Barn Spotting: Near Elko, NV

I like the look of this barn a lot! Chippy white paint, red trim, great sliding barn doors and a chevron pattern in part of the facade--sounds trendy!

But these dudes and a few random cars are all this barn sees for company.

I prefer trees with my mountains, thanks.

To read more about this day in August on our cross-country trip, GO HERE!

Barn Spotting: Near Casper, WY

Oh give me a home
Where the buffalo roam
And the deer and the antelope play...

 
Where seldom is heard
A discouraging word
And the sky is not cloudy all day.

Clearly, the sky was cloudy. And I only think that's an antelope, not sure at all. I am sure I wouldn't want to live out there in eastern Wyoming. Or central. Or, well, pretty much any part of Wyoming. No offense, Wyoming. Except maybe Cody, near Yellowstone!

To read about this day in July on our cross-country trip, visit THIS PAGE.

Barn Spotting: Scott's Bluff, NE

Somewhere between Scott's Bluff National Monument ...

... and the Buffalo Bill Museum

is this authentically red barn! Wouldn't a reproduction of that barn door be a fabulous focal piece on a living room wall?

Just me? Ooooooh kay.

Seen any cool barns lately? Or barn decor?

You can read more about this day of our cross-country trip in July HERE.

Barn Spotting: Western Nebraska

I'm not even sure this is a barn, but we can call it that, mmmmkay? 

It was a point of interest in a place where there isn't much for the eye to rest on.

Unless the train is chugging by.

You can read about this day of our cross-country trip this July HERE.

Barn Spotting: Rock Port, MO

This property is north of St. Joe, MO, near Rock Port on Hwy 29. You can read more about that day of our cross-country drive in July HERE.

Barn Spotting: St. Joe, MO

This barn didn't make it into the post, but you can read more about this day of our cross-country trip in July HERE.

Barnspotting: Benton County, IA

We're officially out of state and I had grand schemes of taking pictures of a barn here in Missouri. I even remembered to pull out the camera and had a great shot of a picturesque barn... and no card in the camera!

That's ok! I'll try again next week. For now we can enjoy this barn with huge round hay bales resting under the eaves. What else do you think it's used for?

Have you seen any great barns lately?

Barns of Benton County: Old Meets New

Can you see the original siding on the end? It's a lovely weathered gray. This barn, however, sports new white siding and a white roof.

I love how this picture almost looks black and white except for the green tree and soybean field! I guess that's what happens in the humid Iowa summers.

I took a few pictures of barns in the area today and hope to stock up on images in our cross-country trip later this month. I'm thinking of changing the name of this series to "Barnspotting" and listing the state and nearby city since we'll be leaving Benton County. Hope that works for you!

Have a relaxing Sunday! Have you spotted any barns lately?

Barns of Benton County: Corn Crib in the Summer

I can't believe my sojourn in the cornfields of the midwest is coming to an end! After four years of country living, it was really starting to feel like home. About 3 miles south of our place is this old corn crib. I guess I'm not extroverted enough to go ask the owner about its history. I prefer my barn-spotting to be incognito, thanks!

It was a hot, hazy day last Friday when I took this picture. I decided to just go with it and applied the 'intrepid' effect available in PicMonkey. Seems fitting! The corm should be tasseling soon.

Have you seen any great old barns or corn cribs lately? How about silos or grain bins?

Barns of Benton County: Another Old Red Barn

I hate to admit it, but I haven't been snapping pictures of barns lately. I think most of it is that we only have one car right now and while the boys and I still go to town once a week for groceries and the splash pad as well as church on the weekend, we don't take any new routes down quiet country roads! I'll have to make more of an effort on our next town trip--especially because my husband will drive and leave me free to use my camera!

For today though, we'll have to enjoy this rustic old barn I photographed back in April. You can tell it wasn't July because of the empty field. The corn is tasseling out now, so it's, what 7 or 8 feet tall? Oh, but the temperature was so much nicer back in April--I feel cooler already! 

I love how this barn is practically falling apart--chipping paint and a door that wouldn't keep a large cat out of the barn! But then there's the basketball hoop! Classy!

I do wonder why the two lower windows aren't centered. Not that everything has to be centered, but I'm sure there was a reason. Do you think one side has stalls so they wanted more room between the wall and the window? Guess we'll never know!

Right past this barn I stopped to document the ditch. Yes, yes I did. It's a great illustration of how pervasive the dandelions are around here each spring! No, it didn't snow--that's dandelion fluff! Some property owners spray for weeds and chemically treat their yards. Some of us choose to enjoy the bright yellow flowers and their fluff a day or two later.

Have you seen any cool barns lately?

Barns of Benton County: Tama Edition

You'll forgive me for slipping in this red quonset shaped barn that isn't actually in Benton County, right? I just love the farm house and the pretty, green lawn and what looks like a pasture in the foreground. Looks like there are several other outbuildings, as well as apple trees on the property. Wish I could have a tour from the owner--I'm sure he's in his 70s and inherited the farm from his father, so he could tell us stories all day, right? Sure! 

What's your favorite thing about this property? What stories would you like to hear?
 

Barns of Benton County: Rusty Metal Roof

Wouldn't you love to hide out from the rain in this barn? Explore its nooks and crannies, smell the barn smells mixed with wet earth, hear the drops pounding and echoing on the metal roof.  

Perhaps if you look and smell and listen hard enough, you could hear the barn tell its secrets from years gone by.

Perhaps.
 

Barns of Benton County: Blue Roof

You know I do these barn pictures as I drive by, right? Usually I'm the driver and photographer and I may or may not have 3 small boys with me. 

Now before you go accusing me of child endangerment, remember these are quiet country gravel roads and we might pass one or two cars at the very most. Which you can see coming for a good mile or two. And when I have my camera hanging out the window I'm driving about... 10 mph?  

On this particular drive, I happened to be by myself. It was in April when the grass was green but the trees weren't yet. And I got sprinkled on a few times!

One thing I do love about Iowa is the big sky. Well, I hate that too, because you can see the big, scary storms coming for hours! But when the weather isn't threatening, the skies are a treat!

If you were wondering, I didn't drive by this farm in reverse. I put the pictures in reverse order because the close-up of the barn (first picture) turned out to be a really good shot! I was surprised by the blue roof! Were you?

 
Thanks for visiting the farm with me!

Barns of Benton County: Aqua Doors

This week's barn isn't particularly old or weathered or in a picturesque setting or anything that typically catches my eye. But all of the outbuildings on this property have aqua colored doors!

This building is the shape of a grain bin and has the widely spaced slats on one side, but the other side looks like barn siding. I like the narrow window near the top and the aqua trim!

 

The barn looks like it needs a new roof. Even the aqua doors are in disrepair. I'm sure maintaining outbuildings is a constant job as the weather is extremely abusive. High winds, 90-degree summers, -10 below in the winter, hail, ice storms, humidity...

Here you can see the old barn and a newer machine shed--again with aqua doors and trim. If you notice the little utility shed to the left of the barn, it has aqua trim as well. Do you think there is an aqua door on the other side? 

If I remember correctly, the farmhouse on this property is white with a gray roof. Narry an aqua door to be seen! Nor trim. I wonder why the owner chose the aqua doors and trim for the outbuildings? Can you venture a guess?