My sleeping body was still weighted and languid when my eyes opened. I was on my left side, hand under my face. I felt a small body, like that of an animal behind me, still asleep. It warmed my legs with its relaxed, pudgy form. Without looking or being told, I realized it was a porcupine, a talking one at that, one that meant no harm.
The boys, some other strangers, and I were sleeping in the upstairs of the barn I had in Southampton. My sixth dream sense leads me to believe it was not of our choice. It wasn’t a zombie apocalypse, but more of an annoyance, like someone else was in our house. Gisele was there so we were having to distract her from the porcupine for two reasons: his sake and hers. Yes, it was a boy, and he was tired of being hated because he was not snuggly. What a sad life a porcupine lives, right? I mean, do they snuggle each other?
This isn’t about the porcupine at all, but about a property description. I mean, how do you leave out the part about the porcupine, though. (It’s what happens when you don’t have anyone next to you at night to share your odd dreams with in words. Sue me.)
Carrying on:
The Red Barn on Wolcott Road
You will be welcomed by a sweet herb and flower garden at the front entrance. Basil, mint, and daisies dance a gentle tango in circles with the wind, surrounded by deep, black mulch. The muted red stains the barnboards and is complemented by the matte white shutters. There is a small covered area in the front that would work as a patio, bird haven, woodpile, or ice cream shop window.
Open the door to hear a historical squeak as you enter the first floor covered with cool, smooth concrete. To the right is a large bay, perfect for stacking firewood and the seasonal porch windows, screen or glass. To the left is a planting station with a window to allow in natural light for seedlings, complete with rich, black mountain soil and thick wooden shelves for pots, spades, and heirloom seeds.
To the left you will find two more vehicle bays, large enough for a pickup truck, tractor, or ping pong table, sublime for adding some fresh mountain air to the barn. Straight ahead is a heavy wooden sliding door that will take you to the workshop and coop that fits dozens of chickens. The area is laden with shelves galore and tons of drawers for your tools and hardware, and there’s a wood stove for your January creativity. To the left you will find one of the two push-out windows and another bay door that gratefully receives the afternoon sun. The chicken coop is safe and secure with a handy door to collect your eggs, a human-sized door for convenience, and there’s a miniature, outdoor lockable door that leads to the run for your favorite feathered friends. The area is cool and shaded, ideal for those warm summer days. Sounds glorious, right? Well, there’s more.
The stairs to the second floor are nestled between the three bays when you first walk in. Go up the stairs to find a landing, or nook, to stand a Christmas tree or house a small office. On the top of the stairway is a door that leads to a large room to the left with a hay door and a skylight. In that room are also secret wooden doors to store your most treasured trinkets. Straight ahead is a large area with three windows that face the orchard and mountain stream. It also has built-in shelves and lots of outlets. Once an antique shop, the upstairs area could be used as extra living space, a teen room, or a home office. To the right is another antique wooden door with tons of attic space and another hay door, convenient for your livestock.
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Teresa Forester Adams 