This is the story of our "Barn Raising" brought to us by the fine folks at ...

We had seen their advertisements and dreamed the dream, but meeting Jack Taylor in person at Red Deer, Alberta's, Mane Event Equestrian show cinched it for us!

It finally began the 6th of August, 2008, at 9:00 AM

Here's Art of Zip Contractors getting the pad prepped ...

So whaddya think? Are we straight? Art and yurs truly.

From the front deck of the house ... Do ya think its gonna block the view?

The pad's done, ready and waitin' for the Barn to come ...

Aug 29th 2008 - Here it is!! Whahoo!!

Half the job is unpackin'!

Frames up and a good start was had by all! 8:40 pm

Aug 30, 09:00 Lets get crackin'! The rain's supposed to come this afternoon!

11:07 - roof rafters and walls are coming ...

2:39 PM - more and more getting done! But the rain's still to come! Then the rain came and it was a
horrible ice cold afternoon and evening. The boys, Jon and Gabe, worked their butts off in terrible conditions to try
and keep on schedule. But Mom Nature was agin us, it got real dark early and the schedule fell behind. It rained an inch and a half that night!

Aug 31 - Wet, cold and muddy. Rain turned to drizzle by late afternoon.
It just sucked for the boys. It was one long awful day.

Sept 1, 09:11 - It cleared off with frost overnight, the sun came out in the A.M. and the boys went back at it!

12:38. Getting there! Almost done!

Sept 2, Done! They cleaned up and were gone! Off to the next Barn Raising!

Wow. Just like that, we have a barn! The front of the barn from the front deck looking east.

South east and South west stalls

North East stall and North West Tack Room

South West stall - door open

South West stall door closed

Susan's view through the laneway - west to east

We had it wired up, puts lights in and out, getting ready for the dark winter nights.

This shows the rock put along the exterior walls to seal them in.

Doesn't the Blue barn go with the sky???

Tack room wall, door and recessed water spigot, hose and bucket

November 23, 2008 - the rough cut 2 inch thick Poplar floor boards are down, leveled and nailed.
The Poplar was provided by Ken (yes, the somewhat retired one!) - he loves his sawmill and skidsteer!
What would we do without him?

South west stall loaded with hay from the Horvath's from across the road!

Southe East stall with sand floor ready for 'Sandy'.

Bare tackroom wall. Yah, I know, hold that thought!

North East stall ready for 'Scooter'.

Looking from east through the west door to the house.

Ooooooooooo, nice floor!

'TW's crunch bucket and hay feed station.

The barn is great! Far bigger and better than we imagined. The boys worked real hard putting it together, we were in constant contact with Jack and Becky at "Affordable Barns" regarding when and where we were gonna do this thing and every step along the way! We highly recommend this as an economical and very useful way to get a barn up and running in no time for your place. If you want more information click on the pictures below, check out their website or get your phone and call'em!