Major construction,finishing touches, lost loves , dreams and "where's Waldo?"

new support wall

I don't have a lot to post this week. The weather was cold and miserable and rainy. Francis continued to work on the barn. It was our 12th anniversary on June 11- I took the day off from work so we could spend it together. Our plans were to go to our trailer (RV)on the Ottawa River ( Leblanc Island to be precise) and get things ready for the new summer season. The trailer is our summer escape- Francis' get-a-way and favourite place! It is an idyllic spot- ( I will try and find a picture to post). Well, the weather did not cooperate as I have mentioned so instead we went around to nurseries looking for flowers to plant at the trailer and to finish in some holes in my containers at the house. I am an avid gardener you see, and I rarely get Francis to come with me, but as it was our anniversary he had to spend time with me (LOL). However, that works both ways, and he made me spend time with him in the barn.......I sat in a chair and observed him continue his work from last week building the new barn walls. It is quite a job-- he has to build a new supporting structure ( wall) from floor to ceiling to support the barn floors above. The he has to remove the old support posts on the cement foundation wall ( original supports for the barn) and then rebuild a new wall on the cement foundation wall. We ( he) are putting in new windows ( 10 of them) down that long side of the barn so he also has to build new window frames. I decided they are going every 10 feet...


Francis is so amusing... my birthday is this week and he just could not wait to give me a present that he had for me. While I went into the house to change into riding clothes ( I decided to go riding once the rain quit), he went and brought a gift to the barn and covered it with a blanket... he then unveiled it for me with glee and delight. His eyes light up like a child at Christmas when he is excited about something... anyway his gift caused me to get what he endearingly calls "shiny eyes" ( an old joke between us as I am a mushball and cry with any deep emotion- whether love, laughter, sadness, joy). His gift was a print of a painting that a lady had commissioned for herself of my old horse Romy. I had previously ordered a plaque to hang in the barn to acknowledge his memory and all he meant to me and my life. Romy was the horse I had from the time he was 6 until age of 33 when he was put to sleep. He was a part of our family and I lost him ( ie had to rehome him)at he same time other huge losses and changes occurred in my life. He died the same year as my father and I have learned that it matters not if family is near or far, or has not been as active in our lives for several years, the love does not change, nor the pain off loss when they die. So I have a endearing photo of my Dad on my cupboard in the bedroom ( my favorite picture of him- how I remember him from when I was a little girl) which my Mum gave to me the Christmas after my Dad died.  And now I have an amazing picture of Romy- it has been hung in the barn on the wall of the tack room. All this hard work and me wanting a horse again has been because of my love for my old horse Romy. He was the reason for my passion for horses- I never thought I would find another but just as I have found another dog to love ( Phoebe)when I lost my special Grrl, I have found another horse which is also going to be special- different, not my Romy, but still loveable and special. The heart is an amazing thing--- it has an infinite supply of love to give - it never runs out. So despite losing loves, whether to death, divorce or just from distance.... the heart remembers and seeks out new loves.......new dreams...

Okay so this post has not been so much about barn construction, but it is still about my journey that has come about because of the barn reconstruction.......it is about reconstructing lives and love ....building new from the vestiges of old..........so yes still appropriate I think. 

PS..... other finishing touches were done on Sunday and I came home from work to have to play "where's Waldo?" , but in this case it was "what has Francis done today?"- so he 1) added a bigger solar panel for the lights 2) put the restored door knob on the tack room door 3) cut a hole in the rubber mats near the door for a drain hole 

PPS....  so HONOUR THE PAST, LIVE FOR TODAY AND DREAM FOR THE FUTURE......( Sue's new wise words for today)