Barn Charm #59

Husband and I went for a drive during the power outage last summer.

Our vehicle's air conditioning was what we sought more so than a drive.

He took me down this road I had not been before though I'd driven for many years

the main road from which it branches off.

He was excited to show me this particular barn.

You get a glimpse of it above.

We were backtracking to get photos of it

(someone had been on 'our tail' and we couldn't even slow down).

It appears to be of Dutch origin and is nothing like any other barn I've seen around here.

Check out those colored stone blocks!

Here is the front of it.  It is a 'bank' barn in that a mound of earth rises up as a ramp.

Then the sides are built into a hill. 

It is close to the road---typical of barns here,

 although it's not nearly as close as some I've photographed.

You can see where some branches had fallen off trees in the big storm

that whipped through Ohio back then.

(I cropped out the big tree limb that was near the road.)

Here is the farm house that goes with it.

Lovely place.

The yard was a bit brown due to the extreme heat and lack of rain

that we were experiencing in these parts back then.

This is a smaller, more typical barn that lies between the big barn and the house.

They have a fairly big spread of pasture.

I hope to go back some day when I feel like getting out of the car

and walking the road to get better pictures.

It was just too hot that day

and I knew I'd be going back to a powerless and thus sweltering house.

For more barns, please click below:

What I have learned from my cat and Monday's Prayer

 It's been a rough weekend of needing to rest, a pile of boxes and such that needed sorted and a new place found for them in the basement.  (George has been ill due to a nasty allergic reaction to fleas and has been sneaking under the steps and peeing there.  That is where I keep seasonal clothes, etc.  Nasty.)
Then there is school---so much more paper work and grading.  It is threatening to overwhelm me and my mind toys with disability in my future.
And that is depressing.

I skimmed through 100 Days of Grace for Women for the devotional and came upon one titled "My Grace is sufficient."  Oh, what an answer!  I wrote my thoughts out and then my 'gratefuls' as I call them (patterned after Ann Voskamp's one thousand gifts.           
 I have a day long meeting and still need to do lesson plans.
 But---on to what I've learned from Scruffy. She is George's sister and is featured in these pictures.
1. Go for the familiar ---something that has the scent of a loved one on it.

2. No space is too small.  Scootch inbetween the spaces and relax.

3. Cover your eyes and blot out the world for awhile.











 4. Abandon your worries for awhile and let sleep do its job.

 5. Seek out those who matter to you, who by mere contact, however slight, instantly calms and comforts you.

6. Find the good in a small home.  It insulates you, surrounds you, and protects you.

7. Dirty dishrags smell good.  For her---who knows what she finds appealing as she rolls in them.

For me, they mean I was able to accomplish simple tasks despite the fibromyalgia.

Chalk one up for me and God and 0 for fibromyalgia.

"God is always sufficient in perfect proportion to our need."

Beth Moore

"Snuggle in God's arms.

When you are hurting, when you feel lonely or left out,

let Him cradle you, comfort you, reassure you of His all-sufficient power and love."

Kay Arthur

"Like Paul, we may bear thorns so that we can discover God's perfect sufficiency."

Beth Moore

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you,

so that always having all sufficiency in everything,

 you may have an abundance for every good deed."

2 Corinthians 9:8 NASB

Today's Prayer of Grace

Dear Lord,

You are sufficient for my needs,

and I praise You.

I will turn to You when I am fearful or worried.

You are my loving Heavenly Father,

sufficient in all things and I will always trust You.

Amen.

Blessings to you all as you begin the new week!♥

Photo Day--Abby

One of my precious granddaughters, Abigail,

lives in Texas.

She will be two in a few months.

These photos were taken of her during my visit

with my daughter and her family

this past August.

She goes to bed an hour earlier than her brother,

so I would always get alone time with him.

The day I was to leave, they set it up

so I could have alone time with Abby.

Jory put Aaron in a special stroller and went for a run.

