Completing the barn tour, I’ll take through the side that’s all about people.
Which is not to say that goats and sheep haven’t been in there, because if you leave that door hanging open for more than two seconds, anyone in the area is going to clamber on up the steps and come in. Though they’re not welcome. Mostly, it’s only the sheep who are in the front barn yard, so usually it’s Annabelle following me in there. She’s right on me.
A pet sheep is such an oddball. I’m pretty sure she’d come sit down in the house and watch HGTV with me if I let her.
I love the old hinges on the barn door.
Though I don’t think Annabelle cares about the hinges or has noticed them.
Inside, the steps to the hay loft are immediately to the left, and usually there’s a cat waiting there.
But first, let’s look around down here! At the far end of the downstairs storage area, you can look over into the outdoor-access stall that the cows can shelter in without entering the barn otherwise.
Just in front of the “look-over” into the outdoor-access stall, there is some fencing material and a couple of animal carriers. The wire carrier is one I brought with me, but the large plastic carrier under it was left here by the previous owners. I’m guessing they either used it for large dogs or goats. (They did have Nigerian Dwarf goats at one time, and it’s the perfect size for little goats.) I made good use of it when I was moving and we discovered they’d left it here.
There are all kinds of goodies tucked everywhere. Morgan’s horse “speed limit” sign that blew down off the outside of the barn is leaning against two more vintage church pews (like the two that are in front of the cellar) until it’s put back up somewhere else around the barn (like, inside, so it can’t be blown down).
I saw something behind the pews, and pulled out what looks like a scythe.
There’s a big roll of fence wire and a propane tank.
Up in the rafters here, I believe this is some spare siding for the house.
There are all kinds of electric fencing materials.
Some of these materials I brought with me from Stringtown Rising, but some of them were left here by the previous owners as well.
I had hoped to get the first upper pasture fenced with electric right after moving in. It was still warm and there was still stuff to eat up there, but I wasn’t able to get it done quickly enough. Now, with this mild winter, I’m wondering if we may have an early spring. I want to move the cows as soon as possible, so my attention will soon be back on getting that first upper pasture prepared. I have all the materials I need, so it won’t be too costly of a job just to get it installed. The pasture is already fenced, with woven wire that’s down in a few places, but the fence posts are all in place, so it’s just a matter of stringing the electric and putting the charger on. I want to have that done soon, and then as soon as I see stuff growing in there, the cows are moving.
In the corner over here there are more supplies, mostly left here by the previous owners, including some metal posts and a post hole digger.
In this part of the barn, there are also lots of old horse show ribbons tacked on the walls.
There are also all kinds of odds and ends on a shelf.
An old medicine cabinet, garden owl, emergency kit, tub of various things I haven’t gone through yet, and some old statuary. Around the corner, in a sort of cubby, I found some outdoor chairs.
Now we can go up the stairs to the hay loft–
–where you can find hay and usually an angry cat.
And that’s it for the barn tour! There are lots of goodies in this old barn that will help me get started here. I think there’s a lot of life left in this old barn, and I love it.
Diane says:
Love your barn. Wish I had one. I am not a farmer but man I could move my husband in there with all his stuff and still have lots of room to spare. lol. JK. I am so glad you got this barn for your animals I am sure it makes things so much eaiser for you.
Your black cat and mine look the same. lol. Same long black fur same look to them.
On February 6, 2012 at 6:48 am
LadyBehir says:
Love the old scythe! It reminds me of the Dougie MacLean song about learning the old ways of doing things. YouTube of it here (If I am allowed to link)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dwy-7TPpkk&feature=related
On February 6, 2012 at 9:17 am
kdubbs says:
I love it! The previous owners left you a treasure trove of useful stuff! Wish our barn had been filled with such stuff–instead, the sellers left us just plain JUNK. You’re lucky!
On February 6, 2012 at 10:47 am
cherylinwv says:
I noticed that you have a corn hole game leaning up against the church pews as well. Sew you up some bags and you’re ready to go!!
On February 6, 2012 at 11:37 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
cherylinwv, I do have the bags for the corn hole game! (Via BuckeyeGirl!)
On February 6, 2012 at 12:04 pm
HFleitz says:
Suzanne, scythes are fairly expensive and there are a lot of preparers that are looking for them. You may be able to sell that on Craig’s List for a decent chunk of change! I’d do some research and see about pricing, but I know that new blades are 75-90$ and the snath (the long handle) are 115-150$. There are a lot of cool treasures in your barn! I’ve been enjoying the virtual tour!
On February 6, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Barbee says:
Tasha Tudor used a scythe like that to mow her meadow, probably a couple of acres, and was still using it when she was on up in years. She was a tough woman. They say once you learn the balance and swing of it, the work isn’t that difficult the user just gets a rhythm going.
On February 6, 2012 at 1:00 pm
JerseyMom says:
Careful with the scythe if you decide to use it. I wound up with a bad wrist from about 6 months of cutting horse grass with one (wild horse….didn’t want to eat hay!) My wrist has never quite been the same since. Obviously I’m not made of the same tough stuff as Tasha Tudor!!
On February 6, 2012 at 1:39 pm
wvshopper says:
I have just recently gotten back into reading your posts, and have found many positive benefits from them. Love the barn, but also loves those cat pictures. I do not see any cat pictures on smugmug, will you have some pictures of your beautiful cat posted on smugmug. Best wishes in the project on the farm.
On February 6, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Glenda says:
Suzanne, every time I look at your barn, I keep coming back to the same thing: surely there is a small corner you could adapt for the chickens…have them semi-contained and safe until you can build the chicken house you want.
It is a great barn!
On February 7, 2012 at 10:48 am
lavenderblue says:
Are barns in West Virginia built “looser” than more northern states? It seems like the the slats (siding?) on your barn have more space between them than the ones up north. I imagine it is because of the usually milder weather in the southern states, of course, but I keep thinking of how much snow you had last year.
At any rate, it is a beautiful barn and I am envious. :devil2:
I wouldn’t sell that scythe. They are invaluable for trimming weeds along ditches and small patches you want cleared out. Just be sure to get someone to show you how to use it, it seems as if you could easily run into trouble. I’m a little afraid of scythes and axes.
On February 8, 2012 at 8:57 am
brookdale says:
If you decide to use the scythe be sure that it is SHARP! It can be sharpened with a file, like you would a jacknife.
Scything is not hard, it just takes practice. Easier than clipping or mowing tall grass or weeds. Farmers have been doing it for hundreds of years!
On February 8, 2012 at 10:08 am