Into the Country

On Sunday, my brother and his wife accompanied me on a country photoshoot.  We traversed the backroads in search of Fuji foto ops.  I vowed a couple years ago that I would seek the beauty to be found in rural northwest Ohio and the search continues.  Come along with me.  Let me show you my corner of the world...

"Can you imagine an America without a barn on the landscape? Is that the America we want?"

~ Rod Scott

From B & J's back yard I could see this old, tumbling down barn, so I zoomed in and snapped a shot.

This old barn sits within a small country park called...Opdycke Park.

We journeyed down lettered and numbered side roads. Don't you agree...

"Horses make a landscape look beautiful."

~ Alice Walker

An old country school sits on the corner across from Opdycke park...

"School days, school days, dear old golden rule days

Readin' and writin' and 'rithmetic, taught to the tune of a hickory stick." 

~ Lyrics to School Days by Will D. Cobb, 1907 

What's a trip to the country without stopping at a farmhouse?

My nephew's daughter looks absolutely angelic holding one of the three kids born three weeks ago.

A race to the top...

"O for a horse with wings"

~ William Shakespeare

"I roamed the countryside searching for answers to things I did not understand."

~ Leonardo Da Vinci 

In case you're wondering...Yes I tweaked every photo and some I added a texture or two.  I'm still experimenting, playing with, and vastly intrigued by the effects created by textures.

Happy Spring!

Country Traditions

A tumbling-down barn

These are the things of a rural life and Thanksgiving. 

Clyde lives on my sister and brother-in-law's farm. I'm sure he's thankful he's not a turkey!

One of my favorite dishes belonged to my grandmother, my mother, and who knows who else. It'a  rustic Bennington dish that always comes out in the fall. 

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to Thanksgiving.  I cook like my mom did, everything from scratch.  I want turkey on my table with all the trimmings of potatoes mashed smoothed with velvety gravy cascading over the mound.  Unlike most of my family I prefer dressing to stuffing, but it must be fragrant with lots of sage and onion.  I want sweet potatoes laced with brown sugar and butter.  I don't care what's on top, pecans, marshmallows or nothing at all.  It's all good.  Homemade rolls heaped in a basket waiting to play host to a pat of golden butter, and pies...apple, pumpkin, and oh how I long for a pie filled with rich, homemade mincemeat. I'm the only person in my entire family that adores mincemeat pie, so it's just not worth making.  *sigh

I'm looking forward to entertaining family for Thanksgiving.  I have my To-Do List ready for today and tomorrow is grocery and baking day.  The scent of apple and pumpkin pies and my mom's cloverleaf rolls will mingle together in a spicy-yeasty fragrance. Then there's creating a Thanksgiving tablescape, getting out the dishes, platters, and bowls needed, and oh so much to do!   

Have a wonderful day!