Sometimes my favourite barn is the West Barn, sometimes my favourite barn is the Home Barn. Yesterday my favourite was the West Barn. Favourites move about – this is the key. If you have a favourite forever you need to re-evaluate your favourite criteria.
Things were quiet yesterday, gentler, there was no reason for me to be anywhere in any kind of hurry so I hung out in the West Barn for a while. Poppy has come back into heat so it was noisy and busy down below (she is not quite ready so I locked her in the corner pen later on so they do not fight) but shimmering with cold and hope up above. The animals know I throw the afternoon hay down from above so they crane their necks watching for the hay that descends like the fluttering of an open telephone book.
Poppy and Manu do not look up. They are too busy with their hormones.
It always feels to me that the West Barn is warmer than the Home Barn. The West Barn has not been ruined by one of Johns anscestors modernising it. It leaks in the rain of course – even with its new roof, but it still has a gentle harmonious feel.
In fact it was so warm in the West Barn yesterday afternoon that I was able to remove my outer gloves – not the inner gloves you understand but it was an invigorating step.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
ps. I just finished listening to the most beautiful book: Heft by Liz Moore. Wonderful.
The Kitchen's Garden 
57 responses to “Favourite Barns”
Love this barn! Can’t wait for it to be open for visitors:)
Love this barn. Can’t wait for it to have visitors
Love this barn! Can’t wait for it to host visitors:)
Oh C. You own a real treasure of a barn from a bygone era as they say. The timber work is just beautiful. I have a collection of barn photos that I have taken all over the country and often wish I could walk through them and feel their history. Do you remember the scene in the Thorn Birds when Meggie is standing in their family barn with the dust particles floating in the sun rays. It’s beautiful. I thought of that when I saw your photo of the barn’s timbers in the ceiling.
I never saw the movie – maybe I will find it tonight! c
I wonder what sort of horse was cooped up in Poppy and Manu’s stall? It obviously decided, out of boredom, that it would eat the shorter stall walls. 🙂 I know also, that donkeys are more prone to such behavior than horses. Did John’s people have donkeys?
Fingers crossed that Poppy and Manu’s piglet making is successful this go-round. 🙂
No – a cousin had Clydsdales in there – I love the chewed on edges, they are very smooth.. c
I love the rectangles of light glowing at intervals, it looks so peaceful and other worldly.
Loved the barn ‘tour’. Especially the views from up above – looking down into the animal nests … A barn newbie question … I ‘think’ I see the hay wagon in the loft. Does that mean your barn has some kind of slope on one side that allows it to access the upper area while the other side of the barn opens one story lower? Quite a feat in your flatlander region I’d think.
hi Mouse, no, the barn is one level, I was standing on top of the hay to take those photographs, the hay rack is on the ground just inside a gate – it is hard to get a real feel for a place through photographs isn’t – i often feel i should draw the farm with anecdotal comments all over the drawing! c
Ahhh … now I see. Such a beautiful building! Love the roof beams and the glowing wood. AND the critters! 😉 Thanks Celi.
My favorite barn is the one I can call mine. I was without one in my urban days and I missed it (and the warm horses inside) so much that, eventually, no travel or city adventure could distract me from my need to have a barn again. Now I do and it is my favorite place.
Nothing gets in the way of a determined woman.. or nothing with any sense anyway! c
The West Barn is like a Shakespearian Theatre. Of course it is really… so much action goes on there and we have Dress Circle seats!
Yes! The pigeons are up in the peanut gallery! c
Beautiful barn and post, but the pearl of wisdom– “If you have a favourite forever you need to re-evaluate your favourite criteria”. Love it.
Yes, we change all the time, and our tastes change too c
Well, rats. I was hoping Poppy was already pregnant. Maybe this time. I have faith in Manu.
I say “rats”, too. Never met anyone else who did. Pleased ta meetcha!
this is a lovely barn with such cathedral like light! Cheers!
That is a beautiful old barn.
Hi Celi, although I love the shots of and comments about the barns…and agree with all of them…the thing that got me was your book recommendation of Heft. Checked my library and just checked out an ebook of the same title. I also read Plainsong, which you gave rave reviews. Much love, your citygirl friend learning to be a countrygirl friend, Gayle
Read the book first if you already haven’t. It’s one of my all time favorite books by Colleen McCollough.
I read it years and years ago – c