January 27, 2018

Goat Barn: A Little Here & A Little There

We've had a few breaks in the frigid winter weather and have certainly taken advantage of it to make a little progress on the goat barn.

1st exterior wall on the milking room with 1st coat of barn paint.

We buy the plywood a few sheets each payday and then put them up as weather allows. Working in sections is best anyway, because Dan doesn't like to put them up without painting them. Windows, battens, and other trims will be added later.

Back wall. I will probably paint the interior
white, like I did in the Little Barn. I like the way
white walls brighten and reflect the light.



On days when the weather is less cooperative, Dan can work under roof. He started with the wall between the milking room (before photos of that here) and the goat area. First project was a pony wall. 

Made from leftover tongue-and-groove boards from
a neighbor and railing from our original front porch.

Then the gate.

The gate. Made from home-milled lumber.

On the other side of the gate he started building the feeder.

Almost done. It is similar to the one he built in the
Little Barn (photos here) with a few modifications.

Finishing the barn is the priority project and we're both anxious to get it done. For me it's all about moving the goats in, and for Dan it's about moving on to something else. 😃

27 comments:

jewlz said...

Do you have e-books on Dan's building projects?
"how to build a simple gate" "how to build a goat feeder for 10"
I can see a market for those :)

Secondly, Im still thrilled to see the progress on the barn. Not only for you, Dan and your four footers, but because it is proof positive that if one keeps plugging along, dreams become realities! Thanks!!

Leigh said...

Jewlz thanks! +1 for plugging along. :)

No eBooks on Dan's building projects yet, but I have plans for them. I have a current book commitment which I've almost met (whew) and then I'd like to work on more how-tos as well as other writing projects.

Paula said...

Hey Leigh- if you ever watched Victorian Farm (although it could have been Edwardian Farm, but I'm pretty sure it was Victorian Farm) on Youtube, the domestic history expert said that they (the Victorians) whitewashed the interior of farm buildings, especially the dairy for two reasons: one, because it disinfected them. The other, cooler, thing about lime wash it that when it dries, it does two things: it hardens back into rock, so every successive coat adds to the thickness of the coating, and because the lime crystals dry two facets out, it reflects twice as much light as paint. Not sure where you can find lime wash these days, but I'd do a google search and see if you could make it yourself....

Paula said...

PS- love the gate!

Leigh said...

Paula, thanks! That Youtube series sounds right up our alley. I will have to look for it. Sometimes Dan and I are looking for something to watch that isn't the modern nonsense, LOL.

Yes, I am familiar with whitewashing. I whitewashed the interior of our chicken coop and also the original kidding stall. Somewhere I have a how-to blog post on it, also an e-Book! All of that was a number of years ago and I found that the simplest whitewash (hydrated lime, water, and salt) hasn't held up well on plywood. It's almost permanent on untreated wood though. Trouble is, I can no longer find hydrated lime locally. I used to be able to get 50# bags for very cheap, but no one sells it anymore. They've gone to pre-mixed cement and some sort of specially formulated stall lime instead.

Ed said...

Looking good! I like the little details put in like the heart on the gate.

Leigh said...

Thanks Ed! I love those special little touches too. And I love that Dan thinks to do them for me. :)

Theresa said...

Very nice, it looks like it will be such a sweet place for both goats and humans!

The Wykeham Observer said...

You guys make good use of your time! That is a skill in itself.

tpals said...

Looking great. Is he able to break up this enormous project in his mind as a series of smaller projects? I'd imagine the big picture view would overwhelm.

Leigh said...

Theresa, thanks! I like spending time with my goats anyway, so all these little touches make it extra pleasant. :)

Phil, I appreciate that. At least we try to make good use of our time. Sometimes it seems more successful than others. :)

tpals, that is something he's had to learn. He's always been a finisher of projects, but with this kind of lifestyle we sometimes have to work on big projects in stages in order to do the seasonal things required. It definitely helps to break big projects down into smaller bites.

Mike Yukon said...

Won't be long now! I really like the gate design, nice personal touch.

Rain said...

Hi Leigh :) I LOVE that gate!!! It has such whimsy! :) You guys are really coming along with the barn! Slow and steady wins the race! :)

Fiona said...

The gates are incredible. A touch of unique craftsmanship. We have a good supply of barn board we saved from the rebuild ... so Ralph is getting ideas!

Leigh said...

Thanks Mike! It's nice feeling like the barn is made just for us (because, of course, it is :)

Rain, thanks! Sometimes too slow, but fortunately pretty steady these days. :)

Fiona, it's fun being able to hand craft at least some of it. Makes it uniquely our own.

Kris said...

It's like watching the little engine that could: I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.... Next thing y'know - stuff happens! And not just functional but artistic, a place to please the eye. Rock on, guys. Kris

Mrs Shoes said...

that little heart he cut out of the gate though.... so sweet.

Leigh said...

Kris, for a long while we never thought it would happen, because every time we set the goal something else would happen. It's a relief to finally be getting it done!

Mrs. Shoes, :)

Chris said...

It's a work of art, Dan and Leigh! As much as it is a practical work space. :)

Leigh said...

Chris, I think there's something to be said for pride in craftsmanship. Touches like these really show that. Sadly that's been lost in modern industrial manufacturing.

Mama Pea said...

You're so wise to have documented everything you've done on your homestead. The pictures are priceless because when we're in the midst of it all (planning, building, waiting to purchase materials, etc.) the end seems to be the only goal and when that finally happens (!), we so quickly forget everything that went into a project. I know we can be down and draggy about a current project but come across a picture or post of everything we've accomplished . . . and it gives us a real boost. You and Dan can/should rightfully feel the same way. I'm sure a lot of Dan's frustration comes from being away from home so much. But then he has a lot of time to think things through in his head before doing the hands on work!

Leigh said...

Mama Pea, I so agree about photo documentation. That's where the true value of a blog lies. It's all to easy to only see what hasn't been done, rather than what has. Makes all the difference in keeping a positive attitude and one's enthusiasm in tact.

m said...
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M.K. said...

It's looking great!

Leigh said...

M.K., thanks!

Susan said...

I love the way you reuse material - and I LOVE that little heart cutout on your gate! You two do a fabulous job!

Leigh said...

Susan, it's always an excellent feeling to not let things go to waste, isn't it? And yes, the heart is a really special touch!