The Barn
Yesterday was our first day at the Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance. The Healing Arts Tent is a casual set-up, where people volunteer their services; be they massage, Reiki, acupuncture, or our couples exam class.
However, I’m really here to tell you about The Barn. The Barn is about 150 years old. Ruth and her husband Peter were never farmers, just artists and activists with a family. Consequently the barn became a magical structure rather than one with mundane farm functions. The old corn cribs became “Midget Village”. There is a General Store, with shelves full of little food containers, a Post Office & Bank, with piles of stickers that look like stamps.
Upstairs are 5 bedrooms, where the family lived in months when the weather was nice.
Peter Kahn was an artist, so the upper floor has a great-room, where the entire north face wall has been replaced with windows; which provides the best light for painting. Downstairs you can slide the doors open on the north and south sides, for another fabulous painting space which allows room for works on big canvas.
There is a little kitchen, 2 burners, an electric teapot, and a sink where the taps are reversed. The shower has reverse taps also, which lends to the campy, leaning walls funhouse appeal of the barn. The floor is made up of so many different elevations that one must be mindful of every step. This has the added benefit of allowing you to notice the 20” wide hand-hewn floor boards.
Ruth mows about 1.5 of the 5 acres she has here. She specifically mows paths through the meadows, so that you can walk amongst the fireflies in the evening. The tall meadow patches are full of butterflies during the day and fireflies in the evening. Her tomato plants are taller than she is, but well tended. Since it is the peak of summer the daylilies are in full bloom. Last year we were here in June, and the Peonies were absolutely amazing.
Loretta is set up in a corner downstairs, working on a couple of paintings, while Luella’s butterfly wing project is spread on the floor. Luella is going to wear the butterfly wings to Burning Man this summer.
The Barn is a funny little landing-pad for traveling friends and their projects. I’m honored to be welcome here.
However, I’m really here to tell you about The Barn. The Barn is about 150 years old. Ruth and her husband Peter were never farmers, just artists and activists with a family. Consequently the barn became a magical structure rather than one with mundane farm functions. The old corn cribs became “Midget Village”. There is a General Store, with shelves full of little food containers, a Post Office & Bank, with piles of stickers that look like stamps.
Upstairs are 5 bedrooms, where the family lived in months when the weather was nice.
Peter Kahn was an artist, so the upper floor has a great-room, where the entire north face wall has been replaced with windows; which provides the best light for painting. Downstairs you can slide the doors open on the north and south sides, for another fabulous painting space which allows room for works on big canvas.
There is a little kitchen, 2 burners, an electric teapot, and a sink where the taps are reversed. The shower has reverse taps also, which lends to the campy, leaning walls funhouse appeal of the barn. The floor is made up of so many different elevations that one must be mindful of every step. This has the added benefit of allowing you to notice the 20” wide hand-hewn floor boards.
Ruth mows about 1.5 of the 5 acres she has here. She specifically mows paths through the meadows, so that you can walk amongst the fireflies in the evening. The tall meadow patches are full of butterflies during the day and fireflies in the evening. Her tomato plants are taller than she is, but well tended. Since it is the peak of summer the daylilies are in full bloom. Last year we were here in June, and the Peonies were absolutely amazing.
Loretta is set up in a corner downstairs, working on a couple of paintings, while Luella’s butterfly wing project is spread on the floor. Luella is going to wear the butterfly wings to Burning Man this summer.
The Barn is a funny little landing-pad for traveling friends and their projects. I’m honored to be welcome here.
posted by Rhonni at 9:40 AM
1 Comments:
Sounds magical! I miss it! I remember when I visited there last summer. Please give Ruth my heartfelt wishes and hugs. I hope all is well with her. And please give big hugs to Loretta and Eric!
Hope you and Gracie have fun...try to take a few pics.
Love,
Gina
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