Out With The Old and In With The New

A common phrase for the new year, right? Well, this is even a little more literal. I finally got the new barn built and am in the process of tearing down the old one. Would it be prober to call it "De-constructing"?

I designed the barn last spring and had the plans made into construction prints. I decided I probably wouldn't live long enouth to build it myself, so I hired SMJ Homes to build it. Sounds kind of funny, but it is a home for our three horses. I think they did a great job and even ame in under budget!

After the barn was finished I started on attached corrals using old pipe that Dad had collected. I got enough done to put the horses in just in time to start feeding them around the first of December. There is still quite a bit to do on the corrals, but it can wait for spring.

My good friend Norm Kroh has joined the wrecking crew, and his wife has even helped out. They are new to this valley, they recently purchased Mervin's home and moved here from Idaho. They are great people and a good fit here I think, and they seem to like it so far.

I have to admit that this is all a little nostalgic, because I helped Dad build that barn when I was about ten I think. That would have been around 1957 0r 58. All the while I am working I wonder what Dad would have to say about the 'improvements'. I'm sure when he was a few years younger he would have loved it, but as he got older he really resisted change. I suppose that just goes with the territory.