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About the Header Image: Idlebrook Wendy Darling Evensen "Wendy" one of our four Labrador Retrievers.

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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Wide Load

Good morning,

One of the joys of taking a ride in the country is being with all the country folks going about their daily business.  We followed this wide load for quite a few miles - at 15 MPH.  :) 
We weren't complaining, though, because we were out here seeing just what we wanted to see on the back roads of Ohio.

In my rear view mirror above you can see the John Deere Tractor pulling that wide load.
I love seeing the quilt barns just about everywhere now.  I don't remember seeing these when I was a child.
 We have now come South to Ohio Route 52 near Ripley, Ohio.
 Ohio Route 52 follows the North side of the Ohio River.  It is the now-paved horse and wagon path of the early settlers to Ohio who got here by following the river from the East.  Lovely old homes such as the one pictured above are here along the river.  Note how many additions have been made to the original home and the "s" shaped support in the side of the brick section.  That is the end of an iron bar through the home and anchored to the other side to hold it together.  It has certainly done its job.  This home has surely experienced many Ohio River floods, too.

There were also stage coach stops along these old highways which were restaurants as well as hotels.  This, however, appears to have been a home from the beginning.

 I hope you are enjoying our Ohio road trip.  We are having a fabulous time.

Very best,
Lois


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26 comments:

VP said...

I see you got the best of your slow ride. I din't know about 'quilt' barns, it is an nice way of decorate them.
Those bars are quite common here, but usually they keep together... brick walls!

Sherry said...

Another fun post to read and enjoy. LOVE your new header picture! As for the quilts on the barn, I think that is a new thing. I've only seen them in recent years.

Jan n Jer said...

We dont have too many quilt barns here in this area...but I'm sure there are some in other parts of the state, like Lancaster! Your Rd trip looks like my kind of trip. Love getting off the beaten path and discover the small towns! Great shots.

Marit Johanne said...

I love those quilt barns. Are the quilts painted on the wall, or is it real fabric quilts? Maybe a silly question from Norway:) We don't have them here, so I have only seen them on pictures. I wish we had some here too!!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Nice tour.

I've followed my share of tractors, combines, and such on narrow roads. Can't get in a hurry.

TexWisGirl said...

i'm glad you just enjoyed the traffic jam for what it was. :)

LOVE the header of your two magnificent labs! pure joy!

Reena said...

Another fun post. Enjoying the tour!

Judy said...

I've been seeing more of the quilt barns around here lately. I must have just missed them.

Lois Evensen said...

VP, yes, we have some brick barns here, but they are in the minority. Bricks were not readily available when these areas were settled so the barns are made of lumber. In fact, many were built during community social events when nearby farmers and their families would come to a "barn raising" to help raise or build a neighbor's barn in a very short period of time. Barns were also the center of other community events such as barn dances, community meetings, etc.

Sherry, Yes, those quilt barns are fairly new - they seem to appear as the Rock City and Mail Pouch barns disappear.

Marit, the patterns on the barns are painted on.

Thanks for all the nice comments on the new header. Penny and Erik are our canine athletes. :)

All the best,
Lois

grammie g said...

Hi Lois...Oh my isn't that a wide load...,but nice chance to view the locals!! : }
Those quilt barns a very artistic, there seems to be a lot of work in doing them!!
Glad your enjoying your trip!!
Love the header so cute!!

Rose said...

I really am enjoying the drive...feel almost like I am there with you. This is how we do sometimes...

Bob Bushell said...

That's a pleasant blog to read, nice one Lois.

Bob Bushell said...

Oh, I forgot, nice header.

Deere Driver said...

Just checking that you weren't blogging about my butt!

Nice nails, by the way! Perhaps I need to paint mine to cover the gardening stains. The skin washes but the nails are taking a beating!

That round bale would last my goats most of the winter.

Nice drive...

Wanda..... said...

Years ago, my husband and I road a motorcycle along some of those routes by the river.

Rick Watson said...

If you drove around here you might see me on some days on my tractor.
I try to keep the grass cut on the roadside in our community.
A cattle farmer who owns thousands of acres in the bottoms down by the river, comes by every few days on a tractor with a load of hay much like the one in your photo.
Things seem to move slower out here.

Elaine said...

I'm enjoying the Ohio country roads! I also like the header of your two labs in their favorite element.

Montanagirl said...

You see the best photo-ops on your drives! Love the quilt deco.

Angela said...

Looks like I need to venture out and over into Ohio a little more often! It is so pretty there where you took the pictures!

Kim, USA said...

That is beautiful!


Barn Charm

Kim, USA said...

That is beautiful!


Barn Charm

Anonymous said...

that certainly IS a wide load! LoL!
I haven't seen any quilted barns around these parts & only 1st saw one here while blogging on Carletta's blog a while back... They're great!
Thanks so much for sharing this one.
Can you imagine a horse & wagon path instead of highways? So neat! That must have been a pretty small house w/o the additions, even tho there's an upstairs.... wonder where the kitchen was. These old homes & barns are so very interesting to me & I'd love to explore them

Thanks, Lois =)

Ruta said...

We don't have any quilt barns around here that I know of...beautiful!

Bruce Clark said...

I really like the pattern on that barn.

Beth said...

I lived in Cincinnati for 7 years and never went down Rt. 52. We meant to, but didn't get around to it. I've read about the history and beauty to be found there like what you showed and told us about that beautiful brick home.

We do have barns with quilts painted on them here in southeastern Ohio. There was a project about 10 years or so ago involving these painted quilts. There was even a road tour of the various barns. They're still around today and still lovely.

EG CameraGirl said...

Ha! Not sure I would have liked driving for very long at 15 mph...but I have to admit I've been there, done that! :))

I don't see many quilt barns here in Ontario but I have seen them in Upstate New York. I think they are very cool.