Grandfather's Barn In the Appalachians

by Shelia Hunt

Title

Grandfather's Barn In the Appalachians

Artist

Shelia Hunt

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

“Grandfather’s Barn in the Appalachians”...

I knew it was still there, and even though it had seen its better days, my heart was filled with joy when I saw the old barn still standing in the hollow. Oh, the memories it brought back from growing up in the Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Tennessee!

As I approached the weathered structure, a rush of nostalgia washed over me like a warm, comforting wave. The paint was chipped, and the wood showed its age, but it remained a testament to the enduring spirit of the past.

I recalled the summers of my youth spent on my grandparents' farm, running through the fields, chasing fireflies as the sun dipped below the horizon. The old barn had been our sanctuary, a place of endless adventures and secret hideaways. The loft had been our fortress, the place where dreams were woven into reality.

I stepped inside, the creaky door welcoming me with its familiar sound. The sun's golden rays pierced through the cracks in the wooden walls, casting an enchanting dance of light and shadows on the worn floor. The scent of hay, long forgotten, came to mind. I could almost hear the laughter of my cousins echoing in the air, the memory of my grandmother's sweet voice, and the sight of my grandfather putting up the hay. Tears welled up in my eyes, not from sadness, but from the overwhelming love and gratitude I felt for the moments we had shared in this humble barn.

Leaving the barn, I looked out at the fields that had once been a canvas for our youthful adventures. The crops were long gone, replaced by new growth, but the old barn remained, a silent guardian of our cherished memories.

I knew that life had moved on, and our childhood innocence had given way to the responsibilities of adulthood. But in that moment, standing before the old barn in the hollow, I felt a profound connection to my past, to the people I had loved, and the indomitable spirit of a place that had witnessed our laughter and tears. It reminded me that, no matter how much time had passed, some things remained timeless, like the love and memories we hold dear in our hearts.

This photograph was taken in Northeast Tennessee, and I digitally remastered the original photo to include a textured overlay to showcase the beauty of the old barn in the hollow. Hope you enjoy it.

𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒
1st Place Award, “Favorite Image of Appalachia America from 2023” contest sponsored by Fine Art America’s Appalachia America group, 12/31/2023.

1st Place Award, "Roadside Barns" contest, sponsored by Fine Art America's Roadside group, 4/21/2024.


©Copyright 2023 Shelia Steele Hunt. All Rights Reserved. Thank you for visiting my gallery... I hope you find something that captures your heart.

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October 26th, 2023

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