The Best Kind of Barn | Chickens in the Road

11-23
1:28
am

I can’t believe I’m the first to comment (that’s because I’m up late doing AAs for this book. You remember those, don’t you, Suzanne)?

What a great story! And Boomer is so cute!

I was on one of the other contestant’s blogs, and there’s actually a man driving around with his laptop from one wi-fi hot spot to another, so that he can keep voting over and over. I guess it must be easy to do that in California.

Anyway, great blog today! I learn all kinds of things here that I’ll never get to use in real life (like what the market for hay is like), but I don’t care. I just like reading about how other people live. (And even city girls like me can make potpourri).

Myrna Mackenzie - Reply to this comment

11-23
2:32
am

POOR BOOMER…BLESS HIS LITTLE HEART! i GREW UP ON A FARM, WE HAD A BIG RED BARN..MY FAVORITE PLACE TO PLAY EVER! I’D SWING OUT OVER THE LOOSE HAY AND DROP INTO IT. THATS WHERE ALL OUT TRAINED PIGIEONS LIVED AND WE’D RIDE THE MILK COWS RIGHT INTO THE BARN AT MILKING TIME! THE BEST LIFE EVER! COME SAY HI WILL YA?

Julie Harward - Reply to this comment

11-23
4:00
am

Just voted. I read the first comment and can not believe people are cheating to win. I am so proud of you Suzanne for being fair. You should win just for being a fair player. Hopefully Sam-e will see what is going on and disqualify the shysters! lol

Brenda S 'Okie in Colorado' - Reply to this comment

11-23
5:18
am

I love old barns. I don’t get too much opportunity to see them here in the city.

Kathleen in Michigan - Reply to this comment

11-23
5:30
am

Good morning from Colorado. We voted this morning, numbers 9763 and 9767. I am apalled by the lengths some people will go to for a “winning” shot for the job. Just read the post in the Charlotte paper. Love it. I can remember my grandmother wringing the chickens necks and then having to pluck all those wet feathers. ewwwww. Boomer is so lovable.

Euni Moore - Reply to this comment

11-23
5:42
am

Awww man – I can SMELL that hay!!! Some of the worst memories of my life are putting hay in an old barn like that! But like just like a freezer – its sure nice when you get it full!

Voted today! Keep up the momentum!

KateS - Reply to this comment

11-23
5:50
am

Love the blog post today! I grew up on a dairy farm and we kept straw in the hayloft. When I was in grade school one of my chores in the winter months was to bed the cows down. I had to go up in the barn to get a couple of bales of straw each night, which I was scared to do when I was real young. I had seen Alfred Hitchcock’s movie “The Birds,” and I was scared that the birds that lived in the hayloft were going to kill me!! My favorite memory of the hayloft is the summer months when there were kittens up there! I voted!

Marla - Reply to this comment

11-23
5:56
am

I think 52 is showing his tender-loving side here … holding poor little Boomer on his lap. Great post … love the old barns too. We have one on our farm that my grandfather built, and I think it’s amazing to look at the way it is put together every-which-way.

FOLKS…. VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE for Suzanne!! Tell everyone you know to vote and keep voting. She is behind, and we CAN’T LET THAT HAPPEN! We CAN DO THIS!!!! VOTE VOTE VOTE

stefinity - Reply to this comment

11-23
5:57
am

I love the old barns, too. Mom thanks god every time I slam on the brakes to get a pic of an old barn that she wears a seatbelt! I think I’m in love with the wood, the natural patina of the wood, the rusty metal of pieces of the roof. They show so many experiences.

Poor Boomer…..you know something funny? SO’s son’s nickname is Boomer……and he gets car sick too! Wait till I tell him!

Great article in the newspaper! Images like that tend to stick with you. SO’s grandparents had a huge chicken farm (sold meat chickens). He has a hard time eating chicken because of those memories. He has no problem with egg laying chickens, though. He loves his eggs!

We’re a little behind in numbers with Sam-e, but it’s Monday, people are going back to work from the weekend………GETTING ALL THEIR CO-WORKERS TO VOTE TODAY!!!!

CindyP - Reply to this comment

11-23
6:06
am

Boomer is so sweet! That’s a great picture of his face.

