Tag: barn

The Old Barn

Sheeps & Peeps1 Comment
Great Aunt Nellie and Grandma Lena
family barn built 1900

We are so excited to have been working on our old family barn this summer. Terry has been doing some of the work, and we have also had the help of the crew from EcoStructures.   When we were growing up it was full of dairy cows and calves.  There was a tall silo, a grainary and a pigsty out back.  Right now we use it to house most of the hay that we have harvested for the long winter ahead.  Five generations of our family have made use of this sturdy shelter.  We hope that given a good dose of TLC a couple more will have at least the opportunity to build upon this legacy within its comforting walls.  We love this old barn full of friendly ghosts and fond memories.

Caution – Turkey Crossing

Sheeps & Peeps2 Comments

Often when making a trip down the old barn lane to get hay we encounter wildlife – a bunny, a deer – we pause in the springtime to observe the first Robins in the hayfield, the blooms on the Mountain Laurel. But a few days ago we had a real treat.

We had to suddenly stop the Ranger because of these baby turkeys (poults) in the lane.

We could hear clucking and shortly found Mama Turkey peeking out of the hayfield on the left side of the lane.

After much more clucking and peeping, Mama Hen ventured out and proceeded to encourage her poults to cross the lane.

She and three poults crossed to the right side, but she continued to cluck. Then we heard more peeping, and out popped some more poults!
… and more…

… and more…

Finally after several minutes of clucking encouragement, everyone made it safely across the lane, into the tall grass on the right side and then further into the woods.

And we were given a lesson in slowing down… pausing… enjoying Mother Nature’s gifts.

More Birdwatching

Sheeps & PeepsLeave a comment

We accomplished a lot last weekend, but it was hard to stay focused with all the birdwatching activity going on in the barn. It is hard to believe, but the cats have made no attempts to bat or lunge at either the nestlings or the adult birds when they fly into feed the little ones. They seem to be content to observe, and honestly become bored with the whole thing after about 10 minutes.

This brave little one made it out of the nest on Sunday to this perch about 15 feet away from the nest. Momma and Poppa joined him there for awhile.

But then began a huge effort to entice the remaining 3 baby birds from the nest. They tried scolding. When that didn’t work they performed miraculous, airborn, acrobatic stunts in the middle of the barn, but that didn’t work. They even tried to lure them to the barn door by chirping, quite loudly, from the sheep pen gate.

Despite their heroic efforts, these three little ones refused to budge.
Several hours later when we returned to the barn, the brave baby bird that left the nest earlier had flown back to its siblings. All 4 were back firmly ensconced in their now very little nest, and poor mama and papa were back to their frantic feeding schedule.

Barn Dance

Sheeps & PeepsLeave a comment

We took some time off on this beautiful, sunny day and attended the fifth Annual Aurora Barn Dance at Brookside Farm. This is a fundraiser, sponsored by the Aurora Project, Inc.
The barn was built in 1898 and is now privately owned by the Utterback family.

While everyone enjoyed a great meal, apple cider and mulled wine, Wolf Creek Session performed. They are a wonderful group that performs a mixture of Celtic roots music and traditional Appalachian sounds.

What’s a barn dance without a ‘dance band’? Enter Born Old playing traditional, old-time music from West Virginia.

Doug Van Gundy’s mother was the square dance caller. She did a wonderful job, getting most everyone involved.

After Lena participated in the children’s hike in Cathedral State Park, she and Sharon joined in the fun for the final set of square dances.

Wish we could share the beautiful music of the final waltz; so lovely it brought tears to your eyes. A wonderful time had by all, please join us next year!