In deciding to paint as a full time career we moved some furniture around and shifted some belongings and carved out a space for a studio. I have outgrown that space - and I think my family wants the house back.
In a parallel frame of existence, I began to grow weary of tending to my horse, Smokey. She was a wonderful adventure and I believe we have been good for one another. But, heading out to the barn at 10 degrees below 0 had become more trying every winter.
So, this Spring I found a nice home for Smokey and her companion pigmy goats, Lumpy and Hans Solo.
Now the work begins to turn the barn into my studio. I'll be chronicling the process with photographs. I expect it will be a grand transformation - at least I hope so!
My very picturesque little barn in the snowy winter of a few years ago - Smokey's staying in the barn, what does that tell you!
There wasn't as much snow this year but it was mighty cold for many many weeks! Smokey was fine with that - forever standing by the fence waiting for me to brave the cold and feed her.
July 4, 2004
June 5 2004
The first step after Smokey was moved out was to get a building permit. You would have thought we were building a new residence for the queen of England!
Rick pulled apart the insides so there were no more stalls, just space!
June 5 2004
We rented a Bobcat and Rick jumped in and began digging out the floor.
July 11, 2004
I spent the day raking and leveling the dirt. Rick shoveled out the excess that he couldn't get with the tractor a few weeks before. The next step is to put in support columns for the floor down the center. The next rental will be a post hole digger - a big motorized one.