Runningtrails - Reply to this comment

11-23
6:16
am

I have a dog that gets car sick, too. I hold pressure on his paw, in between his paw pad and wrist joint and I can usually help him not throw up. I drive a stick shift, so I can’t hold pressure all the time, and it’s like a contest, can I shift, and put pressure back on him before he loses it?

Vonnie - Reply to this comment

11-23
6:24
am

Love love love the old barn..Oh the smell of hay…
Have a great day!! I am off to vote!!
Hugs Granny Trace

Tracey In Paradise Pa. - Reply to this comment

11-23
6:33
am

What a beautiful old barn!!! Stinks that you couldn’t see inside the old outhouse. We saw one a month or two back out in the middle of nowhere NC on the way to a baseball tournament. I wanted to get a picture for you, but it was too far away and behind fences. Didn’t want to find out if there was a huge Angus Bull waiting to chase me out of his fence. HAHA

Our beagle always wants to go “bye, bye,” but he gets car sick also. Poor guys. Boomer is a cutie. He is lucky to have found your son.

Have a great day. If you need a laugh I wrote some cute captions to go with pictures of my little “ark” this weekend on my blog. LOL

Cece

Cecelia - Reply to this comment

11-23
6:43
am

Neat Barn. I pass one everyday on the way to work. Lots of work goes on in there. Its neat to see all the cows out in the field doing their thing.

Poor Boomer it was a good thing 52 was there to hold him. Too cute.

I can not believe that someone is driving around CA with a computer finding all the Wi Fi’s and voting each time. Geeze. People are not fair sometimes. Good luch with the contest. I am off to vote for the day.

Diane - Reply to this comment

11-23
6:44
am

I pray our drought is over and the hay prices drop. I love old barns too!

Claudia - Reply to this comment

11-23
6:52
am

Good morning! I had to laugh…Boomer throwing up was the perfect ending to that story. He’s so cute, just like a kid. Well, I just finished voting. Just wanted to remind you to check with Sam-e regarding the possibility of your viewers sending personal testimonials to Sam-e for their consideration. Want to wish you the best of luck. We’re all pulling for you.

NorthCountryGirl - Reply to this comment

11-23
6:53
am

How timely! I have to go out today and patch some siding on my barn so that the hens don’t get wind up their pantaloons as the weather shifts this week. Having an old barn is a wonderful thing, and it’s yet another to be thankful for this time of year.

Johanna - Reply to this comment

11-23
6:55
am

Good Morning Suzanne,
I love the old Barn and the pictures are great!!
I just voted!!

Katia Cristina - Reply to this comment

11-23
6:57
am

Voted at home and will vote from work…CARSICK….give poor Boomer 1/4 of dramamine pill (looking at his size) and he will be fine. Our Brittany gets sick from car rides, lots of dogs do, but one-half a dramamine and she rides like a queen in the pickup or RAV. I use to get carsick all the time when I was a kid. Gosh that is a terrible feeling. I just love old barns. It would cost more than a farmhouse to build one of those wooden palaces today. No wonder farmers go broke today. Farmers, farm houses, old barns and dogs….they go together like cookies and ice cream.

Box Call - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:00
am

Oh, dear. You can’t take Boomer anywhere. I love barns. I haven’t seen one I don’t love.

AmyMusings - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:04
am

Suzanne, did you know that Brigette has her Sam-e video on You Tube? Just checked and when you click out, it takes you to her voting site. Have you considered You Tube?

NorthCountryGirl - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:12
am

Reminds me of E B White’s description of the barn in Charlotte’s Web–the book. I love old barns, too. C.

C -

11-23
7:12
am

I’m pulling for you and voting every day. I grew up with an outhouse and no indoor plumbing. I’ve experienced carrying water dipped from the spring, old-fashioned hand pumps and water pulled up from the well in well buckets (or whatever they’re called)…I can still hear that distinctive sound in my mind of the metal bucket going into the well.

Sandra - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:18
am

EVERY BODY PLEASE VOTE,SUZANNE IS SHOWING IN 2ND PLACE, SHE SHOULD TOP.

Carol Warham - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:21
am

Oh wow! Loved that barn! Poor Boomer, he almost made it without getting sick!

Butterbean - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:27
am

Duh! I just checked and you do. BUT, when I clicked out it didn’t take me to your voting site.

NorthCountryGirl - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:32
am

I love the picture of Boomers head tucked in to 52’s arm. So cute!!!!

