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Across the Fence:  My new off grid home :)  |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1195 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
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 Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 4:12:32 PM
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ok today I got up & decided to drive up to see the farm to see what I needed to do to fix the wall in the trailer mary said needed fixed....oh I had such a wonderful drive up there......I saw a beautiful ginger bread house in bright yellow with light green trim that was so pretty,..plywood dinosaurs in a corn field looking over the tops of the corn.....saw a VW rabbit car painted in a pretty gold with huge bunny ears on the back of it......got to see 2 really cool wooden covered bridges, crossed over 2 iron covered bridges & saw fields after fields of sweet corn.....about 7 miles before I got there I had to take a potty break & get more coffee,,,sure glad I did...cause as you will see below I don't think Mary ever really looked at the trailer....
as you can see thats one big hole...but wait it only gets better....lol.lol.lol
window completely removed from the frame
Oh would you look at that, someone decided to rip out most of the ceilings!!!!!
Well goodness sakes theres 2 more windows completely gone
Ok when you get your self up off the floor & wipe those laughter tears away....just know I am sooo glad I did the potty break cause I thought this was so funny....Not only was most of the ceiling ripped out but you could see molds from the leaks...the living room area had huge sheets of paneling gone, insulation gone to the point you could see outside.....both bedrooms had windows broken from the inside out of completely removed & the bathroom had the faucets ripped out of the tub & the wall where the piping for it also ripped out.....The front door was wood & rotted through so bad little of it was left & the so called backdoor had been kicked so hard from the inside it bowed & bend the framing & hinges.....
there is no way this can be fixed to anything I could ever live in since I am sure the floors with all the leaks are also spongy...plus I am sure the carpet is full of molds...lol.lol.lol....poor girl I bet she had no clue when she said it was liveable...well I didn't even see mice or rat droppings so I don't think even they will live in it....
I took over 120 pics of everything I could that she said she wanted fixed...well I am telling you it will take me years of cleaning out junk in the barns ect to just get to the walls....
Now don't fret, there is a 2 room shed they are using for yard stuff that could be used if I add a wood floor....to it & cut a double wide opening between the rooms so I can have the wood stove heat all of it.....
I will be writing about this on my blog with all the lovely pictures later on once I have rested a bit...10 1/2 hours of total driving time wore me out......but I had to share this with you all cause it tickled me so much...Michele'
Chickens RULE!
hen #2622
theoldbatzfarm.blogspot.com |
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Netty
True Blue Farmgirl
379 Posts
Lynette
Hardy
Nebraska
USA
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Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 4:33:11 PM
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Oh Michele....You are so much braver then I would ever be. I sure wished that the trailer was in better conditon. That is so sad that people have no regard for other peoples property.
I hope the shed will work out for you. I don't see how you will stay warm tho with just the shed walls, won't you have to insulate and all that good stuff?
You are making me worry about you Michele. Are you there for good or did you just drive up for a look and see? To bad the old guy across the road isn't a little bit nicer where he could help you out with the labor stuff anyway. Keep us in touch.
Netty |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
889 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
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Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 4:41:02 PM
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Michele,
It is a good thing you checked this place out! Did she not know the condition this was in before she told you that you could stay?
As for the shed ... you might be dealing with the same thing, but add the mice!
Do you have a plan B?
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
White Sheep Farm
www.whitesheepfarm.com |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1195 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
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Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 5:20:23 PM
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ok hens the shed is actually built really well, its an older one with the heavy beams, 2 inch thick walls & no mice that I could see any droppings from...I will have to level out the dirty floor & then use cement blocks to raise a wood floor above the dirt...think like you do with the shed kits you buy at Home depot...but there is tons of the old 2 inch think boards...about 10 inches across that I can use for the floor frame work then cover that with the same 2 inch thick boards for the floors...so it will actually work out quite well....its actually very tight so I am not worried about the cold but I will use tarps up inside it on the walls as extra wind barrier......plus since it is so small my wood stove should heat the whole place in no time flat so will have to learn to do small fires & keep them going but not so hot & am outside trying to cool off....plus Lauria my crooked neck hen will be in there with me & I am sure she will not be happy if momma gets the place so hot she has to come outside with me....lol.....
