Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Barn Envy


I want a barn more than anything. When I was a kid we had a barn. Not a very big one but a barn nonetheless. I spent hours in it with my animals. I have a reoccurring dream that my animals are still back in that old barn and I need to get there to feed because they haven't been fed in about.....35 years. Actually it sounds more like a nightmare.
My small farm has a few nice 3 sided sheds that we have built over the years as livestock shelters but a barn they're not. I have told my family that if they are at my funeral and I have never owned a farm with a barn then I have died unfulfilled. I'm that serious. Life has just gotten in the way of my barn. It seems like there is never enough money to build one and let's face it, Hubby doesn't really like to build things and if I had a barn I would want the doors to close.
On my walks down to the farm, I pass by many lovely barns. The neighbors like to flaunt their barns in my face.
Some very grand...



Some very traditional...


Some quaint. This small barn houses a cute pony and a miniature donkey. I love the siding with the green windows and doors...wait a minute Hubby put the siding on this little barn several years ago. They must have paid him.


Our weather is not helping my barn envy. It is raining pigs and goats. We are in the depressing season here in Washington, which usually last about 9 months. A barn would be just the thing to get me through the winter. I'd hang out in there. I'd sweep my floor and stack my hay. I'd have a radio like I did when I was a kid. I have a memory of me, in my barn, listening to the radio and singing at the top of my lungs while trimming my goat's hooves. The song on the radio...The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia (you know, the night they hung an innocent man). The year...1973.

Most of my friends have barns. One friend told me that when she got her barn she would take her breakfast out there and eat with her horses. I would do that. Even if the goats did fight me for my toast and spill my coffee. Another friend has a beautiful white vintage barn that's all barn-shaped and sits on top of a hill. I wonder if she knows how lucky she is? Talk about barn envy, not only is it a barn but a vintage barn.

I plan on remedying this one day and owning a proper barn. I don't need a big barn. Just enough room for a couple of kidding stalls, a small stack of hay, and a place for my milking stand. So far I have three green windows taken out of the white vintage barn. I love them and it's a start.

But if you come to my funeral, many years from now of course, and I've never owned a farm with a barn, shed a tear for me...I've led an unfulfilled life.

Have you hugged your barn today?

13 comments:

Lisa said...

Oh, I'm sorry. I love barns too. My goats live in a revamped screen house that I CALL a barn.

I'm sure you'll have one someday. I just know it.

Smiles,
Lisa

Holly said...

Yes, I too long for a barn and when the wind howls and the snow slaps against the windows of our home I wish that I could tuck all my animals and myself inside a warm barn. Your blog stirred memories. I can smell the hay, oats, saddle leather, and of course manure that was an integral part of the barn from my youth.

Holly said...

I don't know if I want a barn or not. A barn means I would have my own place but it also means I'd have to do chores every day......

been there, done that...didn't mind it a LOT, but would miss the other boarders I share our barn with now.

Donna said...

Well, you better get a barn. And you made me appreciate my barn, even in it's half-fixed, still-under-construction state.

Danni said...

What a lovely post. Well, except for the possibly dying unfulfilled part. I'm guessing a proper barn is not too far in your future - my experience is that when you want something so bad you can almost taste it (do you enjoy the taste of barn? lol), then it is often just on the horizon.
And now, since you told me to, I'm off now to hug my smelly little barn.
And guess what. The grass is always greener. You know why? I have 3-sided shelter envy. I need one. Care you share your building plans? :-)

DebH said...

I am in total aggreement..I bore my family and friends to tears with my ranting of barns and pictures and "look at this one"! I too want one in the worst way and agree that it would be my hideaway and my escape and my sanctuary! I totally understand and what a wonderful post as I know I am not alone in my dreaming.
Just keep telling yourself, "I will have my barn" "I will have my barn". It can only help!

Marigold said...

Singing at the top of your lungs, huh? I bet that gets them to hold still. Please DO NOT give the goatmother any ideas. The goatmother loves barns too, by the way. Really I am glad we have one (albeit small) so we don't have to entertain the putty tats out there at night.

Leiah said...

I'm with you, I can't wait to have a barn, a real barn. I want it to be warm and cozy and smell like fresh cut hay, I want to house newly hatched chicks, and wee goats, I want to have a milking stand and a tack closet.... We have a building on our property that we intend to turn into a barn. One day.

I hope we both get barns, one day, soon.

Anonymous said...

Here go the memories of my childhood again. The thing I remember most about the barn was when Sweet Pea (at least I think it was Sweet Pea--I inherited Mom's memory and sometimes it's less than stellar)had her babies and everybody crowded into the little barn and watched the miracle of birth. Sweet Pea must have been mortified, poor thing! And I don't remember fresh mown hay as being what the barn smelled like (funny that with my less than stellar memory I can remember that). I do remember that if we couldn't find you we always looked in the barn. Just followed the strains of the music and loud singing. It is my very sincere hope that someday you have the barn of your dreams. I'll do a beautiful glass window for it.

Your Sister

Kelly said...

I too love barns. That is one of the best things about New England. Barns are one of the first things I fell in love with when we moved up here. Our barn is 160 years old and has been let go by the previous owner. I go out and actually talk to our barn. I tell it that one day soon it will be strong and healthy again. I think it hears me. I know it does.
Kelly

frugalmom said...

I have barn envy, too. Altho, first I have farm envy...then barn envy...then, well, okay....maybe thats farm first, then chicken envy..so then I guess I would have coop envy...and then llama envy...so then I would need to have three sided shelter envy...or it could still go back to barn envy...but really? Im pretty sure llama envy comes way before chicken envy...sigh.

I just know that you will have a proper barn before you now it. And then you can play your radio and dance with your goats.

goatgirl said...

I would love a window Sis. Could it have a goat....and be green?

goatgirl said...

I think the comments here are little stories in themselves. Thanks for taking the time to leave a little piece of you.