In the summer of 2020 during the height of the pandemic my wife and I purchased a new property just outside of Rochester, MN. This property was our dream location with it being outside of town, having some acreage, surrounded by lots of wildlife, and the opportunity of having a call shop on site. With two out buildings, one offered the perfect set up. It was just a tin shed with a gravel floor, but I could see what it might turn into. 

The work started the day after we closed on the property, and having a plan in place my dad and I got to it. Building the outside pillars was the first step. Next was taking out the two garage doors, then putting in sub-floor insulation and in-floor heat before the cement pad could be laid. After that was framing up in the inside walls, putting in windows, electrical, boiler, sheetrock, electrical and lights. All moved smooth and finding guys was hard during the pandemic, but its good to be a hunter and have so many friends that work in the trades. 

Once that was all in place it seemed like the work really started then, work I was not used to doing or any good at. Being the Molt Gear call shop that I was going to spend countless hours in, I wanted to make sure my hands had a part in all the details. I was fortunate our family barn fell down several years prior, and had access to a lot of old barn wood, tin, and stuff I could use in the shop to get the look and feel I wanted. From building tables out of 100 year old oak beams, trimming windows with old wood, using the tin to highlight areas it was a slow moving process, but one I could see coming together every step of the way. 

The working area was completed first for obvious reason, then the work on the "lodge" room started. From built-in cabinets, knee walls, to painting (I hate painting and will never do it again) this room took the next year to finish. Then decorating the room with pictures, canvas prints, old decoys and memories the room take shape. Its just a small call shop, but one we are proud to work in every day. Knowing what my grandpa and dad built so many years ago now helps hold up and details the shop I work in everyday is a great feeling. Come see our memories or share a story in the little backyard shop anytime.