Canadian Barns

I have always loved seeing barns as I travel through country sides. When I see one in the distance on road trips I sort of think of it as a nostalgic treasure. I have asked myself why they intrigue me. I think it is because I used to go hide out in the hay mount to teach myself chords and sing with those great acoustics! I would sometimes take my guitar out into the pasture, but that flatland of Nebraska makes you too easy to see even from a great distance.

I think, spiritually, barns represent a place to keep the harvest. Also, it meant shelter sometimes for livestock. Shelter and safety were some issues for me growing up. I wonder, when I see old barns what stories they hold.

I found the Canadian barns, even though they might be falling down, were pristine and not surrounded by junk. I seldom saw a junky yard in town or country. When I saw a barn coming into view II would try to focus without having to stop the car, so many shots were deleted that were blurred as we flew down the road. But I must say in fairness, I did ask the driver to slow down many times; and he was quite willing, if it was possible, to turn around for me to get a shot of a really cool barn.

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I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.
Ps. 119:162

Watching and Waiting

One of our favorite places on this trip was in Algonquin Park at Canisbay Lake. Eric was content to sit by the water as I took a stroll to see what visitors might be on the wildflowers along the paths. It was refreshing to both of us to just be quiet and alone, relishing in the refreshing presence of God.

I have found a helpful tip about photographing butterflies and bees on flowers is to be patient and study where they often return. Focus on that blossom and take the picture when they land on it! I have gotten pictures of red dragonflies this way. They are so fast that it is hard to catch them still but for a moment. A moment is all you need! But the patience required to wait for the moment? That is a gift of the spirit that comes with much willingness to wait. In the waiting there was a time spent in prayer and praise. Quietly watching and waiting have great rewards!

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I'm in the very presence of God...oh, how refreshing it is!
Ps. 73:28

Take a breath

A friend asked me today if I was disappointed in our trip to Canada. My pictures were nice, but not the dramatic scenes I usually capture on vacation.

I thought about the difference between this trip and others. I think we still had the anticipation of seeing new territory together and getting lodging along the way without reservations. I think the difference was how we were breathing most of the time. Except for Niagara Falls, most of the territory we saw was rolling farmland, level lakes, and rolling hills. There was not the extravagant terrain that we often see. I noted a difference in how we would take a breath of peace so often in what we were seeing. The mosquitoes were making war on us; however, the hikes even in the rain and the smells of the forest were very peaceful. There was no phone service, and we were secluded from the busyness of business and big cities. I found myself exhaling and inhaling peace.

When you look at the Grand Tetons from a hot air balloon it takes your breath away. When you look into a deep canyon outside of Jasper it takes your breath away. When you fly over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter it takes your breath away. But when you examine the beauty of a wildflower, see a single sailboat on the water, take in the reflection of a fallen tree in a lake, or wonder about the history of an old barn, you find your breathing slowed and peaceful.

We were guided to peaceful places where we could take a breath and have a great, peaceful sense of His presence.

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It is good to be near God.
Ps. 73:28

Hawkweed

I found a half dozen wildflowers on this trip that I had not seen before. When I first came upon the tall stalks with tiny red buds I had no idea what they were. When I saw clusters later that had partially opened I was able to identify them from a wildflower book at one of the visitor centers. The hawkweed was prevalent all over Ontario, but especially along roadways and next to lakes. I found a small yellow flower with the orange ones, and found that it was hawkweed as well.

One of my husband's favorite places to sit by the water was also one of mine as well. It was at a lake at the end of one of the trails at Algonquin Park. I took a walk and found lots of butterflies and dragonflies enjoying the hawkweed. Getting a photograph of a flower as well as a bee/butterfly, or other visitor is a double blessing. I will save some of those pictures for the next post.

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If God cares so wonderfully
for flowers that are here today
and gone tomorrow,
won't he more surely
care for you?
Matt. 6:30

Fields of Gold

One of the repeated scenes that made my heart leap is when I could see a field of rapeseed coming on the horizon. I first saw a field of it on a trip to Idaho. It is so cheery that you cannot help but take a big breath and break into a smile.

The fields were often speckled with yellow wildflowers as well, and were great color treats as they surrounded barns. The barns and farms were, for the most part, very well taken care of. We RARELY saw junky yards in town or country.

It was especially nice to see a Canadian flag flying in front of a field of gold. Since Canada Day was July 1st, there were Canadian flags everywhere. We saw them on horses, barns, heads, cars, shirts, fences, farm animals (a teaser for a future post of the Canada Day parade we witnessed in Thornbury.

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Let the fields rejoice, and everything in them!
1 Chron. 16:32b