Midday Rest

Our little herd, taking their noonday rest under a redbud tree in March, 2003. Alice, at the far left, looks on suspiciously, but then, Alice always looked suspicious. This photo was among the first I made with my first digital camera, a Canon 10D fitted with a 50mm f1.8EF "nifty-fifty" lens.

Raising beef cattle may seem to be an odd avocation for a full-time commercial photographer, but that's what I did for 24 years. During that time I estimate I averaged at least 15 hours a week (probably more like 20!) feeding and caring for the cattle, maintaining the land, cutting firewood, etc., plus 40 or more hours at the studio. Louise did a lot also, but my work hours were more flexible.

We loved our cattle, and all had names. But all good things must end, and eventually it became clear to us that our time with our cattle was drawing to a close.

The cattle left in 2013, and gradually, maintaining the empty land became less and less fun. By 2017 or so, we realized that we no longer owned our property -- it owned us! Time to sell and move on to the  next chapter of our lives.

So we did.

Getting a drink before settling in for the noonday siesta.

Photographs and text copyright 2021, David B.Jenkins.

I post each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo

For the glory of God alone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My cows take their midday break

Starry Eyes

Bass Drummer in a Rome, Georgia high school band

Too busy to write anything today, so I'm posting a picture I made while working on a book in Rome, Georgia many years ago. 

Photograph and text copyright 2021, David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo

For the glory of God alone

 

  

Three Dollars from Rock City

     Rock City barn, U.S. Hwy 411 at GA 136, Gordon County

Just out of the picture on the left is an old farmhouse. Nobody was home in November, 1995 when I made this photograph, but the barn roof had been repainted recently.

Rock City Barns: A Passing Era was published in 1996. Part of my agreement with Rock City was that each of the barn owners would receive a copy. Rock City was to notify the owners and send the books to them.

A year later when I happened to pass by, a car was in the drive. My knock at the farmhouse door produced a small, elderly lady who, it turned out, had not received her book. I gave her one from the box in my van and showed her the photograph of her barn. She hugged the book to herself with both arms, sighing, “Oh, if only my husband could have lived to see this!” 

In the glory days of the Rock City barn advertising program, the company leased rights from the barn owners. The owners received paint jobs for their barn roofs every few years, tickets to Rock City, Rock City thermometers and other trinkets, and a small yearly payment. The annual check from Rock City had just arrived in her mailbox that very day and she showed it to me. It was for three dollars.

Adapted from my award-winning book Rock City Barns: A Passing Era.

Photograph and text copyright 2021, David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo

For the glory of God alone

Our Lavish God

 

Wildflowers by the roadside near Valdosta, Georgia.

Is it not by his high superfluousness that we know

Our God? For to equal a need

Is natural, animal, mineral: but to fling

Rainbows over the rain

And beauty above the moon, and secret rainbows

On the domes of deep sea-shells. . .

Not even the weeds. . .multiply without blossom

Nor the birds without music. . .    

                           Robinson Jeffers

Barnyard and flowers, Murray County, Georgia.

Robinson Jeffers was not a Christian. I think he could best be described as a high pantheist. But truth is truth, wherever you find it, and I think Jeffers caught an insight into the lavishly generous nature of God, "who gives us everything richly to enjoy."

                                        More roadside flowers near Valdosta.
 
This post is for Dave Hileman. Check out his blog at www.twolanetouring.com.

Photographs and text copyright 2021, David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo

For the glory of God alone

Quiet Beauty Is Everywhere

Geraniums and Stone Columns

St. Elmo Baptist Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee

 

 

Paint Pots after Children's Outdoor Art Class

 Riverbend Festival, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Virginia Creeper

Pardue Mill, Clarkesville, Georgia

Sunrise over Chickamauga Creek

McLemore Cove, Walker County, Georgia

                   Earth is crammed with heaven

                   And every bush aflame with God.

                   But only those who see

                   Take off their shoes.

                             -- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Photographs and text copyright 2021, David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo

For the glory of God alone