I put in my three votes. When I went to the Charleston Daily the article was about cast iron, not chickens.

Just thought you would want to know.

trish c - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:34
am

Voted this morning: 9982 votes.

I’m probably not awake enough to make a lot of sense (it’s taking a long time this morning) but I’m going to guess that the folks who are judging the contest are looking at the blogs of the contestants and they know who’s cheating and who’s not.

They’ll want a blogger who can bring in the numbers and create brand loyalty.

A blogger who has to cheat to get votes won’t be able to bring in the numbers.

Suzanne will win. She’s the person best qualified for the job.

AsTheNight - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:34
am

Last year my parents had a barn party for neighbors and friends and a pig roast to celebrate it’s 100th birthday. My great grandfather built it in 1908. It is carved in one of the logs. It is a giant barn that you can drive through and is filled with hay. An addition with a milking parlor was added in the 1950’s. I love that barn. There is something comforting about it.

Renita - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:35
am

Great barn! Gotta love those old buildings. Poor Boomer! Our dog does that too. Yet he still wants to go everywhere we do.

Jennifer Millett - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:38
am

I’ll go check the link, thanks!

Suzanne McMinn - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:44
am

I loved that barn, so much character in old barns.

Poor Boomer getting car sick…I had a cat that loved to ride anywhere we went except he also got car sick! Crazy thing, seemed to forget about throwing up every time he got in the car.

I have already voted today and will remind all my friends to vote too.

Deb

Debnfla3 - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:45
am

Our English Springer knows the words, “Go bye-bye in the car?” And of course we take her with us! I think Boomer is so cute!

Deb - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:48
am

Hi, I just voted, you were above 10000. I love the barn. I take pictures of all the old barns I can find out here in Colorado, but there just aren’t as many as you can find in WV. And only back to the late 1800’s. We’re a new country out here. I know all about getting hay. When I was getting it by the semi load (yes, that’s a semi flatbed load-about 500+ bales), we’d have to unload it so the semi could leave. It was intense.

susan arnold - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:02
am

What a wonderful old barn! Love the fact that it was built around an old log one…love the house and the outhouse too! Poor Boomer….he could only hold out so long before he lost it. I voted and was surprised to see you behind but after hearing about the cheating I can see how it happened. I hope Sam-e takes that into consideration. My family up north will be up soon and my daughter out west will be voting in a couple of hours…every little helps. I’m going to check out your article now…hope you have a great day!

Chic - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:07
am

Boomer is so cute! I also love old barns. They remind me of my childhood going to grandpa and grandma’s in the country.
I voted for you today.

Susan

Susan D. - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:09
am

Good morning Suzanne!
I just went and voted, then I went back to my blog and hooked up a link to your blog to tell the good people who read my blog about your blog and how they could come over here and vote for you. I’m not really good at explaining it all, I thought if they would come here, they would learn better from you what you are doing. I don’t have a lot of people visiting me, but the ones who do come to my site are some great people!
We have to get your numbers up. Although I think by the end of the day your numbers will far surpass all the others.
I love that barn too. I get a really lonely creepy feeling when I see old barns in person. I just wasn’t exposed to them as a child, so never got to have any fun playing hide and go seek, or jumping in the hay in them!

Claudia W - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:10
am

My dial-up is so slow that someone has already told you that you are above 10,000 in the votes. I was #9999 this morning.

Mark and Madison are out deer hunting this morning. Madison really wants to get a buck! We’ll keep you posted.

See you soon!

Cousin Sheryl - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:11
am

Love the story and pictures this morning…that winding road with the hill beyond….oh my! Thanks Suzanne for all you do with your great stories and taking pictures at every turn. It’s a wonder you don’t fall into a hole! I actually don’t think eing number 1 in the voting is necessarily a good thing (even though we all know you are the Best), I just think the judges will be pretty suspicious over how they got their votes. If the judges are fair this thing is going to go by talent…even if they’re number 20. That’s the judges job…to find the best.

Mary - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:26
am

Wish I had some of that hay here! It wasn’t a good year for hay for me. I only got two cuttings, and the last one was basically worthless because we were plagued by rain. I am about 100 bales short of where I like to be, but I’ll see how it holds out.

Annie - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:28
am

I love going in old barns…Hopefully some day we’ll have one out in the country some where. I remember as a child visiting my grandma up north in Michigan and getting locked in by one of my “wonderful” brothers. I can laugh about it now but at the time I totally freaked out and I’m positive that everyone heard me down here in Illinois.

