More work on the barn

Lucas and I managed to get most of the back wall of the barn done, replacing old, worn-out tar paper with modern Tyvek and a layer of tar paper. I'll be able to finish it up during the three days of prep for the first session. We head up tomorrow in two waves: Marie- Claude and Nancy at 7am, the counselors and I at 2pm. During the weekend Marie-Claude finished up the mowing and started getting the house in shape.

More work on the barn

Marie-Claude, Lucas and I are heading back up to camp for the weekend. Lucas and I will be working on two projects: one, to remove all the vertical barn boards on the rear of the barn (in photo), apply new tar paper and/or Tyvek (the original tar paper between the boards has been completely eaten through by sunlight and weather, leaving spaces for hornets' nests and the like); and then, replace an 8"x8" beam holding up one end of the back porch of the house, the center of a lot of camp activity (or occasional inactivity). We'll have to use a car jack to raise the porch while we work on it: should be fun! We'll use pressure-treated materials this time, so it should last another 50 years at least. In the meantime, Marie-Claude will be getting things ready in the house, mowing the grass (again), making sure the tents are in good shape, and so on.

Mission accomplished

Lucas and I managed to build bunkbeds on three sides of a new room in the barn. We enjoyed working together again, and the final product was satisfying to see. I am sure the boys will appreciate it if we get hit with sustained rain during camp. We also had just enough time to mow the grass around the house and out in the field.  In places it was already about 10 inches high, all since Marie-Claude mowed it just 10 days earlier. Marie-Claude and I are heading back up to camp Tuesday and Wednesday next to do some more work. Camp is just two weeks away!

Heading up to Vermont

Lucas Ewing, an 18-year-old who has just finished high school, is heading up to camp with me Tuesday and Wednesday. We'll be building bunk beds in the barn to give the boys and the male counselors a refuge in case of several days of sustained rain, which can make the tents a bit of a trial. Lucas helped me last summer to improve the boys' changing space in the barn with individual cabinets for their affairs. We're looking forward to his being with us this summer as a counselor.