bargeron barn | siding.

Of all the steps we've taken during this reconstruction thus far, this one wore on me the most. Whew! It wasn't so much that it was hard, but that it was a lot. A lot of hanging. A lot of waiting. A lot of thinking. A lot of hurrying. A lot of cutting. Just a lot. This phase took us about three weeks from start to finish, and I'm grateful that this beast is behind us. LOL!

I'm, also, grateful that we decided to start this project in the spring before the weather gets too hot. There were even a few genuinely chilly days mixed in here, and they were nice for working in the sun. The kids played with the scrap wood (as usual) while we hung nearly each wood plank, making this truly a family bonding experience.

Regardless of how it felt like it dragged on (even though three weeks really isn’t that long), this phase definitely shows off the transformation the most. It finally looks the way we want it to, sans doors!

We bought rough-cut wood from the same man we bought from our first build, because we love the look and quality of his work. We weren't disappointed once we started hanging the planks up - we LOVE how it turned out! He is located in Gray Court, too, so we were glad to support a local business.

Braxton helped us often, of course. He loves to help with whatever we're doing - especially so with this project, because he currently says that he's going to be a builder when he grows up. Sweet thang!

Both Methus (our friend) and Pops (TJ's dad) pitched in with this milestone, and we were thankful (as always) for their willingness to jump in and offer their brains, hands, and experience to us.

Braxton was excited to get some experience on some new tools, too!

Bethany could care less, hence why she's no where to be found on the jobsite. LOL!

I, also, learned that Teesh thinks I'm quite the looker with a nail gun in my hand. ;)

And just like that, after three weeks of buying, picking up, measuring, cutting, and hanging wood, we put our last piece on this past Friday. Wahoo!

Here is what is currently looks like...

The next things on our list are to build / install barn doors, run electrical to the building, install drywall in each room (3), and close in the ceiling. After that, we'll be all done. We are sooooo close! And we are soooo excited. We haven't compleeeeetely busted our original budget either, although we are projecting to be about 8% over our initial number. I know, I know -- it's kiiiiind of nerdy to have it down to a percentage like that, buuuuuuuut it works for us. Anyway, we had a pretty conservative budget for this big project, and we're pleased with the decisions we've made that have cost a little more than they could have if we'd chosen to cut corners.

Shameless plug about our debt free journey: although we are very early in our journey toward becoming financially independent (meaning, a high savings rate with retirement, net worth, and hopes/dreams in mind), this project has been the biggest confirmation that we are on the right path. Until we changed our mind and habits around money two years ago, this project was just something we had *hoped* we would get to complete *one* day. Now, we are witnessing the fruit of our labor in a way that's pretty extravagant for us. I will never not be out-of-my-mind grateful that we took that step on our Day One. Praise!

*steps off soap box*

Here are a few before / after peeks at the progress we've made since we started at the end of March:

Side view, from our backyard.

Side view, from the street behind us.

Front view, of what used to be three open bays.

It's amazing how different it looks now. Hardly recognizable, especially when you look at it from the front. I think that it looks so much bigger now that the color is lighter, too. Isn't it crazy what color can do for a space?!

Many of our neighbors (most of which have lived in their homes for a long time) have stopped by as we've been working and shared how proud the previous owners would have been. This always makes me smile, because we genuinely want to honor them with every project we complete here. They say that a lot of fun was had out in this building years ago, and we're grateful to continue that legacy while adding our own flare to it. We honor the fact that it was someone else's before it was ours, and we hope that they would be proud of what we've done to their old home.

This is what our little slice of heaven looks like from the road. My hydrangeas are blooming (swoon!), my ferns are still hangin' on (it's been a little touch and go if i'm being honest, LOL), annnnnd you can see our barn tucked in the back there on the right. The grass still needs some TLC, but we've been tryin', y'all. LOL. It's pretty surreal to see something come to life before your eyes after sketching it out so many times on paper. We are so proud of and thankful for all the fun we've had turning our home into the best version of itself.

Full heart over here, y'all. A full, full heart.

hike it baby 30 | april 2020.

We participated in our SEVENTH Hike It Baby 30 Challenge this month, an initiative to get families to spend more time outside. These challenges are always so fun for us, because we keep a detailed record of all the memories we're making. I don't always keep track of how long we're outside on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis -- but I always do during challenge months. 

The challenge, itself, is this: hike/walk/bike 30 miles with your kids and/or spend 30 minutes outside 3 days a week with your kids. This challenge was very different for us for a lot of different reasons, because of the wonky season the world is currently in. We didn't log a single mile on the trails, which made me sad at first. This was the first time this has ever happened, and I was disappointed because I had six hikes on the calendar. One of our goals for 2020 is to become Ultimate Outsiders (visiting all 47 SC State Parks), and we were going to make some traction towards meeting that goal this month. That didn't happen (obviously), buuuuuuuuuut this ended up being one of my favorite challenges ever!

Why?

Because 1) we adventured around new streets near us and got creative with every walk, and 2) Teesh got to join us for almost every mile! This was a huge treat for us, because this was the first challenge that all four of us have been a part of the whole way through. At first I was really sad that we wouldn't be out and about for Braxton's final challenge before he starts kindergarten in the fall. But this season of quarantine actually gave us a big gift -- time together. No amount of trails hiked or plans fulfilled can compare to that gift.

And speaking of the challenge...

For us, we logged a total of 41 MILES on the pavement AND spent a whopping total of 176 HOURS outside during the month of April! WOWZA!! That time outside breaks down to an average of 6 hours of outside time each day. This is the most time we've ever spent outside during a challenge, and we owe it in part to the gooooooorgeous weather we've had all month long. It, also, helps that we love our town and our yard so much. Thankful, thankful!