Judy@daily yarns - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:30
am

Living in Madison, WI and with family 7 hours away in Minnesota, I saw plenty of old barns. I loved them too. When my great-great uncle died, I helped clean out his old house (the one he was born in). He had a ton of old farming magazines, but nobody wanted to keep them (this was a long time ago, before e-bay). And my leg fell through the floor, into the cellar (and I was the smallest one there). Good times!

Stacy - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:31
am

Oh no! Someone’s ahead on the vote watch! Don’t forget you can vote on both explorer (safari for Macs like me) and Firefox. We can’t let Suzanne down!

Hannah - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:37
am

Poor Boomer!! I can sympathize with the poor little guy. We grew up in St. Albans but drove every weekend out to our grandparents in Gandeeville (just over the hill from you). There was one “spot” on Rt 119 where my dad would pull over to let me throw up. I always got sick going to Grandma’s. Always. I never got sick going home. I suppose because we were driving in the dark. I can still point out the place on the side of the road..but I won’t. None of you need to know THAT much. I’ll leave that part a secret. Hahahaha LOVE the old barn!

Lish - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:48
am

My poor foster Jenny would get car sick, within 5 min she’d throw up.

Did boomer throw up on 52? Poor baby.

Amy - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:53
am

I know. Can you believe that? When I read it, my first thought was…wow, that must have been some weekend you had, mister, if that’s how you spent it. Then I got kind of miffed at the lack of integrity. But then, I cruised over to Suzanne’s blog, which always leaves me with a smile.

I’m hoping that there are lots of new people discovering your blog via this contest, Suzanne! As I mentioned above, you don’t even have to live in the country to enjoy it, and it’s always a great way to start the day.

Myrna Mackenzie - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:55
am

Hi Suzanne~ I loved your pictures of the old barn and what a pretty day you had in WV! the old outhouse brought back some memories for me. As a child we lived in the little town in Ohio that we called “Apples corner” and we had an old house with an outhouse. I used to be so scared that I would fall in~and that little trail to that outhouse probably tracked a million miles from all of us. LOL!!
I haven’t thought about that old house and that old outhouse in years. Thanks for jarring my memory!
I just voted..

Brenda - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:58
am

I voted, reminded everyone on Facebook, put an easy button on my garden forum and put it on my blog. Getting ready to email the masses. As my granny would say, “It’s time to hunker down and get this thing done!”

I LOVE old barns! Great photos. We recently started taking a different route to church and there’s an outhouse on that route and each time I go past it, I think of you LOL! I told DH I needed to bring my camera and get a pic of it.

KentuckyFarmGirl - Reply to this comment

11-23
8:59
am

Just tried voting on “explorer” after voting on “Firefox”. It did seem to count but then I got some scary little message about “add-ons” and the program having to shut down. Is my computer going to explode now?

I love old barns, too. But if I ever get that piece of country property, I’m afraid I’ll have to go practical and have a newer barn. NO metal barns though, EVER!

Cecelia: “Stinks that you couldn’t see the inside of the outhouse…” Ha! stinks-outhouse, get it. Sorry, it just made me laugh.

One more thing. Our dog got carsick also. Our vet told us take him for rides in the car as often as possible. When he makes it through without getting sick, give him a treat. Eventually they quit getting sick, at least on shortish trips. The six hour car rides still get to him.

Good luck with the contest.

debbie - Reply to this comment

11-23
9:00
am

Suzanne – voted for you! That’s so funny about Boomer! I have a dog like that…..the day before I was to give birth to my twin daughters, my older son and daughter, our dog,Bear, and I went hiking. It was May and it was warm. Bear too was quite a puker in the car but I figured it would be the last time for a while before I could take him for a hike. With a false sense of security since he hadn’t puked on the way to or from the trail, we ran into the grocery store. I had promised the kids we would stop and get ice cream afterwards. Me, being 9 mos pregnant, could ONLY think about the ice cream. When we came back out to the car – we were only gone for 5 minutes max – Bear had puked. Not only had he thrown up, but he had wagged his big, furry Chow tail and painted the ENTIRE inside of the car with vomit.
We still stopped for ice cream.

