barnlife
Mar 23, 2009 When I had Heather Ross here the other week talking about growing up in Vermont, I got to thinking about my own childhood in Virginia, and asked my mom to send me some photos.
I actually got teary when I saw them. I’m not sure why, because this barn is as familiar to me as my own face. When I’m at home in Virginia and come across old pictures, they’re all in the context of this crazy family adventure that resulted in an amazing house and really special childhood. But when I see them on my computer in my perfectly normal apartment in San Francisco, the imagination and perseverance that it required of my parents comes into clearer focus. They decided to move out of the city, buy a 200-year-old hay barn, move it piece by piece to some land they bought, and re-assemble it into a home. They did this without much money, largely on their own (helped plenty by a volunteer crew of friends and family), so big wheels lived side-by-side with cement mixers.
This next one (below) is my favorite. At some point, the saw in the background moved upstairs, outside of my parents bedroom. Where it stayed until I was in high school. The barn was always a work-in-progress, and I guess that's the thing about childhoods. You don't know that it isn't exactly normal to play with dolls in the middle of a building site until you get a little older. 
I love the barn like she is a person. We spent my whole childhood growing up together and uncovering who we always were. In some ways, I’d like to be more like her: a purposeful old soul with a big heart in a simple setting, who can weather any transformations that come her way.
Reader Comments (14)
The last line about how you'd like to be more like her....
should be a quote in a book, so poetic!
Hi Kelly--
I'm new to your blog, and love this post. Thank you for sharing about your childhood, and for the beautiful pictures. I especially like the last one.
I look forward to reading more!
good morning Kelly, I'm also new to your blog. I, too am a middle child and had a wonderful unconventional upbringing. Thanks for sharing and have a nice day.
I would love for you to look at my quilt website. www.redllamastudio.com
I loved seeing the photos of the barn and reading about your childhood there. Brings back good memories for me too.
I love those photos- they illustrate a life that seems so warm, relaxed, a wholesome. :) Just out of curiousity, where in Vermont did you grow up?
it is funny how things that seemed different or maybe a little difficult through early eyes can become so magical later.
i was just thinking about my dream home for the family. it is a tumbling down old resort-ish thing in the eastern sierras. and i know it would be magical. now how to get there.
I'm the lucky wife and mom who never had to leave the barn! She's like a best friend to me. In fact, I feel as if "Weathering Heights" (that's her name) gave birth to my children almost as much as I did. The creativity and imaginations she inspired are gifts my daughters will enjoy for the rest of their lives. That's just one benefit of our unconventional home in the country and living in it as we were constructing it. There were many, many more.
By the way, there is no such thing as a "normal" childhood. Normal is just a cycle on the washing machine. Childhoods are supposed to be magical, adventuresome journeys. In fact, if we're truly blessed, LIFE should be the same kind of journey, no matter what our ages.
I'm a little weathered now, just like my friend, the barn. We've both been through a lot together these past 35 years. We've had repairs done and have both slowed down a little bit. But I cherish our friendship and can't imagine going through life in a better environment or with a truer friend.
And Kelly, you already are as you described how you'd like to be in the last sentence of this blog entry. Just remove the "old" from your last sentence.
xoxo
Kelly, this post was so moving and I love love love the barn photos! I can't even imagine how fun and magical it must have been to grow up in a hay barn. I grew up in a boring NJ suburban home, but I was lucky to get married in a barn in Maine. I think a barn as a home must be the sweetest thing.
Kelly, I am so, so glad you posted these photos! They are just like I remember coming over to when I was a kid. I loved the bridge to the front door and the loft upstairs. I can't tell you how many times images of your house have come up in my mind as inspiration in my life, and how many times I've described it to others (only to people who I love the most). I can still see your mom standing in the kitchen in the middle of all that space, when we were about 7 or so, laughing and talking to me like I was an interesting person to talk to. I have good memories of your house, too, and I think I may have only been there a few times! Blythe
Oh KELLY that was so moving and touching to read you. I know exaclty what you mean. I can truly "understand" you ... and obviously I am not the only one ...
The day We had to left and sell the house when I grew up in was just heartbreaking. even now a few years later, when I go back in the region I was born here, I meticulously avoid my former home. too hard.
I just happened upon your blog and am really enjoying it. This post made me laugh! My husband and I are renovating a house right now and we have our 3 children (all under 4) with us at all times. There are times we fear they don't have a "normal" childhood or that they will grow up lacking because of this. I am glad to hear first hand from someone that has been there and done that and has obviously turned out well!! I adore the last picture of you with the shopping cart with the saw in the background!!! Precious!
The house looks like it would be amazing!!
-Heather:)
First time to your blog, enjoying your crafty tips and then found this post and loved it! What a special childhood for sure and it's no wonder you're so creative. How perfect to personify the old barn—your friend. Your post is making me consider that perhaps where we play when we are young has a more profound impact on us then what we play with. Thank you for sharing this story!
@Bobbie you made me laugh: Normal is just a cycle on the washing machine.
I'm new, too - found you through your lovely table runner project on Heart Handmade. Loving what I'm reading here - such poetic descriptions & beautiful photos!
This is my dream home. I love it.