Sunday, August 12, 2012

Delightful Heartland Barns



When my husband and I drove 3,700 miles West to Colorado and then back East to Brooklyn, New York on Interstate 80 a couple of weeks ago (see more about the trip on this post), we passed quite a bit of scenic beauty along the way. We went on this trip to bring my daughter's bridal shower gifts out to her, many of which were special order items or one of a kind handcrafted items that we knew would be expensive to mail. Except for two stops along the way to sleep, we did the trip in two and a half days each way.  One of my favorite things I tried to take a photo of, as we passed many farms in the beautiful heartland of America, were barns.  Luckily, my Nikon D 60 camera has a fast shutter, as we were often whizzing by these roadside farms anywhere from 65 to 85 miles per hour!  Some photos were "winners," like this wonderful white Ohio bicentennial design barn above.


Other photos were "losers," like this interesting decaying barn that is partially blocked by a car in the lane next to us.  However, all in all, I captured quite a few amazing barn shots from my passenger side car window that I'd love to share today.


First is this selection of classic red painted barns.   I thought this would be the predominate barn color until.....



.....I saw how they were greatly outnumbered by barns that were painted white!



The most interesting barns were those that were faded or unpainted, bare weathered wood.  I wish I knew how old each one was, and the history behind them.



I even saw a new barn being constructed which made me happy. It was good to see rebirth instead of old abandonment.


Taking photos of as many barns as I could help to make our cross country trip more enjoyable......



.....and certainly broke up the monotony of blank, flat prairie lands and acres and acres and acres of corn fields that we saw in many states.


When driving across country I think everyone would marvel, as we did,  over how the pioneers made this same journey in covered wagons over dirt trails!  The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument that crosses Interstate 80 near the town of Kearney, Nebraska, is a beautiful tribute to these pioneers. Kearney is exactly located 1733 miles from San Francisco and 1733 miles from Boston and during the years of 1843 to 1869, nearly half a million men, women, and children rode and walked the trails to the West Coast. Pioneers going on the Oregon, Mormon or California Trails all converged in Fort Kearny (different spelling) before they headed out into the harsh wilderness ahead of them. The city of Kearney was also proclaimed as the Sandhill Crane Capital of the World. For 6 weeks, in late February to early April, more than 80% of the world's population of Sandhill Cranes converges on Nebraska's Platte River in order to rest and eat before resuming their northward migration.  This event attracts many birdwatchers to the area.


Of course, my husband and I were thrilled to finally arrive in Colorado and see our daughter and son-in law's new home!  We also visited with our son and daughter-in-law and our two grandsons. The week flew by before it was time to make the return car ride home. We wondered if the ride home would seem shorter, but we found 1,850 miles is a long ride both directions!  In my next post I'll show you more of what we did in Colorado and tell you my happy and exciting news...please stay tuned!


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61 comments:

Barbara F. said...

This was really a great experience, Pat. And with your photography skills, well, a travel journal would be in order. There is just something about a barn, especially a bright red one. (and such great parents ;o) xo

Kris said...

I love the pictures you took on your long journey!! You are leaving us with a cliffhanger!!!
XO Kris

Sarah said...

Pat, your images make me want to take a road trip across the heartland. Beautiful countryside.
Exciting news......can't wait! ~ sarah

From the Kitchen said...

I'm going to encourage my husband to sit down with me and look at your "road trip" posts. I love road trips. He doesn't. I'm trying to encourage him to drive with me to Virginia this fall. I usually make the drive alone--no photos but books on tape. I'll let you know how it all turns out! Great photos. People forget that once you leave Chicago, there are wonderful barns and farms.

Best,
Bonnie

Annesphamily said...

Pat you are such a sweetheart! I love your fascinating photos! I need you to come along with me. Your expert behind the camera scenes always makes me smile big!
I am happy to see you here and one of these days we are going to get together and visit in person!
I am always excited to see what you post next! Wink!Wink!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I love barns and am so sad when someone tears one down. What a great way to help pass the time on a long trip Pat. i will definitely remember that.

In fact we took a lot of covered bridge pictures on a trip to Vermont once. The hunt was part of the fun.
Sam

Betsy Brock said...

Looks like home to me! :)

And what a fun way to pass the time on a road trip. It's like the adult version of recording license plates for all 50 states! haha.

You saw some gorgeous barns!

eileeninmd said...

Pat, I just love your collection of barns. The red barns are some of my favorites. What a great trip and I am sure you were happy to see your daughter and the family again. Wonderful photos and mosaics.

Snap said...

The stories those barns could tell! The history of our country, too! Fun!

Jeannelle said...

Great drive-by shots! Its a fun challenge. I wish I had a reason to go to Colorado...such great scenery there!

Vee said...

Wow! That's a lot of miles, Pat...did you really go THAT far? =D

At first, I was confused, thought I was in another blogger's spot because she posts lots of great barns. She'd love to see this post. I'll have to send her over. You did very well for a gal zipping down the highway. Great job!

