Things I Want to do When I Retire

Yes, one of the things I'll do when I retire is move to Crofters Lane in PEI. But life doesn't end just because I can sit back in my rocking chair on my front porch, put my feet up on the railing and watch the sun rise.  No, I have a long list of things I want to do and try. I'm going to start my list here and add to it as I think of yet more things I'd like to do - some things I like to do already but just don't have the time. Others are new things that I'd like to try and have to do with living a more sustainable lifestyle.

• get back to carving - it's been a couple of years since I started anything and I miss it; unfortunately it's one of those activities that requires a lot of time alone and a workshop. I used to carve when I went to the trailer (alone). I'll take something with me this summer IF I can fit my rather large toolbox in the car. Above are a few examples of my work - I like to carve in wood, soapstone, stone, fossils and plaster of paris. 
• grow? grind  heritage grains for baking my own bread, buns, muffins etc NO MORE refined flour
• grow blueberries and make my own cordial 
• horseback riding - as a child I rode almost every day and I sure do miss it
• have a dog
• raise chickens
• travel travel travel
• get back to my genealogical research - this is a hobby that takes up a LOT of time but one that I have continued on from my mother's research. Haven't renewed my membership with ancestry.com for the past few years, just don't have the time
• visit the places where my ancestors originated from, for example Dickleburgh in South Norfolk County
• write write write
• photography - set up a dark room
• build a barn to house my many hobbies and gardening equipment
• walk the medieval pilgrimage to St. James Compostela 
• visit all of the romanesque and gothic cathedrals that I studied at university  
• build a yurt (B&B)

That'll do for now, but I will revisit this list from time to time to update.  Do you have some "things to do" that you are putting off until retirement??

The Most Thrilling Post Ever

 While driving to the trailer a couple of weeks ago I happened to espy out of the corner of my eye "the perfect barn"!!! Yes, I know, it's an amazing specimen isn't it? This is the style of barn I want to build, or is it "raise"? out in PEI?

Look at that solid stone foundation, the board and batten siding, the cedar shake roof, the coachlights...

 the double doors so I can drive out on my tractor vroom vroom, the mansard roof, the side porch...The mansard roof allows for maximum height up in the loft - I'll have a real glass window from my insulated writing nook so I can look out over the trees and fields...

 and my side porch will have a hanging swing for two and perhaps a railing to put our feet up on...

One end will have a leanto added on for seasoning wood for our woodstove
like this sorta...

So now that I've put you all asleep I can sneak by you that I just lost all my money buying some swampy land in El Salvador and I can't afford to pay my bail after I was caught shoplifting penny rollers at Walmart...sob!!


Gotcha!

Designing a Barn

I had the most fun today! And it didn't cost me a single penny....YET!! It will eventually cost quite a few pennies but I won't mind parting with a single one. I spent the day designing my "barn to be"!

See that funny little picture up there? That's my land and my house in PEI. Ya gotta love google earth:) The first thing, and probably the hardest was deciding where to place my barn. So many things had to be taken into account. It's not just about the barn - it's about where my "forest enhancement project" will be located, where my vegetable garden would grow the best, where my laneway will be, how big my kitchen and mudroom extension will be, how large the deck addition will be, where the existing trees are and so on and so on. And most importantly it can't block any of my fabulous views of Casumpec Bay!

Ok, I have that part figured out. Now I have to decide on the style of the barn and how big it will be and how much I can afford to spend. Here's what I know so far: it will be roughly 20' x 24' or  28', it will have a lean-to on one end for storing wood, it will have either a half-loft or full-loft to use as a writing nook and artist's studio/workshop, and a covered porch along one side. Haven't fully decided whether it will have a gable or gambrel roof yet.

It needs to be large enough to hold our car and a tractor plus gardening tools. It will provide storage for the necessities of country life but will also be a sanctuary for those creative hours I will be spending on writing, carving and other artistic pursuits - perhaps a dark room? a pottery wheel? woodworking?

Tonight I shall dream about my barn and the many ways it will fill my well to overflowing. Oh yes, I may need to attach a chicken coop to it somewhere too!

Did I mention that I love barns?

And sheds?