Life in the Barns

[don long]

Laine
I love the new fashioned coke machine. I'll have to share that idea with my neighbor. He's been wanting a working coke machine to keep his drinks in but finding one that works for little money isn't happenin so He'll like this idea
Thanks. Have a happy turkey day

Don

 

[Jayman17]

Great sunrise photos and your fridge upgrade looks good, I like the toolbox wraps too. They are better than looking at a boring fridge. Have a great Thanksgiving!

Jay

 

[Homebody]

Laine
I love the new fashioned coke machine. I'll have to share that idea with my neighbor. He's been wanting a working coke machine to keep his drinks in but finding one that works for little money isn't happenin so He'll like this idea
Thanks. Have a happy turkey day

Don

Thanks Don, I ordered the wrap from Etsy and it shipped from Uruguay. Super nice person to deal with.

Great sunrise photos and your fridge upgrade looks good, I like the toolbox wraps too. They are better than looking at a boring fridge. Have a great Thanksgiving!

Jay

Thanks for stopping by Jay! Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[Homebody]

Here's another project I did for a buddy a few weeks ago that brought back all the memories of my sign making / vehicle lettering days.
I had orders to use his name, the number and 2 plain circles or "gumballs" as they were known back in the day.
I picked up a sheet of 11mil Komatex which is a lightweight plastic material that you can cut, router, paint, sand the same as wood. I love using this and Sintra for signs as it's super light, fade resistant and lasts forever.
20211005_180611 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

I grabbed the jig saw and cut out the two circles and sanded the edges.
20211016_163751 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20211016_163802 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

Next I used some older brushed aluminum looking textured vinyl that I had and applied it to the lower portion.
20211016_164614 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

Then I applied the red, white & black vinyl in their places.
20211017_112758 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

I then cut some 1/2" aluminum angle to border the bottom square part of the sign.
20211017_115808 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20211017_122050 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

Secured that aluminum with some stainless screws and called it done.
20211018_164851 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

Turned out pretty sweet and he loved it!
I also gave him an old porcelain arm lamp with it to go above it between the two circles. Think that will finish it off nicely.
20211020_161541 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20211020_161547 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

 

[82355]

Just read this thread from beginning to end. Love the barns.

It's a shame about not getting to use the barn for a wedding venue, it would have been nice to recoup some cost on the barn. Did you do any of the original work that was set out for you to make it "up to code"?

What are your plans with the middle sized barn now that you won't be using it for a bridal suite?

Was the corn crib repurposed, or did you just build a new building on the old pad? Do you still plan to put an awning on the front of it, to cover the fuel pumps?

Martin

 

[Bears Fan]

Dang! That is cool! You just gave me a bunch of new ideas ****, like I need another project

 

[Homebody]

Just read this thread from beginning to end. Love the barns.

It's a shame about not getting to use the barn for a wedding venue, it would have been nice to recoup some cost on the barn. Did you do any of the original work that was set out for you to make it "up to code"?

What are your plans with the middle sized barn now that you won't be using it for a bridal suite?

Was the corn crib repurposed, or did you just build a new building on the old pad? Do you still plan to put an awning on the front of it, to cover the fuel pumps?

Martin

Thanks Martin, Hope you weren't too bored!
Really doesn't bother us not using it as a venue at our age dealing with neighbors, unruly guests, and **** like that. Don't need that stress in our life at this age..lol The cost was the same as if we were to have our daughters wedding anyplace else and we got to spend it on our own property instead so that's a win in our book even if we don't recoup any of it. We now have a really cool party barn that we wouldn't have!

The small barn will be made into my woodshop as the wife and I do a lot of craft projects, furniture repurposing, etc. Probably a better use for it anyways and saves me from having to put up another building for that use. It's nice having a building where it's sole purpose is woodworking and you don't have to worry about keeping it available for cars, storage or whatnot.

The corncrib was the worse building on the property when we moved in. It was taken down to it's studded shell, then we replaced 80% of those studs, poured a new floor, added all new rafters and reskinned it. That way we could say it was a remodel instead of a new building.
Yes, I still plan on an awning for the front of it, and may even put a wood front on it to give it more of an old General Store look. Whether the awning extends out far enough to cover the pumps is still undecided at this point.
Here are some pics of that deal which I don't think I've posted yet.

Thanks again for stopping by!
20220202_165347 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20220202_165406 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20220202_165414 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20220202_165420 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20220202_165426 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20220202_165431 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
1-2 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
1-3 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

Dang! That is cool! You just gave me a bunch of new ideas ****, like I need another project

lol As you've found out already, a vinyl cutter just doubled the amount of stuff that you were capable of doing before. And some cool stuff at that!

