Winter Barns

Most of the landscape of the Beaver Valley is made up of farms.  There's a lot of woodland, but the basic landscape is a farm landscape.  So barns are not just buildings, they're the biggest symbol of the valley I drive through.  And I find with every barn I see, I wonder what sort of farming is being done, if any.  Over the years I drive by these farms in all seasons, and start getting an idea of how they're used.  I even get to know some of the owners.  I'll probably post about barns several times this winter, and those questions will be running through my mind each time.

This is a beautiful double barn, well cared for, and I believe still in use, at least for a few horses.  The farm extends all the way up to the escarpment cliff, but the upper old fields are growing back into forest, as is happening on a lot of the properties that back onto the cliff.

This second picture raises an interesting photographic question.  Photographing a barn simply as a building, I often tend to get close pictures like this.  But as I've gathered more pictures of barns around the valley, I find I like the upper one of these two better, showing the barn in the landscape.  What's your preference?

I stopped to get this picture first, but then noticed the big obvious yellow tag for the underground phone line which to me sort of spoils the shot.  I don't think the barn is actively used any more.

So I backed up 20 feet, and the tag almost disappeared.  But I couldn't get the same view exactly, because of a big shrub beside the car.  Always a better picture if you slow down and choose your view carefully.

I really like this barn, and I think the red doors really do a lot for it.  But I've never seen any sign of it being used.

This barn is being well cared for, a few new boards replaced last year, but I don't think it's being used, except perhaps for storage.

I bet in the first picture of this barn above, you didn't even notice this old tractor, apparently missing its engine.

And like the first picture above, this is actually my favourite picture of this barn, the barn in the context of the Beaver Valley landscape.  In fact, this is probably my favourite picture of any barn in the valley; I have views taken in all seasons.

Nice and sunny again today, but bitterly cold here, not a day for snowshoeing or skiing, at least not for me!  Mrs. F.G. adds her thanks thanks for your interest in her fibre art.

Linking to:

The Barn Collective