Red Barn Renovation

This harsh Michigan winter brought an over-abundance of snow.
Snowbanks that were five feet tall.
Sub-zero temperatures.
Howling winds.
Ice laden, breaking, crashing branches.
Winter weather advisories.
Storm after storm after storm.
After a couple months, there was no place left to push the drifts.

This old farmhouse was swallowed up in a world of cold, icy, white ~
week after week after week.

The Mister plowed paths for the deer and turkey that we fed every evening.

We reveled in stolen moments of feeble sunshine
that cast blue shadows on mountainous mounds.

Through it all,
our big red barn stood tall and proud
against the winter sky.
The wind roaring through the cracks and holes in her wood planked walls.
Snow sifting into piles on the worn, sturdy floor.

It was time for a make-over ~
to help strengthen her old bones so she could make it through the next 100 years.

We hired an Amish construction company to restore her beauty.
We asked them to wait until spring to start this huge project,
but they wanted to begin immediately.
Winter weather was not going to stop them.

The first thing they had to do was to push all the snow away from the foundation...
in single digit temps.

From the warmth of our kitchen,
we watched in constant awe as the crew, arriving at 7:30am sharp every morning,
worked diligently in frigid conditions.
Heads bent against blowing snow,
breath heaving white,
leaving beards white and cheeks red.
We offered them our heated workroom to take their breaks and lunch.
We fixed them homemade soup to warm them up.
We wanted to tell them to go home, escape this brutal weather,
and come back when it warmed up, or when it stopped snowing.
But they kept to their schedule without a complaint,
working long, cold days until 4:30pm,
when a friend would pick them up and take them back home to their families.





Their work ethics were amazing.
Their work....absolute perfection.

 They were kind.
They were professional.
They were hard working.
They were humble.

We watched as sturdy metal siding covered old, dilapidated wood.

We watched as the old gutter system fell away
and a new white soffit took its place.

We watched as they built three new sets of barn doors
and mounted them on new track systems.

We watched them confer about each stage in the project,
which would then be tackled with grace and efficiency.

They rented a lift to reach the second story,
and we held our breath as the snowy winds picked up ferociously on the day they installed the soffit under the high arch of the hip-roof,
along with new vented windows at the peaks on the north and south sides of the barn.

The Mister, Maizie, and I would take a walk every night after they left

to see the transformation that was taking place,
and stare incredulously at the perfection of their work.

We felt like they were blessing our barn with their beautiful talent.

After five days of laboring in frigid cold, blowing winds, snow squalls, and a smidgeon of sunshine,
we watched them add the finishing final touch.

The sign that used to be in my booth
now hangs front and center.

With smiles, handshakes, many thank-yous,
and grateful hearts,
they packed up and moved on to their next job.

We miss having those humble men working around our house.
There was something....comforting....about having them here each day.
We do plan on hiring them again to tackle some additional home improvements planned for this spring, with the widow's walk and railing being the first on our agenda.

Until then,
we look out our windows and love our beautifully renovated barn
which will now stand the test of time for years to come.

Our hearts are warm.

Thank you so much,
Raymond Kauffman Construction Company.
God bless you for your diligence
and for the beautiful restoration of our beloved barn.

This summer, we will be replacing the two windows in the foundation on the north and south side.

Back of barn.

South side.

We both look forward to seeing our new barn standing in a gentle prairie of green grass and rambling flowers soon...

...but to get us all through until then, you can see the gardens of Heaven's Walk in full bloom
in the premier edition of 
Country Style Gardening!
(published by Harris Publications, Inc. and on display until May 26) 
 
My six page feature was styled by Fifi O'Neill and photographed by Mark Lohman
last June when they were both here for a photo shoot. 
(The scoop on that incredible day later...I promise.)

Needless to say,
I am beyond thrilled ~
and feeling so blessed.

~  Eucharisteo ~

Linking to the linky parties on the lower right of my sidebar.

Thank you, Harris Publications!