The Barn... ain't nobody here, but us chickens!

Little Farm~Little Barn, is what I have been saying, for months. Since the earliest days of March, when we laid out the footprint, and discussed the details and hopes for our glorified shed. This little barn of ours would be a charming substitute for the shark cage where the chicas sleep and lay, a dignified answer to errant garden tools and straw bales, and a secure defense from predators and foul weather.

Most of the the job would be managed by Geoff and William. They logged in countless evening and weekend hours. Geoff designed it as they went, and William learned all about carpentry, power tools, framing, leveling... all of it! They are a good team. They were both focused and excited about how it was coming together.

Sometimes, they got a little extra help from the rest of the resident Birds, Natalie, Alex, Max, Maria, Suki, and Paul, and Eli pitched in, too. Nothing brings great storms and extra rainfall like an outdoor building project, and so a lot of weekends were lost, and sometimes progress was slow.

Still, it got the point when we had to choose paint, and put up a roof! By the time the siding was on, and the roof in place, we were anticipating at least one barn sleep-over, before the chickens moved in, and certainly a barn-warming party! We did have a party, and it was pure happiness, and backyard bliss... something I attribute to the friends who came, more than just our little barn.

Which came first, the barn or the goats? Well, we know the answer to that! And even before it was complete, the barn became a shelter for our wee goat kids, Ada and Tasha. Though, I have to say, they are far less "wee", and quite a bit bigger and boisterous, but still loads of fun.

The barn has been in the practically complete phase for almost a month, and has already inspired another family to build one, too. We would share the plans, but they are not written down. Geoff is happy to answer questions, and the measurements are fairly straightforward. We did not want to hassle with our city over permits, so it is built specifically as tall, wide and long as we could make it without permits... not too inspiring, but Geoff made it work.

Actually, he more than made it work. It is dear and charming. We know it from the ground up, and I love William and Geoff's hand in it, the parts that everyone had a hand in. We adore our barn. The jacaranda tree burst into bloom, like a benediction of blossoms on our little barn and farm. Alex and I painted the floor... and that same night we were struck with a whole new vision...

Outside, safe and happy, we have...

Goats.
And, chickens.
Inside... inside is for us.

Alex and I could not imagine chicken blogs all over our freshly painted, chocolate brown floor! We could not imagine goats, wild and rambling, kicking the barn walls.

What we could, all of us, imagine was a cozy retreat, a summer house, a winter cabin. We had this spare bed, and other dear odds and ends, a small table, some hooks, our camping gear, the cot, the lantern...
Delighted with our musings and imaginings, we moved the boy's old high bed in... how nicely it fits, as though the space were made for it! I hung the same bed sheets-turned-curtains Geoff and I had when we lived in Minneapolis, twenty-one years ago. Marie, don't they look dear, still? William and Geoff helped me make 2X4 shelves from the leftover scraps.

More treasure came out of the house and into the barn... little things I've collected over the years. Thrifted trinkets, and second-hand finds... making our barn a cozy nest... not exactly for chickens... well, for some chickens.
Maria and I read Tasha Tudor, and Laura Ingalls Wilder books, and a biography of Beatrix Potter. Her brothers have often read The Hobbit aloud... these stories have inspired a notion in her mind... something she calls CandleLight. CandleLight will happen here, in our barn.
Out this door, the goats are napping in the shade of the Jacaranda tree. The chickens are foraging beneath the fig tree. Soon, we will be adding a fenced yard, just for them.

The amoire was my one splurge... a 100$ find from the second hand store. In it we are storing our tents, camp stove, blankets, and linens, odds and ends. The barn has become a place of pure escapist whimsy... a napping nook, and sleep-out cabin, but we like to think of it in practical terms as well. We will make it our emergency preparedness kit: it will be stocked and ready for whatever earth shaking, calamitous crisis may come.
We read by lantern light... everyone's taken turns camping out. June is still a cooler month, here, but it's quite comfortable inside.
When Maria and I try her idea, CandleLight, we will be living in the barn, wearing clothes we make, eating what we grow, bartering for what we need, showering outdoors. Indoor bathroom is one of our concessions, and Maria says, "We can make our rules what we want them to be." Thank goodness.