You sure are being a tease...

Old Kitty said...

Oh I love how you've grouped these beautiful barn structures into colours! How amazing!! I keep thinking of all the lucky animals that live it! LOL! What fantastic structures - each one so personal - but I do like the faded barn look! It just speaks history in volume!

Glad you got to see your wonderful family! Can't wait to read about your exciting news!! Take care
x

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

Your barn collages are stunning! It looked like a long and beautiful ride! I'm looking forward to the new news!

Lynn said...

Love those big red barns! It's a lot of driving but I know you had a great time while you were there:@)

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

Your barn collages are stunning! It looked like a long and beautiful ride! I'm looking forward to the new news!

Susie said...

Pat, I just love traveling along with you. That's a cute picture of your loved ones. I am going to N.Y.C. this coming week...I am sooo excited. Smiles to you, xo, Susie

podso said...

This reminds me of our trip to Denver from New York, in a VW bug (and my husband is 6'6"...with camping equipment and a friend along. I was too young to marvel at the beauty as you did. I would be tempted now to take hundreds of photos of the countryside. I love your barn pics. We seem to have more unpainted barns here in the south ... my husband says it's a different taxing if your barn is not painted nicely. But oh I love the red ones and yours are wonderful!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

What a neat thing to do while riding for hours and hours on an interstate... There's nothing more boring!!!!! But--we're going to do the same thing soon when we drive to Yellowstone...

Your barn pictures are GREAT.. I'm partial to red barns ---but all of them are interesting. Like you, I'd love to know the history behind those barns.

Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Betsy

Michelle said...

You took some great pictures on your travels. Barns here in KY are either natural wood, or actually black. Nice to see the red and white ones!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

What a lot of driving pat. But you found a great way to stay interested along the way. I love the photos of the barns, especially that first one. Mums the word on your news, but I'm so happy for you.

pam said...

Well taking pictures probably helped pass the long miles. I love barns....so many interesting stories. Every time we do our ten hour drive to Colorado I think bout wagon trains and those hard, hard days. You continue to teach us all so much.

Cindy said...

Those old and new barns truly are charming, aren't they. I have enjoyed seeing what you saw and captured with your lens on your trek westward and then back home again.
Thank you for the chance to see it.
Hugs, cindy

A Bit of the Blarney said...

An absolutely wonderful post with a beautiful collection of barns!!! EVen the old dilapidated one with the moss on the roof has such wonderful character!!! Wishing you a wonderful week! Cathy

The Gathering Place said...

I love old barns and you captured so many. Yes, that was a long drive, but how fun to be with your family.

Lisa@GrandmasBriefs said...

I love the barn photos. I agree that seeing the new construction is a good sign. Love the Kearney bridge museum. In the five years we passed under that bridge and back again while our daughters were at college on the east side of Nebraska, we swore each time that one day we'd stop and go inside. We never did. Now it's on the "One day..." list.

ellen b. said...

So glad you saw and took photos of all those great barns! I'm always excited to see them on the landscape!
I'll wait with anticipation about your news!! Have a great week!

Rajesh said...

You have captured the barns beautifully. Wonderful variety.

Willow said...

You should make a photo book of all the barns.

The trip from LA to Columbus is about 2400 miles. We drove it twice in three months. Yeah, it was interesting but veeeery loooong.

Mr Paul said...

Now that sounds like my kind of trip. Love the way you have organised and arranged your mosaics Pat.

I must practice this speeding car photography. Quite often on journeys when an interesting photographic subject whizzes past I hear the words " That'll make a great pictute, oops you missed it" over and over as I fumble for my camera!



Tracy said...

WONDERFUL, wonderful images, Pat! So many beautiful barns in the US. The area not far from where I'm living now reminds me of the rural farm country of York/Lancaster, PA where I'm from... and I love how this farm feeling is so close to the sea, as we are near the coast...best of both worlds.! Can't wait to hear your news... I wonder... ;o) Happy Days ((HUGS))

Cathy said...

Oh, goodness, that's a lot of driving. Your pictures are fantastic, Pat, and you have shown me a part of the country I have never seen. Those beautiful barns are such an important part of American history.

Paula's Postings said...

Another interesting post Pat I love the barn photo's and I can't wait to hear the exciting news.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

What a creative way to pass the time on your trip, Pat! You did capture some wonderful shots from your car. They really turned out great for the most part (buzzing cars in other lanes the exception) :)

SmilingSally said...

You'd be a fun person to travel with on such a long journey. I like your idea of snapping picture and then grouping them. Why, I even liked that "loser" shot!

I noticed that daughter's new home has blue trim. Thanks for sharing your blues.

Happy Blue Monday, Pat.

Houseelf said...

What beautiful and varied styles. Thanks for sharing Pat. Like you I would love to know the history of them. Here the style of a barn is usually dictated by the type of stone in the area. I wonder if there were regional styles or styles which evolved like a fashionable dress in time. Fascinating.

