{the barn REraising}

The Sky Trak just arrived.

Just in time for spring storm season. ;) 

{i am extremely thankful...}

this week for things that are not typically the norm such as my family, friends, health, a home....etc. but things that i have been particularly thankful for that fall outside of that box....

1. a two-week-old insurance policy that was pretty much an after thought
2. a swift and reassuring agent and adjuster
3. pain medication {all is well there, i am VERY thankful for that!}
4. friends that pray and rally
5. the fact i tend to be a night owl with my head hitting the pillow at 3:30 am and i don't even feel the effects after my coffee.  don't ask me tomorrow though ;)
6. children who seem oblivious to the stress swirling inside my brain
7. those same children who calm me down with their excitement about the upcoming week
8. a mom who is cleaning my house, doing my laundry and scrubbing my toilets for me today
9. a SIL who offers to come help me with whatever i may need 
10. a friend who offers to put up my Christmas tree when she needs and wants to get hers up
11. a puppy who seems to  finally be "getting" the whole potty training idea as that makes life so much easier 
12. my crowing rooster.  he makes me smile.  i'm sorry, it's strange, but a fact. ;)
13. friends who text and call me and don't get too terribly upset if it takes 7 days+ for me to respond.  they know me and love me anyway! 
14. and above everything, my God who loves me despite the fact i am completely insane and trusts me to handle my life as crazy as it is  

{and, the storms blew in}

This was early last week before it was closed in, wrapped and the final

trusses and top trusses put up....I didn't take any pictures of it more recently.

  On Friday, they were decking the roof in hopes to begin the shingles next week

but it started getting too windy so they had to stop.

This is what happened this morning about 5 am. 

It really was pretty difficult to see.  Just knowing how much

work {and $$} we've put into it and how excited we all were really.
I had not been excited about the studio too much; but once
I saw it closed in, my wheels started turning and I was
anticipating finally being able to separate working in the
house pretty much 24/7.  The stroll across the front yard, coffee in
hand was becoming very appealing, very quickly.  The boys
cleaned it up all day yesterday - picking up every single stray nail.


In fact, we  have worked very hard to have it in the dry before leaving

this weekend.  BUT, as with life, not every storm shows up in the forecast.

And, as disappointing as it is, it is not tragic by any means.  But, honestly,
as nice as that is and sounds, it still stinks. ;)  On most days,

we wake up with anticipation of a great day or week and before that

day even starts, we have  the storms blow through. 
Some much bigger and damaging than others.

We will clean up, pick up {as the wrap is blowing all over south
Sebastian County} and rebuild.   Although the foundation was
 strong and "it was almost there" it needed a roof to keep the winds out. 
There was just enough space to allow an exploding disaster. 

I am CERTAIN there is a lesson for me in the midst of this rubble.

{this & that}

the barn/my office-studio.   it's coming along.

he is sick again.

low grade fever, aches and a big case of the blahs.

aka crankiness. :) 

i must say he looks pretty good in pink. :)   

below is right when savannah got caught eating crayons.  

i've totally lost it. 

it's not quite nov 1st yet.  my declared D-day. 

so, i've got a mix of fall, halloween and christmas going on.

a very small mix. 

but, if i don't, i won't by the looks of my calendar.

{finally, a barn raising}

Thanks to the drought of 2011....we've had to dump cattle we hadn't planned on.  We bought hay for the first time I ever remembered; we usually sell it.  Even with buying, we likely only have enough to last us until December.  Not good.  So, we are putting our cattle money into feed {yuck} and getting the long awaited barn in the dry.  Justin is drawing up the plans.  Again.  This time I promise not to change a thing.

{barn raising resumed}

I suppose I will post it here as well as my other blog since the majority of it will be for our family with my office/studio incorporated. But, this is it, FINALLY! A few minor changes including some rock added to the bottom of the front. The windows will be different on the side as that area will house the studio/bathroom. The loft willl be above my studio where you see the brown x and the white door will actually lead the to barn area. I think we are going to add a patio to the back as well. Just happy to be 'under construction' again.

I think?