 

[82355]

Not bored at all, quite the opposite. I LOVE old barns. Jealous of those who have them.

Those pictures of the corn crib make a LOT more sense. I could have sworn the roof pitch was less on the after pictures, than the before pictures. Turns out I was right.

Martin

 

[Homebody]

Not bored at all, quite the opposite. I LOVE old barns. Jealous of those who have them.

Those pictures of the corn crib make a LOT more sense. I could have sworn the roof pitch was less on the after pictures, than the before pictures. Turns out I was right.

Martin

lol Correct. The added cost for that same pitch in the before pic was SUBSTANTIAL and not worth it at the time for us.

 

[Homebody]

The buddy I did the sign for came back with a truck he wanted lettered - in vinyl. Onece I seen the truck I informed him that new shiny vinyl would look like **** on a truck with that patina! I told him it needs to be painted on so it looks as old as the truck. Thankfully he agreed and let me have at it.
The truck.

20220612_115621 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

Fired up the vinyl cutter and made some templates.

20220612_121900 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

Applied those and brushed on the background silver and sprayed the red. Great way to use up paints you have on hand.

20220612_124025 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20220613_174850 by Laine Olson, on Flickr


Once that dries, peeled off the stencil and scuffed and sanded the colors to the desired effect. No three sides are the same.

20220614_172411 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20220614_172420 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

Then I just made the text stencils and did the same thing with those colors. Turned out pretty sweet and he loved it!

20220616_061007 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20220616_064406 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20220616_064558 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

 

[Bears Fan]

Awesome job on the truck! I like the weathered, faded look too. I'm with you vinyl decals wouldn't of worked or looked correct on this old truck

 

[Homebody]

Awesome job on the truck! I like the weathered, faded look too. I'm with you vinyl decals wouldn't of worked or looked correct on this old truck

Thanks!
I've done a few like this with the vintage look lettering and have an old 5 gallon gas can lined up next as they liked the truck.

 

[tj675]

Awesome work on that truck! Can’t wait to see the gas can.

 

[BuickFarmer]

Oh Man! You are good.

 

[82355]

That looks WAY better than vinyl would have.

Martin

 

[Homebody]

Awesome work on that truck! Can’t wait to see the gas can.

Thanks, let me know if you like the can.

Oh Man! You are good.

You're too kind!

That looks WAY better than vinyl would have.

Martin

Yes, I'm glad he liked my idea also! Thanks.

 

[Homebody]

Here's a sweet old cradle gas can my brother found and told me to put something on it. He's on a farm down the road from me so I figured lets stick with a farm theme.

Tilt gas can by Laine Olson, on Flickr
Tilt gas can by Laine Olson, on Flickr
Tilt gas can by Laine Olson, on Flickr
Tilt gas can by Laine Olson, on Flickr
Tilt gas can by Laine Olson, on Flickr
Tilt gas can by Laine Olson, on Flickr
Tilt gas can by Laine Olson, on Flickr

My Coke cooler has been wheeled into the shop and should be next on my project list.

20220612_103413 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

 

[tj675]

That can looks great!

 

[Homebody]

That can looks great!

Thank You Sir! I've never seen one before and kinda wonder where and how they used em.?

 

[tj675]

Thank You Sir! I've never seen one before and kinda wonder where and how they used em.?

I think it is a tilting safety can. Similar to what they would use in a lab.

 

[don long]

I like how you made the fresh paint look old. I'm not good at that at all.
That is one neet can that I've not seen before either. did you make the lettering on the frame or paint it on

 

[Homebody]

I like how you made the fresh paint look old. I'm not good at that at all.
That is one neet can that I've not seen before either. did you make the lettering on the frame or paint it on

Thanks Don. I painted it on.

 

[Homebody]

So this happened in late January... I'll explain when I have more time soon!
Everything's good, it was just the right time.

20230126_170436 by Laine Olson, on Flickr
20230126_170456 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

 

[FTWingRiders]

Wait…. What?!?!?

 

[don long]

So that’s why we didn’t hook up when I drove up to get the Alemite wall huh

 

[don long]

That thing looks great in my Texaco garage
Thanks for the lead laine
Good luck with the new place

 

[82355]

Didn't see that coming.

Martin

 

[sublime68charger]

gonna need a full write up on this!

When you have time and get set back up that is!

