There is a family barn across the way (in fact I call it The Barn Across The Way) that has been rented out for many years and has just come back to the family. Yesterday actually. And now (she says with a big grin) it is OURS. I want to write MINE (because I am the farmer after all) but for appearances sake I will write Ours. I will let Our John build the fences because there is also a decent patch of grass!!
It is across the unbridgeable ditch so will be awkward to manage but it has such potential.
It is old, but recently painted and has a good new tin roof. 
Some of the really old fittings are still there, the stalls and feeders, and some interesting little rooms.
It has the feel of an indoor arena to it with a central walled space for the hay and a wide gallery all around this for the animals to shelter. Part of the barn is a dirt floor and part of it has concrete which is interesting. 
With this beautiful ceiling it brings to mind a circus tent. 
The paint job is a poor attempt to disguise what will be a bit of work. Firstly many of the windows are boarded up so we will put the glass back in and get some light into the space.
Also on the property is a crib. Not like a crib that is a bach. In the midwest a crib is where they used to store corn before the metal bins.
I will go back and look at this today, there is a very interesting mechanism for moving the corn inside this building, I need to investigate further. 
I am considering taking the fattening chickens and a couple of roosters over to this new barn and once they are settled let them loose to do some housekeeping. I was going to put them in the pot, but maybe I can put them to work instead. Plus I need to get some cats settled in there. There is evidence of rodents. I do not have a mouse problem in my barn here and I am sure it is because of the chickens, roosters and cats. I will be over there every day anyway. Probably riding the Tall Teenagers Bike over there for the summer. It would take about 5 minutes.
Later in the summer the cows will come to this barn and over winter there. I do not have room for four cows in my little barn. The barn across the way is huge in comparison. We have just expanded. How is that for wonderful!
Have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farms
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
89 responses to “Across the way”
congrats, very nice..
Sweet! Room for expansion! Now my question is — can you see it from the veranda? Or where exactly is it in relation to the Daily View?
I love the chewed and use-worn manger, and the beautiful construction of the interior. What a wonderful bonus! I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with it.
exploreing is the fun part
and then the hard work begins
enjoy
You are full of surprises, Celi. It looks like an interesting summer ahead.
Time to send The Matriarch back to the hairdresser for another kitten or two 🙂 Will it be practical to milk Daisy in this barn? Love those high ceilings … ooh so exciting albeit a lot of work ahead. Laura
Excellent news – I bet you are excited 🙂
Beautiful. The little farm is turning into an empire!
How nice to suddenly have another barn to add to your housing options! I’m hoping to finally get my little goat shed built this week, and am beyond excited…and that’s just 200 square feet! I dream of a vast old barn like the one I had in Colorado, ages ago, when I rented an old dairy farm. Your pictures often remind me of that place.
Beautiful barn! As a long time lover of barns I understand your excitement! Growing up in Western Tennessee everyone had a barn or a barn of sorts so I am very prone to love all barn-like structures. I have always wanted to live in a barn as a matter of fact! You are one lucky farmer indeed!
Back in the ’90s it was a big thing in England to turn old barns into living accommodation! Once they were done up a bit they looked brilliant, and quaint and rustic all rolled into one. Always loved the thought of living in a barn with those high ceilings.
I’m chuffed for you Celi, I can see a great future for this barn!
Looks like a great barn with heaps of potential. So you have now got even more work to do ——you are a legend!
this barn has great bones. plus, you have months to get it ready and embrace it before you need to move the cows in. will you have to build a bridge over the ditch? will it be difficult to get to it in the winter? warm weather is on the way!
What a wonderful barn! look forward to seeing it take shape. Exciting x
That’s great! It will be exciting to see it as you work to improve it.
Nancy
http://www.workingmomadventures.com
This sounds wonderful Cecilia… are there lands that come with it or is it just the barn… tell us more about this barn it sounds interesting…