Saturday, October 2, 2010

Albert County Ways

Here are a couple of country scenes I happened upon last weekend when I took a little drive down good old Highway 114 to the Albert County Museum.



A cartload of pumpkins because it is October, after all.



Old boys with their old toys, standing around chewing the fat.

(cue John Denver: Thank God I'm a Country Boy)


The general blacksmith's shop, for all one's ironic needs.


Plus I saw the writing on the wall, on the prison wall, that is, a prison that mostly housed debtors and drunks, I was told.  This fellow's rather unimaginative message tells us that he was confined August 25 and his date of release was to be November 8.  It's good to have something to look forward to in life.  Although there is a Buddhist tenet that advises "abandon all hope."  I guess it means to make the best of each moment that we have, for that's all that we have.  I think that hope makes the world go round, though.  But I suppose one of the main goals of Buddhism is stillness rather than spinning around.  That would be for the Dervishes. But Albert County is predominantly Baptist country, so we won't get into all that here.  I think that's enough history and religion for one blog post, don't you?


16 comments:

  1. The following also applies to your previous posting - SUNSHINE OF MY LOVE:
    Hands and fingers, knees and toes
    We cannot hold how fast time goes
    You only get this one chance to grow
    So take it slow, take it slow.
    (lyrics from Young Once, Rose Cousins)
    notes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALWBEJJU4Nc&feature=related

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  2. xoP
    Thank you for your thoughtful comment and for sharing a tune I know you're very fond of, by a performer you admire. I live my life in the slow country life kind of lane but, nevertheless, am always astonished by how when I go to bed on Monday night it's Friday morning when I get up. The weeks are lost in the dust that's blowing down these byways of time, or so it seems. As another great songwriter put it, "You can't return, you can only look behind from where you came, and go round and round and round in the circle game."
    Lxo

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  3. ...does this mean Dante was a Buddhist?

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  4. c,
    Dante the Buddhist: that's either a very interesting theory or a little known fact. In either case, I think it would make a fine PhD dissertation should you ever choose to return to your studies of Renaissance Literature. It would also likely become your mantra each day as you entered the hallowed halls of academia, "Abandon all hope ye who enter here."

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  5. How would I love to work at this Blacksmith business, something that I dreamed of for so many years.

    A wonderful detail as well the writing, which did throw me deep into thoughts. Thank you. Please have a wonderful Sunday.

    daily athens

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  6. Robert,
    It would seem that there is not a lot of call for blacksmithing these days, but with so many people owning horses, perhaps I am wrong in this assumption. Although, of course, a blacksmith could do all sorts of work other than fashioning horseshoes at his forge. I've only known one other person who has had an interest in blacksmithing, unfulfilled. Perhaps Athens is not the best place to pursue such a career? Do you have strong arms and great stamina and resistance to heat? I think these would be job requirements in this business. And dear Robert, when are your thoughts ever other than deep? I am happy if my words have stirred the depths just a little.

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  7. Impressive collection of pumpkins and good old country boys.

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  8. Madame DeFarge,
    Indeed, it's sometimes difficult to tell them apart.

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  9. Ooooh, Ah'm in hayven I think... pumpkins in the foreground and a dream house in the fuzzy background, then old tractors and good old boys standing around, a smithy to forge the prison bars... yep, Almost hayven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah river...

    Been missing you big Sis, hope to be getting back into the blogging rounds here soon, now that this totally irresponsible flight of fancy is nearly over, and have a true flight back to reality tomorrow, Philadelphia to Pareee, whooopeeee !

    Lot's o' love, yo bro

    PS Saw lots of pumpkins myself out in rural Pennsylvania, will have to share a few to help get back into the fall spirit... even had a slice of some mighty fine pumpkin pie tonight... yum !

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  10. Owen,
    I've missed you, too, little bro! Ah aint had no punkin pah as yet, so youse ahead'n me in that there category.

    Oh my yes, it's going to be a big dose of shock therapy for you to return to the daily mind grind at the factory, let alone switching gears from down home to gay Paree mode. Owen à la mode; yessir, I could use a big serving of that. Been thinking of you; great to have word.

    Lots o' love back atcha,
    Big Sis

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  11. the whole place looks like it has been let out of a time capsule...hard to imagine it is presnt time!! love that first pumpkin shot...

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  12. Oooh, punkins! I roast mine then make 'em into soup, in winter anyways....I see BrOwen has made it to your house..I KNEW you were the favourite!!

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  13. Catherine,
    A lot of this area feels like it's stuck in a time capsule, in more ways than one. I bet you like the pumpkins photo because of its bright colour; you need those sunny hot tones from having lived so long in Mexico.

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  14. Saj,
    You actually carve out the pumpkin meat and roast it and then make soup? Ye gods, I didn't know you were such a pioneer woman! I'll have to get Pierre going on that. Maybe he could purée some for Punkin Pah while he's at it.

    Yes, a surprise visit by our bro. I think he was afraid of the aftershocks rumbling down your way and felt safer to drop into my little "time capsule" world as Catherine (above) so aptly termed it.
    I've been missing you. Hope all is well.

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  15. i adore these pumpkins. i so love baked pumpkin, in the oven - my grandmother used to do this for us, and it is a kind of childhood spell for me, even now...

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  16. Roxana,
    It's very gratifying to feel oneself a purveyor of sweet childhood memories with my humble offerings here. Warm memories, oven heat, the loving gestures of a grandmother, the taste of colour on one's tongue: these are the images that your words bring to my mind.

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