A Quiet Night in the Bunkhouse

What a panicky feeling!  Our Internet and land line service went down yesterday morning.  My husband Wayne and I entertained ourselves fairly well during the day, but as night rolled around, we truly wanted to click on those electronic devices – laptops, desktop computer,  iPad, even a voice on the telephone – anything to connect with the outside world.

But we are adults.  Surely we could have a nice evening by ourselves. We ended up spending several enjoyable hours in an outside room on our property that we have dubbed “The Bunkhouse.”

Armed with a Kindle Reader and various books and magazines, we settled in for the evening.  Wayne built a fire in the old wood burning stove and put George Strait on the CD player.

Rocking in an old cane chair that had belonged to my grandfather, I realized I had forgotten how much I loved the Bunkhouse. 

The concept for this 150 square foot room came from a picture in a Southwest decorating book of a very fancy tool shed.  By the time Wayne was through enhancing the plans, it was a modern recreation of an old-fashioned bunkhouse.

There was a place to eat or play games,

chat or listen to music,

 or even take an afternoon siesta.

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And of course, being a bunkhouse, it had to be decorated in Southwest style.  A plaque at the doorway, "Mi casa es Su Casa" (My house is your house) welcomes visitors.

A ceiling made of vigas and cedar latillas and a metal cow's skull above the stove complete the look.

The evening spent in the bunkhouse took me back to an earlier time.  It was one of the most relaxing times that I have had in a while.  Now what time is that Time-Warner repairman arriving? I'm ready to jump back into the modern world.