The kittens are dealing with the cold by lying about in my washing, playing in the fruit bowl, sneaking into the cupboards and their table manners are dreadful.
Boo still loves them though.
The barn was still yesterday. Still and quiet. Cold. The birds fluffed up and warm, peering about watching for any loose oats spilling into the straw. It is hard for me to describe to you the stillness and essential warmth of the barn even in the bitter cold. The animals watch me, oh I know it is a cupboard love but once they have inspected my hands and seen no apples or carrots they turn back to their sleeping or scavenging, thinking and drifting and the sounds of the whispering building and the chiming birds resumes. The wind speaks, the chandelier sparkle of drifting snow through the myriad of cracks in the old barn sparkle like miniscule tinsel falling to the ground. It all shifts and rearranges itself into a small oasis of dove-tailing peace.
I honestly believe that if I did not have a husband in the house to tend, I would not come inside at all. I would take my blankets and my thin foldable pillows and I would curl up behind Sheila and with my dogs at my back I would sleep in the straw out there in the barn. I know that seems strange. John won’t even come out and do chores in the cold. He hates it. But I love the challenge of it, the knowledge, its power, and the barn with all its holes and patched roof and unstable loft, and flocks of birds, it is my haven. the breath of all these animals who depend on me, their eyes and radar ears and if the animals can survive out there surely I can too. I would you know. Sleep out there. Just to see if I could. The cows have their own beds, the same one every night, the big pigs have their bed, and the little kunes have their bat cave, the chickens roost in the same spot every night. Should I sleep with the big pigs or the kunes?.. hmm.
It was cold yesterday. But we have seen colder. Much colder.
And it snowed last night.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farm (and everyone needs a friend with a farm)
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
71 responses to “Barn Beds”
C, I have missed out on soo much since the start of the holidays and seems I will only be fully back in the swing of things next week. I am treasuring having Pete home for an extended period so no complaining.
Stay warm C and I do hope you get the chance to have a sleepover with the animals, just for one night. 😀
Have a beautiful day.
Love to you from a beautifully warm and sunny SA.
🙂 Mandy xo
I am glad it is beautiful and warm.. and glad that pete is home for a while. much love.. c
Sheila would be a warmer and more peaceful sleeping companion, but I would be unable to resist the kune kunes, with their wicked, clever faces, furry ears and thick fuzzy coats. One shouldn’t have favourites, but one does, and her name is Miss Timatanga Moana.
I imagine that Sheila would give off more heat but as katechiconi said it would be hard to resist the kune kunes — if it were me I would build my own straw house and curl up with Ton and Boo. Only an inch more of snow here last night but the temp has dropped 10 degrees in the past 4 hours. Hope that you are staying warm.
It is so hot here, I would gladly swap.
You are happier in cooler climes aren’t you Debra.. bet it is hot in aussie..c
The sensual quality of your writing always takes my breath away. If John doesn’t like the cold barn, I suggest you stay snuggled up in the warm house.
Love,
ViV xox
You are without doubt one of the strongest women I know. Your will to live, to exist, in the world as it is, is formidable. And I agree with Viv. Your writing takes the breath away. I also agree with her that you should stay warm. Sleep with John. Not with pigs.
((Loud Laughter))..
Forming your blankets into a sleeping bag of sorts and your little foldable pillows and your head covered, you could sleep out there with Sheila’s heat on one side and the dogs up against your back. With just your hair peeking out and your own breath keeping you warm, you would be cozy, I imagine. Warm wooly socks on your feet is a must. I can see it and it would be a treat. You might wake up with a little round of piggy faces staring at you and grunting softly to let you know that it was time to get up and feed them their vittles. Wouldn’t that be a picture? Beautiful imagery today. xx
Kim, Are you offering to make C a new pair of socks? 🙂
SOOOOCKS!!! Ha ha .. you guys!.. c
Miss C, I don’t think you should try sleeping out there tonight or tomorrow night … I would worry! I am not looking forward to the frigid temperatures and wind chill. I dread heading outside on those days, but once I am bundled, like you…I (sort of) enjoy the challenge.
it is not looking good is it.. very nasty.. c
Lovely sentiments and imagery! I miss spending time in barns…
You made me remember a part of Animal Farm with your post today:
“The pigs begin living in the farmhouse, and rumor has it that they even sleep in beds, a violation of one of the Seven Commandments. But when Clover asks Muriel to read her the appropriate commandment, the two find that it now reads “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.” Squealer explains that Clover must have simply forgotten the last two words. All animals sleep in beds, he says—a pile of straw is a bed, after all. Sheets, however, as a human invention, constitute the true source of evil. He then shames the other animals into agreeing that the pigs need comfortable repose in order to think clearly and serve the greater good of the farm.”
I would want to sleep near the chickens. Close enough I could overhear their low conversation and soft clucks as they drift off.
Love this quote.thank you… . and that reminds me of a quote from Daphne de Maurier, evidently she said to the children as she headed out to her shack to write (they had rented an enormous old english ‘pile’ for the summer.). “I don’t care what you do just no goats in the beds!!” c
Of course you don’t let GOATS in your beds, they would eat all the bedding and start gnawing on the head and foot boards! 🙂
exactly!! morning pat.. c
I love the word picture you created about the snow in the barn. Friends on the farm are the best.
my dad used to tell about neighbors who lived on adjoining farm. in the 1920-30’s
they had a 2 room shack, numerous children, after the boys were older than 6 yrs or so, they slept in the barn loft,in the hay, all year around.
the girls and parents slept in the house
wow.. i love these old stories of yours ron, apart from anything else they remind us of how absolutely spoilt we are.. imagine..c
I think that Sheila would be the best hot water bottle for you!
Christine
Wait just a wee bit longer until Spring is here Celi, so the sleep in the barn can be much warmer and thus, even more enjoyable. I’m with Our John in that I do not like the cold!!!
Ha ha – I was thinking about how farmers lived above the animals centuries ago (at the start of you post) and then you contemplate sleeping with the pigs! I’d be very tempted to go out and have a barn slumber party myself 😉
I keep telling John that we need to build a room beside the house for the cows, they are so warm, there is always condensation on their coats.. Elsie has the full three inches of melting snow on her back this morning even with the barn to go into, she stood out in the snow.. they are a tough breed the Dutch Belted and she looks so dainty. morning mad!.. c
I’ve seen houses in Spain built above the barn and one or two in Cornwall. I’m always amazed by Welsh sheep in blizzards who can stay buried alive in snow drifts for a week or more.
India too….I have a friend who lives on a farm in the north, her and her family live above the cows…water buffalo actually….and the cowman and his family live right beside the cows. The sounds of horns tocking on the beams at night, and soft blowy cow noises, as well as the lovely smell wafting up is wonderful to go to sleep with. It’s so warm right above them too. I vote for sleep in the barn whenever you feel like it. Get John a hot water bottle 🙂