Today I am back, sneaking in under the banner on the last day of Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge. This week’s prompt is Weathered Wood. I think I can find some images in the gallery from many years of taking what I hope have been interesting photos.
Note: I don’t normally post on Tuesdays, but my short story contribution will be available at Story Chat – hosted by Marsha Ingrao – Always Write. Story Chat is an opportunity for writers to receive some feedback on their stories. I will be stepping out of my comfort zone with this contribution.
Old weathered park benchThis might be the front door of the house, I love the weathered look.Weathered, but beautiful in its own wayThe door, and the building, need a little TLCWe haven’t had a lot of snow, but we’ve had several big storms. This fence has suffered.I like the frost that formed on the fence rails.See him? Behind the fence.This guy was scarfing down all the ferns just outside the fence. It was fun watching him. Smokey running along one of the neighborhood fences.This car was taken out of service. It was later purchased by a man who turned it into a hunting cabin. He took it off its trucks and moved it into the woods.One of my favorite tools. A reciprocating saw with a demolition blade goes through old wood, joist hangers and nails if necessary.Entrance door to the sawmill. We’ve been in this barn several times. My favorites have been the times we’ve had hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps here during Christmas by Candlelight, OSV’s holiday event.Smokey running across our neighbor’s (up the road) fence. I’ve shared this door before. This is my favorite, the door to the sawmill.This is the Grist Mill. Off to the right is the carding mill. I’m taking this picture from the entrance of the sawmill. All three mills draw power from a holding pond diverted off the Quinebaug River.Toward the end of our shop’s operation, we were renting these two bays. That little white square on the right is an exhaust fan I installed in 1986.
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Your description sounds like making it to a base in baseball. In which case, I might be the person in the stands who dreams of playing and occasionally gets to return the ball.
It seems to me that things made of wood always have a story to tell, but weathered wood even more — it’s been through a lot, seen a lot. That’s a great shot of the “guy scarfing down all the ferns.” (I had no idea ferns were so tasty!) I love the background in that photo; the old fence and old barn (or house?) and what might be chickens, a little shade…I see a lot of work but also a lot of peace. Nice.
When I see an old barn or house, I have to think about all the things that have gone on inside. The old guy is a resident of Old Sturbridge Village. A lot of work goes into maintaining that place, but I don’t think this guy is doing much of it. He plays his role very well.
I think some of these have been features as doors in the past. I try not to dip into the doors for Cee’s challenges, but with ‘weathered wood’ it’s hard not to.
Imagine the history behind weathered wood! It would be fascinating. Love the guy poking his head under that weathered fence so he can get to the fern, and the chickens watching him.
The OSV barn is a beauty, and I remember the car that became a hunting cabin. Genius! Love the gristmill!
The bays you rented….why am I not surprised to see Old Glory proudly flying over one entrance! 🤗
Great collection of photos for today’s prompt. Hope this turns out to be a great week for you.
I always look and wonder what all the buildings have seen, Ginger. The space I rented for my shop was in a building that had been a wood shop for a water-powered mill that was in the building across from this one. That building was destroyed in a fire. The building I was in has been renovated. Last I knew, there was a print shop in my space.
When I was searching for photos, I remembered the railroad car hunting cabin. Cee’s challenges are good exercise for our memories ;-)
I hope you have a great week ahead. It’s supposed to warn up a little. I walked this morning and it’s still windy.
I love all of the photos, Dan, but my favorite is the two-toned weathered door. It has a beautiful, artisitic age that I would never paint or stain over.
Have fun with your writing challenge. Perhaps I need to check it out and challenge myself as well, although perhaps I should be happy I’ve been blogging a bit more regular this month. Happy Monday!
It has been good to see more posts from you, Mary. I think Marsha might have some openings in Story Chat. I’m both a little nervous and looking forward to the feedback.
I agree with you about not painting that doors. Maybe a clear preservative, but I do like the color.
Dan, these photos speak to my soul. I kept going no I love that one more…nope that one. So great. Weathered wood brings this prairie girl tons of joy. Awesome.
Barns and fences are such great examples, Audrey. Many of these are from Old Sturbridge Village, which is a close to a farm as I get. I’m glad you enjoyed these.
I’m a fan of split rail fences, and I love the barns. Great photos, Dan. And congrats on the Story Chat submission. I’m curious you said you’re stepping out of your comfort zone.
I love split rail fences. I walk by the one Smokey uses, every day. It’s hard getting someone to sit still on it long enough to get a photo. As for Story Chat, I’m trying a different point of view, and a different age group, Mae.
For me, weathered wood can sometimes be the best-lookin’ wood. Shout-out to that exhaust fan – always nice when you get to revisit something you worked on long after the fact.
Hmmm, I think Cee’s next Fun Foto Challenge is favorite scents. My shop is asleep for the winter, I’ll have to see if I can find something to describe that.
Your photos of weathered wood are restful to my eyes. I like seeing it, appreciate that it has done its thing, kind of miss seeing it on our new TREX deck that’ll never weather.
The photo that includes the reciprocating saw was taken when I was moving the old step (mini-decks) to the dumpster. They were replaced with Trex. I’m glad it’s not rotting away, but I kinda miss the changing look.
I love weathered wood and especially barns, too. We three twins have that in common. Cee loves weather wood, too! Your story is getting lots of love already. Thanks for including a link in this post. That makes a big difference.
Maybe there is a connection between us regarding the weathered wood, Marsha. Cee has a way of making me think about what might be in the library that fits the prompt. I’ll link to this again tomorrow, now that I have the URL of the story.
Thanks, Dan. The more you link, the more readers come to read it. That’s fun and rewarding to me. I love seeing how much your friends like your stories. I also love it when they like the process and come back for the next author, too. :)
That is true. It also builds a sense of the writer’s capabilities – for the reader. There are so many books available, as Hugh said in a comment, if the first two paragraphs don’t grab us, we put the book back on the shelf. This gives us a chance to experience the type of writing in the first 1,500 words.
And to see what works and what might cause someone to stick it back on the shelf. I appreciate people rereading this story, but I doubt they’d reread the first chapter of a book.
Oh, I love the barns, the grist mill, the saw mill, and that brick building that needs some TLC. I enjoyed seeing the cows too. I was once allergy tested in my late 30’s because my sinus’ give me fits in late winter through summer, but, I am only allergic to 3 things; rice, cantaloupe, and COWS! Can you imagine a stranger list than this of things to be allergic too? Turns out my sinus’ are barometer driven so when the barometer drops the pressure in my head goes up. I’m an AIR HEAD!! 🤣 Sorry, for some reason the cows made me think of this about myself.
That’s an odd group of allergies, for sure, Deborah. I could do without cantaloupe, but it would be hard to go without rice. I don’t ever get too close to cows, but I like seeing them. I don’t suffer mush from allergies, but I live near people who do. I feel bad. That pressure must be painful.
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