Rough-Edged Charm
This old barn, age unknown according to the owner, shows humble log beginnings and later improvements. It is in use as a cattle barn, and since it has a good roof and was apparently built with care from the git-go, it continues to give good service. For those of us not necessarily concerned with satisfying utilitarian goals, it is a “neat barn” and exudes the rough-edged charm sought for and savored by barn aficionados.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Pine Buff, Arkansas
For this edition, we are reporting from LM (lower Missouri) as opposed to LA (Lower Arkansas). The occasion was the sometimes semi-annual good-ol’-boys visit to Rockbridge Rainbow Trout and Game Ranch at Rockbridge, Missouri. Rockbridge is in the boondocks and generally Internet-proof and cell-phone proof except for a few strategically placed wireless hot spots. With all this newfound time on one's hands, the siren call of new sights can be answered. While my cohorts plied the local stream for fat rainbow trout, yours truly nosed around the adjacent territory for barns and other Nikon fodder.
Hilly Southern Missouri
This is a wider view of the barn above, sitting in its hilly southern Missouri environment. It is on Highway N a few miles south of Rockbridge. The owners live on the property and were happy for me to prowl about and shoot. I hedged my bet by shooting a series from the road before I sought permission to enter the barnyard. You can see one of those pictures on our sister site Weekly Grist for the Eyes and Mind.
Not So Big
A bit further south on Highway N, a few miles east on Magness Road, I found this small barn. It is built along the lines of many of the old barns we see, but is substantially smaller. The premises upon which this barn lives looked less than inviting, so I captured this photograph from the road.
Traditional Lines
Deep inside a Polled Hereford ranch west of Rockbridge, I found this weathered barn. It is in use for its intended purpose. Built along traditional lines, it has the “barn look” we all admire. In this view we are traveling east and see the west side.
The Other Side
In this second view of the barn, we are traveling west and take a gander at the east side. Oh what a difference 180 degrees makes.
Anything for a Photo
There are lots of towns that are not as big as the hilly pasture where I spotted these small, medium, and large structures, all part and parcel of a cattle operation. The best shooting position for this picture was in the big middle of the rural highway's southbound lane. Fortunately, for this shot, traffic dodged me, instead of vice versa. And they waved as they cruised by. Truth be known, the traffic was sparse.
If you ever have an opportunity to cruise through south central Missouri, you can see these scenes for yourself. You will have to drive on some gravel, but trust me on this, no harm will come to you and your friends won’t know unless you tell them. If you have missed and believe you will continue to miss the opportunity to see for yourself, then I have served my purpose.
Thanks for looking.
But wait, there's more!
See this extra tall old barn,
plus a second view of two of the barns
you have seen here — including one
with a big ol’ Hereford bull chilling out at
Weekly Grist for the Eyes and Mind.
There is also another “livestock” picture.
