Sunday, May 8, 2011

On A Country Road

I guess I'm officially in spring/summer mode. Lately I've been scrambling to get blog posts out, I am often remiss about responding to your comments and I tend to be visiting your blogs less frequently. I sometimes catch up only to find myself way behind again just two days later.

The good weather means I'm enjoying the outdoors more, clicking the camera more and will have more photos to share. The downside is that I have less time to visit and comment on your own fine posts. Posts of the week will continue as long as I have at least a few to share. That too may suffer through this season of fine weather, outings and time spent away from home. I hope you understand my sporadic visits.

Below are a few scenes which caught my eye when I took a stroll down a country road, leaving the fishing to Frank and his son.


fence
Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow. ~ Norman Vincent Peale
I like fences of all shapes and sizes. This simple wire fence beside a knotted tree just caught my attention. It just seemed right on a lazy, hazy country day.




boat
A good neighbor is a fellow who smiles at you over the back fence, but doesn't climb over it. ~ Arthur Baer
Another roadside fence, with a canoe ready for portage to the waters just across the road. You can see that a young artist lives at this home - a bright red chalkboard at the ready for some colourful creations.





anotherpod
Give me a fruitful error anytime, full of seeds, bursting with its own corrections. ~ Vilfredo Pareto
An interesting seed pod in the middle of a vine-like growth. I have no idea what it might be but I liked its swirls and colours.




milkweed pod
If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then unto me. ~ William Shakespeare
A pair of milkweed pods, complete with feathery seeds willing to perpetuate this plant's life.




mailbox2
Always write angry letters to your enemies. Never mail them. ~ James Fallows
A bright red mailbox, reflected in a puddled country road. I wonder if there was happy news within, or did they just get bills like the rest of us?





wood face
A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. ~ William Arthur Ward
There were at least two dozen cut trees close to the edge of the road along the half-mile or so stretch where I walked. I'm not sure why. This stump stood out because it appeared to be winking and smiling at me - kind of like a typed smiley, like this... ;)




driveby
Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
This was a drive-by shooting, on our way home. There was a car behind us and Frank couldn't stop. You can see part of the back, side window at the bottom of the image. The door leads to a tiny, over-packed shop, filled with yard sale-like items. I know that because we've stopped by for a visit in the past.

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms who celebrate this day, here in North America. I'll have more photos for you in a few days.

70 comments:

Out on the prairie said...

A very nice collection of photos. It is always nice to hear from you.

ellen abbott said...

well, I do miss your visits but I look forward to all the new photos!

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

It is not the quantity of the visits but the quality. Nice photos, great visit.

Dawning Inspiration said...

Enjoy your life! Live!!! Blogging will be here when you have a rainy day to be inside!

LOVE that mailbox photo and reflection in it!

Happy Mother's Day!

ADRIAN said...

A superb shot of the Milkweed seeds. I love the shop.......cos you can stop that's what brakes are for....!

Ruth Hiebert said...

I love your creative shots.Happy Mother's Day.

Bossy Betty said...

You nourish us all with your talent! I love to think of you out there taking pictures!

Anonymous said...

I think you're not the only one suffering from real life getting in the way of blogging. Enjoy the outdoors!

I, too, saw that smiley face the second it popped up on my screen!

Kristina P. said...

I would spend less time blogging, too!

Anonymous said...

Happy Mother's Day to you too! Love the red mailbox photo... and it's reflection.

DI

sage said...

Happy Mother's Day--great photos, I really like that red mailbox and the reflections!

Anyes said...

Enjoy the beautiful weather and keep giving us those wonderful photographs, Happy Mother's Day to you too Hilary :-)

Dianne said...

I think we all have ebbs in the tide of our posting and visiting
I know I do
I think it all evens out in the wash and firmly believe in blogging without obligation
enjoys the outdoors!!

I love fences too
I like the blue boat resting on the fence

Brian Miller said...

oo we love playing witht he milk weed....and what a cool face in that tree...hope you have a great mothers day!!!

Jephy's Mom said...

The little seed pod is actually, a pod created in the stem of the golden rod by a golden rod gall fly.

