January 11, 2010

the junk house - outbuilding edition

It has been a week since the lovely and well loved Farm Chick, Serena, featured this little blog as her link of the week. How stinkin fun for me. I have so enjoyed meeting all of you and can't thank Serena enough! I'll try though....Serena, you are the best and the original. Thanks for introducing me to your wonderful Farm Chick following!

So, after that little bit of sweetness, are you ready for some ugly?

It's been a while since we visited the Junk House, so perhaps a recap is in order.

Ten years ago, back when I was regularly taking hallucinogenic drugs (there's no other logical explanation) we bought the Junk House. The house was in bad shape, but it really wasn't that hard to see it had potential.

The outbuildings had potential too.

Potential to induce nightmares.

Individually, and aside from the extreme neglect they had suffered, the buildings are not the worst thing we could have dealt with. While there wasn't a lot of charm there, they could have been spruced up and made to work. However, they were grouped too close together, and had structural damage issues from a former resident who really, really liked fire. They needed to go.

Front....


Side....


Other side....


And back....


360 degrees of architecture gone bad.

Our farm actually used to be a dairy back in the day. Not far enough back for the buildings to have been really cool and old. Just far enough back for them to be really ugly and old.

This is what was left of the milking parlor, and I suppose I should be quite happy that all we had to deal with was four hundred million yards of concrete. I think it's safe to assume the buildings that used to be there probably made your eyes bleed as well.


It's hard to see, but there is another pad of concrete beyond this one. Lots and lots of concrete.

Here is the far end of that second concrete pad.


I suppose now would be the appropriate time to tell you that our pond started out as a manure pit for the dairy. Yum.

After all the concrete was broken up and disposed of, we planted grass in it's place. Lots and lots of grass. And my last resident mower only has a couple years left at home.


Eventually, that group of buildings was demolished and a new barn was built.


Much better.

We still have two more buildings to deal with. One has major cute potential - it's a hexagon shape and when it's done it will be very cool.
The other one, while not as bad as those showcased above, still needs to pretty much go to the great metal siding scrapyard in the sky and be reborn of barn wood. As the new barn totally blocks it from daily sight, it's not a super high priority.

I have to say that while I certainly err on the drama/whining side of Junk House story telling, going back through the pictures from those early days reminds me of how glad I am we took our sad little farm and helped it become the happy place it is today. Hallucinogenic drugs or not, and while I might not choose to do it all again, I'm so glad we saw a glimpse of what this little patch of country land could be, and dove in.

26 comments:

  1. WHOA SWEETIE!!!

    The pictures take me back!!! What were we thinking??? Now that we are older and wiser (ha!), we are blessed to enjoy the fruits of our labor... Thanks for reminding me of how far we have come, and that we are getting closer to the light at the end of the tunnel.

    Love, The Meadowbrook Farmer

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  2. Great photos in that mosaic! And I'm glad you were posted on the Farm Chicks too! (that first comment from your farmer sure is sweet ... ) Have a great week!

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  3. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE THAT RED BARN! WE HAD ONE LIKE IT AS I GREW UP ON A FARM, IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL UP IN THE LOFT THAT LOCAL DANCES WERE HELD THERE! MISS IT AND THE FARM. THANKS FOR THE PICTURES OF YOURS. (very nice the farm chicks to spotlight you too) COME SAY HI :D

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  4. so beautiful - I wish I could convince my husband to leave it all behind and buy my grandparent's farm...I so miss the scenery and serenity. Thank you for sharing your little piece of heaven - you've done a fantastic job.

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  5. You all have done a fantastic job! I just love the look of barns. And yours is perfect! I have truly enjoyed your blog and all of your wonderful pictures.

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  6. Our barn is just the pits. It very nearly needs to just be started all over again... I can't bear the thought of tearing it down unless we plan to build anew....but it's so $$$! Ack.

    Your barn is picture-perfect. And I can't wait to meet the hexagonal wonder.

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  7. What a transformation! Congratulations on such a lovely result. I found my way here in a round-about way, and I know I'll be back. I admire anyone who schemes about outbuildings.

    Connie

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  8. Love what I'm reading and the delightful photos! We have an 1864 farmhouse we're renovating, and while I do love the character in old homes and barns,oh-my, does the work seem endless! Thanks so much for the inspiration.

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  9. Your barn is gorgeous! I wish I lived on a farm :(

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  10. Perfection perfection. I'm sure with all the pharmaceuticals in your system you were seeing the after weren't you? It's the only explanation that makes sense. Why else would we fall in love with these buildings? Love your vision. What you've done is nothing short of fabulastic! That's fabulous, AND fantastic baby!

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  11. I can totally see myself through your eyes. When my husband and I bought our farm from my father in law the nearly 100 year old house was in need of a total makeover. It had suffered at the hands of my mother in laws 1970's redo. To much red carpeting, paneling, flocked wallpaper, brocade drapes and odd colored bathtub. I could go on and on. Needless to say...when I finally could get a look at all that needed to be done I was in tears. THEN...one day realization set in and I decided it did not all need to be done at once. After all, Rome was not built in a day! We have now lived in this house for 18 years and I can't imagine living anywhere else. Even when I visit friends who have new homes I come home to this one and like what I see. Thanks for the pictures of your yours....good ideas for the changes that are still to come for the one I live in.

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  12. Wow, that is just an amazing transformation. I love seeing all the flowers and landscaping that you did as well. Alot of hard work. Very cool!

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  13. It's beautiful. And being long-time remodelers, my hubs and I can tell it took much blood, sweat and YEARS! Nice job!

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  14. What an amazing transformation. I bet it has been quite a journey? I'd slap my mama to have a barn like that.

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  15. The transformation is simply amazing. Your vision and hard work has resulted in amazing results. Fabulous.

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  16. What a beautiful transformation. You've done a great job!

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  17. I have been lurking around your blog and can I must say... IT IS LOVELY! and the transformation of your "sad little farm" into a "happy place" is A-MAZ-ING! It really is a "HAPPY PLACE" thanks for sharing it with us.

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  18. Fun post! -...any post with a beautiful barn in it will always be my favorite. I dream of having my very own barn someday! ;-)

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  19. Absolutely stunning! Love your photos and your beautiful farm. :)

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  20. How wonderful! I'm so envious of countryside dwellers! I'll always be"Stuck in the City" girl! Thanks for sharing you guys did a amazing job! Lori

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  21. Amazing transformation!! That's not just a barn . . . That's a WOW barn!!!!!!!! Beautiful!

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  22. Oh my gosh - I admit, I have NEVER undertaken such a project, but I am laughing OUT LOUD at your description of it all. You do have a way with words! I especially like the "make your eyes bleed" part. Love this BLOG!

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  23. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL...this post and all the others I've read so far! Thank you for sharing your life with us 'down under'. Country living is the best, no matter which part of the world you're from.
    Blessings to you,
    shani ~ @www.christmasriver.wordpress.com

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  24. What a dreamy barn! Love your blog. Seems we are both displaced city girls with three boys smack dab in the middle of a country life ~ and loving it!
    Kim @ redfarmhouse.blogspot.com

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