Images of the Farm

We just returned from some family time at the farm and as usual I took lots of photos. It is a fun opportunity to play around with my camera and look at different subjects.

The horses were happy to oblige, for a while anyway. Too many click, click, clicks of the camera spooked them and they decided to take off to the far end of the pasture.

Mornings were glorious! Watching the sun come up over the trees and shine on the pastures was a great way to start the day.

The humidity was heavy and the spiders that made their webs in the blades of grass sparkled in the morning light.

As the sun warmed the air the butterflies populated the zinnia beds. Big swallowtails to tiny skippers, fluttered from bloom to bloom.

Even the bees got in on the action.

A great place to spend the sweltering afternoons was under the tall trees near the pond. A soft breeze and shade made the heat tolerable. It was also a good place to watch the dragonflies. The problem was that they don't sit still for long plus I forgot my tripod so action shots were out of the question. It was a waiting game and test of patients to see if they would land somewhere close by.

I spent some time examining the banana trees. It is such a fascinating plant. (see my post here to learn all about the wold's largest herb).

The blooms and and leaves that contain the bananas are gorgeous red and yellow.

This little kitten was hiding out in some old hay bales. Just asking for attention.

And even got a little more adventurous the longer I stuck around.

We made a daily visit to the neighbor to deliver food scraps to her chickens. While there I had to photograph this Eucalyptus Tree. It is the largest one I have ever seen. My 10 year old son stood under the tree to show how tall it is. Apparently they will grow up to 6 feet a year and are great at repelling ticks and fleas.

A historic structure on her property is this old barn built by the WPA (Works Progress Administration) during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Since the foundation of this barn dates back to the Great Depression I thought it was appropriate to edit this photo using a sepia effect.

Parts of the structure have obviously been replaced and additions added to the exterior of the barn but look closely to the side and door frame and you can see the original materials are still in place. The purpose of the WPA program (created by executive order in 1935) was to put unemployed people to work. To rehabilitate rural areas structures like these were built.

Thanks to my in-laws for a wonderful weekend of laughs, fishing and great memories!