9" x 12"
Arches 140#CP
I've painted this building a long time ago covered in weeds so that only the roof was showing --- much the sight I see when I pass it from the road. The building and the haybales are on the road I use to reach my home. I had watched the grasses growing all spring, and waited and waited until the farmers cut and baled the hay. When C and I ventured out this weekend and saw they were baling, I knew I had to return for some more photos.
One farmer who lived across the road from this field and whose oral history I did many years ago, told us that the building used to house 'gas lights' for the area. I have no idea what that means, and unfortunately, he is no longer with us to ask, but the building still stands almost covered in grasses and volunteer shrubs. The hay is grown by a tenant farmer also living along the road, and each spring and fall, I eagerly await the fields to be dotted with these ochre and gold bundles.
C and I went for photos mid-day, and when we tried to return later that evening to capture some of those wonderful long evening shadows, rain was approaching (photo earlier), and that opportunity was lost. I expect when I return home this week, the bales will be in the farmer's barn.
The trip to the nursery with Arboretum guests was WONDERFUL -- with lots to see, too much to choose from, too much spent (LOL), and a divine lunch. Great fun and some new plants to try....
We're expecting rain again, and the weeds here at the Arboretum are growing faster than the zucchini -- and that's saying something! LOL
Have a super day!
Lin Frye
North Carolina
Lovely country scene...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful painting,
ReplyDeleteThank you both!
ReplyDeleteStrange, these fragmentary memories that come down. Don't we wish we had been more interested all those years ago. Moving on to the hay bales: for a long time I used to be sad that the old rectangular bales were gone, and thought the new big round ones were just so ....industrial? ..somehow. But time works its magic, and what's not to love about hay?, so now the round bales are just as beautiful as the old hand piled stooks used to be. Lovely painting and story.
ReplyDeleteGreat sketch Lin, and great story! I agree with Andrew, but time heals all!
ReplyDeleteI spent the last 45 years loading 55 lb. square bales on the back of the pickup then unloading and stacking them in the barn. Now in later life with kids gone, those 900# round bales look pretty good to old me.
ReplyDeleteGrannie Jan