Bee Hive Oven Turned Window

So as we are picking the plaster off of the side of the house we have made some very interesting discoveries. This is a neat one... On the gable end we found brick around a double window. From what we know of building history and time periods, we believe that this used to be a walk-in fireplace. The fireplace bumped out into a beehive oven on the outside. When previous owners ( date to be determined) moved the fireplace to the left, they filled in this wall and made the hole into a double window. Then they covered the whole building with the white plaster coat to make it look uniform. The brick indicates this change from oven to double window. Maybe this section of the original house was once the kitchen? How fascinating is that?

Barn Work--Replacing Rotted Beams

This week we worked on the barn.  The floorboards in the whole back of the barn are rotted from water pouring in the holes in the roof.  A few weeks ago, Matt helped the guys rip up the old floor boards (I had posted pictures of that).  This week, we worked on sawing off the rotted boards using scaffolding to reach them and prepped the area to re-stabilize the floor.  I have a few pictures to show you the details of the progress.  

Rocky cleaned out the right top side of the barn.  There was tons of stuff in there.  He organized it and swept the left side clean.  Look at the gorgeous windows on this side of the barn.  A neat story Rocky shared was that in high school, he had a huge barn party with his band in the corner.  The barn doors were open and the food was set up in the other section.  Lots of dancing and good times. :)

Another view of the top right side of the barn with the windows.

Downstairs in the back left of the barn.  This is where the guys had ripped out the floor upstairs.  

You can see the scaffolding that they are using to reach the top beams to cut out the rot and replace them.

These next two pictures are shots of the back right downstairs of the barn.  See how the ceiling here is rotted?  They will do the same thing to fix this part.  They will rip out the rotted beams, put in temporary stabilizing columns, and replace the beams with extra strong purple heart wood (from Africa).

Another view of the rotted section that still needs to be ripped out.

Look!  The window is open!

This is the area they are working on in the barn from the outside.

I love the window open!

Another view of the barn.

Grow Grass Grow!!

Hi all!! Can you tell school has started again?? A couple of busy days in the classroom as opposed to the property. I can't wait to settle into a routine of evenings at hearthstone...and extra busy weekends!! A good life!
My grass is poking up ! Wahoo!!! Thank goodness! I'll admit I was definitely worried about my grass growing capabilities! But finally it's growing a week into the process!! I may just have a green thumb after all!! :)

Kara Came Over!

Today, the guys continued working on cleaning up the main house.  They removed additional hardware from top floor windows, beautiful window panes with wavy glass, and even found an old coffee mug!  Eric and Becca came over, so Eric got up on the Pettibone to help with the left dormer.  

Look how strong that gable wall looks!

It was such a beautiful day!

While the guys were working away, Becca, Kara and I walked around chatting and laughing!  Kara was SO excited to get on the backhoe and pettibone and take her picture.  :)  Then we took some funny pictures...you have to take into account the progression of photos here (going UP and going DOWN & Kara's face!).  

Can't tell what this bird is (maybe hawk?) but we saw 2 flying around.  One even flew onto the tree on the bank of the driveway.

And landed...!!!!  

Christmas card picture this year?!?!?!?!

Work...Party...Work!

We celebrated Roger's birthday on Saturday.  Matt came over early to help Rocky and Roger take down the heavy and rotted dormers.  This really helps relieve the pressure from the stone walls.  It was so fun to listen to the guys laugh and joke around while they were up there working.  Too funny!  Check out the difference!

Check out Roge on the left, by the chimney.

Phew!!!  It fell the right way!!!  

Then we partied!!!  Thank you all for coming and making Roger's birthday so special.  We had so much fun!  We could not ask for better friends and family who are so incredibly supportive!  I hope you all had as great a time as we did!   xoxo

Anne caught 3 sunnies in the Butler's Pond in the kayak!  

She grilled them and served them for Uncle's birthday.  Thanks Anne!

Check out the back door we used for the table (totally Real Simple style :) ).

The flowers were Joe-Pies from the backyard.  

Stumps for end tables :)

The girls helping to set up.

Roger, Dad, and Mary

The trashcan filled with drinks!!!  Thank you!!!!!

Wow!

Thank you SO much Matt for bringing the grill and being the grillmeister!!!  

Picnic!

I had so much fun showing Mimi and Dadu around :)

Giving the tour

Holly came to celebrate too!

Lots of laughs, great friends & family!  We are SO blessed!