INITIALLY, THE HUE caused me consternation. Who paints a barn yellow? Red, or perhaps grey or white, should define agrarian buildings.
Near Nerstrand, Minnesota. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo.
But the more I study this photo, the more the color appeals to me. Creamy pale yellow, the shade of butter, seems fitting for a building which sheltered, maybe still does, cows and perhaps a myriad of other farm animals.
The hue, too, accents the foundation of locally-quarried limestone. There’s something about a stone barn foundation that portrays strength and history and hard work. Just imagine the time and effort invested and muscles used.
Duo silos flank the barn like soldiers in steely grey uniforms, always at the ready.
This scene pleases me. Every barn, no matter its color, deserves to stand, guarded against the assaults of time and weather and so-called progress.
Of that I am certain.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
There is history behind painting barns red. I’ve seen yellow barns in different parts of MN and WI. The one particular one that I recall is located just outside of Rice Lake, WI.
http://home.howstuffworks.com/question635.htm
You’re right. I’m sure there’s a story behind the yellow. I was aware of the reason barns are painted red. Thanks for directing readers to an explanation.
Yes….there’s much in this photo that evokes an earlier time when silos (not bunkers) housed the necessary winter rations for those beloved critters who faithfully and quietly occupied their appointed stanchions (not a parlor) and, in the case of our ‘girls’, had their names proudly displayed on hand-painted plaques hanging above them….along with the admonition to “Please, hit the gutter, Girls”!!!!!!! Ah yes, those were the days………..
Written as one who knows of what she writes.
Interesting too, because I/we are totally city-raised and know nothing of farming……til the move and, well, one can learn a lot from books and the fact we were unaware that just maybe some of our endeavors were a bit crazy to attempt w/o any hint of experience!!!! LOL! “Ignorance is bliss” couple with youthful energy levels!!!!!!!
Sometimes that’s the best way to learn. Simply jump right in.
A “we can do this” attitude results in a ton of learning!!!!!
And you impress me as the kind of woman who won’t let a little challenge stop her.
read: stubborn (or, more politely, determined!)
Either word works for me.
I love this barn. It definitely shows weathered character and oh–the stories it could tell. Great shot, as always, Audrey.
Thanks. I think it a great barn also with lots of character.
So lovely!
Im in full agreement regarding barns
Historical structures worthy of care/protection/restoration/preservation
Yes, absolutely worthy of all three.
Very beautifully written – almost poetic. I like the yellow too.
Thank you, Rena.
First of all, Audrey, your writing is more poetry than prose in this post. (How’s that for alliteration?) Now I am curious what the foundations are made of on the old barns around me. Surely not stone, I’m going to have to figure it out!!
Oh, how I love alliteration. It’s like music to my ears.
You perhaps do not know this, but I am also a published poet. Sometimes I write in a more journalistic style (wherein lies by college education and past work experience) and sometimes I write with the pen of a poet. My style depends on subject and inspiration.
No, I didn’t know that at all, Audrey, but evidently your poetic self tries to nudge her way into blog posts occasionally. In any event, your writing is superior.
Thank you, Barbara. Writing has always been my passion with photography on her heels in recent years.
If you check my “About” page (see tab on upper right corner of my home page), you can read my list of recent poetry and other writing credits. That will also reveal a bit more about my background.
Beautiful Capture – I would love the greenhouse next to the barn 🙂 Happy Hump Day!
I was wondering when one of my observant readers would notice the greenhouse. You win the “Observer of the Day” award.
YAY!!! I am a winner 🙂
You have always been a winner.
I love photos of old barns. I would love to get out and take photos of them myself, especially the ones that are falling down, before they are completely gone. I also think of the original owners, how happy and proud they must have felt to have the big barn. My husband is a cow person,also refers to his “girls” and ponders over their names. No plaques for them though.
Oh, another appreciator of barns. Two, I should say, given your cow person husband also appreciates them.
i am in Love with this barn! My favorite are those with the stone foundations. Never again will they be constructed in this way, so when we see the ones that have weathered through the years we can be glad that we were able to witness the beauty of these steadfast structures. I too appreciate this pale yellow…such character, thanks for sharing 🙂
Well said by someone who loves and appreciates old barns as much as me.
Love that old barn, can you imagine what it took to place the shingles on that roof? That limestone foundation does speak strength; think of the load placed upon it with the size of that barn! I too like that pale yellow color; I just imagine it would be a bit easier to see if you were in a Minnesota white-out snow storm and were trying to find the barn. Yes I do believe that pale yellow would really stand out..
And there are definitely white-out/blizzard conditions in Minnesota today. Some mighty nasty weather…