OLD FARM ICON

Old Farm Silo

circa early 1900s

Kentucky

The only farm structure left on this farmstead -- it 

stands as an icon to its past glory. 

GRANNY HOUSES

Recently I roamed around a small town populated with about 4000 residents. I was looking for some representative homes that were mostly small in size, early 1900s, colorful, and had various plants around their front yard. I found these four homes that were fairly close to what I was looking for. I call them granny houses as they reminded me of  the graphic storybook homes that were featured in the books I used to read to my children when they were young.

This small town has not been touched by a lot of of development -- thankfully. The town's commercial strip is made up of older buildings -- many one storied -- and all of different design and materials.

Most of the houses in the town are individualistic from each other with lots of rural character. Some need a little TLC but most are kept up very nicely. 

Weeds don't have a bad reputation in this town. They live together with many different types of plants. Overall I felt like I was viewing a storybook town. One that appreciates its housing history. 

OUT IN NATURE

New Age Naturalist

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."

Henry David Thoreau

FRIENDSHIP

Former neighbors with my dog Daisy

Personal thoughts.

I believe.

In contrast to the world news -- I have begun to think about what most of the world's folk must be like -- excluding those that bomb, shoot or do other unspeakable harm to others. I feel that we as everyday common folk go about our life in a friendly and pleasurable manner. 

I believe the news media and our political bodies are one large machine that perpetuates scare tactics. This machine attempts to influence our way of life. Their negative remarks trickle down and influence some who are living a good life. 

I believe we all have ways of coping with the waves of violence that we know is going on around the world. One of mine is to limit news programs to a tiny minimum. Otherwise, smile, hug, dance, and sing. Life is good for most folk. 

I believe the world of good folks can undue the influence of the news and political bodies' negative pronouncements. Just turn it off. 

Reference:
Christmas 1914 World War One

DENISE'S PLACE, SMALL TOWN, WASHINGTON STATE

Front facade of Denise's home with her climbing roses flowing over her natural picket fence.

REPOST FROM -- 6/15/14

Small towns offer so much texture to our regional landscapes. Textures in the form of flowers, trees, architecture, personal landscape touches, fencing, small home veggie gardens plus other unique configurations. All containing the personal touches of the town folk.

Yesterday, I was out and about with my son -- visiting a small town that had a nice little bike shop. My son is a biker and needed some special repairs to his bike. He gets great exercise riding his bike to work in Portland every day -- twenty miles there and back. 

But getting back to the small town. I, personally, was looking at the houses of the town -- the unique representations of its housing stock.  Down a small residential street I found one that I was smitten with. I call the home -- Denise's place. 

 Denise's raised garden beds with her garage in the background.

Denise was out front in her yard when I happened upon this cozy wood framed house. I didn't see her at first but as I stepped out of my car she waved me over to her yard. It was a friendly meeting of two senior ladies --  her and I -- and I felt her warmth from the start. 

She talked about her house with affection explaining she moved there ten years ago. She also explained that the house had only 600 plus square feet inside. I thought to myself how wonderful. Less to take care of when one is retired. She also explained that her house is over hundred years old. Wonderful, built when houses were built with solid materials -- not thin plywood like some today that suffer damage in strong winds.  

All the time we talked Denise's large beautiful calico cat sat on the railing listening and watching us. I just had to a photograph Ms Calico as she seemed so regal on the porch railing. 

Denise has added many small touches that make a home personal. Like the old wagon and trike that sit with flowers under a small tree near her front roadway. Also she has a clump of four very large conifers sitting on the corner of her property that are notations of the its natural history. 

My lasting impression of Denise is that she

 has made a home that fits her like a glove

COASTAL CRUISING

Oregon is rather an eclectic state that invites one to practice different occupations. The bus with critters prominently displayed on the cab, and all of his bus sides really, belongs to a free spirited  man. His business is travelling the Pacific Northwest selling fresh Halibut and Seabass. 

Thought his vagabond bus style offered a spirited atmosphere to those who admired his artistic artwork. My header above is a photo of his whole bus.