The Barn Collective

barn¹

noun

1. a large farm building used for storing grain, hay, or straw or for housing livestock.

They aren't barns, but they are a big part of apple country, and sometimes they're stacked in piles as big as a barn. They're used for storing apples. Temporarily. So they're kind of like barns. Sorta... maybe.

For some strange and unknown reason. I find them fascinating, these stacks of crates brought in on trucks and piled in the orchard. Perhaps it is because they signal the time of harvest and a bit of excitement in the orchards. I've learned to look forward to the hootin' and hollerin' that goes on, along with the occasional distant sound of Mexican music.

Stacks of apple crates are growing in the field across the street from my house. Taken from the flatbed two at a time, like blocks, and set down to build fine jungle gyms perfect for teenagers to climb. (Ask me how I know...) Apple Crate Cities I called them.

So, maybe I'm stretching the definition of barn today, but I'm hoping you won't mind too much. Just imagine those stacks painted red. Maybe that'll help.
:0)

More real barns can be found at Tom's Barn Collective.

Heavy Loads and an Orchard Walk

On very sleepy mornings it is good to have a cup of coffee... Ha ha! It's always good to have a cup of coffee in the morning.

The impending arrival three small children drew me from my slumber this morning. I hopped in and out of the shower just in time. Children don't like to sit around, even if grandmothers do, so well before noon we pulled on our shoes and headed out into the orchard for a walk.

We didn't take a shortcut this time. We walked from the back yard through the Fox's orchard and into Mr. Orbaker's. We looked for treasure along the way; rocks, beer bottles, and dandelions. I chose to collect photographs.

There was plenty of com- petition along the way, a bit of swash- buckling and a little yelling for me to "wait up!" I reminded them several times to stay out of the puddles, although a piece of me wanted to let them forge each one...

Two children collected dandelions on the way along with an empty bottle to carry them in. This was a rare sweet moment between 3 and 4 (grandchild numbers) who are typically in constant battle.

At the beginning of our walk number 2 picked up a big stone. He planned to paint an alligator on it and toted it along for a ways. I suggested he leave it along the road and pick it up on the way back, but he insisted on taking it along. About halfway into our walk he finally gave up and dropped it. He picked it up when we circled back but since he had already lugged it a long distance on our way out, he had a long way to carry it back again.

We weren't too far from home when this child said to me, "This has been a frustrating and heavy walk."

"No wonder," I thought to myself, "You've been carrying a heavy and unnecessary load."

And isn't that just the way? Thankfully, he gave up on the piece of wood and lightened his load just a little bit before continuing on.

Morning in the Orchard

The bus stop was just a little bit brighter this morning than last week.
Morning sunshine on bronze and golden leaves sent me scurrying back inside for my camera, but after a click or two of the shutter, I found myself at a loss as to what else to capture. Although every morning is fresh and beautiful to me in real life, I find my photos are all starting to look familiar. ha ha! (Why wouldn't they? Don't I live here?)

The trees are nearly naked after the relentless wind of the past weekend. The few leaves still clinging to tired branches have turned from orange to burnt sienna and I still find them beautiful.

This is my fifth year of waiting for the school bus on weekday mornings. I don't always take my camera along, but when I do I'm often rewarded with some kind of treasure...

Sometimes little girls...

Sometimes a little girl grown bigger...

 Sometimes a feathered friend...

And sometimes falling leaves.