Director Tree /  by Dave Hileman

The mountain backdrop is set, the sky adds dramatic lighting and the wind’s overtones match the rustling branches of the tress. The director tree takes the podium and orchestra trees come to attention across the stage waiting for the cue to begin Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, known often as the New World Symphony. And renewal begins anew.

Cotten Kiss /  by Dave Hileman

Touring Cades Cove on Thursday was a treat. The sky changed every few minutes, the rain eased most of the time, the temperature hit 64 degrees, and the sun peaked out occasionally. At this point on the loop road, the sky to the east looked foreboding and to the south a weak sun peaked through thin clouds lighting the winter colors of the broom grass and winter weeds. Then a cloud slid over the mountain, dipped down the side and the bottom of the cloud, white and soft, kissed the mountain and then faded away. Wonderful moment.

Contrast /  by Dave Hileman

Live in the light and reflect that light, live in despair and darkness and you reflect that attitude. Always be full of gratitude for the day you have been given.

A Family Lived Here, final /  by Dave Hileman

We are now at the back of the house at the detached garage. Again, built by hand, old workbench in one corner and the floor covered with the detritus of years of occupancy and evidence of someone who kept a lot of “what if I need this someday” material. I like the angle of the door. The building is red like the roof of the main house porch and the roof of the shop. There may have been more buildings - there are a couple of what look like shed foundations in the back yard. Just barely visible past the big tree is a barbed wire topped fence around a large solar field. Clearly the family sold the farm to the power company and now a technology that no one who built this house or built their lives over many years vested in this farm would recognize. The son(s) or daughter(s) sold the farm maybe making one more trek back from Atlanta, or Richmond or Denver or a dozen places near and far to finalize the decisions they had made.

R I P MOM

A Family Lived Here, 3 /  by Dave Hileman

This is the addition on the left side of the house.It has a separate entrance and small porch and note the small AC unit in the wall, it looks like the only place on the property that was air conditioned. Notice the separate power pole, this spot needed a bit more power than could be had from tapping into the old fuse box in the main house. The driveway widened in this area and it looks like a few cars could park here or turn around here. That might have been where farm equipment was stored or, as I think, it was for customers of her shop. The small addition has a large front room and a smaller back room plus a very unique screen porch that leads to a door into the main house. My speculation is that while her husband worked elsewhere she did hair in the shop and possibly long after he passed away. I think she loved the little screen porch. She could access her shop dodging rain or sleet and avoided the heat of summer a bit too. I wonder if her “best” friends entered the shop by the screen porch’s side door? One more post tomorrow.

A Family Lived Here, 2 /  by Dave Hileman

So what can we know with a reasonable assurance? This house was lived in for a long time and the wife/mother appears to be the last to occupy the house. It was well taken care of in its day and someone added to the house at least twice. The shadow of an addition is seen on the right, parallel to the house and one on the left perpendicular to the house. More on that one later. The one on the right looks like added bedrooms. And we know at least one child but probably more children lived here. Note the sign on the house in the second photo. I’ve never seen that before. We know this was a very small farm and it is likely they worked elsewhere for the main income and, I would guess, had some chickens, grew vegetables, hay fields or some other crop and maybe a cow or six. The house was built by hand, maybe the owner and his family and friends? You can note on the closeup a holder for a flag. I picture Ol Glory here at least a few times a year and my imagination suggests he was a WWII veteran. Someone took pains to make the house nice with curtains on the windows, and everything inside painted well. Faded but still visible. I also think the family was happy when they installed the antenna on the chimney and picked up a four or five stations better than the rabbit ears on top of the TV. Later, maybe when just the mother was left, the kids got her satellite TV??? She tried to stay in the house as she declined as evidenced by the ramp added to the front door. Lots more here, what do you see? And more tomorrow.

A Family Lived Here /  by Dave Hileman

We are going to briefly explore this property for a couple of days. What can we know for sure? What might be true? We don’t often stop and think about the people of the past who are not in the history books, no statues or plaques in the public square. It is the story of most of us. Dreams, home, family, work occupy much of our lives and we can discover something about the family that lived here. Stay tuned.

Sunday Scripture: Photo is from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. /  by Dave Hileman

This is one of the first photos I ever made when I decided almost 18 years ago I was going to learn this craft. It was a very sparse effort for more than 6 or 7 years but since then I have devoted more time and attention. LOTS to still learn but it is fun, that is so important. This photo was left alone - a jpeg out of camera, so I will consider this my “Blue Period” - I think there was a famous painter that did the same.

Error Error Error /  by Dave Hileman

Don’t make the mistake if you visit Capitol Reef National Park in Utah of missing the pie. That would be a serious error in culinary judgement. I highly recommend the Strawberry/ Rhubarb or the Blueberry, or the Apple, or the Cherry, yeah, that’s the ticket, Cherry … or the Apple. Here’s a better idea buy two or four, (I did:) Course, I had a freezer with me. Or the lemon meringue.

Time Flies /  by Dave Hileman

This old store and combination restaurant is found south of the James River in South East Virginia. The modern SUV is motoring past on a modern version of this old country road at a speed the truck likely never obtained and certainly nothing was moving that fast when this structure was built. Everything changes all the time. Keep up!

Portrait Project #4 /  by Dave Hileman

Let me introduce you to Nae. I met her at the Virginia Diner where I was having a late breakfast with Dennis Mook (thewanderinglensman.com) after a morning of shooting photos. The Virginia Diner is an institution in the area and a great place to enjoy country ham! Nae was a delightful person - proud of her cute young daughter and working hard to create a future for the two of them. Appreciated her smile and her vivid personality. The photo was taken in the restaurant between customers and if you visit leave Nae a nice tip!

Portrail Project # 2 and 3 /  by Dave Hileman

Please meet Shane and Sandra. They were at the North Carolina Museum of Art and I stoped to ask what was the large wheel he was pushing. Turned out to be a powered unicycle and it would travel up to 43mph. I asked he if he had done that but he told me he was still learning. Then I noticed the huge helmet and the pads on his legs. I asked if I could take their photo and they agreed. I learned he was planning a cross country Amtrak trip to various National Parks and intended to get around on the unicycle. How cool is that! And the pretty lady also had a pretty laugh.

So day 12 of the challenge with three done, a bit behind I think.

Gila Cliff Dwellings /  by Dave Hileman

These were a challenge to get to in west central New Mexico but they were so worth the journey. A series of still well preserved dwellings dating from about 1100 dot the rugged cliffs. There is abundant water nearby and small fields were cultivated by these folks but hunting was still the main source of food. Geronimo was born in this area. Maybe in one of these homes in the sides of this rock wall.