August 26 - 27, 2016 Center Beam Raised

Together Dan and Jeff raise the center posts and cross beam for the covered bridge, as Tim supervises. It's all downhill from here! They also add roof framing that will be covered with recycled tin roofing from the milking barn.

August 20 - 21, 2016 Sally and Debbie's Country Adventure

Debbie and Sally arrived at Covo looking like city gals, but quickly took to the country. There was more of a learning curve for Sally, who claimed this was a weekend of firsts for her.  Debbie channeled her inner youth, remembering when she spent a summer detasseling corn in hometown Kankakee and driving a tractor on her grandpa's farm. 

Debbie

Sally

Jeff had some building tasks planned - mainly to give everyone who visits Covo a feeling of pride when the covered bridge is completed. Plus he really needed our help!

Attaching old barn wood with an impact screwdriver was a breeze for Debbie and Sally.
But we discovered Jeff had another task, which involved some muscle power. He wanted us to help lift and position the first section of roof framing on top of the barn wood beams. The gator aided in the heavy lifting - first we lifted the frame onto the bed, then hoisted it onto the roof.  Debbie was the tallest so she helped Jeff push the piece into place so he could secure all the joints.

We definitely earned our wine and campfire - and slept well after a busy day of activity. The next morning, Jeff instructed the gals on the art of shotgun shooting, using their coffee cups to simulate turkey heads in the distance. Debbie killed a couple turkeys!

               

 We weeded the three pumpkin patches and found a few little ones starting. 

Debbie and Sally helped Jeff install bridge trim and the second roof frame, which he built first thing in the morning as we slept.

Final task of the day - planting a tree by the lodge.

August 16 & 17 Bridge Siding and Trim

Jeff added a few more boards to define the window and then added bottom trim.

August 5 - 6, 2016 Barn Siding Begins with Jessica and Tyler

We picked up Deena and Dan bright and early with the promise that we would be leaving the farm at 3 pm for a surprise outing. The thought is that we want to start enjoying the surrounding area and all it has to offer more. We had a couple tasks to complete but started with a tour of Donna's Park.

We weeded the lily garden down by the equipment barn and worked on the bridge.

MASSBACH RIDGE WINERY
Our excursion was to a small winery in Elizabeth, circa 2000.  The cost was $3 for 5 tastings from a very attentive and lovely college student majoring in communications, not wine making. Thankfully, Jessica and Tyler joined us since we purchased a bottle of the Massbach Reserve and a white Sangria bag which equalled two bottles.  We should remember to return on October 1 for the Massbach Stomp. For $5 each, we can stomp grapes, taste, tour and relax. What a deal!

We dined at the Welcome Inn in downtown Elizabeth - a very good salad bar and an even better waitress with a great sense of humor.  It turns out, the owners are Macedonians from Albania, like Rita at the Mt. Carroll Cafe. There has to be more to the story. At any rate, we ended with creamy rice pudding, just like my dad used to make.

Couldn't resist taking this picture for Lizzy.

The next day...there's something about the creek that makes everyone want to clean it out. Tyler scoops with the shovel, then suggests that Jessica and Deena use the rake - which works pretty well.

Deena found this friendly fellow as we weeded another lily garden beside the equipment barn.

Pumpkins - one month later. And we discovered that we have grapes on a vine planted years ago. Not ripe yet but they will be soon.

Everyone takes a turn on the people's bridge, adding the first pieces of barn siding

Windows take shape

Another early end to the day with Jeff planning our outing along the Rock River in Oregon, where we explored a park near the fishing area and a riverfront property. Intrigued by the sight of a paddle boat and patio, we stop for a beer at Maxson Riverboat and Riverside Restaurant, next to the Paddle Wheel Inn. It seemed all the patrons milling around were wearing "50" buttons. The owners were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and were hosting all their friends to a free buffet, drinks, the works. Couldn't think of a way to fit in but we enjoyed chatting with some people and listening to Jim Kanas, the versatile singer musician, who is Greek, not Albanian, not Macedonian but Greek. We had dinner at That One Place Bar & Grill and called it a day.