It's Friday and Show and Tell at Kelli's House. Please visit her at There's No Place Like Home and see all the wonderful things she and others have to share today.
Today I'd like to show our Air King Windmill.
My husband has always loved windmills and had looked for one for quite sometime.
This is our windmill. It has been a joy to have one our farm. We can see it from our dining room window and love to watch the blades spinning. I remember the day he brought it home on a trailer. It was bent up and rusty. I was a little concerned.
He brought the blades inside and laid them on the work table in my laundry room. This is where my husband pounded them flat and added new decals with "AIR King." My husband found the old windmill laying on its side on a broken down farm. He asked if he could buy it. He paid $400 for it. There was a bee's nest up inside it. It would not turn. He soaked it with WD-40 and slowly it moved. He soaked it more and it moved another inch. Finally it spun perfectly. I began to feel hopeful.
We had a glorious day with neighbors, my Uncle Lester, and my dad helping us.
My husband ties ropes around the windmill.
My dad far right, neighbor Darrell, center, and our son Harrison (look how young he was), watching and eating lunch before the action actually began.
Now comes the tricky part. How to get that huge windmill up and standing straight. Kees was a big help to Stacey.
Friend Margriet and her daughter-in-law, Hannah, help with the ropes.
My husband borrowed his mother's tractor, which was necessary along with a second tractor.
They had to get the height just right by use of the tractors and ropes. Uncle Lester is holding the rope, Stacey on the tractor, Kees, his son, Alex, my dad and my dad's friend Neal in the background.
Now the second tractor is involved, and we are hoping to get it the right height. Notice the four deep holes waiting for the legs to fit into.
My dad and his brother lester help to guide the legs into the holes. There she stands. The windmill is very sturdy because the legs are buried 2 1/2 feet deep and 1,000 lbs. of concrete was used to cement it in place.
Each person in our family placed a hand print in the cement, which will stand as a lasting memory of us. The windmill went up January of 2005. Thank you for viewing my show and tell today. Enjoy you day love, Kathi
30 comments:
Everytime I see a post like this of yours I think to myself, "wow they are such a cool and awesome family!" I wish we were neighbours sweetie! Have a fabulous Friday Kathi!
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)
I enjoyed reading the saga of the windmill. I think it would be cool to have a windmill myself. Take care.
I agree with CC. So many interesting things over there.
Does this generate energy for you?
What a great Show & Tell, Kathi! I thought your pics were very interesting. It looked like a fun family day. Great post!
Kathy
What a fabulous Show & Tell. I really enjoy your windmill story and the pictures of your farm. The handprints in the cement is a very special touch.
Awesome....my grandmother's farm had this HUGE windmill just like this. I can still hear the creaking noise as it spun in the wind!!! Ohhhhhhhhhh, how this brought back memories. I've never ever seen one made and this was very interesting!!! Love the hand prints too!
My Show n Tell this week is entitled 'BEE CAREFUL'....stop by if you can find time. And, have a glorious weekend.
What a fabulous Show & Tell and what an awesome project. So neat that you thought to put the handprints in the cement. I'll bet there had to be a few intense moments as it went up. What a wonderful job your husband did, with the help of family and friends. Thanks so much for showing it ALL to us today.
Susan
I love that windmill! It's neat how Stacey turns old things back to something young and beautiful again! I love how the family and neighbors came to help. It looks like a fun day.
Have a great weekend!
Love, Sharon
P.S. Our football team plays that Christian school near you next Friday, maybe you guys could meet us at the game?
That is so cool! Our friend has one that he actually uses to power his house.
Blessings
Linda
I would love to have a big windmill like yours. We have a small one in our yard. I don't think our village would allow anything bigger. I love the pictures of the whole process.
Have a great Friday.
Hugs,
Judy
Your prayers and faithfulness mean so much to us.
I love your place so much..can I come live in the barn? I will work for my stay =) I know you need help canning right?
How awesome to have that old windmill at your place. I really enjoyed your pictures. Nice to have family and friends work together to help each other out. Thank-you very much. Debbi :-)
Hi Kathi, what a great post! I love windmills. I've seen the little ones that walmart and other outdoor centers sell and wanted one but just couldn't make it go with my house. I would love living on a farm. How you each put your hand prints in the cement was really great! Deb
Hi Kathi!
Your windmill is sure something else! What a blessing your husband is. He is so industrious. What a joy it will be year after year to watch that windmill spin. The handprints are so cute!
Blessings,
Gina
What a fascinating story. That's amazing.
You asked if I kept the horse I won for a long time. I kept it a few months and then sold it to the younger brother of one of my uncles for $50.00. That was the most money I had ever had at the time. I spent most of it for a camera, and I've been snapping pictures ever since. LOL
Now that is very cool! I bet you enjoy looking out your window at it, I know I would. That very sweet that you have the hand prints forever in cement!
Manuela
I love the windmill. Seeing the pictures just gives it a great story to tell. Thanks for checking out my show & tell earlier today.
Have a good one!
Heather
I'm with Brenda, I want to live on the farm too:)
Love the windmill and I always love pictures of your farm. Have a great weekend.
Neat!
A windmill AND a barn? You are such a lucky woman. :)
This is so cool! I'm sure it is worth all the work it took to fix it and put it up. Jean
We, too, have been looking for a windmill for quite awhile. Where did you find yours? We would like one that really works (or one that could work with a little elbow grease!) We live in Washington State on a little bay of water and seem to always have a breeze. Let us know if you ever find another - we would seriously be interested! I have been reading Sharon's and your blog for a couple of months now. I like to read ones of people kinda nearby with similar interests. Thanks for the great post and pics. Love your farm.
Raeann
Hi, Kathi!
Thanks for your comment--I always love hearing from new friends! I agree with the lady farmer (who happens to be my mama), a windmill is just what a farm needs.
Michele
p.s. how wonderfully romantic that you and your hubby have been sweethearts from childhood!
AN AWESOME WINDMILL and an awesome hubby..He really worked..
love to you..Deena
I love windmills and this one is delightful. Your hubby got a great bargain and he certainly took the time to give it some TLC. And the entire family, neighbors and friends helping to erect it. Just perfect. These photos are great memories. I'm glad you can see it from the dining room window.
Wonderful show and tell, Kathi! Your windmill is beautiful and I love the handprints!
~Kelli
Wow ! what a work ! but it really was it worthwhile ! it looks so nice ! and your handprints in the ciment for the eternity ... lol !!
We used to see windmills like this in Wisconsin when we lived there. Looks like a lot of work. I love the hand print idea.
What a great story about your windmill. I decided to join in with Share and Tell Friday. It was fun!
Post a Comment