Noooooowwwww hurry up with the big secret- I'm impatient. LOL

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I love barns! I would love to refurbish one into a home, but that will not happen.

I am hoping in my next home to havea view of some barns and farm land.

You took some wonderful photos.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Thanks for your visit to my blog. I just had to hop over here to see your barn photos, too! They are just wonderful! Be sure to join the Barn Charm party that Tricia hosts, she usually puts up the link on Monday evening or late afternoon, if I remember correctly.

I was very interested in your trip. My hubby and I are tentatively planning a long car trip out west from our home here in Mid-Missouri in a few weeks. We made the trip a few years ago and enjoyed it very much. I've been wanting to go back...him, not so much! He doesn't like long car rides. So we'll see! I'm wondering and will have to find out if there is still smoke in the western states from all the fires they've had this summer.

I'm signing up as a follower and will be back to see more of your trip! Again, I really enjoyed seeing the variety of barns you snapped. Thanks for sharing!

RNSANE said...

Pat,I've been absent far too long. I returned to India June 19th, living in Jaipur this time - of "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" fame, traveling about from time to time. My Lenovo laptop, only 11 months old, suffered a terminal episode and had to be replaced so I am so behind in blogging and reading my favorites. I thoroughly enjoyed yours today. I have always loved barns, especially the old weathered ones and your pictures are absolutely wonderful. You certainly captured some great shots even whizzing past!!

I know it's tough having the children so far away but, at least, they are in the same state!!!

Anonymous said...

Love all the photos of the barns, especially the last one of the red barn. That photo looks like a still life painting.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

What is it about barns that we find so appealing? I love the red ones especially. Interesting history you shared with us too about the trails west. My own "pioneer" ancestors came out to California after the trains were running in the late 1800s. But that land you drove through could even have been some of their farms...I've never visited that part of the county (yet).

Carletta said...

Wow, I would love to have that many barns in my archives!
You found quite a few that are unique.
Sounds like a long trip. I thought my trip to my daughters was long - eight hours. :)
Thanks for sharing these wonderful collages of barns.

Mari said...

What a nice batch of barns you captured! I'm impressed with your shooting skills. A few years ago we traveled from Michigan to our military son in Colorado. I saw lots of great barns, but didn't get many good pictures out of it. :)

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Wow, you captured a lot of barns! I really like the weathered wood, but red is my favorite!

cassandrasminicorner said...

Interesting logo, beautiful and great shots of different barns..

Visiting from Blue Monday- hope you can stop by..

http://www.cassandrasminicorner.com/2012/08/toy-story-sharpa-blanket.html

Chubskulit Rose said...

Oh barn-icles, that's a lot!

Visiting from Blue Monday..
Elephant Ride is my BLUE, would be delighted for your comment. Have a great week ahead.

steviewren said...

Looking through your photos is almost like sitting in the backseat and seeing the country fly past for real. Thanks for the road trip!

barbara l. hale said...

What a great bunch of barns you saw! I'm from Ohio originally so I am kind of partial to the Ohio Bicentennial barns. And we traveled through Kearney a few years back. I love that part of the country.

lorik said...

Interesting collection. I like the red ones best but they all have their own special character. What a great thing to do - perhaps you could do bridges next:)

Liz said...

Beautiful series of shots.

Moms... Check nyo

betty-NZ said...

It took me moving to NZ, a country the size on Nebraska to appreciate how big the US is and how much there is to see. I know you will be glad that you took so many wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing them.

Leora said...

Your barn collages are wonderful. Love those signs, too. Great to see family at the other side of your long journey.

Unknown said...

Love it!! So different from what you usually do. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Becky said...

You had a unforgetable trip I'm sure, and you saw some awesome barns! My goodness, you took so many shots. How wonderful. Great job!

maria said...

Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos. Happy RT2!

Mine's here.

Anonymous said...

I, too, wish I knew how old each barn is & the history behind them!

Tons of beautifully captured barns... do you have more to post next week? heheheee

Thanks so much for sharing them all w/ us at Barn Charm =)

Rose said...

I am just a bit green with envy...LOL Love them...wish I had got to see that many in the past week or two.

Dianne said...

I love red barns
and also old weathered barns
great scenes you've shared

I love the shutters on your kids' new home :)

Sandy said...

Great shots of the Heartland.. I lived in Central Illinois for a few years and fell in love with the old farm houses and barns..I even bought an old farm house and hated to leave it.. you captured them in their finest!
Sandy

Anonymous said...

These are great! You did a much better job of drive by photography from the passenger side than I did from the driver's side.

Anonymous said...

That was some road trip! Great barns.

Unknown said...

beautiful barns. so homey. sorry for the l8 visit, hope you could visit my Blue Monday here: http://www.memorylanebymel.com/memory-lane-monday-27-clinton-square-park-travels-at-syracuse-part-1/