Round Barn, Pullman WA

More rural driving.... off to buy shoes for 4 growing kids....

the boys are so used to my photography tangents..... "Mom, are you done yet?"  "Mom, this isn't the way...."

You see, I had decided to explore my leg of the 100K that I am to run in a little over a month..... just 5 miles of it..... but still I wanted to have a look-see.  Then, driving more back roads to the store, I came across this barn..... I knew it was there, but hadn't made an excuse to drive by.   Excuse made.

Wouldn't you love to have this barn in your back 40? 

I would.

And I would treasure it and pour my life's work into it..... wouldn't it make a fabulous studio?

Here's to the people that settled this area and took such care in the construction of beautiful barns.

 Here, here!

(OK.... now we can go purchase shoes)

(PS. I even picked up a cute pair!)

{Linking up to the Bluff Area Daily's Barn Charm meme}

Whitman County Barn

Here's another Whitman County barn. A granddaughter of the family that owned this barn for many years asked me to photograph it for memory sake.  It has seen better days .... leaning a little on one side.

You may remember that it is very similar to the Buri's barn that I photographed previously..... as far as shape (and most likely age). 

However, I think this one is a little smaller.... (didn't bring my Go-go gadget measuring tape).

 Sky... viewed through the roof..... and weather worn siding.

 (it was cold ..... bitter cold would be a way to describe it.... but the skies were sunny)

 You can see the leaning here....

my focal length was 27mm so there is a little lens distortion toward the foundation as well.

 I couldn't pass this shot up.... an old car and sunflare ... would be a neat location for a portrait once it is warmer..... will have to ask about it  ;)

And .... just because I am a dork and have been wanting to try my hand at HDR.

(I really should have used a tripod, but I was cold and so I braced myself and hand-held the camera)

What you do for HDR -- take 3 shots -- one with correct exposure, one 2 steps down, and one 2 steps up.

Then you play in photoshop.

Next time, I'll use a tripod.

It's not for everyone or every photo, but it is interesting.

{linking up to Tricia's Old Barn Charm}

Buri's Barn circa 1919

An email from a friend, beckoned me to come over and take photos of her beautifully restored barn.  

Isn't her barn beautiful?  

And the skies were so blue yesterday.....

Call me a sucker for sunflare and starbursts.... I love messing around with the aperture to achieve this.

I know it's not for everyone, but I love the look.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day....

today..... not so much.... blowing snow.... drifting snow.... cold...

but yesterday was gorgeous.

Even the chickens were out yesterday.... I bet not today.

Thanks for inviting me.  I love your barn...

{linking up to Tricia's Bluff Area Daily and her Old Barn meme} 
{and Darcy at Sweet Shot Tuesdays}

Old Barns

Today I'm linking up to an {Old Barn meme at Tricia's Bluff Area Daily}.

I think this meme is a great idea .... especially since I love old barns and have been wanting to start a collection of old barn photographs from Whitman County.

For my first barn, I thought I'd use our barn. It's not all that old. The concrete pad is dated 1960..... and I assume that is when the barn was built. Some time in the past 20 years, the front of the barn was burnt from a field fire and the burnt siding was replaced with a composite wood instead of planks....it looks kind of worn, but I guess that adds character, right? The back side of the barn really needs resided ... add that to the list of improvements in need of doing.

And just for fun, here is a barn you may recognize..... circa 1967.

The doors still moo. ;)

Labors Past

Before Molly left for Abu Dhabi, she and I took a morning to go "shooting". It sounds kind of strange to say it that way... but anymore, this is the only kind of shooting I do.
(did you know that I used to be quite good with a rifle? Only targets, no animals)
We drove around on some dirt/dust roads until we found this old barn to stop and photograph.
I used my 18-200 lens and Molly tried out my other lenses with her new D5000.
Unfortunately, I don't have any of her photographs to show you... but maybe she will put some on her blog later.

On this day, when we stop to consider and celebrate the labors of our hands.... it is interesting for me to study some of the things that people labored with in the years past.
Look at this foundation, fashioned from the natural rock found all around here.

The field next to this barn that was planted and harvested with horses, no doubt.

A wooden spoked wheel on what looks to be an old wagon.

An old plow (although really not SO old)
(and Molly getting an awesome shot of the Buick hubcap you see above using my macro)

Rusty John Deere

We timidly explored the inside of the barn. It is in remarkably good shape. I could imagine cows in the bottom being fed loose hay dropped down from the hay loft (seen above). The old hay loft is starting to fill up with pigeon poo now, and a few discarded barn owl carcasses.

There is something to be said for a barn that has lasted at least a 100 years.
Today I honor the hands that carried the stones and shaped the foundation....
that scraped the beams and pounded in square nails...
that harnessed the horses and cleared the land....
so that we can enjoy the land of plenty that we live in today.

(thank you Molly for a really wonderful morning... safe travels)