DAY ONE - Now the real work begins on creating the cat sanctuary.

Oh yes, what I did to prepare is just as important. If you think about it, if you do not clear away the debris on the area you try to build on, it will eventually have a future problem. Isn't life just like that? So with that said, I had some old paint that I mixed together to use to paint the outside structure. Amazing how a little paint can turn a plain piece of wood into a cheerful object.

I purchased the chicken wire to enclose the bottom part for now and later the top part would have to be enclosed. A roll of chicken wire 4' x 25' was $24.98 and I have a 20'x30' walls to enclose! Well, I would have to deal with that as the days of building goes on. I had to stop because in order to tack up the chicken wire, I had to have framing all around the building. I can do it by myself, it would have taken that much longer and it had been already one month since I moved. The new owner of the house I had lived in for 6 years was all so thoughtful and told me not to worry about the cats. Now 30 days later this person is asking me when am I going to take the cats. I told him I am retired and to purchase all the building supplies can only be done when I have the money. So now the pressure was on to complete the pole barn into the safe place for the cats. Where I am living now is a very busy road and even though it is set back off the road I couldn't just set free all these cats on the property. Yes they know about cars going back and forth but not like where I live.
Enter my daughter in-law to help with the building process. My son could not come because of his work and there would be no one to take care of their pets if they both came. 

The area where my daughter-in-law stands had been covered with thick covering of thorn bushes. They had to taken out in order to have access to that area to work on the pole barn. The piles in the photo  below are from that side of the barn. The whole property in the wooded section have stickers and eventually I will have to clear out the areas closest to the barn . It is important to keep the area closest to the barn visually secure from any wild animals that may try to enter the pole barn.

I understand now why buying a house is so expensive. Just one 2-4-8 board cost $2.86. I guess maybe purchasing in bulk, maybe, the builders get a discount. I don't know, but I couldn't do it if I wanted to.
Slowly the framing took place. All I had was a hand saw to cut the wood to the size we needed. Great exercise, nah, who am I kidding. I didn't lose any weight all the time the building went on! 

She stayed with me for one week and in the time so much was accomplished. She did all the framing while I did the tacking up of the chicken wire and other things that were needed. I went into the storage shed and found a  electrical hand saw someone must have given me and I forgot about. Personally I am afraid of them. But not K, she was so happy to make cutting the wood to make the building process that much faster. I am ever grateful for her help. I wished she could have stayed longer.

Today we are creating what tomorrow will be viewed as history of  what someone did. Everywhere I have lived I took a place that no one seemed to love and add beauty to it. This place to will have flowers and plants to say: 'While I was here, I was grateful for the joy I received from the house and the land.' No matter what today brings give thanks for what you have, it will make your time on this Earth that much better.