O MY GOODNESS, finally a new post

       It has finally happened!!!  Almost by mistake I visited my blog tonight, just to see if anything had changed that would allow me to add a new post. 

     Well, happily for me, all things appeared just as if nothing had held it back during the last several weeks!!  So I am going to go ahead and try to do the post I had planned over a month ago.  I so hope this means I will be able to return to posting every other week again.   I am excited!  Hi, everyone!!

Kentucky neighbors out the back window of a friend's house in southern Kentucky, last month

 

 

a favorite photo of a great blue heron, in a cove on Grayson Lake, during a ride in a small boat

from a walk in the woods one spring with Doug and Karen, after Doug discovered this patch of spring trillium covering a large rock, on a steep hillside

an amazing birthday card from Jean P. on my 75th birthday

our hen, our happy moments

 one moment at home, one night, one sky

 

 

 

dear friends in England, not my photo except that I love it

Dad with patient offspring, seen outside an upstairs window, during a 20 minute family feed

along the ride home from town --  Appalachian hillsides

shirt image is of Justice Stevens, my son's hero

two grandchildren photos which I couldn't resist including in this potpourri of photos

    Well, I couldn't actually do what I expected to for this blog -- another mystery to be worked on -- so I simply switched to sharing some photos I love.  All that remains now for tonight is to "publish" these without a hitch.  Thanks for sharing this happiness with me. 

      

        

Fall photos, over many years

    I had planned to finish this post two weeks ago, but wonderful life kept me busy and preoccupied. Fall has always been my favorite season -- until, of course, I experienced April in the Appalachian Mountains -- and I love trees. So, to celebrate how nature forges onward season after season, no matter the politics, here are some trees I have loved.  [Almost every photo was made in October.]

    

at home

Cumberland Gap, on the Tennessee/Kentucky border

windshield wetness

 

 

black walnuts -- look out below!!!

light within, for Jean

pond at summer's end

pond again, always changing

 

Cumberland Falls, two days ago, showing the effects of the drought in the area

another viewpoint of the falls, a magical place

back home, this year, not yet peak colors

 

but pretty close....

and a last shot, from summer, a favorite tree of mine, at Gary and Mary Sue's

 

Kentucky barns, part 2 -- the last part, for now

            WHY DOES THE PRINT START OUT SO SMALL!  I have to trust that once again it will look normal once I am finished pulling it together.  I love working with my photos for each post, but I sure can get irritated (as much as I ever get irritated --- which, actually, isn't much) over digital idiosyncrasies.

         Four more photos of the old barn which has been part of what I called my home place for 45 years:

 

 

        

            and now some photos of Jean's barn that Jonathan rebuilt!  He lowered the roof a full story.

taking out a floor, I believe, and using the materials to make a newer barn

Jonathan likes horses -- and cattle!

    

 

Bravo, Jonathan!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

the barn in use

 

Then these beautiful sheep - in Vermont and not in Appalachia -- share a barn before one day being dinner....

    This has been fun and I look forward to offering other gathered images. Every two weeks. It feels good to be back at it!!!

    In the meantime, don't forget to vote soon!  Of course I support progressive ideas, so I'll just say it's insulting that men --- who don't get pregnant through no fault of their own -- are sometimes not able to accept the rights of women to decide their own health care needs.  But in any case, let's all vote and support democracy for every person. And try hard to imagine ourselves in the footsteps of other persons. After all, we share a single earth.

Kentucky barns, part 1

      I'm so glad to be able to continue with my blog.  It's all so easy, for now.  

     I have wanted to gather up many of my barn photos to share.  Most of them are from my county (Elliott) or nearby counties.  I am fascinated by how even the most basic of barns can be intriguing depending on the season, the weather, its age, its use, etc.  I'll have some goats and donkeys in my next post. For now, it is mostly just the housing... and tobacco barns, rarely used anymore.

   

an older barn, laying itself down, taking a while

still standing

closer up, the Binion barn, photo made at dawn, back in the days when I did that to get a photo....

a wonderful example of an early tobacco barn, which unfortunately was damaged by the Morgan County tornado which did so much damage -- particularly in West Liberty

  

two seasons, twice decorated, a barn not in use at this time, formerly had horses and hay

what I pass on the way from town

without a shadow of doubt.... just a shadow....

I once had a very special April day, on Wendell Berry's farm, where he gave me permission to take some outdoors photos while I was there.  This land is loved and cared for.

I like these last two photos because of their blocks of light and the colors!

  I will have more barn photos on my next post in two weeks. 

 I hope everyone is staying healthy and preparing to vote for the truth tellers. We don't need cruel and heartless in our efforts to have a more functional nation. It's interesting how the Queen's passing, the reminders of the twin towers, and the piles of legal issues to be sorted through including false tales are each reaching out to us simultaneously.  Reach out and be good to your friends and family.

Thanks for stopping by.   Ann

I am finally reunited with my blog!!

        I finally discovered the setting I needed to change on the blogger website in order to prepare a new post.  So here I am!  I hope my readers enjoyed the most recent three posts --- about the Arctic Circle and Norway.  I continue to be amazed that I really went there.  My thanks again to Patty who kept me from giving up hope about ever being able to make the trip and for all the laughing we did, just like that week 50+ years ago when we met while training to be VISTA Volunteers in eastern Kentucky (me) and eastern Tennessee (Patty).

      Here we go!!!  

     I have wanted to share some favorite photos from the dozen or so years I have been doing this blog.  I may try to give the title or date of the post for each photo soon so that additional photos that go with it can be visited. If anyone wants to encourage me to do that, please let me know.  Enjoy!

mourning dove, out the kitchen window

April on the ridge, near my home

 

George Ella Lyon, after she gave a presentation at Natural Bridge State Park

George Ella and her college roommate/friend Chris, showing up to speak out in Kentucky's capital (Frankfort) about the damage done daily by MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL MINING.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes I have visited family in England and in France:
 

winter grazing in England

NOTRE DAME, a year before the terrible fire that was felt around the world.

my son on the Seine  (River in Paris)

                                                            Now the inside story --- for the rest of us!

                      

on Christy Creek, almost to Morehead, one spring evening, for my photo class at MSU

Christmas decorations at my nearby friend Sandy's, lovely every year

More soon in two weeks, I sure hope. This all reminds me about how I love seeing what I see with a camera.