"Where'd you get that Barn Wood?"

From a barn, of course.

It's often been mentioned, and I'd agree, that many of my photos would look at home framed in barn wood. If you're me...the barn wood can't merely be purchased from a merchant, or in pre-made frames from a big box store. True barn wood for frames must be searched for through the exploration of the plains. I'm sure there are plenty more places that a person can find a barn than the plains, but the plains are where I happen to be. Not just any plains, but great ones. I want to type a winky face here, or maybe a smiley with its tongue sticking out to imply that I'm attempting to be silly, but I'm trying to maintain some shred of professionalism on this page. Now, back to the barn wood!

It's late, and I need to get to bed. My writing is showing it, so I'll let the pictures tell the story. I thought it would be neat to share the time that I spent with my big sister and Bella girl as we rode through the hills to find the abandoned barn that we were given the okay to gather a few boards from. Turns out, it pays to have farmers in the family, especially in a currency of beef and wood from an old barn. Okay, Bella....lead the way!

Bella Girl is mocking the silly giant mooing kitties. "Look at me...I'm a Cow...deeeehrrp!"

Bella Girl is mocking the silly giant mooing kitties. "Look at me...I'm a Cow...deeeehrrp!"

"Daddy, stop for a windmill pic...it's Windmill Wednesday"

"Daddy, stop for a windmill pic...it's Windmill Wednesday"

"What's that? Sniff Sniff....I detect a barn in the distance! Keep pushing forward!!"

"What's that? Sniff Sniff....I detect a barn in the distance! Keep pushing forward!!"

"Hmmm....I'm sure I can smell an old barn around here somewhere..."

"Hmmm....I'm sure I can smell an old barn around here somewhere..."

"Ah-HA!!! FOUND IT! Just look at all of this good stuff!! I mean..would ya just LOOK AT IT!?"  

"Ah-HA!!! FOUND IT! Just look at all of this good stuff!! I mean..would ya just LOOK AT IT!?"  

Honestly....I had mixed feelings about taking down boards from the standing structure...

Honestly....I had mixed feelings about taking down boards from the standing structure...

So.....I took every other one. Now it's just well ventilated. 

So.....I took every other one. Now it's just well ventilated. 

Nailed it.

Nailed it.

That should do it. Piled up and tucked into a nice tarp blanket

That should do it. Piled up and tucked into a nice tarp blanket

"Bye Barn!!"

"Bye Barn!!"

"Bye Cows!"

"Bye Cows!"

"Hello Kitty!"

"Hello Kitty!"

So, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed that short journey over the cows and through the hills to the old barn house we go. We've got the wood, but getting them made into frames...that's a different story. Thank you for letting me take the easy road tonight and let the pictures do the work and Bella's joyous spirit tell the story. I think it turned out to be a bit of fun, actually. The kitty at the end was when we dropped off the tools...and I just couldn't pass up the "Hello Kitty" comment. Bella has a great sense of humor. ;)  There's that winky face, it made it in after all. Besides, one can only be in the "deep thoughts" mode for so long

That being said, I absolutely Love my 4-Runner and the new wheels and Hankook tires look great in these pics, even though the tread pattern collects more mud than I'd like, I've had great experience with them off road and in the snow on my Silverado. Just need a leveling kit to raise the front a few inches and Bella girl and I can keep on trekking across the country to remote destinations to collect our favorite thing: more great stories. That picture with her head sticking out of the back window and the barn in the distance....that pretty much sums up our relationship. She's always my copilot as we go explore, and there's nothing more she likes than a ride with her head out the window. Turns out...we must be related. 

Thanks for joining us,

R&B

Breathe...and Take a Journey With Me...

A friend recently turned me on to the Netflix Original series "Sense8" (from the creators of the Matrix Trilogy) and it's absolutely incredible. I'm not going to get into the specifics of the series, other than to say it's an incredible journey through the lives of 8 people from across the globe of varying cultures, races, religions, and sexual orientation. These 8 people, are all connected with a collective conscience. The cinematography is beautiful, and the look into so many different ways of life, yet each containing so many similarities... is amazing. Watching this series seems as if I'm getting to watch the entire human existence around the globe simultaneously. 