 

[Homebody]

Wait…. What?!?!?

So that’s why we didn’t hook up when I drove up to get the Alemite wall huh

Didn't see that coming.

Martin

gonna need a full write up on this!

When you have time and get set back up that is!

Sooo, I didn't disappear off the face of the earth and I apologize for the long delay in explaining things!
Since I last posted in this thread 8 months ago, a few things have happened..

Farm was sold
Then it wasn't
Then it got CRAZY
Then it was sold again
Then we bought a ranch house that needs a full resto
Then the wife and I did a lot of that resto
Then we went to Switzerland for 3 weeks
Then I bought a new Camaro LT1
Now I'm pooped and will go into more details with pics over Christmas break.
Hang tight!

 

[bgt]

Wonderful thread! Really enjoyed it. The farm ended up looking amazing, especially the party barn, and a real credit to you!

Please update! I need to know the CRAZY.

 

[Homebody]

Wonderful thread! Really enjoyed it. The farm ended up looking amazing, especially the party barn, and a real credit to you!

Please update! I need to know the CRAZY.

Thanks, and you're right. A year is waaaay too long for an update around here on any thread and I'll start filling you in now!

We decided to sell the farm in the Fall of 22 as once the barn venue plans fell apart due in part to Covid, it just didn't make sense for us to stay there any longer - especially when real estate was going crazy at the time. It was a hard decision to make, but with the ongoing upkeep of the outbuildings, the constant lawn/property care, and the nuisance of the 500 home subdivision directly across the street it was time to pad our retirement accounts and give us a better, easier future.

The "crazy" part bgt needs to know happened 2 days after it was listed when we got the offer we'd expected for this area - over asking price, cash deal, and quick closing. SOLD! Or so we thought.

This buyer put down a decent earnest money deposit, and then had to postpone the first closing a week. Ok

The second closing was then asked to be moved out another 2 weeks due to a family emergency.

We only agreed to a third closing date as he added a significant cash amount in additional earnest money as they didn't want to lose their dream home. As the third one approached we were informed the buyer was in the hospital undergoing an emergency brain surgery.

Two days later, my wife and her friends seen the buyer and his wife in a local bar having a great time! You can't make this stuff up..lol

In the end, that contract was voided, we settled for half of the earnest money (high 5 figures), relisted it and sold it again 2 months after the original offer with no issues. Crazy Right?!

The search was on for a new 3 bedroom ranch in a Cul De Sac somewhere while living with my Mother in law who was in declining health so that actually worked out well.
In January of 23 we closed on this house about 15 miles from the farm. Funny as one of my requirements was that it had to have few trees as I was real tired of dealing with a 100 or so trees at the farm. Buuuut...Happy Wife, Happy Life.. REAL WEIRD going from 120 acres to a half acre!!

2023-03-30_12-25-55 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

Once the Fall of 23 hit, I knew i shouldn't have caved so easy.

received_661959889356512 by Laine Olson, on Flickr

 

[Homebody]

Work commenced immediately on the inside of the house and progressed through all of 23 and a good portion of this year, but first we'll discuss the changes made outside up to now.
The most hideous thing that caught my eye when looking at pics of the house was the Dr Seuss garage door. It didn't look any better in person! When we did the first tour of the place I noticed it was framed like a regular door initially and come to find out the French style was an option in 73 when it was built. So it was an easy fix to get it back to normal. My neighbor across the street was ecstatic at that change!

20230726_070645 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qDepsg]20230728_141326 by

Those goofy grills in the windows were just screwed in and went into the garbage.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qDfjWX]20230729_141154 by

I feel so much better!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qEaMsG]20230729_210138 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/153040134@N06/

 

[Homebody]

With that fixed, our attention turned to the trees, specifically the 3 in the front yard. The oak was huge, old and a nuisance to anything parked in the driveway. I have to park in the driveway and numerous times i'd come out to find rather large branches laying on the truck.

Couple that with the ridiculous amount of leaves it left - while beautiful, more than I wanted to deal with. Add in the fact that the insurance company did not like the way it was leaning substantially towards the front center of the house made the decision all the easier to take it down. The tree guy gave me a deal on the smaller two Hickory's near it also to rid the front of the house of all it's trees. I like tree's and all but the hickory's are just ugly, and leave way too much garbage on the ground in the Fall. No worries though as there are about 15 more in the backyard of which the majority will stay.