Now so you all don't worry I am back home, just went up for the day to see the place & do lists of things that need to be done.....just thought it was all too funny not to share.....there is another horse barn with a upstairs loft that is huge but its got ton of stuff in it & the door up there for maybe hay at one time needs lots of repairs done to it......I would love to be up there but there is no way I can clear out all that stuff before the winter hits....but if I work on it during the winter I may get it in good shape to move in it once the snows melt....
Now as for Mary I think when she saw it back on Mothers day it wasn't as damaged so she had no idea someone had gotten into it....I ill email her later & let her know whats been done to it....I am sure it will break her heart.....we are traveling up there together next tuesday...but I wanted to go alone the first time so I could concentrate on what I was seeing ect.....she & I tend to talk a lot so my attention is split.......Michele'
Chickens RULE!
hen #2622
theoldbatzfarm.blogspot.com |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
889 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
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Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 5:49:38 PM
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It sounds like you have the plan B in place. I hope it all works out and you stay WARM. I know all to well how those New England winters can be. And you are right, I stayed in a cabin one year,1 room with a wood stove and trying to regulate it was the hardest part. Keep us posted.
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
White Sheep Farm
www.whitesheepfarm.com |
Edited by - kysheeplady on Aug 16 2012 5:50:21 PM |
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laurentany
True Blue Farmgirl
2875 Posts
Laurie
Patchogue
NY
USA
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Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 6:06:52 PM
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OH my Michele!
Well, it sounds like you are rolling with the punches and have a new vision for the old shed.....lol. Good for you- please keep us posted as to what you decide on.
Hugs,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
View my New Blog:
http://simplesuburbanpleasures.blogspot.com
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
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nabrown42
True Blue Farmgirl
384 Posts
Nancy
Caneyville
KY
USA
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Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 6:23:20 PM
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Oh, Michels, I'm heartsick over the condition of the trailer but hopeful the shed can be made habitable quickly. If anyone can do it, I know you can. As for the stove, our Vermont stove sure was a challenge for us when we moved into our place in KY. I can't stand it hot and Keith can't stand cold and that stove drove me outdoors on many evenings. The thermostat almost blew it's top many a night when he stoked up the fire and the gauge said 91 degrees. It was hotter because 91 is the highest temp it would registered.
Keep us all posted especially after you go up there with Mary. It will be interesting what she has to say.
"I've wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to someone's needs I've been blind; but I've yet to feel a twinge of regret for being a little too kind." |
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jan49829
True Blue Farmgirl
1598 Posts
Janet
Escanaba
Michigan
USA
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Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 8:07:02 PM
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Michele, Now, I think you have us all worried for you. I hope you will be able to survive the winter there. What about water? Is there running water that you will be able to use? Please make sure you will be able to keep warm and dry before you go any further. Let us know more after you go back. You are a very brave gal, a true farmgirl, for sure!!!!
Janet
Farmgirl Sister #3340
http://hardatworkcrafts.blogspot.com
http://Jan49829.etsy.com
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rphelps4
True Blue Farmgirl
519 Posts
roxanna
westport
indiana
USA
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Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 8:26:38 PM
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| WOW, you have guts women, I am a true believer were where is a will there is a way, I just hope you can get everything secure before cold weather settles in. Are you going to have help to get the floors done and all the other work done, do you have someone who is going to check on weekly, and a way to contact someone in case you need them do to a accident or sickness? I have faith in you just concerned hen friend. Roxanna |
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erowease
True Blue Farmgirl
294 Posts
Lesley
Edmonds
wa
USA
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Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 9:54:16 PM
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Hmm, looks like someone got some free replacement windows. Glad you could laugh at it all. Make sure you get everything in place before the cold weather hits. Send pics when you get everything in place. We will all keep you in our thoughts and prayers as you transition to this new adventure. Just think of it as your own version of little house on the praire with a one room cabin.
