Mike WJ, Ziva, 00dozo, Bryan, Elizabeth A., John Nonamedufus, Katherine, Kristen, LaughingMom, Malisa, Mariann, Meleah, Mo, Nicky & Mike, Nora, and Tanya.
Tomorrow's prompt is: Fire. For some reason, I can't keep my mind out the gutter on this one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
my mind wanders back
reflects upon days long past
too often I stare
hours on the tractor
alfalfa, clover, and grass
fell under the blade
we wielded pitch forks
spread, turned, released the sweet scents,
and watched for storm clouds
piles built in the fields
gathered and pitched on the cart
forked into the loft
sweat-soaked, exhausted
we lazed on the new-mowed hay
content and fulfilled
memories play tricks
create illusions of bliss
it's risky to stare
Wow, I'm just blown away. You are a fabulous photographer. Great pic. Good enough to frame.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing Rustic shot! Love it!!
ReplyDeleteI went to college in southcentral Pennsylvania and actually saw tractors like that in operation on Amish farms. I like the edge (is that what you professional photographers call it) on this photo. Was that tractor setting there or did you superimpose it on another photo? Either way, it really works.
ReplyDeletenice shot cheryl...we have an old farm house not too far from here where they have kept up the old house and the old equipment for historical purposes...its a really cool place...i like the verse too...and we def can fall for the allusions of bliss in places and situations we def do not understand...smiles.
ReplyDeleteThis may be my favorite so far...
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't help but look forward to Fire.
;)
Great photo. The brilliance of the old machinists just blows my mind.
ReplyDeleteIt was just there as an ornament on the lawn of the wealthy folks who may or may not be trying to remember their roots.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how to do anything except take photos, crop, sharpen 'em up a bit, and balance color (something that the labs used to do for us when we used film). I'm a complete failure at textures, backgrounds, photoshopping, etc. ad nauseum.
Thanks man. This is the one I almost used for Wheels. I liked it too much to toss it up on a post I could so easily find something else to shoot. This had Time written all over it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amanda.
ReplyDeleteThanks Brian. There are quite a few of these around, sitting in fields as a marker to what was. This was being used as a lawn ornament of a manse-like home. I loved the background on this shot better than the open field shots.
ReplyDeleteThe piece is a reminder to myself to let go of the delusions and illusions of how blissful it was growing up. It wasn't and it had its moments. Haying was one of them.
Thanks Sue. While my mind is in the gutter, my photography isn't. More's the pity.
ReplyDeleteMine too. The intricacies of old farm equipment is mind-boggling.
ReplyDeleteYou used trickery on this shot, so it's disqualified. ;)
ReplyDeleteOkay, seriously. This is a strangely arresting photograph, I think partly because of the gear inside the wheel, which makes it look a little like clockwork, and also because of the contrast of the orange-rust color against the gray tree branches. I'd actually love to see another picture of it without any green at all in the background, because I think it'sd be even more dramatic. But it stands on its own. Great work, Cheryl.
Beautiful photo! Lovely poetry too!
ReplyDeletewhat an amazing photograph AND poem! You rock!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike. If I had a clue as to how to make the green turn gray, I'd do it to see what it looks like. I can edit a photo with fairly simple software but once I get near textures and backgrounds and overlays I'm completely out of my league. I played with pxlr.com and figured out how to spot touch with color (Ants Perspective). I'm pretty sure that won't work here.
ReplyDeleteGawd, I hope it was okay to add that bit of vignette around the edges. ;-)
Thank you. The poem was longer and a bit harsher but once I'd lashed out, I deleted the excess. I don't know about your writing process but mine is kinda like puking then cleaning up all except the big chunks. (If that's not the most twisted simile you've ever read, I'll pay you a buck.)
ReplyDeleteThanks Meleah. I got my second wind and am actually starting to enjoy myself. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing photo Cheryl! To me, it looks like some kind of fascinating medieval torture device.. It would look great in my dungeon.
ReplyDeleteLove your words today. We grew up on a farm and this brought back all those wonderful memories!
ReplyDeleteYou've mixed picture and words into one to tell your story. Masterful. I love old things, and somehow I had a grandpa with a little boy in his lap, "driving" this tractor, "C'mon Granpa, just one more time! Let's ride the tractor!"
ReplyDeleteTina @ Life is GoodCo-Host of the April A to Z Challenge Twitter: @AprilA2Z #atozchallenge
your brave to do this. they are great photos love them. thanks for stopping by and commeting on my blog new follower
ReplyDeletelovely photo and words! I like old rusty things, they have served their time and are taking a well-deserved nap.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable. So striking that makes you feel young. Makes me feel young.
ReplyDeleteCool photo! I love old things.