During the first episode, I heard the song that I will share below, and immediately knew that I wanted to hear the rest. I googled "Song from Sense8 Episode 1" and found an entire list of songs from each episode of the series. The artist of the song I was looking for, which was playing as a beautiful, young Icelandic DJ is taking the drug DMT aka "The Spirit Molecule," is Sigur Ross and the Icelandic title is "Dauoalogn,"  which translates to Dead Calm. I'm so glad that I searched it on youtube and found the official video. The view is incredible. When you watch it, please, I sincerely ask you to enter full screen and use the best set of headphones you have. Everything about this visual and audible journey is exactly the way I Love to look at this amazing planet that we live on. People imagine alternate realities, discovering other planets and exploring the strange, the unknown. I've learned that those can all be found right here...on our very own planet. From our own back yards to the far off reaches of other continents across the earth. This video resembles very closely how I see the world when I'm at my sharpest, most clear and present moments. Now, perhaps my biggest struggle currently is trying to embrace that, nurture it, and keep it at the forefront. I yearn to surround myself with people who see the world as such. Perhaps watching this video will inspire you, like me, to want to get out and truly LOOK and SEE the beauty of the gift we've been given. May the calm that flows over me whilst watching this soothe you as well.

So, without further mumbling from me....click the link below and please, give it your full attention. Remember, full screen and headphones if you've got them.

 

Enjoy:

sigur ros valtari film experiment - a collection of 16 short films made for the valtari album. out now on dvd, blu-ray & download here: http://smarturl.it/sigurrosmysteryfilm for all valtari retail formats click here: http://smarturl.it/valtari taken from the "valtari mystery film experiment" - more details: http://sigur-ros.co.uk/valtari/videos/ http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk http://www.facebook.com/sigurros http://www.twitter.com/sigurros Music video by Sigur Rós performing Dauðalogn.

 

Neighbor

I've often said I would like to go back through my Facebook over the last 2 years and migrate posts to this blog. This evening,  a friend commented on and brought back to life this post from December, 2014. I shared it on "Nebraska through the Lens" and the photo was 'liked' by thousands of readers. Sure, Likes don't truly mean anything, but it's nice to know you've told a piece of someone's story, spread some good in the world, and know that someone is reading. 

 

Original Post: 

Today, I was blessed with some great conversation  from my new friend, Pat. Pat and his wife, Jo, are both 85yrs old and they'll be quick to tell you that Jo is older...by 2 weeks. 

They live across the street from the house I'm staying in. Today I walked over and  told Pat that I've seen him mowing his lawn and shoveling his walk and wanted to offer to help, yet I was aware that is what most likely keeps him in such great shape. He agreed with a smile as he pet my chocolate lab, Bella. Nonetheless, I told him to reach out if ever needed anything. Which of course, was reciprocated. "Anything you need at all, just let us know. Besides money." I couldn't help but laugh and assure him that I'd only ask for a screwdriver or a cup of sugar. 

When the mail came during our conversation I showed him how Bella could be of service and she took a mouthful of mail to Jo, who was sitting in the garage while Pat was working in the yard...before I interrupted him, of course. 

I couldn't help but notice a letter from the VA. This struck up a conversation and I got to hear the story of his service during the early 50's as a Radar Approach Specialist in the Navy. His training started in San Diego, CA, then to Corpus Christi, TX, and on to French Morocco. He was very grateful for such a great tour of duty. 

After his tour in Northern Africa he came home to his awaiting bride to be and became an air traffic controller in Indianapolis.  They later moved back to their home state of Nebraska where he taught High School math in Lincoln for 30yrs. 

Today, at 85, Pat is proud to still be certified as an Air Traffic Controller. 

What a great story. 

What a great man.

(I later printed and framed this picture and delivered it to Pat for Christmas…he tried to pay me. Key word "tried.")

 

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