denim and burgundy

I have an aunt who taught me to love old barns. We could be driving along just about anywhere, and she'd spot and old barn and comment on what a great subject for a painting it would be. She trained me to look for them without even realizing it.

There is a barn a few miles from my house that I just love. It's not particularly interesting in it's structure, and it's probably not really that old. But the colors draw me in! The way the galvanized tin and rust blend is so beautiful. I look forward to seeing it every time I drive by. One day I stopped to take pictures so I could send them to her and I thought I'd share them here as well.

Sailors Take Warnin'

My daddy and I were avid fishing buddies when I was growing up. It never got too hot or too cold for us to go fishing. (In Tennessee the water never (that I know of) froze enough that you couldn't get a boat through.) On nearly every trip, Daddy would look at the sun and quote, "Red sky in the mornin', sailors take warnin'. Red sky at night, sailor's delight." I was reminded of this as I came in from milking. The sun had just popped over the horizon, and it was a beautiful blaze.

My Wrecking Crew

The goats have proven to be a wonderful addition to our homestead. I'm afraid Wayne may not agree, though! He has "help" any time he tries to work outside. Most of the time it's just a challenge, but sometimes it can be a little too much. Like this day when he was working on a riding mower, and Miracle decided to have a taste.

You last heard that I was buying Perle and "Jasper." A lot has changed since then. The breeder had named "Jasper" Bill after Buffalo Bill because he looked like a baby bison when he was born. I'd known him for almost two months before he came home, and I never could remember Jasper quickly enough and called him Bill at least half the time. I gave in and he is Bill. Getting a good picture of him is like trying to capture a wild animal in the jungle!
Perle is the original dairy goat I selected to bring home. She has proven to be a real sweetheart, and a joy to milk twice a day. (She does have ornery moments from time to time, but who doesn't?!) I am very pleased with her. So much so that I may not branch out into the Nubians like I originally planned.

Pete (as in, Peter Pan) was a sweet surprise. I was there while Pete's mother was in labor, and also next day, but not at his actual birth. Michele (my breeder) gave him to me, which was such a blessing because I didn't really get to enjoy Bill's "bottle baby" phase. Pete is truly my baby!

Miracle is our most recent addition to our herd. She's quite a mess! She is very sweet, loving, and attached to people. I'm not sure she even thinks she's a goat.
She's also into EVERYTHING!!! -including my flower pot. LOL!
Miracle has a precocious udder. She is only six months old, and her udder is nearly as big as Perle's.