Beth aka oneoldgoat

Beth Brown - Reply to this comment

11-23
9:04
am

Don’t forget you can vote from your Blackberry or iPhone too! Any phone with a browser will let you vote as well!!

Lish - Reply to this comment

11-23
9:05
am

I love old barns! They have so much character and history. Thanks for another great post!
and EVERYONE KEEP VOTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Melinda - Reply to this comment

11-23
9:11
am

wind up their pantaloons love that expression!!! will use it when I ask my honey again to help patch up chick barn !!thanks Rain

rainss61 - Reply to this comment

11-23
9:11
am

Old barns are some of my very favorite things.

My oldest son was just in West Virginia for a Marine Corps off road driving school. I think he said Louisburg was the name of the town they stayed in. He said it was absolutely gorgeous there and that he wouldn’t mind living in WV someday.

The best way to clean dog puke out of a car, btw, is to use one of those high powered vacuums at a car wash. Our Westie gets car sick every time we take him somewhere, so we try not to go anywhere with him but his yearly trip to the vet for shots. That’s only 2 miles away and he can usually make it.

Jenni in KS - Reply to this comment

11-23
9:17
am

Fantastic ole barn!–I have more then dozens of pics of old barns-my good guy stops for me all across New Hampshire and Vermont when we go to visit family.:happyflower::snoopy:
Can’t believe you have so much hay-we are desparate for it in Maine most only got one cut-and of course prices are sky high! Love the smell of the barn full of hay…..mmmmmmmm:sheepjump: rain

rainss61 - Reply to this comment

11-23
9:31
am

I to am like Myrna. I always leave here with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart.
Much love from Tennessee

Gert Hubbard - Reply to this comment

11-23
9:32
am

You’ve got to love a dog that pukes in the car. Life is complete.

Andrea - Reply to this comment

11-23
9:33
am

Thank goodness the voting process only counts for 20% this round. The wisdom of the SAM-e judges probably foresaw the unscrupulous methods that people would resort to.

Voting for you, Suzanne!

Jo - Reply to this comment

11-23
9:41
am

thanks for the laugh this morning,I love old barns too,but Boomer was my star of this story.

wheezay - Reply to this comment

11-23
9:50
am

I did NOT know I could vote from IE too! Thanks Hannah!!

GO SUZANNE!!

Cindy in Indiana

Cindy - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:11
am

Good morning! We had a hay maze clubhouse, in the barn, when I was a kid. It was a tall stack of hay too! We had to go in from the top,preferably head first, one at a time,and crawl thru the maze.Then,drop or fall into the “room” at the bottom!Your stories always bring back good memories! Thanks for that!

Leah - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:18
am

Poor baby Boomer! Let us know if we can send personal emails of support to Sam-E – they need YOU for that job!

Ms E - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:18
am

Boomer is such a sweety, at least until he throws up in your car! He reminds me of a nineteen year old cat that owns us. She honestly thinks she’s a dog. We can’t pull into our driveway without her running right in front of the car and stopping there, not moving out of the way no matter how many times we blow the horn or rev the engine. Since she doesn’t have the ability to bark, she does this crazy tail swishing thing as her greeting to us. It’s aggravating to say the least, as we have to get out of the car and carry her back to the house (or put her in the car) so we can pull in to our parking spot.
Whether you win that SamE contest or not, I want you to know you are the first and most loved blog I read every morning.

Pamela in Glynn - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:19
am

FYI, SAM-e does have a blog post up about the contest and it looks as if they allow comments, for those of you who were asking about that:
http://www.sam-e.com/talk/say-hello-to-the-top-20-candidates-for-the-good-mood-gig/

Suzanne McMinn - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:19
am

Hm…where did that whip cracking smiley come from in my post above??

Anyway…I just checked out the comments on Bridgette’s blog and found some of them to be rather mean spirited. I am proud of you for setting the high tone, Suzanne, and of us, your readers, who have kept the sniping down! I think Bridgette is funny but I think overall you are just so well suited to the job. It always amazes me that you always have a new post when I sit down with my coffee every morning. I vote twice a day, once for me, and once for my hubby who appreciates your recipes!

Cindy - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:27
am

Poor Boomer. I had a Doberman that had the same problem ever since the first day I brought him home as a 6week old puppy. I also want to say that I have voted everyday from every browser and email address I own! Good Luck!

