It's been over 3 weeks ago now, and what a life changing experience. Did not have internet for over 2 weeks, then went on a planned vacation/reunion in Georgia for 6 days. Now I'm home, well, if you can call a little red barn a home. We were so lucky to find this little place only 3 miles from the farm.
It's what our hay farmer lived in while they built their own home. And it's quite enough for the 2 of us. Maybe having to spend Christmas here is not the ideal situation!
Our house and one other out of the 8 in our acreage addition were not totally destroyed. Our insurance adjuster has said $119,000 to repair. The first estimate we have gotten says $150,000. So maybe we have a fight in front of us with the insurance company. And that's just the house. We lost all our fencing and stallion sheds/ runs, plus considerable damage to our 2 barns. Lost our hay storage with 80 bales of hay and 4 brand new round bales/rings (which had just been put in the day before, the hay that is.)
We had a lot of offers (which we so much appreciated) to take horses. I did send out two stallions to a friend, but the rest are packed in to 2 areas where we were able to stand the fencing back up and secure with T-posts. But at least I have them all with me. And praise the Lord for answered prayers -- they all survived with only some minor injuries --4 ulcerated eyes, 1 gashed chest, several limping, and one even survived a swim in the neighbor's swimming pool.
Fencing has been top priority. Most of the posts and top rails are up for 4 fields, gates to be hung this weekend. Trying to save money by doing it ourselves, well, our son and friends. Our insurance was very lacking for our outside facilities. So the donations that we are so grateful for will be used to help with fencing and buy new feeders,sheds, etc.
With so much local damage, we expect the house to take forever to repair, as builders are at a premium. BTW, if you haven't heard, there were 8 tornadoes in Oklahoma that day May 24th. The one that hit us was an EF-5 (the highest category), was from 1/2 to 1 mile wide and was on the ground for 75 miles. The scars will remain for many years, perhaps forever. Our beautiful wooded area with creek behind our house has lost at least half its trees, many just broken over and dying. Not so beautiful anymore!
Thankfully no human lives were lost in our little neighborhood.
Rita
It's what our hay farmer lived in while they built their own home. And it's quite enough for the 2 of us. Maybe having to spend Christmas here is not the ideal situation!
Our house and one other out of the 8 in our acreage addition were not totally destroyed. Our insurance adjuster has said $119,000 to repair. The first estimate we have gotten says $150,000. So maybe we have a fight in front of us with the insurance company. And that's just the house. We lost all our fencing and stallion sheds/ runs, plus considerable damage to our 2 barns. Lost our hay storage with 80 bales of hay and 4 brand new round bales/rings (which had just been put in the day before, the hay that is.)
We had a lot of offers (which we so much appreciated) to take horses. I did send out two stallions to a friend, but the rest are packed in to 2 areas where we were able to stand the fencing back up and secure with T-posts. But at least I have them all with me. And praise the Lord for answered prayers -- they all survived with only some minor injuries --4 ulcerated eyes, 1 gashed chest, several limping, and one even survived a swim in the neighbor's swimming pool.
Fencing has been top priority. Most of the posts and top rails are up for 4 fields, gates to be hung this weekend. Trying to save money by doing it ourselves, well, our son and friends. Our insurance was very lacking for our outside facilities. So the donations that we are so grateful for will be used to help with fencing and buy new feeders,sheds, etc.
With so much local damage, we expect the house to take forever to repair, as builders are at a premium. BTW, if you haven't heard, there were 8 tornadoes in Oklahoma that day May 24th. The one that hit us was an EF-5 (the highest category), was from 1/2 to 1 mile wide and was on the ground for 75 miles. The scars will remain for many years, perhaps forever. Our beautiful wooded area with creek behind our house has lost at least half its trees, many just broken over and dying. Not so beautiful anymore!
Thankfully no human lives were lost in our little neighborhood.
Rita
