Building Project

To help us with our seed business we decided to make a large investment in our future by buying some land and building a new shed just west of our home. Looking back a few months ago it was still just an idea and today it has become reality. On August 16, materials for our new shed were delivered and since then the view from our front door looking west has changed dramatically.

Before View

After View

Let's take a step back and show a few pictures along the way.

Step 1: Drill a well

Step 2: Dirt Work

Step 3: Completed shed pad and approach

Step 4: Shed materials delivered

Step 5: Broke ground

Step 6: First wall was built

Step 7: Trusses were added.

Step 8: Metal was put on sides.

Step 9: Complete roof

Step 10: Add porch

There is still plenty to do such as pouring concrete, plumbing, electrical, finishing the office.....and the list goes on. We can't thank the Morton Builders enough for their hard work! This has been an exciting project to see come together and we look forward to the day we can start using it!

Business Building...

In the fall of 2009 Matt began selling  Garst Corn and Milo to a handful of local farmers.  Little did we know that it would grow into a full-time business.  This year has brought along with it quite a few changes, the formation of  an S-Corporation, a website, and a building project.  This week check out our 4th annual plot tour and the website... stay tuned for a future post about our building project.

Preparing for a plot tour is always stressful.  First of all is the trip to Garden City to shop for all the ingredients needed for Jenny's good home cooking.  Also thanks to Diana for getting the baked beans and brisket ready.

 

 The plot tour went off without a hitch... although we would have welcomed a rain, the storm passed us with less than a sprinkle.

Don't forget to take a look at the new website that Jenny and I spent about 6 months creating (www.redbarnenterprises.com). We are really excited about the finished product!

A Glimpse Outside Western KS...

One thing I have always enjoyed is going on vacation, luckily Jenny enjoys it too.  We have had some great trips to Mexico, the Great Sand Dunes, and many others, but to me none have been as awesome as our recent trip to Yellowstone.

Jenny and I at the Northwest entrance of Yellowstone.

Now getting to Yellowstone is no small feet, in fact from SWK (Southwest Kansas) it is nearly 15 hours of driving, some of which is across the barren deserts of Eastern Colorado and Wyoming, and some through the most scenic mountain range I have ever crossed, the Grand Tetons.

Grand Tetons, Jackson Wyoming.

Growing up the words Yellowstone and Old Faithful were interchangeable to me. Old Faithful was the one thing I always thought of when I thought of Yellowstone.  Needless to say there is much more to see, in fact over 2,000,000 (2 Million) acres more. Waterfalls, bubbling mud puddles, scorching hot water pools, elk, moose, bald eagles, buffalo and even more.  It was absolutely amazing.  In fact the only thing that disappointed me was Old Faithful.  Although she is Old and she was Faithful, shooting off exactly at her estimated eruption time of 7:05pm, the show was well just like you see it depicted in the movies, and the picture below.

Old Faithful, 7:05pm.

Although our trip was mainly to see Yellowstone, we did hit a few other places on our way to and from including, Jackson Hole Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park, Beartooth Pass, Red Lodge Montana, Hell's Half Acre, and Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade!

I can't wait to see where our next vacation takes us, maybe Africa??

Take a look at these, just a few of the nearly 1200 pictures we took while on vacation!

Artists Paintpots

Mammoth Hot Springs

Grand Prismatic Spring

Bull Elk

Yellowstone Lake, near Fishing Pot Geyser

Lower Falls, Artist Point, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Bull Buffalo

Yellowstone traffic jam.

Wolf near Buffalo Herd

Buffalo Bath

Baby Buffalo

Beginning of Beartooth Scenic Byway

Clay Butte

Near the top of Beartooth Pass

Jenny trying to reach 11,000 ft elevation.

Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade

Yard Work

One project always leads to another....this time it was yard work. Tearing out a few bushes with plans for new ones lead to landscaping our entire front yard. After many months of bare ground we can finally see the finished product. 

Before

During

Our yard might not be your typical front lawn, but it has character. Our main vision for doing this was to conserve water and minimize maintenance. With the help of our landscaper...aka Matt Long, it turned out great!

After

After