C.J.'s Barn

This little red barn is like a sentinel waiting to greet me every time I reach the south edge of my small hometown. It belongs to C.J., a long-time friend of my family. I love the view of the bottom land sprawled out behind it. I also love the fact that it is a RED barn! Sadly more and more barns are being torn down, which makes the remaining ones even more special. Morton buildings dot the landscape, and while I am sure they are functional, they lack the personality and charm of old-fashioned barns. I can easily see in my mind's eye a farmer headed to the barn to do chore in the early morning light.





On this particular day, I decided to visit the barn instead of just driving by. I wanted to drink in the view, to savour the beauty and the smells of the scene on a beautiful Fall day. I needed to stop and show my appreciation to the ordinariness of a small barn on an ordinary day in my ordinary life.






I was rewarded with another treat. I hadn't been up close to the little wash house in a long time and had forgotten all about it. The tiny little structure is trimmed with gingerbread. It's front door is intricate and the glass window it a complex etching. We certainly don't see buildings like this anymore. All this detail for a wash house!!!






Even the wood stacked between the trees had it's own visual appeal and conjured up images of a warm fire. I could almost smell the wood smoke.





So maybe it isn't just about learning to appreciate what is ordinary in our lives, but finding the EXTRAORDINARY that lies in the ordinariness of our lives!