Barn Charm #25

I still have more barns left to show

from that drive on Rt. 40 East from Dayton, Ohio.

I hope to get out on the back roads around my small town

and take more photos of local barns.

I love this hilly terrain--the foothills of the Appalachian Mts.

The barns and farms that I have been showing are certainly nice;

I just miss the quirkiness required to build a barn into a steep hillside.

I was several fields over on a side road that bordered

one side of the property,

when I took these photos.

I didn't have my camera, so I don't think these photos are my best.

I took a photo of the cows that would have been wonderful on my camera,

but they looked cartoonish with my husband's old one.

So you don't get to see the cows.  Sorry.

For more barns click below for Tricia's site.

The One who holds it all together

Dear Lord,

I cannot hold everything in my life together

and keep it from spinning out of control.

our Word says that You have the power

to hold all things together,

so I'm putting it all in Your hands.

Amen.

by Sandy Lynam Clough

He was before all else began

and it is His power

that holdS everything together.

COLOSSIANS 1: 17 TLB

It was a tough week,

but I am okay.

Praying for a better one.

Blessings to you all as you begin the new week!

Mother and Daughter

These were taken the day after Christmas.

My daughter Sara and her family had come back over for another visit

before they went back to Texas on Tuesday, the next day.

I got the privilege of giving Abigail her bath.

She did well,

but there came a time when she wanted her mama.

She had recently learned to clap

and was quite pleased with the action.

Abby does not sit still for long if not fastened into a high chair or car seat.

She loves to explore.

She smiles readily for Grandma and her camera.

Actually, she smiles for any camera.

I love her feet sticking out of her jeans

and just an ear, a patch of hair, and a touch of face showing.

My husband Mike, son-in-law Jory, and two-year-old grandson Aaron,

and I had gone outside.

While we were out, Sara rocked Abby to sleep.

I very quietly snuck a picture.

Having a mother who loved me deeply and sensed when something was amiss,

having a daughter with whom I am like my mother in the above sense,

and seeing the love evident in this next generational relationship,

I find truth in the following quote:

A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart. ~Author Unknown

 

I love the way this photo came out--the softness especially.

I think the following quote fits nicely here.

The best conversations with mothers always take place in silence, when only the heart speaks.                                                  

                                                              Carrie Latet

Abigail Elizabeth has inherited gorgeous blue eyes from her paternal grandmother, Kim.

Kim is blond. 

Abigail has light-brown hair.

That makes these incredible, blue eyes even more startling.

I cannot take credit for this photo; a friend of theirs took it for them.

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.

Author Unknown

Thinking of my mother, my daughter,

and my granddaughter and grateful for all three.

Blessings to you as you finish up your weekend.

 

Corner View: Black and White

Here are two of my favorite examples of black and white.

George is now nine years old in people years.

Tasha has been gone eight years now.

One of the top priorities when we get the next home

is to rescue another dog like I did Tasha--actually two.

By the way, Tasha was named after one of my favorite illustrators: Tasha Tudor.

For more corner views check out Francesca's Fuoriborgo.

(Francesca's is a bit unusual this time esp. for this Ohian.)

Peeking out

Just as George is peeking around the corner,

I am checking out what's out there for me:

changes in curriculum;

looking at house plans;

knowing I need to progress with my other blog--

---the one on chronic illness;

figuring out what to do with this blog;

contemplating Face book so I can see pics of my Ohio grandkids;

To Kill a Mockingbird or Lord of the Flies for advanced freshmen English;

writing some letters--what to say.

So much to decide.

I made the decision for George:

he is not an outdoor cat, so I called him back inside.

But I also have someone looking out for me--

--actually three: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Blessings.

(I'm enjoying our day off from school.)

Corner View: Ring out the Old; Ring in the New

These are some of the shelves in the library at the school where I teach.

The library is small, our funds are limited, and some of the shelves sparse.

However, we have a super librarian who stretches her dollars well.

She also can order from other libraries most any book  a student or teacher wants.

I check out most of my books from my small town library.

I carry a tote in and lug it out full of books.

I have resisted a Kindle or Nook,

because I wanted the feel of paper under my hands.

But during this past holiday's shopping trips

when I would take a break and sit,

I would think how nice it would be to have a Kindle,

because it would fit in my purse.

The book I was reading at the time was big and heavy

and thus waited in the car for me.