ReplyDeleteI think it would fit in nicely with your whip and whatever else you've got down there.
ReplyDeleteThere was nothing like haying time, was there? I developed allergies to pollen that became so bad I couldn't even be at the farm when the hay was brought in.
ReplyDeleteExactly! They are cherished and, for the most part, sit in places where they'll be readily seen by passers by.
ReplyDeleteOooooo, I like the way you think! I'm nowhere near as old as this. I think.
ReplyDeleteFoolish is more like it, and thank you for the compliment. Some days have been tougher than others.
ReplyDeleteMe too. Are you back from the EBWW? If you're not, you're nuts to be trying to keep up with this folly while being entertained (and I'm sure entertaining) those funny funny women.
ReplyDeleteYikes! This looks like a torturous contraption! But the memories sound great.
ReplyDeleteIt's a simple old-time cutter for hay. Nothing to fear. Those particular memories are.
ReplyDeleteHow do you find this stuff?? I don't really care, it's fabulous, as is the photo and your poem.
ReplyDelete;-)
No! No, Cheryl! No vignette! You are out! Te he he...
ReplyDeletememories play tricks
ReplyDeletecreate illusions of bliss
it's risky to stare
Words of wisdom, girl. Words of wisdom.
Since I copied your words, I can only write in center format. Sigh.
I am really in awe of your photography skills. You are unbelievably good. I love this photo...
even with the vignette. :)
When my comments were posted, it went back into the right format. Hooray!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely risky. Memories of the past should be dusted off just long enough to savour but not long enough to become a choke hazard.
ReplyDeleteThat tractor is magnificent but I wouldn't like to drive it!
I see things. Thankfully, I don't see dead people.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nod to the vignette. This photo screamed for some kind of framing.
ReplyDeleteYou may be one of the few who read and understood the words. For that, I thank you.
That's it in a nutshell. Since early February, I've felt haunted by memories that have surfaced unbidden. I've practiced all the tools to quiet them. I know why this started and why it gained momentum. I think the storm has passed.
ReplyDeleteThat actually got hooked to a tractor. Someone rode on the back and worked the levers to raise and lower the blade. It's really a fascinating bit of machinery.
::snort::
ReplyDeleteIf this were a SOOC (straight out of the camera) non-contest, a whole bunch of us would be out. At least I'd be in fun company. ;-)
BEAUTIFUL shot Cheryl.. I love it.. Very awesome.. ;))
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was begging to be shot. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love this photo. Love it. I mean... AAAMMMMAAAZZZZIIIINNNNNGGGGG......
ReplyDeleteThank ye kindly. It was just sitting there all posed and everything.
ReplyDeleteThank gawd for the miracles of the interwebs and left-justification.
ReplyDeleteAmazing shape for an old implement. Great shot, Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely capture. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteCheryl, this is perfectly rustic, & LOVE how it just pops out at ya! Congrats on your win last week!
ReplyDelete(Lol... I giggled a t your intro)
Thanks Mary.
ReplyDeleteThanks Melanie. You do know that thing is rigged, right?
ReplyDeleteI hadn't noticed that. In my mind's eye, I see it with the blade down.
ReplyDeleteI like it. the special effects framing the photo add an element of 'old photo' nice.
ReplyDeleteI'm stomped for a second, I have no idea what that thing is until I finish reading all the comments. Great shot!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jama. I never would have known what that thing was!!
ReplyDeletewhat a cool pic! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat photograph - love what you have done to it to make it stand out and still look old - seems to be coming out of the past and into the future! I just noticed that I am the 56 person to comment -- although maybe your responses count as well -- in any case, how do you keep up with so many fans!!
ReplyDeleteA very interesting piece of equipment!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ginger.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm sorry. I wrote the haikus and they are vague about what this is. An old hay cutter.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tina.
ReplyDeleteI didn't do much with the photo except sharpen it and vignette it. It's held up well over time. Since these are left outside to the northeastern US weather, they do get beat about by lots of water and wind.
ReplyDelete(My responses count as well. I try to keep up with comments and visits and sometimes I fall behind.)
It's an antique hay cutter either pulled by horses or attached to a tractor. Someone would ride on this to raise and lower the blade. Voila! Hay.
ReplyDeleteWow such a lovely photo!
ReplyDeleteKim,USA
Thanks Kim.
ReplyDeleteI like the tractor against the trees; it looks like it's in the middle of the woods! Rustic and nice special effect. I like your haiku, too :) Greetings from Pleasantville, NY :)
ReplyDeleteStunning image. It captures the passing of time perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThis is really, really special, Cheryl!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pauline. I loved the setting as much as the old hay cutter.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much.
ReplyDelete