tell you all for certain, I love this house and when we are finally settled, I can't imagine one day when I won't appreciate it and feel so very blessed....

labor day weekend... day 2 con't

sooo... while the "menfolk" were hard at work in the house, the "gals" thought it would be far more fun to play with horses. When my little niece was up last time, and had her ride in Mocha's cart, she informed me that she had really come to "ride on Silver". I told her that she would just have to come back again and we would pull Silver out for a ride. Today, she wasn't on the farm more than a few moments when she "announced" that she would like to ride Silver. Nothing doing, we pulled him out.

To be totally honest, I thought the moment that she really got close to him and remembered just how big he is (compared to her) she would totally change her mind.... ya, right. She wanted to lead him out of the barn... (don't you love her outfit... she picked it out herself!!!)

Now, we don't want Naomi to get the "wrong the idea" about horse back riding... so, we did "everything right"... first thing before riding... grooming!!!! Naomi offered to brush the legs and the belly.....as far as she could reach. Then we tacked up...









And on she hopped. No fear what so ever, .. even posed and waved to her Mom taking the picture!!!!

When I asked her "where she wanted to ride".. she said "to the house, so I can show my Daddy".. and so we did... (it's hard to see, but John is standing just the other side of Silver) and Naomi is explaining her ride to him....

Big hugs to say thank you to Silver for his ride!!! As we were returning to the barn, she told me that she wanted to ride Duke next!!! I told her, she needed to grow a little more before she tried to ride Duke, and then convinced her that Mocha might be more her size... she said she "guessed so"....

and so, Mocha came out next. I think Naomi found grooming her a bit easier... at least she could reach all of Mocha's "parts"

Then she tacked up....

and hopped on for ride number two, again down to the house to show her Daddy just how well she can ride!!!

Good horses always get treats, so Naomi took Mocha out for a bite or two of grass.....

and, after that... time for chores. Can't leave a good horse in a messy stall....

"barn work is hard work!!!"

but after such a fun afternoon... it's well worth it

Naomi is still pretty certain that Duke will be her next mount.. I am amazed at how comfortable she is with the horses, actually with all the animals. I didn't get the photos, but she held the silkie chicks, walked right up to Mr. G...and just had a grand time on the farm. It was such a joy to have her here... I can just imagine what it will be like when baby Abbie arrives.....

labor day weekend.. day one

With the idea of a three day weekend, and "offers of help", Ed decided to get the sheet rock project started. So, last night we ran to buy the sheet rock and other things to begin. It was pretty late by the time we got to the store and got it loaded... yesterday was busy, first with Ken and Ed working all day on the siding, and then we had to wait for the farrier to come and do the horses, so we didn't even get on the road until well into the evening... my poor hubby, he was absolutely exhausted when we ate supper at Applebee's.... around 10:00 pm!!!! It was after midnight by the time we crawled into bed... but there was no late morning sleep around here this morning...



Because Kas and Nate arrived bright and early to begin the project.

One last picture of "see thru walls" in the upstairs!!! While Ed and Nate make a game plan.

First piece goes in place!!! Now, we do have sheet rock on the outer walls, because that was part of the "panels" that the house is made out of. What we are doing now is putting up the "inside" walls....

Kas and I made four trips to the dump while the guys were sheet rocking. There were piles of boxes left from the siding, lots of siding bits and pieces to be picked up, and just general "stuff" that needed to go away. After that, we came back to camp to make supper for a couple of hungry guys... and Ed was happy to say that the whole master bedroom, bath and closet were done today.

Tomorrow this "pile" may be "living" some place else!!!!

catching up

This is what our house looks like most evenings... and it's not just dog that collapse at the end of the day... we do as well!!! Our life here is so different in many ways (good ways) but one being is that we are outside most of the day, between just "being" on the farm, and house building and the like, we head out the door in the morning, and don't come back in until dark. It's great fun, but by the time the evening rolls around, we are all pretty tired. (and if you want to sit on the couch, you need to claim your spot early... btw.. the little red and white cocker is a visitor!!!)


Well, my garden wasn't much of a success this year. With the spring being so wet, we "lost" a number of plants, we did get a few peas, and some beans, a few tomatoes... but that's about it.. except for the sunflowers!! I did get a great "crop" of them, and they are truly beautiful. As you pull up the drive, there is a nice "sunny" row of them there to greet you. I will certainly put in a few more rows of them next year.





I am going to save a few and get the seeds from them for next year's crop, but the rest I have been cutting and sharing with friends.

Thursday evening, we were invited over to Kelli and Rick's for a cookout. It turns out that we knew some of the same friends, and they wanted to have us there all together. Kelli is a wonderful cook and she had all sorts of "goodies" for us, plus an amazing dinner. The evening went by way too fast and we had such a grand time.

There was peanut butter pie for dessert, and that.. along with a good cup of coffee was the end to a perfect day.