My camera and I....

One of my very favorite things to do in the winter ...

(especially after we have had a substantial snowfall)

is to get out early the next morning before the plows & sanders taint the 

pure white beauty of the fresh fallen snow.

Then there's the added bonus if the skies are clear and the sun is shining. AMAZING!

I ran across this beauty somewhere west and a little north of Rochester. 

I'm very curious if anyone knows it's purpose (Story)? 

There are no signs on the premises and a lone house sits just to the right (not seen here).

Last night we traveled home from the Twin Citites after dropping of our sweet grands.

We were unaware of the severity of the weather, it was a white-knuckle kind of drive

It took both of us to see the edges of the hiway, we made it home unscathed. 

We saw several cars in the ditch...many were driving too fast for the road conditions.

 Back to this morning, as I ventured out to explore and capture God's beauty in the winter-scape

Colors are brighter

 

The trees were flocked with new snow

Love the shadows on the ground as the sun peaks through this grove of trees

Old abandoned house...

 I wanted to go in and explore, but it was posted "No Trespassing"

A frozen river

I stopped in the road to snap this photo, the cows were very vocal

I love the look of Pine trees covered in a heavy coat of snow

Being the "Winter-Lover" that I am, I often caught myself smiling as I drove through the country, the sights we much more brilliant than can be captured through the lens of a camera. 

I appreciate the stillness, the contrasting colors and the peace of the country.

108 years old...she's a beauty

I Love old barns, the "back in the day" kind of barn, 

made of wood with a stone foundation.

The original barn-shaped barn, not the "rectangle-shed" kind-of-barn that are being built today.

So when I spotted this one on a recent road-trip with Rick, 

it was worth turning around  in the next driveway to admire it and take a few photo's. 

The white color is not traditional, nor are all those windows.

The windows are mostly south facing,

 I'm guessing to help with heating the inside during the winter months.

 The year 1912 is stamped in the stone wall,
and the lower windows are garnished with Christmas wreaths.
 I just love this old barn located about 1 mile west of the community of Frontenac, MN.

Head-on shot of this treasure.

I did not see any livestock near the barn or in the fields.

I wonder if it is still a working farm,

 I'm sure there are many stories from with in this old barn.

I would love to step inside....

Fresh air and a country drive....

I am a big fan..... 

*of drives in the country

 I take notice of the crops that never got harvested last fall

*of gravel roads

that run parallel with the power lines

* of old barns

red

white

 *of old houses

the kind I just want to go into and explore

*of cows

grazing in the near 60 degree weather

*of winding creeks

 Like the creek we played in as children at a friends a farm near Chatfield

 I grew up in the country near farm land but not on a farm. 

I joined 4-H, rode bareback on horses, and hiked in the nearby pasture 

watching my step so not to step in the "cow-pies"

I grew up playing at my grandma's farm near West Concord, 

and we had good friends near Chatfield who lived on a farm. 

Both of my parents were raised on a farm so I have heard many stories of farm life.

Short of actually living on a farm, I'm a true country girl and love everything about it.

As a parent and now grandparent I often think of those days and how our parents seems oblivious as to what us kids were up to. We ran free, hiding in the haymow, chasing the chickens and climbing my grandmas giant trees. No one seemed to be checking on us, after all the adults were having coffee in the old farmhouse with the tilted kitchen floor.

 What's left of my grandmas barn

Photo taken last summer 2018

 The silo and milk house are still standing

 I remember playing hide & seek in the dark at our friends farm, we were aware of the the electric fences, but one night I ran full steam ahead into a barbed-wire fence. I had to pull hard on my leg to get it off the barbs. I didn't want to go in to tell my mom because I was having too much fun, but I thought I better since I had blood running down my leg into my shoe. Mom washed my leg put a gauze over it and off I ran to play. I still have a significant scar on my left thigh from that night.

 I often smile to myself as I drive alone in the country,

 I just love what I see, there is a peace and a visual reminder of my childhood memories in the country and on the farm.

So Yesterday....

... despite the 6 inches of snow we received the day/night before, 

Rick and I decided a "road trip" was overdue and much needed!

 We love to travel off-the-beaten-path, so we expected the roads would be less them perfect.

For the most part the roads were great, the winter Spring beauty was superb!

An old barn make-over. 

Some one has made this old barn into a beautiful home, I only wish I could see the inside.

 We made our way to Hastings, MN 

 A small river town of about 23,000 located in southern Minnesota.