Lisa Carper Stott - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:28
am

At least Boomer had the courtesy to throw up on the trip HOME…no need to smell it there and back!

Amy Cook in WI - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:39
am

I have the right link in my post now for today’s newspaper column! http://www.dailymail.com/foodandliving/countryliving/200911220412

Suzanne McMinn - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:44
am

what a great barn sounds like you had a fun day poor boomer hopefully he will get used to the car and you can take him for more rides i voted hoping you win

linda - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:44
am

Loved todays story and loved the old barn. When people ask me what my favorite smells are…I always say the smell of a real barn and the smell of a real garage. I used to love going to the barn at my parents and my aunts homes and my Daddy was a mechanic and I loved the smell of a garage because that’s the way he smelled.

TXLady - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:48
am

Boomer is precious. He is one lucky dog to have been adopted by you Suzanne! I love his photos, and that barn… There is an organization here in Wisconsin ~ Barns Now~ and their aim is to preserve old barns. They drove out to visit my farm (when I owned one) and I learned that my barn was very old and in excellent shape. (My brick farmhouse was built in 1898). They can age a barn by it’s architectural design, and the barn in your photos is the same style. A simple, upside-down v-shaped roof and 4-sided body. The hay barn is made even more beautiful by the many attempts to lengthen it’s life. thanks for the morning’s journey through the WV countryside!

Miss Becky - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:51
am

Kool barn and cute dog!

geena - Reply to this comment

11-23
11:17
am

I meant to say earlier that this blog is where I first heard about quilt barns. Then, I was up in Wisconsin a few weeks ago, and I saw one. Now I want one. Love quilting. Love barns. What’s not to like when you put them together?

But old barns with character are awesome, whether they have quilts on them or not. I’ve always wanted to be one of those people who renovate a barn and live in it. Not going to happen, but a person can still dream…which is almost as good.

Myrna Mackenzie - Reply to this comment

11-23
11:27
am

Folks, please take a moment to write note of support for Suzanne in the comment section of the Sam-E link she posted. It’s another great way to let the judges know there are real people/devoted readers behind those vote clicks next to Suzanne’s entry!!

Ms E - Reply to this comment

11-23
11:51
am

Your story in the newspaper column reminded me of a horrible thing that happened to me in my young childhood. The family next door had many chickens. The farmer had an old tree stump in the chicken yard where he would cut the heads off the chicken when they were ready to be eaten. For some strange reason my sisters and I Had to watch. He would grab the chicken by the legs sling it onto the stump, and with one well placed hard hit with a hatchet off would fly the chicken’s head…so nice for a child to watch. (My mother didn’t know what we were doing.” One day there were four or five of us kids standing there when he whacked the chicken. I still remember the head flying straight up into the air…and feeling it as it landed on my head and sat there. I let out a scream to wake the dead and headed straight for home…my mind is totally blank after that. But it’s one of the stories you tell your children and grandchildren. I can still feel that thing sitting on my head for a few seconds. Of course, the other kids laughed their heads off.

Mary - Reply to this comment

11-23
11:51
am

I’m with Amy Cook – I think it’s very courteous of Boomer to wait until he’s home – or almost – before tossing his biscuits! Poor baby. I wish I could vote more than once, but I have just my computer at home. My vote, however, is a BIG heartfelt one. Your blog always brightens my day! And thanks for the link to your newspaper column again – somehow I’ve missed it the past few weeks.

Nancy in Iowa - Reply to this comment

11-23
11:56
am

Hello Suzanne- thank you for taking us on a hay ride.
That barn is incredible, the hand hewn log beams, oh if it could tell us what it has see, so much history.
Plenty of hay and aluminum foil–you are ready!!

Jo

JOJO - Reply to this comment

11-23
12:03
pm

This looks like my family’s old barn (but its not, just very very similar). I’m curious – who’s hay was it? It didn’t sound like you knew the barn’s owner, so why were you taking the hay from it?

Addy - Reply to this comment

11-23
12:09
pm

reads like you had a great fall day…How long ago did you start this blog? PS the donuts and grandma bread were great

Chantal - Reply to this comment

11-23
12:10
pm

We were buying the hay!

Suzanne McMinn - Reply to this comment

11-23
12:33
pm

Next time, you’ll have to let Boomer out at the pasture and make him walk the rest of the way home.

We’re all voting for you here!

