There is a very large Magnolia Tree across the street from our home. Every year at this time the sweet fragrance of its large-petal blossoms add much to my day. But, alas, it’s gone far too soon. Within a day or two the petals fade from ivory white to faded brown and then fall off. But, it I catch them just right as I did recently, I’m rewarded. Magnolia trees are an iconic part of living in southern regions of the United States. I’m glad I’m there to enjoy the beauty.
Per North Carolina Historical Marker online research: “The Wright Tavern is a landmark in Rockingham County that has successfully been restored to its nineteenth century condition. Construction on the inn commenced around 1810. The building remained in the Wright-Reid family until it was sold to the Rockingham County Historical Society in 1967. “I’ve visited the site several times, and each time I do I see more than I’d seen before.
I like to “get close” after making an overview photo, and by so doing I’ve been transported back in time. I especially liked the open “walk through” area between adjacent living areas, with the old stairway to the second floor..
Details of the historic structure, and out-buildings made me smile. I’m even more pleased when I see the results of volunteers and others renovating rare buildings such as Wright Tavern, and by doing that they bring great credit to the locality involved.
These pansies and others just like them were covered a few days ago by a three foot deep pile of snow, shoveled off the driveway after a nine inch snow last week. I’m amazed just how hearty these flowers are. They flourish in winter and early spring but not so much in mid summer.
Few things make me happier these days, than being able to enjoy times together with family. Daughter Amy is visiting now with her two sons Stephen (right) and Daniel (left). Today, they went with me on a nice walk in the woods near our home, along the Smith River. As we walked and talked, my camera eye spotted lots of interesting colors and patterns you can see below. The trail we walked along the river reminded me of all the interesting sights these two young men will see during their walk down the path they are on, so long as they look around the next bend and experience unknown adventures. Shorty, Stephen will be in the U.S. Coast Guard, and Daniel will enter Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. Exciting times for sure for these two guys, and I’m vary thankful to have spent time with them today “in the woods.”
When temperatures fall, and many tree leaves are on the ground (or in the water in this case) I enjoy looking for photo compositions that confirm the season we are experiencing in definite visual ways. I suppose many like me have a magnetic attraction to “water in nature” no matter its type and form. Just go find it if that’s you.
I made this photo a few days ago, and it represents a specific photo subject I enjoy very much: rustic building windows and doors. It’s the wooden texture, reflections in the old glass, peeling paint, and thoughts about what sort of things lie behind, that get to me … every time. While I was making this photo, an old man came driving onto the property I was on, illegally I might add because there were “No Trespassing” signs in view. However, a metal farm gate was open, and I’d been to this old house several times before. I figured better to ask forgiveness rather than permission. Anyway, the man was a farm hand, carrying items out from behind the house. I explained what I was doing and he welcomed me to stay as long as I liked. Maybe it was my rural SW Virginia accent that did the trick, or the US Coast Guard hat I was wearing. We chatted a bit about the old home, which he said was built in the 1870s, and had been enlarged over the years. He said folks had lived there well into the 20th Century. It was indeed rustic. The foothills of the Blue Ridge where we live sure do have character. Like this rustic old house, and the nice old man I ran into that day.
Where we live in SW Virginia, many colorful fall leaves remain on a few trees, and there are lots of still colorful leaves laying about on the ground and streets in our neighborhood. On my walk today, I set forth looking for such compositions. Here is what I saw.
This last one I really liked. Big, bold and with a nice shape. Photography is fun, eh?
It’s that time of year here in Southwest Virginia. A local church brings in truck loads of pumpkins to sell, and when they do I go visit with my camera. Great cause for the church, and I thanked the very nice ladies running it that day with a donation. Another reason why I like living in Martinsville, VA. Here’s more.
We don’t see many new things designed this way anymore, but that’s fine with me because there are lots of “old” just waiting for me and my camera.
September out our way is a “change” month, both for daily temperatures and vegetation color. Dogwoods in our yead are already showing a bit of orange and yellow, and I even found a nice pumpkin when we were in Maggie Valley, NC a short time ago.