This season has reminded me a lot of my childhood. Playing in the yard, talking with neighbors, waving to people who pass by, using nothing more than our imagination to have fun. I didn't have a fancy childhood, but I did have a good one. I remember the good moments more than I do the not-so-good ones, and I believe that's God's gift of grace covering my life. My little ones already have different stories than both TJ and I had (because everyone has a unique story), and I hope that one day they'll look back on their life as small children and remember two things first: 1) that they were loved beyond measure and 2) that life was good. I hope that when they look through old pictures of what their life was years from now, they thank God for the great gift we got to live inside -- being together.

Trail Hikes: 0

Trail Miles: 0

Total Miles: 41

Total minutes outside: 10,771

April 2016 // September 2016

April 2018 // September 2018

April 2019 // September 2019

bargeron barn | plywood + wrap.

Once the roof was on and the walls were framed, it was time to cover the necessary areas with plywood and wrap it up. We were able to save a little bit of money by using the old walls instead of having to cover the whole shell with plywood, and we were grateful for that. Some of the outer wall was rotten, so TJ replaced those areas with planks he pulled from an inside wall. Yep, if we're anything, it's resourceful. LOL!

This phase was especially exciting, because it gave us a real picture of what it would look like when it's finished. Eeeeek! Seeing it all "put together" up to this point confirmed that we made a good decision in terms of the design of the front. And once again, our (wonderful) friend, Methus, showed up to help so many evenings after work to help us make progress.

We completed this part in between removing the old roof and putting the new roof on, and both this step and the last finished up within a day or two of each other.

Here is how it progressed...

We still have a little bit of framing to do with the middle door, but we think in about another week or so that the outside will be finished and ready for doors to be built. The two outer doors will be 7 feet tall, and will both latch and open similar to french doors. The large middle door will be 8 feet tall. and it will roll open on metal tracks. We're already dreaming of summer and fall days / nights out here with the middle doors rolled open and friends / family / neighbors gathered inside and out. Being so close to finishing makes my hospitality-lovin' self SO excited!

Also, don't miss Braxton's "garage" right in the middle of everything. He has been building all day every day right alongside Teesh, hammering in nails and designing his own little space. It's been so cute to watch him work! Bethany is more of a supervisor (shocker), but she has been right there with him most days. Braxton told us that he wants to be a "builder" when he grows up, and we think that's a great job. I told him he could start on my beach house whenever he's ready. LOL!

All four of us have been out here nearly every waking hour of every day for the past month, bonding over dreams and budgets and manual labor. I'm extra grateful for a husband who finishes what he starts with such integrity, and I'm, also, grateful that each of us have had a hand in making this renovation come to life. Our family motto is "teamwork makes the dream work," and this is another example of that proving to be true. It's so fun to be doing this project together!

Stay tuned for all that will follow. Yay for progress!

bargeron barn | walls + roof.

After concrete was poured, it was time to start framing the walls inside the building! The original layout of the barn was three open bays and an enclosed room. We had no good use for so many open bays, so we switched things up a bit. Instead, we reframed the space to have a bay for the Chevelle, the original enclosed room (to be a tool room / man cave), and a (new) large room for gathering and hanging out. We are so excited to see this space come to life!

Up next was the roof. The original metal roof was very old, rusted, and had lots of holes in it. We replaced it with a new metal roof that has an earthy green color. TJ removed the old roof AND put the new roof on by himself (beast mode), and it only took him a few days from start to finish. He's not someone who sits on a project when he has it, so he knocked it out really quickly. I helped as much as I could, mainly by being his spotter. LOL.

We are SO pleased with how the roof turned out! We love the color we chose, and it's going to look so good with the new siding when we get to that point. One downside of the new roof is that we won't be able to see it because of the direction the roof slants. It's a bummer to spend so much money on something you'll never see, BUT it will certainly do its job at keeping us/the barn protected. 

This is what the roof looked like BEFORE:

And this is what the roof looks like now / AFTER:

We're gettin' there, y'all! Stay tuned for what the next box on our list is to get a check!

bargeron barn | dirt + concrete.

The first thing we needed to do to get this revitalization under way was to get some concrete poured. The floors were previously dirt, and the concrete had to be set before the walls could start going up. TJ and our (amazing) friend, Methus, had to do a little bit of framing before it could be poured, too, so we could have everything sturdy.

The kids had a BLAST playing in the huuuuuuuuge dirt pile that sat for about a week before it was time to pour! There were lots of extra laundry and baths that week (LOL), and they were both sad when it was time to use it to prep for the concrete. Our kids tend to stick to this motto -- the dirtier they are, the happier they are. And we don't mind a bit!

Once the dirt was down, the framing came next. And after framing, came the concrete! This initial step was 60% of our budget (yep, concrete is that expensive), and we were SO pumped to write that check. We have been saving for this project since last year, and this is our biggest project yet. Meaning, our biggest project ever. To say we're excited and proud and grateful to be able to move forward with it right now doesn't even scratch the surface. Who knew concrete could be so thrilling! LOL!

And there ya have it -- a happy Teesh standing in "Daddy's garage" (as Braxton calls it, although I disapprove of the name). Isn't he the cutest? He's been working on out there for a whole month, and he gets antsy if he goes a few days without anything to do. Side note: Lowe's pick up has been a huge help in making his dreams come true, so shout out to them for making it possible to still shop during this crazy season of life.

I had one condition for the concrete. If we were going to spend that much money on it, we were going to brand it! We *barely* got our hands into the wet mix before it dried, and I *almost* died from the close call. Whew. Thaaaaankfully, the crisis was averted and we got to make it happen. Shout it with me now -- HALLELUJAH! These handprints mean so, so much.

This project means a whole lot, too.

There's a hint in a previous picture of what step comes next. Stay tuned, friends!