Landscape

November 21, 2014November 21, 2014 / Apple Hill Cottage / 18 Comments

Thomas Wolfe wrote You Can’t Go Home Again, and the title has become an often-quoted phrase about change and memory.

sheep farm on Ruff Creek Hill

Yet here I am. Back home in These High Green Hills. Living within two miles of my childhood home. Living on what used to be my grandfather’s orchard.

sunrise from my bedroom

Sometimes a bit like being A Stranger in a Strange Land, but more often it is like being a stranger in a familiar land. Older and wiser, I see the familiar with new eyes — The Return of the Native…

journey home…

New eyes that appreciate the beauty of the hills, streams, and roads of rural Appalachia.

these high greene hills

New eyes that appreciate the need for economic development, but worry that it will spoil the ecosystems, the water, the landscape.

the cows’ field, disturbed

New eyes that see God’s mercy on my life and the blessings of coming home again.

Landscapes? Yep, I got ’em! About 500 on my phone alone! The top three were taken today; the others are from a greener season …

Architecture

November 18, 2014November 18, 2014 / Apple Hill Cottage / 10 Comments

When we were seventeen,
We carved our initials
on the inside of this bridge.

Desecrating public property,
Yes. I know.

Thirty some years later
we drove down that same road
to see if we could find the bridge,
the carved initials.

The bridge was there
spanning the little creek.
Newer initials had replaced ours.

Older and wiser,
we no longer needed
to carve our initials
for posterity,
But were happy
with the remembering.

Last year they tore it down.
Carefully.
Every board numbered.
It took almost eight months,
but now it stands again.
Rebuilt. Repainted. Restored.

Cox Farm Bridge. Built 1940. Rebuilt 2013.

I’m grateful for memories, for stories, and for those who care enough about covered bridges to make them historical landmarks.

122. The paralysis of indecision

November 15, 2014November 15, 2014 / Apple Hill Cottage / 14 Comments

Indecisiveness is a sad malady to have — I cringe when I see others afflicted. Yet I confess to having bouts of it myself.

•Choosing paint colors? Could take me months.
•Deciding what side dishes to make for Thanksgiving dinner? Could take me weeks.
•Editing a blog post? Could take me days.

I’m not sure how I got this virus, but I’m fairly sure it was a birth defect and there’s no cure. I’m thinking of starting a non-profit for research — if you would like to donate to The Race to Cure Indecision, send me a comment, and I’ll be sure to get back to you with a donation form…or maybe you could just send a check…or maybe you should wait until some office help is hired.

I like input from other people; it starts a conversation and helps me narrow my focus. Talking it out helps me decide; perhaps it is a side effect of perfectionism? The fear of making the imperfect decision leads to making no decision at all. Sigh. (This is why deadlines are good!)

Yesterday’s photo challenge was Mystery and the directive was to play with light. Play with light? Play with color? Aside from playing with words, those are some favorite things to do.

It was twenty five degrees outside, but the sun was shining. So the iPhoneographer went walking during the morning golden hour, freezing her fingers and toes, but having fun. And since I had such a hard time deciding what photos to choose, here are some shots; first in black and white (most mysterious) and then in misty color.