Barns Barns, Barns... like my previous post, I’m sharing my observations of what’s around us. That activity plus trying to keep current on the hobby is a daily event that I never tire of….

This our barn. I want to call your attention to several things. First, note the range of color in the slate roof. Next, check out the weathered paint. I think this is one of the nicest features. I cringe every time someone buys an old farm, rips off the slate roof and then paints over a nice patina that took decades to form.

I had a lot of work done on this barn. This sills were rotted and it was poorly supported. About 30-35 years ago I had a crew jack up the lower level, pour about a dozen 12" x 5' tall  sonotubes tubes (all but 6-8" in the ground) with concrete to support the walls/new sills and interior point loads. Cheaper than a new peremiter foundation and it allowed me to retain the stone foundation. Also, as it is close to the river, when the water gets too high during a climate event, it just runs through the foundation. I learned this trick many years ago when doing some "wash-away-first-floor" design work in Florida.

During this "rehab" most of the wood siding on the lower level had to be removed.  Much was rotted, anyway. To match the upper level, I applied my modeling skills and did some "full scale modeling/weathering".  Specifically, I first applied a coat of Benjamin Moore "Driftwood" stain. On top of that (using a wide brush) I dry brushed a straight white stain...Viola'!

 

 

 

 

 

The three pics above are of a barn about a mile from me. It's not in good shape and it is unlikely it will be fixed...so, I've taken many pics and done some sketches. One of the sketches is in an album on my Flickr site: 

 

 https://www.flickr.com/photos/103194951@N02/54068087354/in/album-72177720320702324/lightbox/

 

Note the the raised seam panels on the first photo - they conceal an older split wood shake roof (most likely cedar) that was probably laid down over 100 years ago. The metal roof probably dates anywhere from the 40s to 60s.

 

 

 

This last barn belongs to a neighbor who live up a hill and a few hundred yards from us. It's a very popular visual attraction. Not unusual to see someone with an easel doing a painting (including a stellar example by a good friend) ...or an itinerant model railroader replicating it on his layout (yes, that's me - it's on my "farm"). 

In keeping with my story about "weathering" the new paint on my barn, I encouraged the owners to do what I did when they had some repairs done. They didn't precisely match the paint, but most importantly they preserved the original paint. The resultant variety of finishes and "mixed masonry" are in keeping with the visual traditions of the New England Hill Town culture.

 

 

 

I turned 75 today, so I decided to take a walk. This is also my first walk since winter began. I am not as immune to cold as I used to be, so it was a joy to take my traditional one mile walk down the road to the view I have as a header on my site.

This walk is kind of like a tonic and a constant inspiration. Reflecting on 3/4 of a century of existence in the middle of the current Democracy crisis has not been very pleasant.... However, living in a beautiful setting that exists in a bit of a time warp is uplifting and inspiring. Here in the hill towns we are still heavily steeped in the post WW2 traditions of Democratic growth and responsibility… a better memory/feeling.

 

 

Along the way are several “sign posts” -  markers & reminders of my interests. The fork in the road leads up the hill to the grand view…and beyond to Bardwells Ferry Bridge - site of a former station along the B&M and the NY, NH & Hartford lines. In the middle I am looking at the “South Station” sign, pointing down a dirt road to the right that is the old road bed for the Conway Street Railway trolley line. At the end is South Station, which was the starting point of the Conway Street Railway.

 

 

 

The Graves farm - near the top. The grade changes, peeling paint buildings, rough concrete retaining walls - these are some of elements where I find inspiration to add authenticity to my work.

 

 

At the top is a long view to the Pioneer Valley to the east. The fall version of this pic can be seen at the beginning of my Facebook page.