Here I am cutting wood to heat my home in May! I had hoped the weather would be warm enough for me to shut it down for the year. It's not and I needed wood. As I was cutting up some old barn wood, I found the license plate above. I had no idea Michigan was known as the "Water Wonderland." In 1965 Michigan changed the slogan to "Water-Winter Wonderland."  I have always known it as "The Great Lakes State", that slogan replaced "Water-Winter Wonderland" in 1968. 

From the Joey Pants Stash
From the Joey Pants Stash
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Last summer we knocked down the old family barn. It stood for over a hundred years. When I was a kid, we played all kinds of games in the old barn. We would swing from one haystack to the other on the rope. We put a basketball court in it where my dad and brother taught me how to play. We raised our rabbits there I showed at the Ingham County Fair. I had many powerful memories fall down with the old barn.

From the Joey Pants Stash
From the Joey Pants Stash
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This winter, it helped heat or house. The over 100 year old timber burns great and saved me from the woods in this nasty winter. I had reservations about just burning it. People kept telling us we could sell it but we never found any takers. Now, my dad just wants it cleaned off the property, being full of nails.

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The barn came down with the assistance of my brother Jerry, on Fathers Day 2013.

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From the Joey Pants Stash

The picture above is the last one I took before it got knocked it down. It was so beautiful that day, I couldn't help but feel like something was telling me it was time to move on.

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Every time I drive by and see a barn falling apart, I think off all the good times the barn must have seen.

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From the Joey Pants Stash

The funny thing about it is, my dad and I have spent so much time together cutting it up. Even though it's gone, the barn is still bringing us together.

From the Joey Pants Stash
From the Joey Pants Stash
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Get up with Deb and Joey 6-10 am weekdays. email Joey: joey.pants@townsquaremedia.com

 

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