6-12-16 ~ Sterrett Road Barn ~ Rockbridge County, VA

It is Sunday and time for Tom's the Back Roads Traveller's Barn Collective.

Come along and join us.

6-5-16 ~ A Barn, Flowers, and a Sad Week at the Robinson Homeplace

This week I had to have my beloved pal of 16 years, Little Jack the Schnauzer, put down because of kidney failure, incontinence, and advanced dementia. I never knew dogs could get dementia, but Jack was having a terrible time getting lost and just not responding. He laid in his little bed crate almost all day. It has broken my heart as I have never killed or had to have a doctor put down any animal in my life (a ground stinging bee hive attacking me and flies so not count). I had no idea how hard it was going to effect me, but there has been some real depression. As always, I draw to try to get over the doldrums so here is my first beginning sketch. Jack is NOT a girl as you all know, but I love bows so put them on him. The lighting was terrible this morning so please excuse the dark gritty places in both pictures.

As the week went on, I decided to try to come up with something happy that included him so created... The Kerrs Creek 2016 Beauty Contest with him as the Judge from up in Doggie Heaven. In case you cannot read the names of the contestants here they are...

Edgar Egret

Kelly Kitty

Brenda Bluebird

Matilda Mouse

Claudette Cow

Roscoe Rabbit

As you notice, they all have their little red hearts on them.

Just hunt and you will see them.

So, how do you put a smile on a sad old face....well, you go out and take pictures of a very old barn of a friend and all the wildflowers he planted 3 years ago and has nurtured them day after day. Thank you, Tom, for giving me a reason to brighten my days this week. For anyone wanting to see more pretty barns, go to Tom the Backroads Traveler's Barn Collective. This post is also linked with I Heart Macro and Macro Monday 2. 

5-26-16 ~ North Mountain during a Break from the Rain

It's Time for Skywatch Friday
and
Weekend Reflections #348

For a few hours on Monday, the skies opened up, and Buddy raced to take me up on North Mountain to see the rhododendron and mountain laurel. We did not climb on the mountain...only drove to the first overlook before it started to sprinkle again. 

I took the first two pictures through the windshield as Bud was driving up the mountain. It is amazing to me that the glass can be so yucky but still allow a clear shot. The variation in the lighting as we drove around the curves is so interesting.

 These three pictures were shot from the overlook.  We were looking into what Bud calls  " The Great Valley of Virginia" towards the Blue Ridge Mountains. The last shot is of Lake Robertson, a favorite place for fishing, camping, birders, hiking, family reunions, and they even have a swimming pool.

Mountain Laurel

 Rhododendron

Unknown with Lots of Spikes on Stems

Purple, Pretty, Unknown

Before we got back into the car, I could not resist taking a picture of the rain coming down on the bubble at the door. What I wasn't expecting was to discover my bizarre reflection. My derrière leaves a lot to be desired. When I enlarged this several times my little camera became apparent so I knew it was moi.

5-23-16 ~ Our World Tuesday ~ Hartbarger Fire

A week ago after I got home from town, it wasn't long before I heard one siren after the other. At first I just thought it was another truck wreck up on the Interstate, but there were way too many trucks zooming by the house with their noise makers going like crazy. I walked out our driveway, and the first thing I saw was lots of fire trucks and vehicles all up and down the highway. Our house is on the left behind and just past the 2 vehicles and the truck. As I walked across the street, I saw all of these other trucks and knew it was the Hartbarger homeplace. For years, I used to walk up and down the road with them, but they are all gone now, and a grandson of one of the sisters lives in the house. All of these shots are SOC...both my iPhone and my hiker Canon. Let me tell you that no one was hurt. I did not go across the road to gawk, but rather to be of any help I could be to the family. The very elderly remaining sister with Alzheimer's got out as well as the others, and she has been taken to family in MD, while the rest are living in the old green Stonewall Service Station off to the right that I have posted in the past...remember this:

 The grandson says he is going to fix the burnt out house, but I do not see how that is even possible. The fire department called it a total loss.

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 There were three tankers and they were pumping from the creek in front of our house in 3 different places. They also put up what looked like a BIG square red swimming pool in the road where the hose is. I think maybe that is what you are seeing on the blacktop  before it was inflated.

