When asked if I would come to Elgin, Nebraska to give an author talk, I readily accepted. Would I be ok if we distanced and were in the barn? Sure. Why not? I used to play in the Butler buildings as a kid on the ranch in Montana. Why not have an adventure? It was not the barn I was expecting!
How does one honor the past while creating a future? Jane and Rick Schuchardt know how. Who knew their 1903 family barn was destined to become a gathering place while still fulfilling the function of shelter for equipment? Knowing a little something about renovation myself, I stood in awe upon entering to get ready to talk about my book. The Barn doesn’t come close to any other barn I’ve ever step foot or boot in.
The original setting was deemed a little too close to the creek embankment in 2017. So, if it were to live on, it needed to be moved. A new pad was poured several yards to the south. Stabilized, it slid on rails to hover above the pad. Set down, it was ¾ of an inch off. I would have been satisfied to let be. Honestly, I probably would have celebrated that achievement. I’m not a perfectionist, apparently the Master of Movement and Rails is. Up again, adjusted to perfection, now the barn sat exactly square, ready for its makeover.
Power-washed, the wood unveiled its strength and beauty. The upgrades began. Ready for the new additions of a kitchen, powder room, power doors, insulated windows, heating and ceiling fans, as well as some exterior improvements, the barn’s bones and skin gradually became ready for the ephemera that honors two farm families, Jane’s and Rick’s. One from Palmyra. One from Elgin. Milk cans, seed sacks, dairy cow stanchions, the piano, the lye soap cauldron, even a 1937 John Deere tractor – the very first one on the farm, all act as tangible links to family stories.
Some have a lot of money and create a building. Other people have a broader vision and make an investment on several levels, which results in a building with a soul. With their rural community of craftsmen, this couple invested their time (2017-2020) and resources to create a welcoming enclave. Just like their marriage of 47 years, the foundation of the past embellishes the present.
The Schuchardts welcomed me and the Young-N-Lively community group into their magnificent barn. David played the upright piano as we chatted. After a great meal featuring home-made runzas, I shared my story about my spiritual journey, learning the power of affirmative thought and prayer, and my artistic growth. It’s how I became the author and illustrator of Pencil Strokes, An Affirmation Coloring Book. I couldn’t have chosen a better setting to discuss affirmations, art that resonates with our souls, and community. The Schuchardt’s barn represents all of that.