animal kingdom / DAILY FARM LIFE / Woodlawn

Woodlawn update // barn projects

woodlawn barn

woodlawn barn

Yesterday afternoon, while Birdy was napping, it suddenly occured to me that I hadn’t heard from the girls for what was pushing two hours. Usually, I can hear them somewhere in the house. Or hear them outside the kitchen window. 

woodlawn barn

woodlawn barn

I walked outside and all was still quiet. Bikes strewn across the grass. A sweatshirt on the hood of my car. The usual troop of lounging barn cats were missing. No dog to greet me. I mean, let’s be realistic. Usually in the span of two hours at least one person is coming inside to find me, usually in tears, usually arguing with her sister over something. At the very least, I expect someone to arrive with a bloody knee or skinned up elbows. 

woodlawn barn

My heart stirred a little. Did they go off hiking to the creek without asking me first? Did I give them permission to go off with someone and forgot? Were they up over the back hill? 

woodlawn barn

woodlawn barn

Yesterday afternoon, while Birdy was napping, it suddenly occured to me that I hadn’t heard from the girls for what was pushing two hours. Usually, I can hear them somewhere in the house. Or hear them outside the kitchen window. 

woodlawn barn

woodlawn barn

I walked outside and all was still quiet. Bikes strewn across the grass. A sweatshirt on the hood of my car. The usual troop of lounging barn cats were missing. No dog to greet me. I mean, let’s be realistic. Usually in the span of two hours at least one person is coming inside to find me, usually in tears, usually arguing with her sister over something. At the very least, I expect someone to arrive with a bloody knee or skinned up elbows. 

woodlawn barn

My heart stirred a little. Did they go off hiking to the creek without asking me first? Did I give them permission to go off with someone and forgot? Were they up over the back hill? 

I found them eventually, in the barn. They’d spent those two hours rearranging heavy cattle gates and fences to build themselves an indoor riding ring in the gigantic stone barn. We only inhabit three smallish stalls for the sheep and the pony and haven’t given much anything else in the big barn our attention. Suddenly struck with inspiration, the girls had hauled away boards, raked up old straw and even ran the big magnet around the dirt, to unearth any hidden nails or sharp objects. 

woodlawn barn

woodlawn barn

woodlawn barn

When I walked in, it was full-on pony lessons. They’d created a safe, small little spot ring to ride. And they were absolutely content, not needing a thing from me. 

woodlawn barn

The barn has become the favorite hangout this spring. Over the past two weeks, Dan built the girls a pretty cool litttle tack room for all their gear, saddles, bins of feed, leather soaps and polish. “Better than a clubhouse!” someone exclaimed at some point. 

woodlawn barn

Little by little they’ve been adding their own accessories to this space. An old rug that Dan and I deemed tack room material. A cabinet. A bench and magazines. A giant calendar. A radio. Emma even dug out some grapevine wreaths from the basement and hammered in nails to hang them on the old, grey barn doors. 

woodlawn barn

woodlawn barn

Being in the barn was one of my favorite things when I was little. Especially at night with the lights on, the radio playing, all the animals chomping and pulling at their hay. 

woodlawn barn

woodlawn barn

So of course, I get a little thumping in my chest when I see my girls out here in the Woodlawn barn. Soon, we’ll fix up the broken wires and run some electricity. But for now, I’m just enjoying them, enjoying this special place all their own. 

6 comments on “Woodlawn update // barn projects”

  1. Such great memories they will make there. And that is the best barn. My husband would love to see it too, he has quite a thing for stone barns and all the old wood. It really is quite a beautiful treasure.

  2. I loved those days of playing in the barn at your old farm. I'm pretty jealous that you get to relive them!
    <3 & hugs
    kk

  3. Your girls definitely inspire me. Kids nowadays do their own thing. You can't keep them away from video games. I'm happy to see that there are still kids who loves playing at barns just like us when we're still at their age. Anyway it's a wise decision to have your barn repair, particularly the interior area. I'm sure your kids will spend more time playing in your barn now.

    >Arthur Bryant< @ ContractorExpress.com

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