Ulrike - Reply to this comment

11-23
12:38
pm

We have an old barn on my daughter’s farmette here in central IL. The precious owner did some work on the outside, new roof and paint which is a good thing because we could not have afforded to do that. THe inside is the original old wood and is so neat. They must have had parties here somewhere in time because there is a third floor near a top huge window with an old stereo still hooked up. The window can be opened for a gorgeous view. Unfortunately the pull cord damaged so now we can’t open it. We could store a lot of hay on the second floor but need some kind of contraption to get them up there. Going to vote, blessings to you!!

Abiga/Karen - Reply to this comment

11-23
12:51
pm

Poor Boomer. Long car rides have the same effect on me.

Nicki - Reply to this comment

11-23
1:05
pm

Suzanne, Just left a comment for you on the SAM-e site. Wish I could have written more and told them how you’ve brightened my day time and again. If we can get everyone to pen a small testimonial on your behalf, I’d say that would more than make up for the votes!

NorthCountryGirl - Reply to this comment

11-23
1:14
pm

aw Boomer, what a sweetheart! My Bud, who I had for 16 years, would get car sick too.

Got my vote in for today.

Jessica - Reply to this comment

11-23
1:16
pm

Love this one, We don’t have many old barns around the city, have to drive a ways to see them, and down south they aren’t usually as big as the barns in northern areas. Boomer is too cute!!

JeannieB - Reply to this comment

11-23
1:16
pm

NOW LET’S SUPPORT SUZANNE BY WRITING A NOTE OF SUPPORT ON SAM-e’s COMMENT SECTION ! ! ! !

NorthCountryGirl - Reply to this comment

11-23
1:20
pm

I love today’s post about the barn. I live in northern Michigan and love to look at all the old barns around here. One of my favorite drives is to go to the U.P. and drive the last 30 or so miles of M-28 on the eastern end. So so many awesome old barns to scope out it is a great drive. Keep up the great job on your daily life. I love your posts.

Amy - Reply to this comment

11-23
1:30
pm

awwww poor Boomer. Going to go write a note.

catslady - Reply to this comment

11-23
1:57
pm

I love your old barn. I have a memory of being up on the roof of an old barn with my dad. I think my dad was helping re-roof it. Or maybe tear it down. Now I have to go call my dad and ask what in the world we were doing up on top of a rickity old barn that didn’t even belong to us….

vote vote vote for Suzanne

wendy - Reply to this comment

11-23
2:02
pm

Our sweet little Sheltie, Hickory, couldn’t take a ride w/o marfing until he was about 8 yrs old. Sorry to tell you, but you might just have wait a while longer for Boomer to ride well. Bummer. We now have a sweet little black Schnauzer, Magpie Maggie Mae, who is a GREAT car dog! It’s really very nice to have a little dog to ride w/& to take on vacation w/us.

Blessings from Ohio…

Kim W - Reply to this comment

11-23
2:04
pm

Poor Boomer!

Minna - Reply to this comment

11-23
2:15
pm

Oh, Suzanne, you have to check this one out! I just saw it on Heidi Betts’ blog. Chickens get cold, too: http://www.heidibetts.com/MustLoveYarn/
I’m not sure if that chicken is actually happy wearing that thing…

Minna - Reply to this comment

11-23
2:37
pm

Truly a fantastic barn.
I feel for Boomer :(

Jenny - Reply to this comment

11-23
3:26
pm

I love old barns. Ours is so similar — including the teetering corners! Voted today in the early 11000s.

EightPondFarm - Reply to this comment

11-23
3:53
pm

I bet that old barn house has a lot of history to it. Very interesting pics. Poor little boomer he is so cute! What a trooper!

Michele - Reply to this comment

11-23
4:27
pm

Old barns have such a history that they almost seem alive. Love the pictures you posted. I too have wished for an old barn to be sitting on our humble farm.

Hope you win the contest, added my vote to all the rest. I look forward to reading your previous posts (found you just today) and anticipate the ones yet to come.

Deborah - Reply to this comment

11-23
4:33
pm

I just left a comment as well…and voted (of coarse, lol!) I love old barns and farmhouses too…but really am glad for my home where the air doesn’t blow through the walls and my barn where the ceiling doesn’t leak…ha! I need to stock up on some hay, too! Just don’t know how much 14 goats will need for the winter… I bought a used 10 sectioned dog kennel with covering second-hand and am putting it up for my females in preparation of babies this winter! Yay! No more worrying about separating the Mama’s!

