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Waiting

Usually this time of year, the Northeast Kingdom is awash in color but not this year. Too hot and too dry this summer. Oh, you can see the faintest hint of change; mostly yellows. I’m waiting for the vibrant reds and golds to appear. I try to be patient but I’m not. It’s not a virtue of mine.

The turkeys and the guineas were waiting patiently as well. A few cooler, cloudy days sent them to the warmth of the Poultry Palace wishing for the sun to shine and when it did, they celebrated by sunbathing. Did you know guineas sleep with their legs stretched out? I sure didn’t.

Mountain Man, who is the epitome of patience, has been waiting as well. The barn structure has sat this week. Why you might ask? Two reasons really. He wanted to let the barn adjust to all it’s recent pushing and lifting. “No sense in rushing these things.”

But another reason and equally as important was his discovery of a bat in the barn. Now, perhaps you don’t know what an important role bats play in the ecosystem. I didn’t. I’d never had the experience of even seeing a bat up close. But I’ve learned they provide insect control and also are critical to the ecosystem of caves. But bats in Vermont are being wiped out by “White Nose Syndrome.” Anyway, where there used to be a multitude of bats in the old barn, there has been none for several years so when Mountain Man found one bat, he didn’t want to disturb it. He’s in waiting mode allowing the bat to settle in and maybe invite some bat companions to join him. And, no, I’m not allowed to photograph the bat and take a chance of bothering him with my flash. Yes, that’s they way we are about nature and our animals.

But while he waits, I decided to pester him with questions. “Hey, Mountain Man how tall is our barn? Sixty feet you think?”

“No, not that tall.”

“Well, how tall then?”

And the always precise Mountain Man, not wanting to give me inexact information, decided to measure. And me, who is somewhat scared of rickety, old ladders decided to stay on the ground.

If you look in the picture above and then in this picture, you can see the old, original hay trolley. It’s the bar going across the top of the barn.

While he was up there, he pulled out one of the old milking stanchions. Here it is opened.

The cows would stick their heads through the bars to get to the hay and then the farmers would shut the stanchions to keep the cows from moving while being milked.

Anyway, for the curious, our barn is 50 feet high. What about the other side of the barn? That side is built with stone. The stone creates an embankment which in turn creates the lower and upper level.

Here’s what it looks like from the inside.

And here’s a close up of the old beams.

And while we’re waiting for fall colors to arrive, for bats to settle in and for barns to just settle, I think I’ll head to the top of the pasture, ask God for patience and watch the clouds float by.

And for those of you who were interested, the consensus from your comments seemed to be that the old tool Mountain Man discovered was a plow blade. Thanks again one and all for visiting me and taking the time to share your thoughts.