This is the photo of the barn early on before it had its doors built. You can see the cupola and there's just a small wooden spire temporarily in place while a beautiful copper weathervane was being made for the Miller museum.
The same year that the barn was built, mom had a great idea to have Miss Barbara, the artist, paint the barn and give it to dad as a birthday gift. Dad's birthday is in October so that's why she painted the autumn scene! She placed 4 Airedales in the painting and we figure that these guys must be Mitch and me in the front of the barn welcoming guests and we're also behind the barn playing while the guests are checking out the sights inside!
So now this beautiful white barn has a beautiful new weathervane on top of its cupola! It's a horse drawn hay rake. The hay rake is Northford's claim to fame for agricultural inventions. The Northford hay rake was invented in Northford by a gentleman named Edward Smith sometime between 1860 and 1880. In fact, the production of these was at a mill shop on the Farm River, which is only one half mile from where we live. The weathervane is shiny copper right now but give it 10 years and it'll oxidize and be that wonderful green! Isn't it pretty?!
And guess what else? Mitch got to hang with the boys at the museum while the weathervane was being installed! Is he lucky or what?!
So until next time..............
Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch
Mitch has the most expressive eyes! Me too! Hey! In the barn did you find lots of treats and toys to play with!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, on May 8th it is National Stuffie Appreciation Day! Make sure to get out the best pictures of you and your favorite stuffies!
Slurp!
Mr. T-Bone Beasley
Wow you two must be proud to live in such a historical place!!! The pictures didn't show up on our 'puter. But we know they had to be boootiful especially if dales were on the barn and Mitch was in them!!!
ReplyDeleteNose pokes,
Willow
The best part about the painting....
ReplyDeleteThe Aires in it!!
That is one beautimous weather vane! The barn is cool too! Oh, and the painting too! You are lucky to live in such an historic area! The only history we have here is loads of chicken houses! Have a really great week!
ReplyDeleteAire-hugs,
Poppy & Penny
How cool is that!!!! And lucky Mitch to be hanging out! Barns look so cool...
ReplyDeleteLots of Licks, Ruby
woof's M and M, dat barn iz pawsome, and da painting iz bute ti ful..dats a pawsome weathervane too....me loves doggies and horsies...me sees u 2 in dat painting...
ReplyDeleteb safe,
~rocky~
You guys were immortalized in that painting, how awesome is that! Dad did a good job on that barn and you were super lucky to go and hang out for the day Mitch.
ReplyDeleteThe barn is lovely and the weather vane sets it off a treat. Clever Dad you have there pals.
ReplyDeleteMom says to tell you she has been to New England many times and thinks it's far more beautiful than the olde one!!
Thank you for showing us your corner of it. Look forward to more. . . .
Wiry wags, Eric
Beautiful barn and weather vane! And of course, the picture is priceless with the doggies. I love it all!
ReplyDeleteHey M & M!
ReplyDeleteI always love hearing about the barns, and that weathervane is very cool. I have to say, though, that Miss Barbara's painting of the barn with you guys in it is the BEST thing I've seen recently!
MitchMan, so you've been hanging with the boys, eh? Did they make you smoke cigars and tell dirty jokes, or did they just let you be part of the group? Looks like you got yourself a little nap in while the work was happening!
Goober love & smooches,
STanley
Wow your Dad is pretty impressive!! And how cool Mitch! You hung out with the boys!!!! Love A+A
ReplyDeleteHi M&M oh we wish we could have so m&m's mommy seems to really like them or maybe it's cos her name starts with M oh well WHAT a beautiful barn and the weathervane is pawsome. ours is a golfer fur dads birthday pressie but your daddy's painting pressie is a wonderful memory and thanks fur the history lesson.
ReplyDeleteLove Licks & waggin TX tails barking loud right now
pee ess: mmmm ice cream who barks fur ice cream ~ we do!
Maggie and Mitch
ReplyDeleteI love youw new weathewvane..and Mitch is vewy lucky to help the boys, but then you pwobably got to be wif youw Mom Maggie, and that's weally good
smoochie kisses
Asta
That weathervane is so cool! I like the painting of you guys at the barn.
ReplyDeleteMango
What a nice painting! We love the story behind it, and that it has both of you added to the picture, too. The vane is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHappy Tails,
William Tell
Hi, Maggie and Mitch!
ReplyDeleteEverything is beautiful in your post!
