A look back at the summer of 2023

As you may know, the mill’s current roof is leaking. Such a leak that it needs to be replaced quickly.

In the previous blog, I told you that we had installed a new floor in the mill. We did this so that we could reach the truss of the roof more easily. The floor is now safe and we can no longer sink through it. Good thing.

Koos designed, plotted and calculated a new roof for us, and it was definitely not an easy task. He created detailed drawings for both the sawmill and the roofers.

In June we started the actual construction of the roof, and below you can see the different stages, from the base of the roof to the fixing of the rafters and battens. It was an intensive job that took about six weeks, working five days a week from early morning to noon. By then it was at least 30 degrees. All your clothes were soaking wet with sweat. After lunch and renewing clothes, we usually continued for an hour or two. After that, we were counted out.

One of the reasons we bought Le Moulin was that Joop wanted to have horses at home. At our house in France, we have a horse stable, a horse trough and 2 acres of land. After our gite was ready for rental, Joop went looking for a horse. During her search, she discovered that a horse today cannot be alone, as they are herd animals. On July 5, Jolente and Leo were finally brought.

But before the horses arrived, we had to check the fencing of the fields and repair them if necessary. The wires (2 kilometers) had to be redone and fitted with electric fence. We also had to create walkways for the horses so they could move freely between the barn and the fields. We also stockpiled hay and straw, which resulted in a 25-square-meter expansion of the barn. Horses need other foods besides hay, such as kibble, alfalfa, carrots, apples and slobber, so we had to stock up on those as well. In the back fields we installed a pasture pump, and in the front field we placed large water tanks.

Jolente and Leo are here now. It took some getting used to for the horses but also for us. Jolente is finally less stressed and Leo has yet to gain some weight. We have had to adjust to a new daily rhythm and make sure the horses get the care they need, such as farrier and dentist visits. It is intense, but also satisfying.