The Gardener’s Rake

When I grew up in Warren County there were barns at almost every house on a dirt road and quite a few still standing in the center of the smaller towns.

The barn we had at the house were I grew up had three floors. The top floor had a smooth inlaid oak tongue and groove floor. Back in the 1920’s  and 30’s when community parties were held every weekend, this barn was known in three states for having the best square dancing parties.

By the time my parents bought the house and the barn had suffered from neglect in the depression era and the third floor had lost some of its elegance but it still had an air of importance and mystery. I remember looking out the huge third floor windows across the hills and valleys during those hot summer days enjoying the lush hills and quiet of the country.

One of the most amazing things to my brothers and I was the hay chute from the third floor to the first floor. It was as smooth as ice from hay polishing the wood and it made the best slide! The architecture of the barn also intrigued me. I guess this is where my love of barns comes from. The barn fell down many years ago and I still remember that day vividly.

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Fall has a way of reaching out with its bright colors and speaking to your soul. I find this time of year inspiring and so fleeting.

I try to capture the colors with my camera and incorporate this into my artwork. That way I take a part of this wonderful time with me throughout the year.

This U Tube video catches fall with the scenery and the music.

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I have to admit summer and fall are my favorite seasons but winter offers a peace and makes me appreciate my surroundings.

I woke to find the first snow this morning. We had a few teasing snowflakes one week ago but it lasted a mere 29 minutes and the sun came out. This morning it snowed until the ground was covered. I sat with a cup of warm coffee watching the snowflakes dance on the wind and appreciated the fact I was in a warm house.  My plans for the day changed with cold weather and I spent the morning bracing myself for a cold windy trip to town and cleaning off the car for the first time this winter season.

As I prepared to head downtown I would look outside and watch the snow cling to the trees and the few leaves that were left clinging to the trees. The white snow emphasized the reds and yellows and stood out against the dark foreboding skyline.

It snowed the better part of the morning and afternoon and we actually accumulated three to four inches of snow. As soon as the sun came out around 3 p.m. the snow melted but the reminder that the gardening season is over and its time to bundle up against the cold remained.

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