Tree guys made quick work of the three trees in one day, though not without some excitement as they had to much slack in the rope which was supposed to make it fall towards the street and instead it fell into the neighbors yard taking out some small shrubbery with it. Saving grace is it also took out a large dead branch of the neighbors tree which was hanging over our front yard, so that was good. Neighbor lady came out and wasn't happy of course and didn't understand why we would start cutting down trees in a subdivision that had "Woods" in it's name. We calmed her by stating our reasons and that a new Red maple would go in their place. Whew!
Screenshot_20230308_200831_Chrome
Messenger_creation_1c3f892b-5e54-4976-8bbc-e26ec04cfbdb
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While they were there, we worked out a price to have them take out three more trees along side the house as they were 60% dead and I wanted to put in a wider drive or third garage in the future and didn't want the heavy trucks on the new drive.

Messenger_creation_32e4cbb0-04f7-4991-a434-5e6ce5c3433c

All the stumps were ground and they were gone by 4. Nice!

Messenger_creation_bd8a7887-a75e-43ae-ba06-bf6edd3613c6

And here's the little guy starting some new history in their place.

20241024_180829

 

[Bob Heine]

Laine, much as I loved the adventures in the old place and the tremendous amount of work you put into it, your new place has two advantages: 1) it's a nice size for two people to share and enjoy and 2) the sale of the old place puts money to work for you instead of the other way around.

 

[Homebody]

Laine, much as I loved the adventures in the old place and the tremendous amount of work you put into it, your new place has two advantages: 1) it's a nice size for two people to share and enjoy and 2) the sale of the old place puts money to work for you instead of the other way around.

Thanks and I couldn't agree more! We miss it for sure, but don't regret our decision one bit. I only have 3 more rooms to finish at this place and once done our biggest project twice a year is planning the next vacation!
I've got a small workshop in the basement and have some fun projects lined up to do in it probably starting next Winter. I love repurposing old stuff and will continue at it.


20231122_181018
20240218_105124

Some of my previous projects here.

Barnyard Rustorations

Creating Useful Stuff out of Useless Junk

www.flickr.com

 

[Homebody]

One thing we had at the farm was plenty of space to park! 300+ vehicles easily..lol
Not so here and it's probably the hardest thing to get used to. With the Camaro and my wifes Jeep in the garage, I'm relegated to parking outside and I hate moving a vehicle to drive another one in front of it. The driveway is two cars wide and 3 deep so it's not horrible but it's narrow as you're stepping onto the grass when exiting your car.

Our initial thought was to add a third attached garage beside the existing one as that would be the norm. I wanted to go the full 36' length to the back of the house because a bigger garage is always better right? I'm also limited to 12' wide. What makes it complicated is the electric meter is on that side as well as our family room fireplace.

We aren't sure when we'll go ahead with the garage as there are some crazy lengthy county zoning variances to get first, but we wanted to at least get a pad put in and use it for a patio and/or parking in the meantime. The electrical contractor said it would be easier when the time comes to just put a new meter and line in than moving the existing one with the substantial amount of tree roots in the area and the fireplace - while being a poorly installed gas insert in place of the original one, would be ok once checked and/or corrected to fire wall code.

Here's the before. The tall pine is the one they took down as well as a rather large buckthorn bush that was going wild,
The faint white paint line is the property line which is weird in a cul de sac as it actually intersects the driveway about 20' off the road. Gotta stay 3' off that.

Messenger_creation_1ac9ba48-7424-4a2c-96f1-d9e94b6f4f53


I didn't want a cold seam between the two asphalts in the new asphalt approach to the concrete pad so we tore up the 2 year old driveway to do it all at once. We also widened the drive by 2' on each side to make it a little more comfortable getting in and out of the car.

Screenshot_20240523_130224_Vivint
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Screenshot_20240620_075724_Vivint

Yaaas. I feel so much better being rid of the eyesore and slope on that side of the house!!

 

[82355]

Do the new owners of your farm have plans with the barn?

Martin

 

[Homebody]

Do the new owners of your farm have plans with the barn?

Martin

They had the same plans we did and were ecstatic to get it. We explained the Zoning process to them and what had to be done as far as paperwork, permits, etc. They chose to bypass all that and have events unpermitted instead. County shut them down and that's never a good thing in this County. Now it'll be 3-4 times as hard to ever get the Special Use Permit.

It's sad, as it really is the nicest authentic barn venue in the area and just needs the continued love to keep it that way. I wish them the best and hope they keep the barn in use for decades down the road.

20180513_155042

At least we'll always have this memory of making our daughters wish of having a her wedding in our barn a reality.

20180602_193403