Lower Huron Metropark

October 2017

Happy Harvest

All About Trees....

I think in October we pay more attention to trees than any other time of the year. This particular tree has been one of my favorites since the early 70's . I think that it is a Cottonwood. One time a friend and I had a little picnic near this tree. It is my "iconic" tree. Located in Lower Huron Metropark at the Tulip Tree picnic area this tree is now a part of the campground area. I was able to sneak in there (because absolutely no one was in the park) and relive some old memories. This area also had many different birds and was one of my favorite areas to walk through. I really miss hanging out there and am resentful of the campers. No Fair!

Bridge Over the Huron River

Morning Mood

Old School House

Autumn....I think...

 This is the oddest October for colors. Some trees are still green and many have no leaves left at all. Just not the vivid fall pops of color that we are used to.

 I got up in the middle of the night (7am) to get these shots. It was dark when I left the house and when I arrived at the park it was socked in. Some areas (around the river) the visibility was pretty  bad. Away from the river, when the sun started coming up, it was clear....as in the picture below. Still fun though and I think that I got a few good shots.

Farm Country

 It was certainly risky trying to find a safe place to stop and take a shot of some of these farm properties. This barn was on a particularly busy road with big trucks, fast cars and slow tractors. I loved the stone foundation on this barn and the patina of the old barn wood. Definitely a working farm.

 This barn is #2 on the barn tour list. Several years ago our photography group shot this barn and we got permission from the owner to go on the property. A well kept farm with cute little lambs.

 Just a barn.... looks to have been abandoned awhile ago....no farm house around.

I shot this barn in 2012........and below, a photo of the barn today. It looked like they were tearing down the farmhouse and the property is not being kept up.
One barn that was a favorite of ours has sinced collapsed. It is sad to see these lovely structures fall to the wayside, unloved and no longer needed.

Windows

 I wonder why I love windows so much. Could it be that I feel like I am in the inside looking out or my curious nature, on the outside looking in? Maybe I love them because they let the sunlight in.

Still summer at Elizabeth Park

 I am trying to be patient while waiting for the leaves to turn. I have a feeling that we will not have a spectacular display this year. Still too warm. Nothing is predictable this year. I still want to go to a couple of the metroparks but I'm waiting for fall to get here :-)

This and that from Greenfield Village

Elizabeth Park, Trenton, Michigan

# quilts

 Marking a barn with a quilt design is very popular in Ohio where annual tours are mapped out. I only saw two when I was out and about here in Michigan.

 Maybe this is the old fashion way to hash tag a building with a family quilt design. I have seen a few of these at different times when I was out shooting barns.

I saw this barn about 5 years ago in the same area

Pumpkins, every color, shape and size

Historic Barns Quest Complete

 The first barn on the Historic Barn Tour is this cobblestone constructed barn rarely seen in Washtenaw County. It was built in 1853, is a rectangular form with a front gable roof. The walls are hand split boulders and are 16 inches deep. Quoins (external angle of a wall) and doors and window lintels are composed of brick. It looks like this is no longer a working farm and certainly the barn is not in current use. I think the walls of this sturdy barn will stand for a very long time.

 Over the last few years I have visited and photographed all the barns on the Washtenaw County Historic Barn Tour with only this barn left out. I had a heck of a time finding it despite an address and a map. My GPS did not recognize the address and as you know country roads zig and zag all over the place. With some detective work I was able to locate the barn and it was well worth seeing. Of course, there was so much beautiful farm scenes along the way and I enjoyed myself very much. The Washtenaw County Historic Barn Tour has a website with descriptions, pictures and maps included. I know some of these barns are deteriorating and one has totally collapsed. They don't build barns like this anymore.