The old barn sits silently amidst the tall overgrown grass. It's tin roof peeled back by the ravages of time and neglect. Inside the weathered walls once stood the implements needed to farm and garden the fifty areas of land. Bags of oats and corn lay ready to be mixed as a supplement for the milking cows. Cats and kittens roamed freely keeping the mice at bay and often lapped warm cow's milk for their breakfast.
This old barn sits on the farm once owned by my Hubby's family. As a young teenager he himself built the additional lean-to on the right of the barn. His family lived on the farm about six years until his Dad suffered a stroke and they moved to the city. His Mom and Dad and five of the nine kids are gone now but the stories this old barn could tell about hard work, country life, and love are numerous and warm the heart. I know and I miss hearing them. 
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If I didn't know better, I would think this was on I5 North above Redding, CA. So many barns just like this one dot the landscape there. Love this one and love them all.
ReplyDeleteWhat great memories and excellent pictures. I haven't heard lean-to in a long time. Do they still own it or did they have to sell? Great story yet again :)
ReplyDeleteoral history is so necessary to our culture. hmm, perhaps an audio record for grandkids to hear?
ReplyDeleteI just recently went out to the old family homestead and sat in lawn chairs with my Aunt and Uncle. As we chatted my eyes roamed the field and ... I sat up straight and then I stood up. "The barn is gone!" I exclaimed. My cousin said they had to take it down because too many tourists insisted on going through it and sooner or later, someone was going to get hurt. How sad for something as full of like as a barn to end it's days nothing more than an attractive nuisance.
ReplyDeleteThat photograph reminds me of Little House on the Praire - Good times
ReplyDeleteI agree with camerapatty this photo really reminds me of Little House on the Praire!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
Anna
Another new expression; lean-to on the right side of the barn.
ReplyDeleteI can easy see what you me. That barn architecture is also new to me.
I have farmer blood running in my veins myself.
Farming is not an occupation, it's a meaningful way of life.
When my mother and her eight siblings talked about their childhood, there were much laughter and no tears, even if there sure were hard times when they grew up.
Maybe we slowly will return from the maddening crowd to roots of real life?
From Felisol
The sepia makes this field stand out, the tall sepia grasses attempting to but never growing high enough to hide the barn. In fact, the sepia makes the grasses look almost like winter wheat growing - so maybe we can almost feel as if the farm is still alive. Nice description of an honest farm and the way things were...
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love old barns!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way...I hear the Little House On The Prairie theme and half pint running through the tall grass
ReplyDeletehttp://reesspace.blogspot.com/2009/07/sepia-scenes-and-1000-word-thursday.html
Hard to decide which photo I prefer. Wish I had a photo of Papa's barn we grew up playing in.
ReplyDeleteI was surpised to hear the comments about lean-to, I guess because I have always lived in the country I thought that was a common expression! Anyway, great photo and I loved hearing the history - thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a way with words - You really know how to put it together. I'd love hearing those old stories, too. That's just one thing I miss about my grandparents is the stories they used to tell.
ReplyDeleteFantastic sepia!
Carletta,
ReplyDeleteThis is much like the barns we still see in Alabama when we visit each year! I love seeing these and have written about them and posted lots of pics too!
Thanks!
Junie
I'm sure there are some great memories there for your husband and his family.
ReplyDeleteLovely in sepia~
sepia really does soften the wear and tear
ReplyDeleteand I love what it did to the tall grass
Very nice post, and I like the sepia best.
ReplyDeleteYou wanted a peek at my latest art project, so go to my blog. Let me know what you think.
ReplyDeleteI love the sepia shot........what a difference in photos.....
ReplyDeleteGill in Canada
There's just something sad about on old barn sitting out there all alone! Great pic for Sepia Scenes! :)
ReplyDeleteNeat Carletta. I always love barns in sepia.
ReplyDeleteHow neat that the barn your husband remembers is still standing. The barn makes a perfect sepia subject.
ReplyDeleteYour photos of this barn are really pretty. I love the sepia toned one, makes you feel like you are jumping back a hundred years. So cool that it is in your hubby's family, and that he has the history behind it with all the memories.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful old barn. I really love it in sepia.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments on my blog. Love that song, The Farm. So peaceful. My camera is a Canon Powershot SX110IS. I took a bunch of shots this morning at the local Farmer's Market and put them in an album on Facebook. It has been a beautiful day for photography.
ReplyDeleteLovely... and the music that you have to go with it is wonderful as well.
ReplyDeleteIt looks very good in sepia :)
ReplyDeleteI love these photos, Carletta! What a great old barn. I can taste the warm cow's milk.
ReplyDeleteLovely story and picture.
ReplyDeleteLove old barns and loved the story! I always try and imagine the histories behind them when I see them driving down the road.
ReplyDelete