Leah J. Utas said...

Happy Mother's Day.
I love those milkweed seeds. Like the wings of a tiny angel.

Mage said...

Delightful. Just the interlude I needed.

Sebab said...

It is beautiful out and your pictures shows it. And most people want to spend more time out than in front of the computers.

Hilary said...

No surprise, I LOVE fences.......
I also love OLD doors......love that last shot.

Anvilcloud said...

Well done as usual. Great DOF on the fence photo.

Bob Bushell said...

A nice one, the fences and seed pod are really far out, man or woman.

Cloudia said...

be Springtime easy with yourself - we love whatever you produce (cause it's all amazing :-)




Aloha from Waikiki


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Betty Manousos said...

Really superb images!

So artistic...can't stop looking at them!

You're so gifted, Hilary!

Hope your Sunday is going well.

betty

Betty Manousos said...

great mix of colours of the last one.
i'm really impressed!

Cildemer said...

He he he!
That's the same with me! more time outside enjoying the sun = less time to visit all the blogofriends!!!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful shots;o)

***
Have a nice and happy week****

Unknown said...

Catching up here a bit tonight myself.
soccer.. kids home from school, spring.. it's a balance.
I love the old mill shots.

messymimi said...

Happy Mother's Day, and thanks for these, they are tranquil.

Unknown said...

I love the red mailbox with the reflection the most. Stopping by your blog is always a treat for me, Hilary!

Red said...

As I've said to other bloggers, don't worry about responding or reading our blogs . Just POST. It's your posts that give us something to enjoy and think about.
Keep up the good work.

SandyCarlson said...

I have seen what you have seen in these images, which are great. I love that smiling trunk.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

I love all of these, of course, but especially the red mailbox and the drive-by shot of the shop. The colors in that one are just so rich. We do miss your frequent visits and thoughtful comments, but it's always a pleasure to take a walk or a day trip with you via your blog.

ds said...

Wonderful shots all, but I especially like the red mailbox (what is it about a red mailbox on a puddly road?) and the "driveby"--I think it's the door...

Please don't worry about becoming sporadic--I look forward to all the fun new photos!
Happy Mother's Day.

Anonymous said...

Wonderfully rural and pretty set of shots. Happy Mum's Day - if you celebrate...

Zuzana said...

Dear Hilary, I am with you on the "being behind" with blogging.
I too am enjoying the good weather and the good fortune that life has suddenly brought my way, thus blogging is left a bit behind.;)
Your photography is always enticing as it is very versatile. I love to see the subjects you choose to capture.
Love the last image, can not believe it is taken from a moving car.
Have a lovely Monday,
xoxo

Unknown said...

Always enjoyable. These photos never fail to take me away from whatever I may be doing to visit!

Happy Spring, Hilary!

Dave said...

Nice pics Hilary. I specially liked the lonely letterbox with its reflection in the puddle. A great shot I think! Regarding you 'feeling
amiss' there are times when you need a break Hilary. Enjoy those breaks - Dave

Friko said...

Life does indeed get hectic at this time of year. My garden calls and the computer gets merely a cursory look-in for several days a week.

It's raining at the moment and I'm strictly a fair-weather gardener.

Liz Mays said...

I would so love to go for a walk with you, but I guess I just did!

Gary's third pottery blog said...

I like the last shot, with the old wheels :)

Maggie May said...

A wonderful collection of photos. The ones that grabbed me most....was the strange seed pod growing in a vine. The post box reflection in water and the smiley tree trunk!
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Sandra said...

What great photo's, Hilary. I especially like the red mailbox and your musing on what kind of news is within.

Hope you had a great mother's day, dear friend.

Daryl said...

that mailbox shot is perfection!

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

*LOVE* the mailbox and its reflection!

I'm glad you are out taking photos and taking in the moment. We all benefit from your time spent away because you are so generous to share with us when you return. ♥

Kat said...

As the weather gets warmer it is always hard to keep up with blogging. I just want to spend all my time outside enjoying the lovely weather while we have it. :)

LOVE that shot of the mailbox. Love it. :)

Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!

lime said...

i like the funny round seed pod and the milkweed. i think milkweed is such an intriguing thing.

