Yesteryears
Another photo contest theme for this month.

While visiting my in-laws in Rutherfordton, NC last weekend, I took a walk down the road to Amy's Great Aunt Stella's old place.  To me, this old homestead to me really fits the "Yesteryears" theme.

Aunt Stella's old house

We refer to it as Aunt Stella's house since she was the last to live there.  However, before her, several generations of Amy's relatives have called this place home for the past century. 

Side view of Aunt Stella's old home

Aunt Stella passed away back in 2005 at the age of 86 and since then the house has remained vacant and left to the weather. 



Weathered Gable

The house is in rough shape, but if someone is willing to put the time, effort, and money into it, it could be a viable restoration project.  Rumor has it, that someone is looking to purchase and restore the old house to it's former glory.  I do hope that happens as it would be a shame to watch this old home become worm food!  For now, I went for some photos of the house it it's current condition

With bright sunshine and the house half in the shade and half in the sun, photo conditions were not good.  I feel conditions like this work better in Black and White, especially considering the subject matter

The paint is peeled leaving the bare wood exposed to the elements

The Eves are rotting

In addition to the house, there are several other structures on the property that make interesting "Yesteryears" photo subjects

The Old Woodshed/Workshop at Aunt Stella's place

This was my favorite shot of the old woodshed

A winters worth of wood was stored here every year

Countless hours were spent relaxing on the screened-in porch!

It has definitely seen better days!

The mailbox still stands out by the road

Tiny Critters

Neither of these two photos are particularly noteworthy and I probably wound not have posted either of them.  However, in each of them, when viewed on the computer I spotted something I missed while taking the photos.

This first one there is a tiny ant on one of the petals

Can you spot the tiny spider in this one?

You might have to click to enlarge!

Rose of Sharon

While roaming around my yard this afternoon looking for something to photograph, I spotted this bloom:

Rose of Sharon

I think it is the same type of flower as one I spotted (2) months ago which was identified as a Rose of Sharon.  This one was found in a completely different area of the yard. 

Here is a Macro view of the same bloom:

Rose of Sharon Macro Shot

Wheel Power!

This is another theme from one of my Yahoo Photography Groups monthly photo contest.

Here are a couple of questions I’ve been asked recently:

Q: What can you win by entering these photo contests?
A: Absolutely Nothing!

Q: So why do you enter these photo contests?
A: It gives me ideas and motivation to get out and take photos.

The more you use your camera, the better your photography skills become. Therefore, I am always looking for new ideas of things to photograph.

If it wasn’t for this month's “Wheel Power” contest, I would have never thought to compose these shots. I think they turned out pretty good.

These tractor tires are about 5-feet in diameter. To really show off the power and size of these wheels, I had the camera set just a few inches off the ground.

Bumper Crop

Bumper
Crop

These are the two words in this weeks 2 things challenge.

2 Things Challenge Rules:
Interpret the 2 weekly subjects any way you wish, in a photograph, collage, painting, poem, song, or whatever you can dream up and post on your blog. When done, leave a comment here to let us know.

For this one, I decided to go through my photo archives looking for bumpers. My plan was to “Crop” out the bumpers from a variety of photos and create a “Bumper Crop” collage.

Here is the result and my 2 things challenge submission for this week:

You might be a Redneck?


This is the theme for one my Yahoo Photography Groups monthly photo contests.

But first, what is a redneck?

Many people consider this to be a derogatory term. Typically it refers to lower class, uneducated, white folks from rural areas. However, for me it represents a lifestyle that frankly I am quite fond of.

If I had to choose between spending an evening at fancy restaurant eating overpriced food and drinking expensive fine wine? Or sitting around a fire eating pork BBQ that you spent the last eight hours slow cooking on a home-made smoker, and passing around the moonshine bottle, it would be a very easy choice for me! Pass that Mason Jar my way!

However, being a college educated, ex-Yankee, from the outskirts of New York City; I could never pass for a full fledged redneck. Even after over 20 years living in the South, I still haven't lost that New York accent! But I did marry into a redneck family!

My wife Amy is from the hills of North Carolina, on the outskirts of Rutherfordton, NC. Very typical small town rural southern USA. Amy's Dad is truly the King of Rednecks, making Amy my redneck princess!

Yesterday we made a trip up to visit my in-laws. The perfect opportunity to get some shots for the "You might be a redneck" photo contest theme!

If your mailbox is made out of a tree trunk

You might be a Redneck!

If you have an old truck parked in your yard that hasn't moved in years

You might be a Redneck!

If your driveway looks something like this

You might be a Redneck!

If your workshop is larger than your house

You might be a Redneck!

If you drive a tractor

You might be a Redneck!

If you have more than (10) saws in your chainsaw collection

You might be a Redneck!

If you proudly hang this sign above your shop door

You might be a Redneck!

Bugs

Today wWe took a trip up to Rutherfordton, NC to visit the In-Laws.  There always seems to be some interesting things to photograph there.  Here are a few misc. bug shots from this afternoon.  (note:  they are all hand-held, so the focus is a bit off on a few)

Big Bee

Mystery Bug

Grasshopper

This is how baby bugs are made

Grasshopper on a lock