Historic downtown is laced with beautiful old buildings & unique architecture.

A photographers dream. 

 On our drive we went through the village of Welch.

I'm guessing that long ago this was perhaps a school.

*  *  *  *  *

Memories came to us as we drove by Welch ski village.

As teenagers, Rick and I used to ski here,.

 We were avid skiers back then, and later introduced skiing to our kids.  

Eventually we made it to the mountains of Colorado to ski as a family.... it all started here  :)

 I Love to photograph old barns... 

This one will go in the books as one of my new favorites.

Do you see the black cow lookin' at me? I also love the contrasting green tractor, 

and the cupola that sits on top of the barn roof.  

I'm captivated with this one 

Stay tuned for more road trip fun.......

It is what it is....

Minnesota Winters....thoughts?

I think the first thing that comes to mind for most is.... "TOO LONG". 

At least that's what I hear in conversations around me.  

Since it is officially Spring, I will give those who dislike winter the benefit of the doubt.

BUT... I must set the record straight.

I keep hearing that we have had 6 month of winter and people are "sick of it".

Well to set the record straight, this was the picture of "winter" in November....

This was November 27th, the high for the day was 60 degrees. 

I dont think we can count November (at least this season) as a month of winter.

Therefore, December-January-February-March and 4 days of April have involved snow and cold.

 That's 1/3 of the year folks, NOT 6 months like I hear some saying. 

Now that I've got that off my chest, I will sympathize with those who have "had enough"!

Yes.... it is Spring and when we think of spring we think of flowers, more time outdoors 

warmer temperatures and putting in the garden. 

Be patient my friends for without winter first, there would be no spring. 

Here's my take on winter.

I love it....probably my second favorite season behind fall.

It slows me down, I am able to rest, enjoy peace & quiet and simple beauty is all around me.

The cold is invigorating, it's fresh and cleanses my senses.

I like sweaters, and jeans, but no socks....no socks.

I like to walk in the winter, I love road trips in the winter, the contrast is vivid and 

everything looks like high-definition to the naked eye.

No filter, no editing tickery... just plain old winter-contrast

I went for a drive this morning as I usually do after a big snowfall. I drive slow, 

I notice things around me, I appreciate the beauty of winter and country mixed together

A winter barn almost blends in with the snow

 Our official measuring spot,  almost 7 inches here in NW Rochester.

 My backyard, I love the snow weighted branches of our pine trees.

It would be hard to convince someone who's not from Minnesota that this is April.

Fear not those are heavy burdened...... 

the 50's are coming next week.... Spring IS on it's way  :)

Finally a substantial snow fall... and it's still snowing, Yay!!!

When we get a beautiful snow, I am not one to sit inside and just observe. 

I wanna be out in it, to see it, and really grasp the beauty of it.

The plows were out so I knew the roads were drivable

*  *  *  *  *

1st stop... my daughter's house

I just knew the kids would be out playing...

they were!  That's my granddaughter in the purple.

My daughter was out shoveling...that's after her husband Chris had already shoveled twice.

From there we just drove north and west of town staying on roads that were passable

It was snowing quite hard, hence the grainy photo

 Driving by the history center barn

Favorite photo of one of my favorite barns.

 and then a stop to view the woods near the Plummer House.

 We decided to tackle the driveway knowing there are still a few inches to come. 

The snow is wet and so heavy so we didnt want to wait too long.

 This amount of snow calls for the snowblower. 

Rick prefers a shovel but when the neighbor give you a snowblower for free...why not.

6-10 forecasted for our area until midnight tonight.

7.3" so far, near my home in NW Rochester.

How much snow are ya all getting????

Just Barns

I love old barns... weathered exteriors and crumbling foundations.

they have walls that speak, and tell a story of years gone by 

I can't help to be sad to think that these old barns will eventually be gone.

The stone foundations will crumble and the wooden boards will rot.

Here's what's left of my Grandma's farm in Rural West Concord.

 I grew up playing in the barn, exploring and getting into mischief.

All that stands now is part of the milk house and silo.

Modern barns are not the kind of barns I think of when I think.... Barn

Photo courtesy of Google images

The new barn....Long rectangular metal buildings.

Classic barn

Love this old building...one of my favorites

 still standing

I get to drive by this one every day, only a few blocks from my home

Winter and barns....two of my favorite things 

A silhouette of a farmstead about a mile from my house. 

Even though my house is in the city limits, the "Country is just down the road"