The weathervane, the barn, the painting, Mitch!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
That's a loverly barn & art. Mitch sure was lucky to hang out with the boys while they all were at work.
ReplyDeleteLove licks,
Solid Gold Dancer
That looks so cool! I sure hope Mitch had fun hanging out with the guys!
ReplyDeleteWow Mitch, you are super lucky to get to hang with the boys. Maggie, the barn, weathervane and painting are so cool. You have such a wonderful hometown. Oh, I finally tried ice cream...and I loved it! I'll blog about it soon.
ReplyDeleteYour pal,
Kirby
Hey Guys...
ReplyDeleteWe loved ur post...that barn is bootiful and the paintin' of it is a wonderful gift for ur Dad specially with the Dales in it!!!!
New England is the prettiest place...and in the fall...oooooohhhhh!!!!
Barkies!
Lacie
hey maggie, don't u get to hang with the boys?
ReplyDeletewet wet licks
Boo
I love the barn.. and I LOVE LOVE the painting! Your mom is so smart to come up with the idea of having it painted with you guys in it!
ReplyDeleteThat is the coolest barn and weathervane!! That was a great idea for your mom to have a picture painted with you in it & the barn. I bet your dad loved it!
ReplyDeleteu must be really honoured to be in the great piece of art...
ReplyDeleteThat painting is very pretty. The artist did a great job - especially of you guys! Your dad will love it!
ReplyDeleteYou doggies live in such a bootiful place. Mitch looks cute in the last photo
ReplyDelete~ Girl girl
Oh wow, that's some interesting history! Love the weathervane too! Your mom is so wonderful to have the barn painted so beautifully for your dad! You look so cute in the picture, Mitch!
ReplyDeleteWhat a magnificent weather vane. Lucky yous, living in such an interesting place. And Mitch, you are too cute!!!
ReplyDeletexox
Chef =D
Dropping by to say hello. Hope you had a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteSimba x
Mum says I am very polite, even during a storm. I didn't bark or anything, I just scratched a little on her window screen. I knew she would come and rescue me...I love the rain, but then the flashes of lightning was very terrifying for sure. I don't like the thunder either. Have you guys ever found a frog? I found one last night, but I was very cautious, do they sting or anything?
ReplyDeleteDeetz
How intriguing! That is a great weather vane, and the barn is very cool.
ReplyDeleteThe painting is wonderful, and you 2 being in it makes it spectacular!
Was Mitch all worn out from playing with the boys? I always am when I get a chance.
ReplyDeleteCool painting.
Murph
Hi Maggie...Hi Mitch!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful weathervane!!! I went with Mom, Dad, and Kylie on Sunday to get gelato-YUM!!!!!
Love, Herc
Hi M & M,
ReplyDeletefirst off the picture on my bloggie isn't really Lilly, Just a cute little seniorita doggie to honor her.
the Mommy has never given me human ice cream...not even doggie ice
cream but she does give me a lot of bones. She brought me a T-BONE tonight & I'm chewing on it right now while the Mommy does the typing.
The Mommy really liked the painting with you guys in it but how can you be in the froint and the back too. I am confused!! We wish we could see the barn sometimes...it remind the Mommy if when she was a little girl and spent the summers at her Granny and Grampa's farm.
Love ya....Mona
That is a beautiful picture. We love the weather vane...
ReplyDeleteBig Sloppy Kisses
Gus and Louie
hi Maggie & Mitch, that painting is really beautiful. we love it and it's so special with the airedales in it. that was so nice of your mom to commission that for your dad. and we love the weather vane a lot too. we wish we had a weather vane. we think they are cool. it's kind of weird for dogs to like weather vanes, but we do.
ReplyDeletewoofs.
Hi M&M-sounds like a fun day for Mitch! hanging out with the boys must be fun-I'm not a boy so i wouldn't really understand all that!!
ReplyDeleteVelcro
It is just beautiful, but everydog already said that. Well, we agree!
ReplyDeletewags from the whippets
Hi Maggie & Mitch
ReplyDeleteThe picture is Beautiful! You guys played the celebrity game too... Will Smith is like our mom favorite actor :P And she agrees that Mitch does resembles him.
Love
Boy n Baby
Sensational guys, the barn, the painting and the weathervane.
ReplyDeleteHugs and tail wags
Noah Willow Tess Lucy
Wow! The barn and the weathervane are both really beautiful! Your dad is soooooo talented!
ReplyDeleteSmooches,
Winnie :-)