What an insane weekend it was! Francis worked like a superhero to have everything ready for the new "tenants" arrival on Sunday. Friday evening saw him measuring the angle iron and drilling holes in it.This angle iron is to placed on top of the wooden floor boards to hold them in place. He started installing the wood floors- got about 1/3 of Raphi's stall done.

On Saturday, Francis' friend Yves came to help with the rest of the floors. Unfortunately, they ran out of tamarack boards so we have had to order more. In the meantime, Pippa's stall had a few spruce boards put in near the back of the stall so it could be finished for her arrival. The angle iron was installed and bolted into place in both stalls.After the floors were installed, Francis made cement and filled in the gaps between the floors and the walls. You see the foundation is made of stone so there are

no straight lines! In the afternoon, I hung water buckets, salt lick holders ( wonderful ones in the shape of horseshoes!) and put down fresh bedding and hay into the stalls all ready for the grand arrival on Sunday. Yes, I needed Francis' help to figure out the proper screws/bolts and drill bits but I managed in the end.

Putting the final touches on Pippa's stall-installing the salt block holder

Final prep of Raphi's stall

Sunday was crazy! Marina and I  attended a dressage clinic at the place we were boarding at while Francis was like Cinderella back at the house scrubbing and cleaning. He tidied up all his tools and construction debris from the stall area, swept floors, installed rubber mats in the alley way, hung up our new cross-ties ( so we can have the horses tied in the alley when we groom/tack up, etc). Then he started fixing fences ( there were some gaping  holes in the fence line which we noticed on Saturday). Serge (Marina's husband) helped with the fence fixing. They installed some electric fence to prevent the horses going near the old stone well and behind the machinery shed. You see, Francis cut down all the old shrubs/weeds there in the fall and planted seed to get new grass to grow so he didn't want the horses going there yet. Unfortunately, he didn't get the fence done before the horses found the only patch of dirt ( yep, the newly seeded patch) and decided to have a good roll !! It was 845 pm before he finally finished. He had to make a temporary barricade to keep the horses out of the barn during the day and we hung a tarp across the door. Next weekend will see the start of new Dutch doors for the barn.

Marina and I trailered the horses home at 3pm on Sunday. They didn't even go for a run- just put their heads to the ground and started eating. They were so relaxed. They recognized the place I guess from our two day trips in the fall.  In the evening, around 7pm they started to rip and tear... they went to the gate we had brought them through and started whinnying-- guess they were looking to go back and go to bed. Well, we caught them and brought them inside to see their new "home"-- They walked right in, looking relaxed and happy and started munching on supper. Francis said we had to get out of bed at 10pm as we had to go and made sure they were ok--- and there they were, just quietly eating. No twirling or fussing -- they looked completely relaxed and happy. Francis had even installed a solar light in the barn so we had a light to turn on ( he really does think of everything!).End to a perfect weekend. Poor Francis didn't even stop to eat--he didn't have breakfast or lunch  on Sunday and we didn't get in for supper until 845pm... anyone want to join his diet plan they are welcome- he has lost 10 pounds over the last 4 weekends with all his hard work!

Letting go..........

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