The second side door leads to Sanka's loft, the new nesting spot, and the part of the yard where we will be adding the sheltered fenced area for the chicas and goats.

The barn is ready to be wired... just have to choose a lamp. Maybe. Maybe we'll stick to our battery lantern for a bit longer. It's soothing to step away from most conveniences and modern devices, even if we are only a hundred feet away from civilization.
Does it seem a shame? No animals in the barn? Well, the cats come by, and a chica, now and then. I guess we are not cut-out to be real farmers? I don't know. I do know that I love our barn.
Still, a barn, after all, is a place where you expect to see something, besides children reading, and pretty shelves. I guess that's why I couldn't resist bringing home this Flopsy bunny...
Puff, this is a Flopsy Holland Lop bunny.

Bunny, this is Puff. Puff is a chicken, in case you cannot tell.
Oh, and there is a cow, too. She laughs, and laughs about living in our barn.
So. Yes. Our barn is nearly complete. And as it is, it is completely dear.
Outside.
And inside, looking out.
Thank you.

Free Range Pumpkins and Eggs

Here is our free range pumpkin vine, growing up vigorously and voluntarily. This is about the spot where the children practiced their archery, aiming for rotting Halloween pumpkins perched on straw bales. Now we have five big pumpkins, and a few new blossoms, too. I love it when the compost piles make better garden beds than the ones I lovingly tend.

And this is our old, original rabbit hutch. We've moved this home around... from Neptune, to El Rancho, to the Tree House, over to Garage Mahal, and now here, our Bird House.
It's mostly housed bunnies, but Weazie stayed in there for a time, too. After Sanka moved into her deluxe loft, it sat vacant for a time. Are you wondering what it's doing now? I'll tell you...

Sanka's loft was moved to one side of the barn. The chica's shark cage is on the other side of the barn, next to the pen and shelter where Ada and Tasha Goat reside.
Well, the whole barn area is developing quite nicely, very farmly, and quaint. And the old bunny hutch looked lonesome and forlorn without Sanka, or Weazie, or dear Joe. I hauled it over, set it amongst the pumpkins and beside Sanka's loft. Then I waited a while... for an idea to make itself known. The chicas still like to play hide-eggo-seek and I wondered if they wouldn't appreciate a quiet, sheltered, nesty spot to set a spell and lay. I opened the wire doors, folding them back, so they were out of the way, making a welcome entry. I grabbed the shipping box that held a vise Geoff ordered, to make a step-up for the little hens, then I filled the hutch with straw!

And... voila! They do appreciate a nesty and sheltered spot for setting and laying!

Oh gosh... this farm has come a long way. Moves, and landlords, packing, foregoing, making do... it wasn't easy, or pretty. But this is today, and we have big pumpkins growing under a nest box, outside our own dear barn... and it's all like a wonderful soul healing balm... oh, so soothing and good.

Hello, Zoe, little hen.

Ahead: a pasture fence, where chicas and goats can forage and frolic together, safe from predators, and away from my garden and avocado trees! Geoff still talks about big, fat hens. I am enjoying walking the goats on leashes, and calling the hens from the four corners of the yard, for a treat, and amusement.

But what about the barn? Yes... it's time to show the barn, all finished mostly finished, and totally adored. Will you be around tomorrow? I am going to take some pictures... and share them here.

Super Heroes Facial Hair Iron Party

When Alex turned four, he had a super hero themed birthday party. When Alex turned eighteen, he did it again!

I was so pleased to be able to find the photo album with the picture of him, four years old and geared up in his heroic accessories. William did his computer magic and united Alex with the Avengers! Calling All Heroes!
It's fun preparing a young man's party when said young man has a huge capacity for play, fun, irony, and absurdity. His heart's desire: a full blown kiddie party... juice boxes, cold cheese pizza, streamers, his buddies, the works.

At the end of this red ribbon... a surprise.

Maria, jumping for joy, and Benjamin fully on board with any game involving yards and yards of fluttery, red ribbon.

Party games and special guests... I think Alex's wishes came true.

Suki and Darrahl, bros.

For fun, I provided some stick on facial hair. And they were fun. Lots of fun. What we did not know, at the time, was that mustaches were going to be the reigning theme of the day.
Iron test: What keeps Ironman alive and ticking?

