I feel really blessed to live so close to my childhood farm.
As a kid, we never moved. We stayed put on our 40 acre dairy farm, so it’s the only family home I’ve ever known.
So every now and then when I come home from town, I loop around a certain way so I can drive slowly past the old revamped farm.
On this particular day, I wasn’t going to go that way. I thought about it, but felt, meh… I felt lazy driving home, so I’ll just go straight. But something led me to make the valiant effort of turning the steering wheel right instead.
Boy that was a lot of work. 🙂
But goodness, am I ever glad I did.
It appears the new owners were in the midst of taking one of the loafing barns down.
I’ve been waiting for this day for a LONG time. I had always hoped that if they took down the big ‘ol red barn or even parts of it, that I’d be able to scoop some wood for a keepsake.
You may remember the original story of the bike ride HERE.
Which led to us visiting the farmhouse coming down HERE.
Consider this part 3!
I mulled over whether I should even bother driving in. Surely they wouldn’t mind if I took a few red boards?
I really hated asking though! But I coaxed myself all the way to the door.
Apparently they do have plans for the wood, but they also very generously offered me to help myself when they heard my story.
Oh my.
I wasn’t prepared for this stop at all, so I didn’t have any gloves on me nor a hammer.
So I just rummaged through a few loose boards that were easy to grab.
This wasn’t the only pile either. I’ve honestly never seen destruction so incredibly organized!
Which made picking through it pretty easy.
As I was going through the wood, I leaned my favorite pieces up when at one point my eyes stung. This place always makes me feel like that.
The memories of my childhood started rushing back. The horseback riding, me playing trumpet out the window to coax the cows to the barn, playing Barbies on the lawn under the yard light…
I really was blessed with a wonderful childhood. And I will always be a farm girl at heart.
It was so hard to stay in one place too. I wanted to snoop! Look inside the big barn still standing, and just sit there and stare. Check out every nook and cranny. Touch stuff. But… it wasn’t my home to do that any longer. And I felt by just wishing it, that I was already trespassing.
As I reluctantly threw in the last of the wood I was about to take home, I glanced up at the looming dark sky. It was about to burst with a big rain storm, so I knew my time was pretty much up anyway.
What wonderful timing though!
While I took one more loving look around, I thanked my parents and God for the most wonderful life a farmers’ daughter could possibly have. And how fortunate I felt having a little of the infamous red barn wood for a personal keepsake.
And that’s when I saw this…
*choke*
Oh dear… there’s something in my eyes once again…
Wow, what great photos those last two are! I’m glad you got to take some red pieces from your old barn, that is fabulous! I also grew up in one house… it was torn down two years ago to make way for a roadway expansion. There is nothing left anymore where it stood!
This is incredible! I cried reading it!!
The tears also came to my eyes. I was raised on a farm in N.J. and also had a wonderful childhood. The house still stands, but everything else is gone, so I know what it’s like for you to go back to the farm. I really enjoyed your touching stories of your farm. Thanks for sharing. Love the ideas I get from your website.
That is wonderful that you got to take some of the barn with you. And the pictures…. WOW! Made me choke up…..
Oh how I love this story. Thanks for sharing.
Well it must be an epidemic because there is something in my eye too. When I was a kid (and I guess still to this day) I always thought that the clouds parting and the sun shining through showed God was looking down at me. You can almost hear the angels singing down in the background. We all need a little of that in our lives. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this…. I’m so glad you were able to get some of that wood… save it for that perfect project that will bring smiles forward every time you look at it, because the images in the sky….. is beyond blessings only those in heaven have the ability to share and you are so blessed to be the receiver..
What a blessing the Lord led you to drive by your old home. And for the generous and kind hearts of the new owners. Some days we just seem blessed and blessed and blessed. Now that wood is precious!
Oh, a sad day it will be when it is completely down. I wished those old barns could live forever and I understand that most that are taken down are a safety issue, but still sad to see them go. Good thing you followed your urge. I’m glad that you were able to get a few treasured boards. Do you think you will just keep them, or are you going to work your magic and make something amazing with them? I love the story of your farm life!
Yeah . . . . . . I think I have something in my eye, too, and a big lump in my throat. What amazing grace that you were able to grab a few memories (in the way of barn boards) from your childhood. Thanks for sharing!
I believe that glorious sun shining through the clouds over your childhood home are your parents smiling down and telling your that they love you and will always be with you.
That photo is definitely print worthy to keep as a reminder to look at when we miss them most.
Carol b
Dear Donna,
Thank you for your post!! I’m living vicariously through you! I grew up on a farm and spent hours and hours up in the hay loft playing with the kitties and moving bales around to make hideouts. As an adult and returned home to visit Mom and Dad who later moved in town, I’d always drive out to the farm. After my parents were gone, I’d every so often look at google maps and see the farm and remember. The last time I did so, the entire space was gone, the two houses, and all the red barns were totally gone, sob, sob!! I just looked again… there was a street name where the farm lane used to be. Some people call this progress, it just makes me sad. I’m SO GLAD you got some actual pieces of the old red barn. Thanks for sharing!!
Liz
WOW! That is one awesome sight. That “little voice” in your head that made you take the detour is always right. Looking forward to seeing what you create with the wood.
now…there is something in my eyes! I can picture you trying to coax the cows…what beautiful memories and now you have a reminder that will be nestled in your home.
I am so happy for you. What great memories!
How wonderful. God talks to us all the time, we just have to look and listen. Feel blessed.
So SPECIAL for you Donna.? Now you need to frame the pic in some of the barn board for your place!!! That would be awesome for memories ????
God light.
Aww, you’ve got me choked up too! I can’t wait to see what your special project will be for those boards. I think you need to give the new owners one of your business cards (if you have them) so that maybe they could get in touch with you if they ever decide to get rid of anything else on the farm.
Wow, just wow!