2009 Recapped

Bryan Family Visit Gets 2nd Floor Finished

We were blessed with a visit from Bill & Pam Bryan, Jenni's cousins from Montana. Bill spent many days on the farm growing up in Waterville. Bill brought his son Joe and grandson Lief with him. We managed a trip in the boat with Grampy Bill for a trip to Days Store for a fresh

donut. The housekeeping crew finished minutes before their arrival.

In honor of the Bryan visit, Jesse decided that he would begin the long process of replanting the farm. After much consulting with Jeff O'Donal, of O'Donals Nursury, and with Bill Bryans input, a silver maple was chosen with the name of Celebration Maple.

We planted the new offering below the old Milk House, far enough away to allow for the expansion of the Milk House into a farm office.

The tree was positioned to shade the Milk House in the coming years. We expect the Bryan to return again soon to see their tree.

New Fireplace and Chimney Started October 2009

The old bake oven was exposed and the chimney and fireplace were reviewed by the one and only Albie Barton from Maine Wood Heat of Norridgewock, Maine. It took 6 weeks for Jesse and his laborers to tear the old chimney and fireplace down.

The wood heater sits in the old kitchen replacing the wood stove and the old bake oven.  This heater has a heated bench and a small bake oven above the firebox.  After seeing the amount of room that could be added to the great room, Jenni asked to have both doors to the vestibules and the wall removed.

The building of the heater took 8 weeks and a tower was built to cover the top of the new chimney to allow it to dry properly in the winter cold.  This was the major hurtle in getting the brick house livable.

Scott Barden, Albie's son, sets the first fire Jan 2010