Boy I am bad at posting on this new blog!

Man, I am really bad at updating this new blog. Our life has been really busy trying to get all projects done that are necessary for using the barn this winter. We had major flooding issues and so we put a French drain around the barn that now directs the water around the barn and into the pond so now the inside stays very dry even with copious amounts of water raining down. Fortunately we have very different soil than we did at Whisper Wind. There we had heavy clay soil and here it is much more sandy mixed with loam. It is beautiful soil and it perks really well. So, the French drain took some time and was a bit slow going. However, it is done and the inside of the stalls in the barn stay nice and dry. We then had to move a wall to make the stalls a little more horse friendly even though a couple of them will be used for goats. We had one large stall and then one that was really too small, but by moving the dividing wall a couple of feet both stalls are now comfortable for a horse. They aren't as large as I would really like them. Due to the age of the barn and stalls were not designed for maximum comfort of livestock back then we are doing pretty good to have them as comfortable as they are. The feed room is almost finished only needing the back wall and the back doorway. We still have some flooring to do but that small portion can wait until spring. We also had to refloor one stall on the back of the barn completely because it had bee dug out so much over the years that it was a good 2 feet lower than the outside, so that you had to jump down into it. We decided to use crossties and gravel to floor this stall. It isn't something that is common anymore to see stalls floored with wood because it can be slick when wet. However, wood is very insulating and has "give". We spaced the crossties a few inches apart and filled the spaces with gravel dust. This will allow for drainage and help with traction. The crossties are old railroad ties and so are well treated and will hold up for many years. Covered with shaving this will make a very comfortable and sturdy floor for any animal that the stall will hold over the years. This winter it will be goats. They will stay nice an snug in there with the new floor. The horse will be at the other end of the barn together and the chickens will be in the middle until we move them and then their stall will be used in February for kidding stalls for the goats. As I say it has been a ton of work and we still have the back fence to move and finish, along with the back of the feed room. We are almost done and the animals will be nice and snug this winter. It will also be sooooo much easier to get them all fed and cared for when it is cold and wet outside. Much nicer for me this winter. I really do think we are going to like this new place so much. Blessings to all, Kat