Darrahl and Bobbie know Alex well. Their gift: publications about concept cars.

The last two weeks of school were full. Really full. So in addition to turning eighteen, studying for finals, preparing for graduation, going to Pasadena with physics, and keeping up with the rest of life, Alex was building trebuchets with his friends.

Stimson, teacher, mentor, robotics coach, family friend, creates an end of year project for his physics classes... either bridge building, or trebuchets. Working together, Sarah, Eli, and Alex built two. The first was Eli's design, a traditional wood-bamboo-free weights. In their "free" time Alex and Sarah decided to go through with a second design, schemed by Alex... something really different. No moving parts, foam board and duct tape, poly-carbon rods, and weights inside the bottom end. Being an experimental model, it was great to have a chance to demonstrate it, and get some advice and suggestions from Stimson. Even when it wasn't lobbing lacrosse balls, it was beautiful just seeing it roll up from end to end... lovely balancing.

You sir, hold a lacrosse ball.

Cousin Nick came to join in the fun.

The actual demo day, at school, got pretty intense. I'm glad this demonstration happened first, so there was time to share and discuss the merits, and kinks. As it was, still in progress, this design could launch a lacrosse ball approximately fifty feet.

Defend yourself, Sam! Nerf battle begins now.

Suki takes cover, surrounding herself with a goat army.

Sam switches strategy, offense instead of defense.

Load and lock... that's how it's done.

Micah and Suki

A kiddie party is not complete with out a piñata, blindfold, and a bat. ¡Dale, dale, dale!

Darrahl

James, John, Alex, Patricia, Bambi, Cameron, Holly, Eli, Katie, Sarah K., Gabe

There is something a little twisted about beating a superhero with a stick, for candy.

Grant

James and John

Watching Alex, blindfolded, spun, and swinging at a swinging object. It's both twisted, and funny.

Sarah, the linguist and physicist of Team Trebuchet

Suki and Grant, or shall we say Compulsive Snugglers?

Max brought out his foam weapon arsenal. And suddenly, it's hammer time.

Now that James realizes that Batman is full of dark chocolate-spekuloos bars, he understands the motivation for beating that piñata wide open!

Cakes and a candle. It's time for music and wishes!

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Eli, and Alex, and lots and lots of cake options. Wishes do come true!

Present time!

So, about the facial hair. No one ever said: Let's all bring mustaches! There was no collaboration, no plan, no secret agenda. But it happened anyway. The first three gifts were mustache variations... then there were more. A painting of Alex as a mustached sir, a T-shirt, many, many fuax ones, a wind up one, and even a homemade mustache themed giant octahedron! It was epic.
This is not a mustache. This is Cameron's fez, bequeathed to Alex, which symbolically is much like donating your own awesome facial man hair. Sort of. Basically it is just a really manly and cool gift.

You're not technically late to a party... if you show up with a octahedron, covered in stories, illustrations, and magic. Tots and Claire know how to roll.

Do not be perplexed, birthday hero.

Hilarity.

Thank you, Super Friends!

Super party!
Super Facial Hair!
Ironman loved this party, and Alex did, too.

{this moment}

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
:: Inspired by Soule Mama ::

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Time to Make Art

Behind, behind, behind, behind...

Sorry for all this talk about my behind problems, but I just cannot seem to catch up. I appreciate that falling behind in a blog is hardly cause for real distress. However. I really do want to share our day in Pasadena, the trebuchet event, graduation, more of Maker Faire, immediate plans for something we are calling Candlelight, Biergarten fun, and just some general newsy-family-musings.

Naturally, since I am behind, and overwhelmed, I decided to make a party! Makes sense right? Sarah TickyTavi painted a dear little portrait of this jolly sir, Alex. Suddenly, I want to play, too! I want to be a romantic plein air painter, I want to fill the garden with fellow amateurs who cannot help making, for the love of making. Never mind skills or technique, with such teeny canvases and our mutual encouragement we can all release our inner naturalists and expressionists!

Sigh. I may never catch up with my behind. No matter. The sky is blue, the day is long, summer is nigh, and there are good things waiting to be enjoyed.