When What Do My Wondering Eyes Did Appear....

Instead of driving to the Arboretum which is my usual mode of operandi I decided to drive down around the dog park and check out the red barn on Greene Rd.  The barn is pre-civil war era and with years of non-use it became quite an eyesore with thoughts of tearing it down.  But back in 2010, being in huge disrepair with an estimated million plus to repair, a group decided to ban together and bring this old barn back to life.  Driving by there today, the barn has been re-painted, cleaned up, repaired and ready for business. Plans are that it is to be used for Park District activities for both winter and summer.

I took this picture a couple of winters ago and you can see the peeling paint, shriveled vines and disrepair...(actually it had great character)

This is the picture I took today....

See what a few million dollars can do for an old civil war era barn.  No wonder there are so many farms in dis-repair around this area if it takes that much money to renovate them.  It is probably much cheaper to just put up a metal barn and let the wood barn eventually become one with nature.

The parking lot next to the barn was closed for the winter so I had to park my car by the dog park and walk which was only about a block.  When I returned when what did my wondering eyes should appear, but eight one tiny reindeer (and it wasn't really a reindeer, they are not this cute) right before my eyes.  I was so startled I almost scared her away, but instead she just looked at me, paused, bent down to grab a mouthful of grass where the snow had been brushed away, then turned and darted back into the woods.  I know some see this sight each and every day, but usually when I spot a deer, by the time I grab my camera they have high-tailed it back to safety.  She must have known I was no threat.

After this stop I drove around at more snowy spots capturing beauty....even the dried queen anne's lace and the shriveled red berries have the look of magic in the winter.

And finally a stop at the golf course...so pristine, no golfers today.

Last one....with an added texture.

And yes, it did snow again...can't say that it started at exactly 2:30, but it was in the afternoon.

Linking to Madge's new weekly meme Rurality


In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy. ~William Blake

Until next time.....

Pop

It's Texture Tuesday over at Kim's and this week she challenged us to a color pop....probably a good idea since many of us are in the dregs of winter where there is very little color.  It's kinda like reading a chick flick in February instead of one that deals with death and destruction.  We women need that brightness in our lives.

So here are a couple of pops for Texture Tuesday....

B is for Buttons has Kim's....oh crap, I forgot which texture it was.  But I know it was one of her latest...sorry about that.

And this one, I remembered is her latest, latest HAVANA....it has another one under it, but again I forgot which one it was...I think it was Minus 45.  Oh the brain!!

I am now off to take more snow pictures.  Another round of snow is supposed to start falling at 2:30 PM....I love that prediction.  Weathermen can't seem to predict from one day to the next but they can predict the exact time that snow is supposed to fall.....really??

Have a lovely one....!!!

Until next time.....

Snow Fun.....

I finally, finally got that snow I have been wishing for...snow that actually covered the grass.  It has snowed a little bit for the last 3 days giving us a sweet coating.  When I woke up this morning, I saw that it had snowed again in the night and was snowing as I gazed out of the front window.  I then thought  about the fact that it was Monday and there were many on their way to work that were probably grumbling because of the snow.  I think I mentioned in an earlier post....it's all in your perspective.  Standing in the front window, still in my jammies and robe, drinking a hot cup of coffee is a far shot from having to bundle up with gloves, hats, scarves & boots to make the trek thru the muck and mess of newly salted streets to work on a Monday morning....again all in your perspective. 

My view....

I was not one of the bazillions that watched the Super Bowl, but it must have been a good game since the score was close and the newspaper said that Beyonce gave a stunning performance.  But I did watch Downton Abby...things are a'changin.  I thought Carson was going into cardiac arrest when he saw Ethel in his sacred kitchen, and Robert when he heard that Sybil's baby would be christened in a Catholic church...thank goodness the women in this household have some sense about them. 

Around the yard....

A new book to snuggle up with...our book club's choice for February.  

                                                   

And finally, my barn for Trish's Barn Charm...

"Even in winter an isolated patch of snow has a special quality."  ~ Andy Goldsworthy

Until next time.....