The Brenda Photo Challenge

I was visiting Judy of Through Squirrel Eyes a couple of weeks ago and she mentioned this photo challenge. The chosen theme was actually her suggestion. The hostess for the challenge is Donna of Made In Heaven and the challenge has its own blog page here. Challenges take place about every two weeks. The theme this week is Highways and Bi-ways. Since I live in West Virginia my inspiration for the theme was a John Denver song.

Take Me Home Country Roads

On my way out to do errands I often leave the paved roadway for a leisurely drive down a nearby one lane dirt and gravel road. Along the way a portion of the roadway is canopied by the closely lined trees along either side of the road. I feel as if I'm being sheltered by the overhanging branches. I stop and step out of the Jeep. There is a stillness and a dampness. The sun splashes brightly on the roadway behind me casting shadows.
Ahead of me the sun filters down through the trees beckoning me toward the light and my continued journey. Urban life is just out of sight.

On another day this leaf covered road lined with trees in their autumn splendor would be a welcome change of pace. It twists and turns and rises and falls across hills and hollows leading me past steep pasture land and forgotten farms and often opening up to reveal far reaching vistas stretching across mountains underneath clear blue skies here in my 'Almost Heaven.'

Though it beckons me to explore its mysteries, today there are places to be and errands to run and I must be on my way.

When the errands are done and my bones have grown weary I'll head down sun-dappled patched roads.

Soon, I'll Round The Bend and the driveway on the right will carry me home.

Nature Notes Along Country Roads

The morning dawned with blue skies dotted with fluffy white clouds. The sun beamed brightly overhead. With temperatures being forecast in the mid-sixties it seemed the perfect day to explore country roads. My first stop was the local Amish farm to pick up some bags of French Vanilla Cappuccino and a little Swiss cheese. That had been my major errand for the day and with it out of the way I was free to roam hill and holler to my hearts content. Fields that not long ago were brown and bare were green again and here and there farmers had turned over the earth to prepare for planting season. All along the road the Red Bud trees were blooming.
Glancing beyond one farmer’s pond I thought I couldn’t possibly be seeing what I thought I was; but sure enough a Blue Heron stood at the edge of the woods. Thinking my camera wouldn’t zoom in enough to tell what it was I took a few shots anyway.

My photo isn’t clear and far from perfect but I can add it to my bird finds just the same. It really wasn’t the photo so much as the
moment I
experienced finding the unexpected.
Sometimes spaces between the trees gave way to far off vistas. Spring is only beginning and there is only a hint of leaf color on some of the trees but the air was fresh and the sun warm on my shoulders as I stood and took in the view. Looking down at my feet my eyes caught a glimpse of purple. The periwinkle was popping up through brittle brown leaves and another unexpected find left me smiling. Coming off a rather bumpy dirt road it was time to head toward home. Nature had one more surprise for me as I glanced at the creek flowing alongside the road. A lone goose lazily paddled along the creek bank as the rays of the late afternoon sun glistened on the water.

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In The Stillness

Ahead fog silently caresses the countryside.

The sky's obscure and pale.

I push forward without fear

Letting the hazy haunting mist

Envelope me with peaceful tranquilty.

~Carletta

2-27-09

If you came here for Sky Watch it is on my photoblog at Carletta’s Captures.

Take Me Home Down Country Roads

Recently a friend wrote me and asked what I did on a daily basis now that I wasn't working anymore. One of my replies to him was that I like to go for drives and that I could drive all day down those roads where I'd never been. Such a drive was what I described in yesterday's post. Why do I like to do this? Well in the words of Forest Gump (which happened to be what I found on TV after my drive Sunday) - you never know what you'll get - or see.

This was what was being held behind the fence in yesterday's post :) No cows, no sheep, no horses in sight - just some deer!

Rounding a turn in the road this rooftop appeared with smoke curling gently out of the brick chimney. For some reason it reminded of a scene from The Lord of the Rings and I pictured little Hobbits going to and fro. I'm sure humans were inside in front of that fire; but the fantasy made me smile!

This old weathered barn stands on a working farm. It is in a state of disrepair and could definitely use some TLC. This time the fence keeps the cows where they belong.

Blue skies filled with cotton candy clouds blanketed the idyllic scene.

As sunset approached the blues of the evening sky welcomed me home.

"Is Your Mama a Llama?"

This is the unexpected animal I found as I traveled down a country road on my Sunday drive last weekend. I could see it ahead of me and right away I knew what it was. The fence it was standing by was right beside the road and I thought for sure that it would run as I pulled over to try and get my photo. It barely moved as if it were waiting for something. Food may have been on its mind or perhaps my camera hinted at stardom! I was so excited to find something unusual and thrilled he stood still for me.

The title words I wrote were exactly what I thought when I saw this beautiful creature. Some of you may think those words are the title of a Dr. Seuss book. It does indeed echo many titles of his books. But in fact the book was written by Deborah Guarino. It is a rhyming book that matches animal babies with their mothers. This week was the anniversary of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. I think he would have given an appreciative nod to Ms. Guarino’s work.

Who would have thought – a llama – down a country road - in West Virginia!