I love our barn. I left my beloved little home and woods because of this barn. Truth be told it was what sold us on the farm. However, there is one little design flaw in it. That staircase is the only access to the loft above the stalls. And that door is the only entrance. In winter, the staircase is hell to ascend. So the loft doesn't get used much. Mostly we use it to store summer gear, like sports equipment, tents, lawnchairs, etc. But it is huge up there with lots of room to spare, so my boy often uses it for his indoor play area.
Now, I am a worrier. I'm constantly worrying about my kids. I'm sure it drives them crazy. I am learning to let go and have more trust in them and their ability to handle situations. So when my boy wanted to venture up to the loft all on his own, I struggled with that decision. Mainly because the previous owners had misplaced the key for the lock on the loft. I feared that he would lock himself inside and I would have no way of helping him because the windows are so far off the ground. I planned on buying a new lock and replacing it, thus elminating this worry, but with all the other chores around the farm, it kept slipping my mind. However, my boy isn't 3 years old anymore. He knows how to unlock a door. But as added precaution, I've told him to keep the door open and if it happens to be a windy day, to prop the door open with a box or something.
So yesterday, he needed something from the loft and asked if he could go get it. I agreed and off he went. I was busy on the computer but the window next to me looks out to the barn, so I kept glancing over to watch him emerge. For several minutes he didn't. But I wasn't worried, thinking that he was having a hard time finding the item. Then as several minutes passed, I thought perhaps he got distracted by something and stayed to play. About fifteen minutes later, I got up from my computer and decided to head outdoors to continue working. But first I'd check on him I had just stepped outside when I heard banging. Looking up to the loft, I saw him in one of the windows, banging on the glass. I still didn't think anything was wrong. Perhaps he spotted me and just wanted to say hello. As I came closer however, I could see he was crying. I glanced at the door and noticed for the first time it was shut. Panic struck me. I ran up the stairs, praying the door was not locked and that it was just stuck and he was having a hard time opening it.
I reached the top landing, grabbed the doornob, turned it, and it opened without any problem. My boy ran over to me, red faced and wet from tears, telling me he had been banging on the window for a long time. But the door wasn't locked? What was the problem?
"There's big bees outside the door!" Bees? Apparently when he went up to the loft he claimed that he was attacked by bees and shut the door to keep them from following him inside. He was too terrified to come back out of the loft. I had noted a wasp fly past me as I hurried up the stairs, but it was a beautiful warm sunny day and they are bound to be out and about so didn't think anything of it. I told him the usual, don't bother them and they won't bother you but he was still upset.
Now my boy has been known to make mountains out of molehills, but to ease his mind I went below and began searching for a hornet's nest in the rafters under the stair landing figuring it was the most obvious spot. Not finding any, I headed back up the stairs to investigate and sure enough three or four big ugly hornets began surrounding me. I found a couple small hornet nests in the door frame, so I knocked them off and crushed them with my boot, but other than that I didn't spot anything else. I couldn't figure it out. Then I looked up.
So yesterday, he needed something from the loft and asked if he could go get it. I agreed and off he went. I was busy on the computer but the window next to me looks out to the barn, so I kept glancing over to watch him emerge. For several minutes he didn't. But I wasn't worried, thinking that he was having a hard time finding the item. Then as several minutes passed, I thought perhaps he got distracted by something and stayed to play. About fifteen minutes later, I got up from my computer and decided to head outdoors to continue working. But first I'd check on him I had just stepped outside when I heard banging. Looking up to the loft, I saw him in one of the windows, banging on the glass. I still didn't think anything was wrong. Perhaps he spotted me and just wanted to say hello. As I came closer however, I could see he was crying. I glanced at the door and noticed for the first time it was shut. Panic struck me. I ran up the stairs, praying the door was not locked and that it was just stuck and he was having a hard time opening it.
I reached the top landing, grabbed the doornob, turned it, and it opened without any problem. My boy ran over to me, red faced and wet from tears, telling me he had been banging on the window for a long time. But the door wasn't locked? What was the problem?
"There's big bees outside the door!" Bees? Apparently when he went up to the loft he claimed that he was attacked by bees and shut the door to keep them from following him inside. He was too terrified to come back out of the loft. I had noted a wasp fly past me as I hurried up the stairs, but it was a beautiful warm sunny day and they are bound to be out and about so didn't think anything of it. I told him the usual, don't bother them and they won't bother you but he was still upset.
Now my boy has been known to make mountains out of molehills, but to ease his mind I went below and began searching for a hornet's nest in the rafters under the stair landing figuring it was the most obvious spot. Not finding any, I headed back up the stairs to investigate and sure enough three or four big ugly hornets began surrounding me. I found a couple small hornet nests in the door frame, so I knocked them off and crushed them with my boot, but other than that I didn't spot anything else. I couldn't figure it out. Then I looked up.
Do you see it?
The biggest nest I've ever seen. But it isn't a nest, it looks more like a hive.
I haven't a clue what type of nest that is! But I do know that noone, especially anyone under four feet tall, is going anywhere near the loft. I may have to call an exterminator cause I have no intention of stomping out that nest with my boot. And while I'm at it. I think I'll a locksmith as well.