Broken

A 'broken' barn

Dug this one out of my archives. Makes me miss summer and the mountains. 

Stay warm, y'all!

Red and White

 I fell off the blog wagon this past week but I have a post coming soon to explain why. For today, I thought I'd share another great barn on one of the lesser traveled roads around here.

A big red and white barn that no matter what angle I tried to get a shot from, this red Crepe Myrtle was always in the frame. It adds a touch of something to the image, just not sure what. 

But I like it. :-)

Weave Texture applied in Picmonkey

~Happy Snapping~

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The Barn Collective @ Tom The Backroads Traveller

The Long Way Around

It's been a while since I found a 'new' barn to share. On Friday last week, my husband and I decided to ride over and see his parents. They live about 40 minutes from us in a tiny town in the rural Piedmont of NC. I had received a text earlier in the week from my MIL letting me know that if we decided to come over any time soon, we would have to come an alternate route as one of the bridges on their road is under construction. That turned out to be a good thing for this photography enthusiast! We decided to take an even longer way around, winding through some of the beautiful countryside. Here's a gorgeous scene we came across.

When my husband stopped at the intersection, I jumped out and braced my camera on the roof of the car so I could get a quick shot.  

Then I zoomed in a little more...

And a little more...

It was quick because a car pulled up and starting blowing their horn at us. I mean, really. Couldn't they see I was trying to take a photograph?! You'd think out in the middle of the country people would be a bit more relaxed, but that is not the case nowadays. Impatience abounds, even on country roads. 

Maybe I need this bumper sticker from Cafe Press:

What do you think? Would it help any? :-)

Happy Snapping!

 

Psalm 147:11

¹¹ but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who hope in his steadfast love.

The Barn Collective

Just before you come to the barn I posted photos of on March 9,  there stands this barn that is almost built more like a shed. There is livestock fencing in the area around the side but there were no animals in sight. I wish I knew if this is for cows or horses. It does have the same crest painted on the front as the other one, which I think is pretty neat looking.

A barn/shed on the Biltmore Estate, Asheville NC

Sharing with The Barn Collective @ Rose Street Reflections

~Have a blessed day~

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 I posted a photo of this barn a couple of years ago but it merits another sighting.

It's the only blue barn that I have seen in my travels around rural NC. 

They hold horse auctions and tractor pulls on the premise.

Sharing with The Barn Collective @ Rose Street Reflections.

~Have a blessed day~

The Barn Collective

It seems like I fell out of the world of blogging but it has been absolutely crazy around here since Feb 14th! I'm not going to go into detail but life happened and then it got back on track, somewhat. It's still a bit 'off ' since our oldest son left for USAF BMT (Basic Military Training) on Feb 24th. We're proud of him but miss him something fierce! I spend lots of time writing him letters and educating myself about being a military family now.

I did get a break this past Friday and went to Asheville NC with my SIL to visit Biltmore House & Gardens. We are huge Downton Abbey fans and just had to go see the Dressing Downton display. Wow. It was something else. Too bad they don't allow pictures. I'll just say that all the costumes were amazing, except one burnt orange looking dress Edith wore in one of the episodes. It definitely looked better on TV than in person!

Since the weather was beautiful, we also visited Antler Hill Village on the estate and passed by this amazing barn!

Look at that Lion Crest!

And that dark brick silo with the wooden top is fantastic!

We weren't allowed to get close so I had to use my zoom lens, but I sure would like to have had an up close look around the barn and outbuildings. I think they're almost as intriguing as the house itself!

Sharing with The Barn Collective @ Rose Street Reflections.

~Have a blessed day in the Lord~

The Barn Collective {#18}

Deuteronomy 28:8
The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. 

The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

Double Silo Barn in rural NC

I was quite a ways from this barn so the photo is a little grainy (pun intended) but I like how it shows the bright green of winter wheat, or more likely hay, planted in the field in front of, and behind, the barn. 

They should have plenty to fill those silos, or bale if it's hay, come summer.

Sharing with The Barn Collective @ Rose Street Reflections

~Have a blessed day~

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click to enlarge for detail

I love this barn! I pass by it every time I drive to town but I never took a picture from this angle until today. I had to climb up an embankment behind a little store to get it, but it was worth it. If you look closely, you'll see a wire star above the barn doors. Love it!

Sharing with The Barn Collective #17 @ Rose Street Reflections.

Hop on over there to see more beautiful barns from all the world!

~Have a blessed day~

Take52 & The Barn Collective - Two-for-One

The Week 3 theme for Take 52 was ENTRANCE.

I contemplated the following three photos.

This first photo is looking back toward the entrance to our property. I was pleased with capturing a natural sun glare and not having to manufacture one in PicMonkey.

I wasn't pleased that it came out a bit blurry but that is what I get for taking it with my phone camera. Not too bad, but not great.

This second photo is of a church not far from where we live and the entrance is one I find quite attractive. I love the stonework arched doorway! And as it was taken in the late afternoon, the sun was giving it a nice hue.

