These pictures were taken here and there while I was in West Virginia for our family reunion. The terrain is so different from what I'm used to here. First, the road leading "up the holler" to my cousin Lynn's. Hollers are narrow spaces between two ridges.... Lynn's holler has been in her husband's family for generations. It is a beautiful spot. The road to Lynn's holler ( photo / image / picture from daisybeans's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from daisybeans's Garden ) wildflowers... ( photo / image / picture from daisybeans's Garden ) fence posts had a lot of character ( photo / image / picture from daisybeans's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from daisybeans's Garden ) driving along the local road ( photo / image / picture from daisybeans's Garden ) Storm over the mountain as we were leaving - yikes! ( photo / image / picture from daisybeans's Garden ) At my cousin Lynn's, her husband Terry, and his dad have gardens here and there in the holler, depending on where there is a flat spot. This is Terry's little tomato and pepper patch next to the his out building. It was right on the edge of the ravine and there is a little creek that runs along there. They have a big plot further up the mountain but I didn't get any pics... One of the days I was there, Terry picked a 5 gal bucket of green beans and another of toms! ( photo / image / picture from daisybeans's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from daisybeans's Garden ) This is looking down the holler from Lynn's house on the left. The little collection of out buildings further down hold all kinds of treasures. All the men have "buildings" of various sorts. They are fascinating to me. They might have woodshops, mechanical shops, gardening tools or miscellaneous important stuff like buckets of bolts or various kinds of wires, and every kind of tool you can imagine -- literally generations of collected things.... If you need anything, chances are you'll find it "out in the building," as they say. The older buildings are like historical treasure hunts. Looking down the holler early in the morning ( photo / image / picture from daisybeans's Garden ) It was so quiet and peaceful there. Really a nice visit.
This "Take Two" posting shows a flavour of the West Virginal, I had imagined--lots of mountains and trees. Those out buildings surely do sound like interesting places to explore. I like old stuff and the prospect of rifling-through old tools and things tweek my curiosity no end. The 'still-lifes' that you took of fence post and "weeds" I liked seeing. I wondered right away what sort of flowering weed that was. Does a holler have an "in" and an "out"--or just an "in"? Things looked stormy when you left!
I enjoyed your post and pics. Such a different setting than I'm used to living in, I could almost smell the hams curing, coffee brewing and feel the morning mist on my face.
I'd so love to forage in all those out buildings looking for long forgotten treasure!! Lynn's place looks so tranquil that I can picture myself sitting with a good book and surveying everything around me. Thanks for taking the time to let us see what a lovely spot she lives in.
That sure looks like a wonderful, peaceful place to visit. And "the building" sounds like heaven...I LOVE looking for treasure
Thanks for commenting on my West Virginia pics. The out buildings ARE really interesting. I think we'd all have fun digging around.... and then show and tell on the porch!!! I remember when I was a teenager going through my grandfather's building and finding all kinds of things from when my dad and his siblings were young. It was literally layer upon layer of things... I have some of my grandfather's and father's tools now -- they are prized possessions. Sjoerd, hollers have an in only... unless somehow going over the top could be an out.... I think that's possible in some hollers but, I'm not really an expert on hollers. I will see if I can find any more pics that show you the general terrain. Not sure what the flowering weeds are -- I was hoping someone here would recognize them.
The purple wildflower is Ironweed (Vernonia altissima), I know it grows in New York, and we have it in Louisiana, so it grows from the North to the South in the States. Loves the tour of the Holler, very interesting. I would love to dig through the out buildings. I remember the corn crib growing up, not only was it used to store corn for animal feed, but it also held all kinds of treasures, an old fashioned storage shed I guess.
Lovely photos. I'd love to go treasure hunting in those out buildings. That would be a lot of fun. You find the same system here, DB, on the farms. I think some have spare parts dating back to horse-and-carriage-times.
Sure enjoyed your reunion, Daisy! Love the pictures. I have always wondered what a 'holler' was. Now I know!!
Thanks all. It is a beautiful spot... but too far for a regular escape. Takes about 7 or so hours Oh Droopy, wouldn't it be fun to compare the treasures we could find?! Glad I could fill you in on the holler, KG. No hollers in Texas, I guess, huh?
That holler looks like a wonderful place to live. Is it just your family there? Ohhh, my own holler with a big gate at the entrance, that's my idea of heaven. :-D Of course we have hollers in Texas Daisybeans, but they are called Mom's...you know, they holler for the kids to come in for supper, they holler at them to stay out of the street, etc.
