Thanks you guys. I don't know if its preservable. Its bark. Will probably start peeling after 3 years then its onward to the next kind of 'rustic'. At least it looks the way I want it to while I own it. Not sure what to do about the gate. Gramma wants to keep the gate.
I'll be amazed if the house is still here in 10 years (?). We'll prob sell it to a developer who will demolish it & replace with 4 houses.