Lots Done in a Short Time: Camp Daniel Style

So, we haven’t blogged in quite some time.  We, at Camp Daniel, have been so busy working on the grounds in preparations for a wedding that was held here on Saturday.  When we finished our camp season, which feels like 6 months ago, but, the barn had insulation on the walls and rough electric.  We have been working hard since then to get as much done as possible.  We had two very successful workdays in September.  Thanks again, to everyone who participated in the work days.  Each day we had a crew on exterior staining.  We had a fast crew both weeks and they got almost all the exterior staining done.

 On the second workday, they also sanded and painted all 32 of our outdoor benches.  The wedding was held by the lake and the freshly painted benches looked great.

 During the work days, and most every day between, Tony and Marceaux worked on electric.  Here, Tony is installing a light fixture that we made from a rusty trough from a barn.  It has 5 bare old fashioned bulbs hanging from it.  The fixture is partially recessed into the ceiling.  They also wired dozens of outlets and switches.

 The guys insulated the ceiling of the barn, and during the work days, volunteers insulated the rest of the ceiling in the 55'x96’ building.   Let me tell you....that’s ALOT of insulation.

 Then it was time to drywall.  Nick, Steve and the guys did the barn ceiling.  It took multiple days to get all that up.  During the first work day, the walls were drywalled and all of it was taped.  During the follow day or two, we mudded all the joints and screw heads.  Finally, Molly, Trish and Karol were able to paint the walls with a tinted primer.  All of this work we knew, was to be covered with salvaged barn pieces, but we needed to meet fire codes.

 Tony got started on some of the details of the barn.  Here, he’s adding giant beams that will create a hayloft for the barn.

 We installed 14’ beams on the ceiling to give the barn a post and beam look; then it was time to start installing the tin panels that we salvaged from the roof of a barn this spring.  Rusty side down, of course.  By putting in many long hours, we were able to finish the ceiling in just two days.

 Although the exterior of the building wouldn’t be finished, we worked on landscaping for the wedding.  The parents of the groom donated money for the sod, which looked great.  Oh, I almost forgot, we formed and poured a concrete sidewalk too.

 Once the ceiling was done, we started putting barn boards on the walls.  The side walls have regular barn boards, but the wall by the stage area is covered in the white painted boards. We worked up until the last minute with the details.  We even took time to put up some decorations.

 This was what it looked like for the reception.

 Where Jesse and Cera’s name is, will be a projection screen, but for this event we made it special by painting it just for the wedding.

The ceremony was by the lake.  The 135 people in attendance all had a good view of the beautiful bride and her groom.  The wedding was great, and we were blessed to be a part of this special couple’s happy day.

The next day we napped............