I took the following pictures as the fellows were fighting the huge fire. They were so young, and it was so frightening to me seeing them put their lives on the line like that. So many of the volunteer firefighters in this area I taught which makes it very personal. The smoke was so severe at one point I started gagging. Never have I seen anything like this.

There were a lot of flames forming from this first floor read window.

 Even a volunteer firefighter needs a bit of water at times like these.

 Here the discussion begins about going into the house.

 Here they are gearing up to go in. 

The fire appeared to be out in the front but was still raging in the back.

The Goshen,VA, volunteer chief is giving them their final instructions.

 Here is the first one gong in. I became so upset I had to turn and walk to the other side of the house. I overheard one of them say his foot had gone through the floor but was OK. I could not look so I do not know if the others went in or not. I kept wondering about the oxygen. I thought it was inflammable, but the tanks were on their backs, black face covers pulled down, then their breathing gear on their faces, and their helmets. This one man had what I thought to be some sort of a long axe. 

When I got to this side, I saw the fire blazning on both floors.

It was like it was never going to end. 

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These last two pictures Buddy took when he went out to run the next morning.

Before I close out this post, I just want to say how professional and committed these young men were under such frightening circumstances.  Our volunteer fire departments can mean life or death to us  who live way out in the country where there are no fire hydrants. We the homeowners  MUST be on our toes about protecting our homes from fires like this. Ours is 100+ years old, and I feel sure it would be gone before the trucks ever got here. The Hartbatger home was not as old. All we have is the creek that runs in front of the house - and most of the time it carries little water - and to compound things you have to cross our "Bridge to Somewhere" to get to the house. It would not hold tankers, and I question if it would support the firetrucks. I have always been afraid of fire. My daddy was a safety engineer with the Corps. of Engineers, so I grew up in a house that had SAFTY FIRST written all over it. I never leave the place without double checking that all lights, fans, window AC's, the dryer, the coffee pot, my heating pad....you name it and I double check to be sure it is turned off. Still, we could be hit with an electrical fire in a split second. We sit almost flat on the ground with no basement so have all kinds of varmints under there chewing away on whatever they can find to put against their teeth. We just have to be careful, review our our escape plans, and pray our guardian angel is looking after us. We also continually put out our No Kill traps trying to catch the pesky and noisy visitors. When Buddy gets one, he drives it up on the mountain and drops off his little friend to start a new life far away from us. We all need to give thanks for the blessings we have received. It is called Gratitude.I cannot begin to imagine what it would be like to be in this situation.

This post is linked with Our World Tuesday.

5-22-16 ~ Remains of Huffman Barn and Buildings

Some weeks ago I stopped by this spot where what was left of the big old 1800's barn stood. Now, it is all gone. These photos are from last week.It is nice to know that all of that wonderful wood is going to be repurposed.

As you can see, all of the remaining frame has been hauled off and only scrap is left. I stumbled around in it trying to pick up small pieces without nails for my artwork...wet and slippery...but I did manage to bring home a number of pieces that are STILL trying to dry out.

This old white barn is still standing and in good condition. I did not walk into it to see what I might find, but I certainly was curious.

A really funky structure still standing. I need to go back and ask the Huffman boys what this is and if the white barn is still in use.

 This old structure looks like it might be a boarded up chicken house, 

but once again I do not know.

Last but not least....the burial ground for old farm equipment.

If you are interested in seeing my art posts for this Sunday, you can go to:
http://buttonsforbaga.blogspot.com

Be sure to go by and check out all of the other barns on Tom's Barn Collective...
AKA...Backroadstraveler
I am linking up with it today.

5-9-16 ~ Bubbling Springs

Buddy and I went out to Bubbling Springs last Sunday. It is one of our spots in the county to visit.. You can walk in the water, cook on the grills, and  pick the watercress to bring home for sandwiches. I have included a 22 second video showing the springs bubbling if you would like to look at it. You can see the movement of the water and the sounds that it makes. 

We passed this old barn that we have been watching for years now. Don’t know how much longer it is going to last. It is full of junk.  If it falls down, I would love to have some of the old wood.

 In this area where Bud is, the underground springs really bubble.

The water is SO cool. I remembered my creek shoes :-=)

 My feet  at 77 still have a lot of little girl left in them.

 This area is gorgeous with all the little pebbles and the bubbles.

Eating Area

Video of the Springs

This post is linked with:
Tom’s Barn Collective
and
Our World Tuesday