While the barn set up has been easy to work with (as far as handling sheep) over the years, we have battled air flow in the "inside" stall, especially in the summer months and especially when it's been super rainy or super hot - check and check this summer.
We've talked about taking down the wall between the two stalls forever, but never did it for who knows what reasoning. It's down now and I can't believe we didn't do this years ago. The barn is so light and airy and much more comfortable temperature and air quality-wise.
The view from the outside.
The new view inside. And by view I mean view! I can stand in the aisleway and not only see almost any sheep in the barn at any time, but I can also see sheep in the side paddock, like Auntie Lila and Bullwinkle. Yes, there are still some blind spots, but man what a difference!
We obviously weren't going to take down any supporting beams and the outside addition is slightly higher than the inside floor so we replaced the old wall with gates. I can still shuffle sheep from the inside stall to the outside stall, shut the small gate and then push them down to the working pen with a solid wall, just like the old days.
And we didn't take out the old wall feeders because everyone likes to use them as pillows and standing blocks. Woolliam and Woody standing up on the far right.
And the gates make good pillows, too :-). Andy. And Woolliam, who would just like to Go To Sleep Now Please!
The "assigned seats" got jumbled around a bit for awhile, but there are still most of the familiar faces here. Keebs, Renny, Burrnie, Ewen, Boudreaux are all accounted for. Woolliam got knocked down the wall for a couple days, but he's now back where he wants to be ;-). Somehow Chocula managed to make every picture, day and night, all over. That's his butt in the gate pillow pic.
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The Tour de Fleece is rolling right along, too. Well, some team members are rolling better than others, but we are all having fun. It's not too late to join and even if you don't want to spin, you can still follow along and cheer lead!
13 comments:
Really beautiful, peaceful photographs in the barn. The colours of the sheep and the barn wood are similar in some of the shots - sort of monochromatic in a way, but it gives a wonderful warmth and character to the shots. You have such a lovely barn - I am envious! Soon I hope to get a small barn built so I can have my 2 sheep and 2 goats back home with me.
Certainly looks more light and airy!!! Looks like everyone has a spot to lay their head !!! Well done !!
What a huge difference! Now you just need a cot out there for guests who "need" to sleep with their fleecy friends.
I love to sleep in the barn :-).
I dream of having a barn.
This may be a dumb question, but with the walls knocked down how will you keep it warm in the winter?
kim
You have just updated to "open plan" living. It does look beautifully light and airy and you notice the beautiful rafters in your barn.
Just in time for the Ravellenics! The sheep can hold races! More like, "best sleepers."
Good question! Sheep have way more trouble dealing with heat than cold and even in the dead of winter, many of them preferred to hang out in the outer shed with the side doors open anyway. If we have brutal wind from the west or blowing rain or snow from the west, we'll shut those side doors to provide a "break". If you can get them out of the wind, fat sheep wearing warm wool jumpers are toasty warm :-).
Will definitely need a sleeping division ;-D.
I suspected that keeping them warm was not a problem, but had to ask!
Nothing like light and air to brighten things up. I am huge advocate for airy, well-ventilated barns, which is why mine has so many windows and no doors:)
Wow what a difference that made! I bet it will be cooler in the summer....I had to smile seeing all those cattle gates:)
I love it....and these photos are spectacular! We opened up our barn too, now that there are 4 horses instead of 8. They all have studio apartments.
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