Well, it was more like a Stable Raising Party. On Saturday, Paul, Dante and I headed to Camp Haze – my dad's ranch in Chowchilla, CA, to help him assemble a pre-fabricated stable that he purchased for his horses. Kevin (Budget Savvy's managing editor) and my friends Jesse and Geoff also drove over to lend a hand.
By the time we got there, my brother Jimmy and brother-in-law Jeff had much of the frame completed. We jumped right in and got to work. Linda, my other-mom, was smart to take advantage of the 8-14 age bracket and put my nieces and nephews to work cleaning out dad's tack room.
While Paul, Kevin, Jesse and Geoff worked on the stable, my brother recruited me and my brother-in-law to dig trenches for the irrigation pipes that would bring water to the stables. Dante, was busy with his Aunt Charity playing in the dirt.
It was hard work, but it felt good to do such physical labor. It's been awhile since I wielded a pick ax so my palms are still blistered.
During our lunch break we enjoyed catching up with everyone.
We were unable to finish putting the roof on the stable so Paul and I are going to try to head over there again sometime in October, before the rains start.
Have I ever mentioned what wonderful friends I have? I am grateful to Kevin, Jesse and Geoff who spent a precious Saturday standing on ladders trying to drill pipes together in the 90 degree heat.
Looking back, some of my happiest memories are of "barn raising" parties. Anytime there was a large project that needed to be done, my mom, dad or grandfather would invite friends and family over. Fences were built, wells were dug, cattle branded and poultry was butchered (but that's another story).
The idea of getting friends and family together to complete a project goes back hundreds of years. You don't need to live in the country to ask for assistance. If you have a big project that seems overwhelming, ask for help. You'll be surprised to see how eager people are to lend a hand.
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