I realized after I uploaded the church photo that the bushes are not symmetrical and I felt that took away from the overall image.

So ultimately I went with this third photo. You know I love barns of all shapes and sizes, and rustic old outbuildings. Well this one fit the bill on all accounts! This is such a pleasing entrance to the occupants property. It sits relatively close to the road but far enough back to where I had to zoom a bit. But do you see that tree on the right? It is twisted! That is so cool, and one the reasons I chose this photo. I felt like there was so much interest in this image; fading wood, dappled shade, textured and weathered siding, and that twisted tree.

I'm also linking it to The Barn Collective @ Rose Street Reflections.

Hop on over there to see more gorgeous barns.

Have a blessed day!

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Shot in High Monochrome with Nikon Coolpix P510

Sharing with The Barn Collective @ Rose Street Reflections

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This is one of my favorite barns from my archives.

Sharing with The Barn Collective #8 @ Rose Street Reflections

For my Barn meme friends....I am having trouble leaving a comment with my Wordpress identity on some of your blogs. I don't have any idea why this is happening all of a sudden. But I am enjoying seeing all the beautiful barns!

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Snagged this shot on a drive-by.

Sharing with The Barn Collective #7 @ Rose Street Reflections

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This old barn looks cold and lonely.

Hop on over to The Barn Collective #6 to see more gorgeous barns, hosted by Amy @ Rose Street Reflections.

:::

If you're a follower of my book Blog, Stuff & Nonsense, I have a new giveaway. Click here to be taken to the post.

Until next time...

The Barn Collective

I would have tried for a better photo of this barn but the owner didn't seem pleased that I was photographing it. I was at a crossroads right in front of the barn and she actually drove over to where I was and asked me why I was taking a picture. I told her I thought it a beautiful barn with the quilt square on it, and she was sort of surprised. In our area, the quilt barns are a tourist attraction and many people stop to take photos. Maybe I was the first to stop at hers. I don't know. But I didn't hang around. :)

Sharing with The Barn Collective @ Rose Street Reflections

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A Tobacco field and barn.

Sharing with The Barn Collective @ Rose Street Reflections

There's a bit of a learning curve going on here when I leave comments on your barn post. Sometimes it is leaving my Blogger profile name, sometimes my Wordpress, and sometimes I don't know what it is doing :)

The Barn Collective Link Up # 3

No new barn photos this week so I pulled this one from my archives.  

I don't think I've posted it before, but if I have, I do apologize for the repeat.

At my age, that frequently happens ;)

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The Barn Collective @ Rose Street Reflections

The Barn Collective Link Up

Just an old barn and a tall silo.

Photo taken winter 2014.

Edited to look vintage with Picmonkey.

:::

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The Barn Collective @ Rose Street Reflections

{Sunday} Where is your treasure?

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, 

and where thieves break in and steal. 

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, 

and where thieves do not break in or steal;  for where your treasure is, 

there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6: 19-21

Have a blessed Sabbath, my friends!

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The Art of Embroidery

In our family, my mother-in-law is known for her expertise in needlework. 

From sewing to quilting to embroidery, her art is superlative. 

 (Clicking on photos will enlarge them so you can see even more detail.)

Here she is adding finishing touches of grass to an embroidered *barn. 

Y'all know I ♥ barns, right? 

And she has incorporated a Cardinal in the design, too. 

Oh, I love birds!

I love how authentic the Pine Tree looks.

When she is finished, there will be four designs and she will quilt them 

together to form the wall hanging. Isn't this awesome?! The first square is finished. 

It's so much more dramatic in person. I can't wait to see all four pieces put together.

 Did you know the earliest surviving embroideries are Scythian and date back to the 5th-3rd centuries BCE? There's a form of embroidery called Blackwork, where they only use black thread to make the designs and twist it in a certain way to give it dimension. I'm not sure what technique my MIL used on the barn but it seems awfully close to Blackwork. 

And look at this finished wall hanging...

Isn't it phenomenal?!

It's an ancient art form of Embroidery called Thread Painting or Needle Painting.

And the detail is absolutely stunning.

Can you tell that my mother-in-law's reputation is well deserved? 

But being the humble woman that she is, she'll be the first to tell you that it is a gift from the Lord. 

: : : : :

When I started writing this post I was only intent on sharing how much I admire and love my MIL's ability with a needle. I was going to attach a Scripture verse here but I have to say that after knowing her for 33 years, she is truly the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman. She is an awesomely dedicated wife, mom, MIL, grandmother and great grandmother who aptly fits the description. She has always put the welfare of her family first. Her faith in the Lord and love for hearth and home is what is to be admired. Her handiwork with a needle second. She may or may not read this post but I want to say Thanks, Mom. I love you. 

Have a blessed day in the Lord, my friends!

*The barn pattern is by Beth B Dix/ Primrose Lane, Black Mountain, NC. 

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Autumn skies and a barn

“The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. 

And why shouldn't it be?--it is the same the angels breathe.” 
― Mark Twain, Roughing It

Living in the country and seeing views like this is one of my favorite places to be!

Where is your favorite place?

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