I know most people do not get excited to go grocery shopping, but every once in a while I just enjoy driving the back roads to shop at a little tiny grocery store in the country. I stop at this store for a lot reasons, one is they have a ten pound meat sale every month and they still cut their our own meat. I know that sounds like a silly reason but when you get tired of buying Wal-Mart and Kroger prepackaged meats and start thinking about butcher controlled quality and quantity it is a big deal. So I drive out of my way ( 18 miles) to a family owned I.G.A. in the middle the woods in a town called Rock Cave. But my trip was a little more beautiful today then normal. The sun was out and the fresh fallen snow was beautiful so I took the my camera along for the ride.
I headed off with an idea of taking a new self-portrait for the “About Me” portion of the blog and getting a load of groceries. What I did not expect was to take an hour chore and 36 mile drive into a 5 hour 80 mile photo adventure that included shopping and meeting some wonderful strangers along the way. Who knew that I would see so many beautiful things on my way to the grocery.
As I left Buckhannon I stopped at a local church to enjoy the snow-covered cemetery yard. Some thing about a church with a cemetery just speaks to me.
Reger United Methodist Church Buckhannon. WV
Then through French Creek to a huge southern home with hay roles in the front yard. You know you are liven in the county when you bail the front yard.
French Creek house with hay bales fade-out
Then to Rock Cave to see a house that a friend of mine said they were tearing down. The cabin for years had white vinyl siding and today I finally got to see what was underneath.
Log cabin along Rt#4 Rock Cave, West Virginia
The temperature was running about 15 to 18 degrees as I stopped at every interesting place along my journey. So it was fast shooting and trying desperately to keep my digital camera working in the cold.
full front view of cabin on rt#4 Rock Cave, West Virginia
After filling my hatch back full of staples and meat at the I.G.A. I then drove down the road to a wonderful cattle barn. Not as old as the cabin above but just as wonderful. I thought sepia would make the barn more interesting.
Cattle Barn in Walkersvill, West Virginia tinted to look old
Then off to Napier an unincorporated town where frozen water falls formed along the rock walls everywhere.
Rusty Ice along the road Napier. WV
Water falling on icy rocks at Napier. WV
Then finally to where I thought I might get a nice portrait for the blog. I wondered around Falls Mills Park for a while just looking at the water and the beautiful snow before trying to get this photo. I took several shots to get this one but in the end I think I got some thing I can use.
Self Portrait of JoLynn Powers at Falls Mills, Braxton County. West Virginia
Lovely how the fresh snow makes the water look such a beautiful color.
I drove on further from home and ended my journey at Heaters, and Flatwoods, West Virginia about 46 miles from my home one way. Here I found a lovely house that I would say is the typical farm-house of West Virginia. Built during the 20’s and 30’s there are thousands of these homes hiding in our hills. This one is also has a working cellar in the back. I love old stone construction so I had to get a photo of it too!
Farm house at Heaters WV
root cellar behind house in Heaters West Virginia
Finally I reached the interstate junction and thought I better eat and head home from my grocery trip. It had taken almost all day to explore a long winding road and the things along it . I finally stopped to get a hamburger and fries when I discovered on the way back to my parking place that a Crow had taken up a resting spot next to my car. I think he was wondering why I did not have anything to offer him.
crow in snow
I hit the highway and headed home thinking about my car full of goodies and great day spent really looking at the wonders of where I live.
I am going to keep trying to do photo projects like these in the future. I just need to learn to slow down and see all the wonders around me.
Categories: Appalachian Mountains, Braxton County, Buckhannon West Virginia, photo review, snow, traveling, West Virginia, Winter Tags: appalachian mountains, Barns, Buckhannon West Virginia, Cabins, churchs, ice, Photo review, Rock Cave, snow, West Virginia, winter wonder land