I’ve also read the comments on the competitor’s blog…if Sam-e wants to attract smutty mouthed followers, she’s got it. Just makes me appreciate your blog that much more!

Celia - Reply to this comment

11-23
4:37
pm

Great old barn with the wonderful smell of hay.
Boomer is the star of the story for me.
I voted.

Estella - Reply to this comment

11-23
4:46
pm

Oh my, nothing like car sick dogs. I had a pomeranian that was sitting in the passenger seat and seemed to be fine (we only had about a 15 minute ride). My car had bucket seats and I had my purse laying in between them where the emergency brake was located (by the way, the purse was OPEN). Next thing you know, I smell something, looked down at the dog, and he had just puked up what seemed like a ton of dog food INSIDE MY PURSE!

Hoping the votes pick back up. I wish I had more than one computer to vote on, but I don’t. Can’t even vote from work, the technology people have your sight blocked!

Yvonne M. - Reply to this comment

11-23
5:09
pm

Wonderful pictures of the old barn. Brings back memories of my grandpa’s farm. Thanks for the memory! And, I voted again today!
I sure hope you win.

Margret - Reply to this comment

11-23
6:27
pm

…hay there one real person here…sending one real vote for you everyday!

auntbear - Reply to this comment

11-23
6:46
pm

Me too, and we all need to step it up! That other lady is in the lead…

CATRAY44 - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:17
pm

Loved your post about the old barn. I love old barns. We have an old monitor-style barn that was actually a granary in it’s heyday. Now it’s where the horses and donkeys go for shelter, and we put electricity in there so they can have a “nightlight”.
When I moved here from NJ 8 years ago, I discovered my favorite smells, in no particular order, was horse and hay. Love to bury my nose in the horses neck and take a deep breathe…ummmm. I could wear that as a perfume, no kidding. And the smell in my barn of the hay, it’s just intoxicating. My “uptown” girlfriends from NJ would be appalled at how I am like that duck of yours. The one who used to be all clean and shiny. HAHAHA

Valerie - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:27
pm

Ha ha, poor Boomer. My pet bird would get sick on the way to the vet. Who knew birds could get car sick!

Melita - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:31
pm

This is truly a delightful blog and I could get lost here for days. If only I had the time.

I really enjoyed the pics of the barn and the old farm house too. Old buildings have so much more charm than new ones don’t you think?

Gypsy - Reply to this comment

11-23
7:41
pm

Boomer wanted to see the barn too!

Sharon Gosney - Reply to this comment

11-23
10:28
pm

Poor Boomer. He can’t bear to see you leave without him, even though going with you is going to make him sick. That’s a loyal little puppy for you. :-)

Lisa in California - Reply to this comment

11-23
11:51
pm

My old Jack Russell used to get car sick too. He hated riding in the car/truck. I got a pet carrier for him and that helped alot. Or just don’t take Boomer along. EVEN if he BEGS!

Jodie - Reply to this comment

11-24
12:12
am

Great pictures of that old barn – I adore buildings like these – such history!

ClassyChassy - Reply to this comment

11-24
12:34
pm

I’ve gotta say our comments today are hilarious! You guys are great! Where else could we all compare notes about dogs sicking up in a car?

Suzanne forget to list Clover as the queen of the EVERYTHING on the ’staff’ list.

BuckeyeGirl - Reply to this comment

11-25
11:46
pm

Suzanne, you are an absolute hoot!…but I love Boomer (looks like my Sophi) I saw an earlier post where someone said you should write kids book! I AGREE..oh yes….. I TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!.For a gal that has lived in the middle of everything, you take to farm likd like a hog does to slop! I belong to a lot of sites but I think I like this one best. Where else can we all act so nutty and still be allowed to stay and have fun??? I absolute love your item about the slanted house. I loved the story about the slanted house. Makes it sound so real. ALSO…… dadadadaaaa….you posted that the pond is quiet. You may think this silly but it FEELS quiet. Keep up the good work. I’ll be bakkk

BobbiSue - Reply to this comment

11-28
4:35
pm

Have you ever noticed the smell of a barn…especially one that is used for critters. It happens to be a smell that I love and when I do smell it, it brings back such wonderful memories….

TXLady - Reply to this comment