A Visit From the Code Enforcers

I've been trying to get the Donkey Palace finished.  I finally decided on a window material after giving up on PlexiGlass.  I spoke with the nice folks at Farmtek, they sent me some free samples and I finally choose this 20 mil clear vinyl.  (If you don't know who Farmtek is you should look them up, thay are one of those companies whose catalog makes you think "Oh, so that's where you get those things".)  So far I am very pleased with the results.  It will be interesting to see how the stuff holds up, especially in the wind I have, but it already got a mild test yesterday with no problems.  The other good thing is that it is completly shatter proof and safe.

The window at the end of the shed posed a slightly different problem since it is bigger and I could not put it on hinges because it would interfere with the side window. 

I decided to frame it out more and build the window as a separate piece that would fit inside the frame. 

Just need to add the vinyl...

Of course, half way thru the project, the code enforcers showed up to inspect the job.

 

"What do you think Em, is she doing a good enough job?"

"I guess it looks OK....

You aren't planning on leaving the edges of that plastic flapping like that are you?  You know I wouldn't chew on those, but the horses...well you can't trust them."

 "I'll be sure to secure them Inspector." These darned code enforcers, they always want something.

"Hmmm, well, I don't know if I can sign off on this yet.  Just look at how that is hanging out, begging to be nibbled on."

"Well, how about a 15 minute butt scratch?  Would that change your mind?

"I suppose it doesn't look too bad after all....."

Whew, just made it through that one.  Good thing the Border Collie wasn't doing the inspecting.

Consolations and new plans

What's to be done when you find out that your baby donkey is going to be having a baby and there isn't any way to "fix" it?  Buy her a bag of treats and a new toy of course...

 "Hmmm, chewy, uhmmm"

 "Nom, nom, nom, very chewy"...

The other thing to do, is to start planning the nursery.  Do you see my machinery shed with the old, yellow jeep (which has quite a history I'll have tell you about sometime) in the background?  Well, I spent most of Christmas building the half-wall around it...

I didn't make the wall go all the way up because I don't want to block all of my barn windows.  I hate dark, dreary barns; I want light and air.  However, this is the windward side of the barn so it has to be covered (especially since the wind is so strong here that I could probably power most of NY if I started raising windmills instead of unplanned donkey babies).  I am going to build windows for the open spaces. I am trying to decide between using plexiglass or clear vinyl.  I think the vinyl would be easiest and safest but, I am not sure it can handle the wind.  In the summer, I will cover the open spaces with shade screens and it should be quite a nice donkey solarium. 

All I'll need then is a place for the old jeep, the lawn mower, ladders and other stuff that really doesn't want to live outside.  Housing for all of that stuff along with firewood is in the works...

But, winter finally showed up with a vengeance and carpentry will probably have to be put on hold.  In the meantime, I guess I'll just go give Emma another cookie.  Cookies cure everything right?