Here is where we are at the start of the eighth month.
The front porch posts and beams have been installed. We used Western Red Cedar and stained it a natural color. The triangle above the porch, (gable end), will be finished out with handmade cedar shakes that we are waiting on from the Amish shake-maker to tie it all together. We wanted something special for the metal t-brackets that connect the posts to the beams, so I trusted my best friend Google to help me find just the thing.
We decided it would be nice to try to tie in the location to the design theme. Our property is located on what is called Chestnut Ridge, so I sketched a couple of chestnut leaves and sent it to Cutting Edge Metals. They forged these pretty awesome t-brackets (and square head screws) to “beautify” our structure support system for the front porch. And like everything else we seem to lift into the air, they are hefty – about 20 pounds each… and that 20 foot beam going across the top is also one solid piece of lumber, weighing in at around 100+ pounds.
The weather is still refusing to cooperate more days than not right now, so we have been working inside the workshop on painting chores – like the roof joists for the porch – 2 coats of primer – 2 coats of paint – 6 edges – it keeps a girl busy for a few days. Hubby routed out a special trim edge on the bottom sides to make the painting more interesting (time-consuming) for me.
Standing guard over the fruits of our labor will be a bluebird family we hope finds its way to their new home that hub crafted and installed. Note that no bluebird house is complete without a little engraving…
Another cold and rainy day project he completed with our oldest grand-daughter.
As for me, I joined the second 30 paintings in 30 days online challenge sponsored by artist Leslie Saeta. The last one in September, I chose to paint rural Tennessee churches. This time around, the subject matter is barns. Here are a few of the completions so far.
You can see all of the churches and follow along on the barns on my Instagram page.