Sara retreated to the deck with a magazine.

Abby and I played inside with her kitchen set.

Most of the toys are upstairs in the family room off the kids' bedrooms,

but Abby's kitchen set is in the living room.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Corner View: Spontaneity

My grandson Aaron is captured here in a spontaneous jump.  I have a setting to capture in continuous clicks such a 'moment'.  This was in Texas at a water-fun party--simply given to let the kids and their moms spend a glorious afternoon together.

They couldn't resist the hoses and sprinklers.

Typical little boy interacting with little girl spontaneity.

For more views from all corners of the world,

please go to Francesca's.

Barn Charm: #58 The barn artist

I have seen this from Interstate 70 traveling west to my son's.

I have past it for YEARS.

Finally I got close to it last Sunday

when we were out scoping a home on 10 acres that was for sale.

(My previous post shows what we discovered.)

I knew this was painted by our local 'celebrity'---the young man

who learned from the man who painted hundreds of barns

with tobacco logos and passed his legacy on to a willing apprentice.

This is a barn, not a house although it is no longer used for animals and such.

The interstate is down to the right.

I looked up the website and lo and behold found him.

Check it out---it's WONDERFUL!

He has his portfolio and a bit of his history and well, it's really cool!

This is an example of his centennial painting which he explains on his blog.

I have featured this barn before.

Go on over to Scott Hagan's site.

Then click below for more barn views from Tricia's place.

Another house and Monday's Prayer

The house search has been going on for over two years now.

For every 25 homes that are available in near-by Cambridge or St. Clairsville,

one is available in or around Barnesville.

I was the stickler about driving distance to work--about the roads,

about this and that.

I have just given up any requirements

and am open to ANYTHING.

This house on 10 acres came on the market.

We were told by the realator to go walk around it

and if we were interested, he'd set up a time to take us inside.

He told us it needed lots of work,

but that's what kept the price reasonable.

front

back

All the land stretching out to where you see a white ribbon in the middle

is part of the acreage.

The white ribbon, however, is Interstate 70 and it is LOUD.

my shadow as I take a shot of part of the land.

More of the view.

back porch and 'choked' air conditioner

Nice, huh?!

front porch

one of the outbuildings.

Another outbuidling that has 3 animal stalls and a three-vehicle garage

that same buidling

Mike loved this.

Strange how everything else is run-down including a door left to rot,

yet here is this fine piece of machinery.

Then, if you know this area, it's not so strange.

Mike thinking, "We could do this--if only it were quiet."

That pasture belongs with the house.

Below is the attached one car garage.

I got a kick out of how my sweatshirt showed up in the glass window

in the photo.





the view on the other side of the road---the quiet side.

It will not work for us.

We crave quiet.

Space is not enough.

We need quiet where we can bask in God's natural beauty

and tend to goats and chickens and several dogs

 and of course our two cats.

A place where grandchildren can run free.

I would drive the extra 20 minutes for this

if the interstate didn't sound like it was in our immediate back yard.

So we look some more.

But we're sensing more what we need and don't need.

"Deepest communion with God is beyond words,

on the other side of silence."

Madeleine L"Engle

"The world is full of noise.

Might we not set ourselves to learn silence, stillness, solitude?"

Elizabeth Elliot

"Be still, and in the quiet moments,

listen to the voice of your Heavenly Father.

His words can renew your spirit.

No one knows you and your needs like He does."

Janet L. Weaver

In quietness and trust is your strength.

Isaiah 30:15

"Se still and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

My sould, wait silently for God alone,

for my expectation is from Him.

Psalm 62:5

Today's Prayer of Grace

Dear Lord,

in the quiet moments of this day,

I will turn my thoughts and prayers to You.

In silence I will sense Your presence,

and I will seek Your will for my life,

knowing that when I accept Your peace,

I will be blessed today and throughout eternity.

Amen.

Blessings to you all as you begin the new week!