Posts tagged ‘barn’
her old bones
Day after day, year after year, I ride past an old grandmother. She is greying and stooped, her old bones are weathered and tired – yet she is sill beautiful, even sacred. At least to me.
For many years she stood … tall and proud, solid and steadfast, quiet and imposing, yet welcoming and kind. She was a dependable storehouse, a nursery, a warm and fragrant embrace for man and animal. She is a landmark, a sentinel, a piece of the landscape as much as any creek or any mountain. She has seen many years, and she is filled with her own stories.
(2010)
(2010)
(2011)
I have known her for only a small portion of her life. I have tried to listen for her stories. I have touched her bones. I have felt her embrace.
When the tornadoes of April 2011 set upon her quiet valley, it was more than she could bear in her old age; she submitted and bowed down. I confess that I cried when I first saw her afterwards.
Yet still, even in collapse, she sits; her skeletal remains are always a comfort to me when I ride near. I stop. I see her, decaying in her bones and stories, settling gently down in the quilt of her soft field. Slowly, slowly, she sinks into the land, taking her stories with her.
She is an old grandmother. She is most beloved.
(2012)
#330daysofbiking update & some photos
an excellent message ... as seen in Clarksville, TN
I probably should have waited one more day for the end-of-the-month update, but the pile of photos was getting out of hand.
So, the official count as of today: 138 days on a bicycle, out of 151 days. Two-hundred and sixteen days remaining. The month of August was a tough one – missed 6 days of riding – between the heat, the trip to Chicago, and schlepping the college-bound boys. But now, everyone is back in school, the weather should be turning cooler, and there are many beautiful riding days ahead.
Spent the past week riding a lot with Mason before he headed back to APSU. It was perfect, and I will miss his company. 😀
So … a few of the images from days past. (The remainder, and more, can always be seen in my #330daysofbiking set on Flickr.)
#330daysofbiking, Day 127 ... behind the rails
#330daysofbiking Day 129 ... fun with iPhone and Xtracycle
#330daysofbiking Day 130 ... new and old
#330daysofbiking Day 133 ... Mason, moving faster than the river
#330daysofbiking, Day 135 ... final days. Met the owner of this barn today while riding, who told me it would be torn down soon; old timber/log frame is more valuable than the building left standing. Makes me sad tho.
#330daysofbiking Day 137 - while I jump off to take photos, she gets to take a nap
#330daysofbiking Day 137 ... last ride; heading back to school today
#330daysofbiking, Day 138 .... stopping for coffee, and my sweet little PoCampo rack bag/purse
#330daysofbiking Day 105: corn & clouds
riding home
I know … good grief; another barn. If there were other scenery around, trust me – I would spare you.
Today’s ride: into town to meet my friend Shelly and her daughter for lunch. Good to catch up. The conversation was better than the lunch. Oh well. Managed to dodge the thunderstorm that rolled through later in the afternoon. Thankful for small favors.
#330daysofbiking Day 45: Twinkie Cats
dessert?
SNL has Laser Cats … and apparently Farmer Beatty has Twinkie Cats. After a long day of mousing in the barn, nothing like a nice dessert of sugary “goodness”. 😉 Yes, those really are Twinkies. And yes, the cats were loving every bite.
Riding with Mason today, we passed this big old barn on our way home. I’ve noticed the population of barn cats here before, but they typically run and hide if I make any move to slow down near them when passing by. Today, a bunch of them were all sitting inside the barn (which is right on the edge of the road), and I could tell that they were busy eating – and they didn’t seem to attempt their usual get-away when I passed. We turned around and stopped to take a look. The owner, Mr. Beatty, was nearby and we stopped to talk. I’m not sure what possesses him to offer the cats Twinkies, but he’s a sweet old guy and just seems to regard all of the cats as useful animals to have in living in his barn. No names, didn’t know where half of them arrived from, but apparently pretty good mousers. The cats seemed to be genuinely enjoying their “treat” … Mason and I just found it rather entertaining (and unbelievable that a cat would want to eat the stuff).
Farmer Beatty and his Twinkie Cats
We had a nice early evening ride. Long shadows, cows, cats, honeysuckle, thistles in bloom – and no rain. I’m becoming a fan of the early evening riding – such nice temperatures, little wind, sounds of crickets, really beautiful light. Very peaceful.
As I’m sitting here writing, my own cat is climbing around my desk. Wondering if she is craving a Twinkie? 😉
Mason ... riding with his shadow
#330daysofbiking Day 36: bike jerseys & prom dresses
senior year, prom friends
Today was one of those milestone moments … The Prom. Dillon and his friends – the class of 2010 – had their last big school event before graduation next week – complete with pretty girls, yards of tulle and sequins, and typical high school goofing around. They are an amazing group of kids, and it was wonderful to see them celebrating the moment. I, of course, took a few gazillion pictures …
After the day-long preparation and hoopla, they all left for the big event, and I got to go out for a beautiful evening ride with my college boys, Mason and Ross. So much fun to ride with them – and they are gracious enough to let me decide the pace. (Otherwise, I know they would leave me behind in a flash! 😉
No much more to say … just ending the day with a few of the picture moments.
evening ride with the boys
a stop at the old barn
a "senior moment" 😉
shebicycles 