 I thought my husband would laugh and tease me

if I asked for one for Christmas (not maliciously).

I'm not the brightest bulb when it comes to technology,

so I thought he would raise an eyebrow 

since I've yet to master all the apps on my phone

or figure out every little detail of my camera.

Alas, he surprised me.

Totally.

A mutual friend, who was a 'diehard' book fan,

succumbed to the Kindle and loves it.

His wife used his, loved it, and got herself one.

If voracious reader Leo prefers a kindle over a hardback,

well, that was enough for Mike.

I was puzzled at the wrapped package,

then dumbstruck,

then thrilled.

He bought an attractive cover for it.

Now, I will not be needing to head up to the library check out counter.

Of course there will be those books that I will want to write in and cherish,

such as Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts,

so Barnes and Noble will still get some business from me.

But for the most part when it comes to reading novels,

it's out with the old and in with the new.

For more on this theme, check out Francesca's.

Thanks Renee, for the topic.

Barn Charm #24

Here is another Mail Pouch barn

that we found on our drive from Dayton.

I took the photos from across the road.

The light wasn't the best

and I was using my husband's old camera;

I had let the battery run down on mine.

But I think you can still see some of its charm.

As you can see, it has several out-buildings on the slight slope behind it,

and there is a road running from Rt. 40 up into the farm.

It was probably there before Rt. 40 was built.

I wonder what the owners thought of the 'new highway' being built

so close to their barn.

They probably 'lost' some land in the deal.

For more barns, click below:

Some Emerson wisdom

From our Ireland photos archives:

in the Conemara region

WHAT LIES BEHIND YOU

AND WHAT LIES BEFORE YOU

ARE TINY MATTERS COMPARED

TO

WHAT LIES WITHIN YOU.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Blessings.

Barn Charm #23

We discovered this barn on that trip from Dayton, Ohio on Rt. 40.

It was off the road and down a hill,

but I was still able to get some good shots

from where we were able to park.

My husband got a kick out of the advertisement for Mail Pouch

being on top of one for Red Man tobacco.

Both ads are old,

but the Mail Pouch one is still in good shape.

Off to the side of this barn were these barns (one is most likely a shed).

My zoom captured a glimpse of them.

Nature is taking over these buildings

and reaching them would be a tough hike in unknown territory.

I passed on that challenge. 

For more barn charm, click on below.

Recap of Favorite 2011 photos

I took an idea from Mari and adapted it for me.

I chose a favorite photo from posts of each month,

featured them, and wrote a little something about them.

Here is the recap of  favorite photos from my 2011 posts:

January

This is the door to a shed/garage on my husband's aunt's property.

I like the texture of the wood and the rusted hinge.

I like how the neutrals blend yet hold their own.

February

The park lake/reservoir: you can glimpse the ice through the trees.

I like the 'peek-a-boo' effect.

March

Although this was taken several years ago, I featured it in a March post.

I think it is Ash Cave. I know it is from Hocking Hills in southeastern Ohio.

April

I was exploring the exceptionally early Lily leaves with my new camera,

and discovered a spider and a lightening bug fighting.

I am not sure of the outcome, but I would bet on the spider.

May

This was for a "Corner View."

It's one of the bulletin board displays in a teacher friend's room.

June

I love this snapshot of love in action: my husband building me the low wall

that I wanted beside the back walkway.

July

They came in June: my daughter, her husband, son, and daughter.

However, I posted this photo in July.

This was actually my daughter's second visit close on the heels of the first,

and Mike and I got to babysit two-year-old Aaron and four-month-old Abigail'

while Sara 'trouble-shooted' at the family company.

This was the first we had seen Abigail.

I love her blue eyes and her attentiveness.

August

George claimed my slip-ons after I had been out watering the plants.

They smelled of all sorts of plants, bugs, earth, --all scents he adores.

September

This is the display two students and I put up for

the ten year anniversary of  the September 11th terrorism.

October

This is one side of my front porch which is decorated for

the annual Pumpkin Festival.

November

This is the park lake/reservoir again;

this time most of the leaves have turned although not all have fallen.

December

I featured this quite recently.

We had not seen Abigail, Aaron, and their parents since June.

My, how she has grown!

I love this photo of her sound asleep in her Uncle Doug's arms.

I have some thoughts about the new year

that is now on its second day.

But I will save them for later.

There is much to do on this last day of holiday break!

School resumes tomorrow.

Blessings!