Reb said...

Lovely shots Hilary. I like the winking log and want to know what the mystery seed pod is.

Frank Baron said...

What caught my fancy when looking at the first photo was wondering just how many hundreds of times I've slid my boots into those wired-off rectangles and hoisted myself over a fence just like that. They often border sections of streams and (of course) pastures and I've been clambering over them since I was a kid.

Thanks for the blur of memories. :)

Love the red mailbox too. Did you wonder why they didn't bother sprucing up the pole while they were at it?

Lisa said...

Stunning photos. Love the mail box also.
Have a wonderful week.

SandyCarlson said...

We all need to be remiss bloggers, putting the joy out there in a post and getting back sometime with comments. I think to share the joy and the beauty is enough. To be the place people return to when then can and when they feel like it is a privilege. This seems to me to be the shape of blogging friendship. We speak to the muse in each other. That is more than enough.

Country Girl said...

Your photography is so wonderful, Hilary. I always enjoy my visits here ~

Unspoken said...

I know how you feel! I have had such a hard time returning visits!

Unspoken said...

PS Love the quotes today with the spring weather shots.

Hilary said...

Thank you ALL for being so understanding. You folks are the best. Thanks also for your always-kind comments and for the Mother's Day wishes.

Welcome to new visitors and thank you to Jephy's Mom for enlightening me about what that seed pod was. That's very much appreciated.

Claudya Martinez said...

I love the mail box and I hope they get tons of cards and written letters.

Glo said...

As ever, your observing eye captures some delightful images. Lovely walk on a country road!

Dan said...

You captured some very intriguing images. What creative vision you have for taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary!

Daniel

holdingmoments said...

Hilary, I find myself frequently falling behind with visits and returning comments. I'm sure there are less hours in a day now.

I love that last shot. :)

Cricket said...

Great photos, as always. The "antique" shop reminds me of places I used to frequent down the Cape. But I would say the mailbox is the pick of the bunch... full of implications... you bring yourself to that one.

It looks paved, but I think I'll still say John Lennon Old Dirt Road. A song I love as much now as when I first heard it. Maybe more.

Cricket said...

p.s. happy belated Mother's Day. Hope you had a nice one - C

Kerri Farley said...

Super post Hilary! I am a big FAN of fences!
PS - I've been very behind on commenting too ..... hope to catch up soon.

Sandi McBride said...

Your talent for composition never fails to astound me. The simplest thing becomes beautiful, the oddest thing becomes captivating...good job Hilary!
Sandi

Cheryl Kohan said...

Hi Hilary! Please don't ever feel like you have to do it all...you don't have to. I'm so far behind that I'm not entirely sure I'll ever catch up.

I love your fences and that red mailbox is awesome. So is the drive by shooting.

The nice thing about having online friends is that we all understand the way the "muse" can come and go. It's part of who we are...part of the creativity. Sometimes it's there and sometimes it's not. The worst thing to do is stress about it. That takes all the fun away.

So just enjoy the spring and summer. Enjoy being out in nature with Frank or just by yourself. We'll see you when we see you!

Cheryl Kohan said...

Oh, I love the milkweed pod, too.

Lynne said...

Your photos made me smile.

photowannabe said...

Pure artistry Hilary. Your posts are like a breath of fresh air.
I too have been very remiss lately. Life seems to be so busy. I can understand how you feel completely.
I feel like I'm never catching up. Have fun and visit when you can.

Anonymous said...

I miss your visits and posts, but I'm actually in the same boat, behind on posts and visits to favorite blogs. Other bits of my life felt neglected. You deserve these breaks after your long winter! Love these photos, especially the red mailbox.

beth said...

we have those round seed pods too and i have no idea what they are, except for cool :)

Moannie said...

What an eye you have, Hilary. I could smell the pine and the fresh air.

Barb said...

Hilary, your eye for composition is incomparable. I always leave your blog smiling. Enjoy your time outdoors.

Hilary said...

Thank you all VERY much. You're SO kind. :)