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
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queenmushroom
True Blue Farmgirl
671 Posts
Lorena
Centerville
Me
USA
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Posted - Aug 17 2012 : 06:14:50 AM
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I say sell the trailer for scrap and start anew. Sorry. Not worth the aggravation. By the time you invest the money to fix it, you would be better off buying another trailer or building.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
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prayin granny
True Blue Farmgirl
1632 Posts
Linda
Kansas
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Posted - Aug 17 2012 : 07:46:26 AM
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Thank you for sharing!!!! Oh, what a challenge that lies ahead!
Looks like a beautiful area and property!!
Farmgirl hugs,
Linda
Country at Heart |
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Emily Anna
True Blue Farmgirl
805 Posts
Emily
Fort Atkinson
WI
USA
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Posted - Aug 17 2012 : 10:35:01 AM
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Oh. My. Gosh! I am going to start praying for you ASAP! lol! I know we don't know each other, but one thing that strikes me about you is your positive "can do" attitude. Most people would have felt really deflated after seeing the condition of the trailer, but you just laugh it off and come up with another plan. I've always thought it would be neat to live a simple life with just the bare necessities so I'm excited for your opportunity to live, like Lesley said, little house on the prairie. I hope that you will be able to get to a computer to keep us updated and I hope that if you need help there is someone in the area that you can contact. I will be praying for you and your chickens! Also, will you have an address for farmgirls to mail you letters?
Emily |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22745 Posts
Alee
Billings
MT Sister # 8
USA
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Posted - Aug 17 2012 : 10:38:34 AM
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I think the shed idea sounds grand! It might be worth the cost to buy some rolled insulation and plywood for your sleeping area and put up the insulation and the nail gun or screw the plywood on your side of the barrier. That will keep out a lot of drafts and you can always make a "dropped" roop with Tarps (though that could get noisy with air movement) or blankets to help keep the heat from rising. It will feel a lot like camping for the winter, but it could be lots of fun! I almost envy you the possibility! I wouldn't mind living the winter in our cabin!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1195 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
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Posted - Aug 17 2012 : 1:32:41 PM
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Wow girls you are all so amazing...Now with the shed I won;t have to invest any money except for screws cause there is tons of good wood boards on the farm in different places...so I will be able to build a bunk bed up high & have the under area covered with a old blanket for things.....I don't think with the woodstove I have I need to insulate it as I will be using tarps on the walls with the silver part facing into the rooms to reflect the heat......I mean I am talking of maybe a 7-8 foot by 12-14 foot room so the wood stove I have which is powerful will be more than enough........
As for the original home...the trailer I plan to tear apart all the good metal sheeting from the outside to use over other small roofs that are in good shape but could be helped with a metal roof....where I will be I want to cover the roof with some so I can hear the rain like I used to when I was a kid......Some of the windows are still in the first trailer that even though the storm window parts are broken I can use them for out building...plus I plan to use one of the few not broken for my shed since it has no windows....I would feel like I am in a black box without being able to see the snow fall, watch the rains or sun....So there is alot there I can hopefully re-use, recycle for other things...i would hate to have to dump it all when theres a chance it can be used somewhere on the farm....
yes I will have an address while there & I will post it when it gets closer to me leaving......I will also be staying in touch with Debbie from Colorado & Grace so they will be able to post on how I am doing...but I will welcome letters from you hens...it will be wonderful to hear from anyone who wants to write....on my list is buying lots of stamps so i can answer letters ........
I had to laugh over the Plan B comments...actually I have a plan C & D as well if needed...lol.......Michele'
Chickens RULE!
hen #2622
theoldbatzfarm.blogspot.com |
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.Linz.
True Blue Farmgirl
118 Posts
Lindsey
Shippensburg
Pennsylvania
USA
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Posted - Aug 17 2012 : 3:57:31 PM
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Wow! Sounds like such an adventure and you've got a good plan in place. :)
"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds." - Prov. 27:23 |
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Across the Fence: My new off grid home :) |
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My new off grid home :)
