September 4, 2008

Photo Challenge: Things with Wings

Time for the latest Brenda Photo Challenge! The subject is Things with Wings, picked by the current challenge hostess, Shannon of Paint Mine Pink. To select photos with “wings”, I reached into my digital inventory from our northeast USA journey in 2006.

Directional Wings - We visited the Shelburne Museum a couple of decades ago, and we couldn’t resist seeing it again on this trip. Located in Shelburne, Vermont, the museum has an amazing collection of historical Americana artifacts. We were like kids in a candy store, taking pictures of the grand buildings, antiques, and folk art. One of the dozens of buildings on the grounds is the Horseshoe Barn. The 2-story barn contains one of the best collections in the world of 19th and 20th century horse-drawn carriages, coaches, and sleighs. Perched on the top of the barn’s copula is a gorgeous American eagle weathervane with a beautifully aged patina. It reminded me of our eagle weathervane that we purchased on a coastal Maine trip years ago.

a copper eagle weathervane follows the wind at the Shelburne Museum
Spooky Wings - We discovered a precious little graveyard next to the Church on the Hill in Lenox, Massachusetts. It was a treasure trove of old headstones, carved with images of folk art angels and other figures. We had stopped to take pictures of the lovely church, built in 1805, and were instantly smitten with the charm and history of its adjacent cemetery. Here’s an example of one of the headstones with a stylized winged angel standing guard.

charming folk art headstones are common at Church on the Hill cemetery in Lenox, MA

Speedy Wings
- Remember the REO Speedwagon rock band from the 1970s and 1980s? They got their name from a flatbed truck made by the REO Motor Car Company. When we visited the
Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, we saw a beautiful antique REO vehicle parked in a garage. Nearby was this delightful metal advertising sign, featuring the winged logo of the company.

a colorful old advertising sign for a motor company is one of many artifacts to find at Hancock Shaker Village

31 comments:

  1. Oh you have done a great job of your piccies!!
    You will have to stop back by my blog as I missed adding one of my pic's...It'll give you a laugh!
    If you are'nt too prudish..LOL!
    bUT YOU DID A STELLA JOB OF THE CHALLENGE

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  2. Why thank you, my dear! LOL! I'm coming back to your blog and will peek through my fingers so as to not to mar my delicate sensitivities. Haha!

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  3. Donna you are a blast!
    An absolute cracker!!
    I just read your comment on my blog and it has put a smile on my dial!
    And have added you to my side bar again!
    Some how I lost you along the way:(
    But Your back!!xo

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  4. Hi Donna,

    I love all of your wings. I also think graveyards are so interesting. I've never been in this part of the country so this is fun to see.

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  5. Hi donna, this is a very nice choice of things with wings. I like the guardian angel best. In memory of widow abigal moor...
    Have a nice weekend!

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  6. What great photos. I really like the headstone best - it's really beautiful and regal. Love the patina.

    Sharon

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  7. Hey, country cupcake! I think you are an absolute hoot and I've got you on my sidebar, LOL!

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  8. Thank you, Joan, Marie, and Sharon! Those old headstones are quite wonderful. This was one of many, and I had a hard time selecting one to share.

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  9. These are great! I love visiting spooky graveyards so I especially love the winged headstone.

    I've been looking at your sunflower photos too, they're my favorite and you've captured them beautifully!

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  10. Thanks, Brenda! It was happenstance that we found the little graveyard and all the charming old headstones. We must have spent a couple of hours there, just walking around!

    Glad you enjoyed my sunflower pictures too. The blooms were beautiful this year!

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  11. these photos are great...plus it's an added bonus they were taken from one of your trips...it's always fun to see what objects become notable to mention. These are all wonderful.

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  12. Thanks, Joni! I thought that some interesting journey pictures would be fun! I am always amazed about the variety that everyone provides in these challenges.

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  13. I Love All of these! Especially the headstone! SPOOKY and Pretty!!!hughugs

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  14. You have good taste, Donna! Everyone seems to like the headstone the best! The old carvings are pretty, I agree!

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  15. what a great take on the photo challenge. i love them all!!!

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  16. Thanks, Cindy! I have great fun doing these challenges!

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  17. I love the weathervane. I'm always on the lookout for those to photograph and that old gravestone is awesome! Didn't think of using a photo of one of those.

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  18. Ah, great Donna...all that in the midst of moving too...! But it is fun to go back through the photos and air them out so to speak...

    We all love the gravestone, but I wanted to clean it off and read all about the widow and when she died (and how old she was)...I am going to have to go back to Vermont...one of my favorite places! Perhaps any of our local graveyards have all sorts of interesting tales to tell don't they?

    Thanks for your visit to my blog..glad you enjoyed it..

    Annie

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  19. I love them all. Nice job, Donna. :)

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  20. Great photos. Where did you find that sign? perfect!

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  21. Thanks, Cindra! I was glancing through my picture files and it jumped out at me! I forgot all about the REO logo having wings. So it paid for me to look, LOL!

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  22. Thanks, Annie! The headstone says that Widow Abigail More died on May 25, 1800 in the 69th year of her age.

    It says at the very bottom: "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."

    These old tombstones are fascinating!

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  23. I appreciate you visiting, Jean! Old weathervanes in New England are great fun to photograph. And we really lucked out with finding that little cemetery!

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  24. Excellant choices! I love all three of your pictures. So creative!

    Nita Jo

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  25. Thank you, Nita Jo! I like to throw in some interesting photos in the challenges.

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  26. LOVE your perception of this challenge!

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  27. I like to do things a bit differently, Jeanette! LOL.

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Marty, here! Donna loves comments, and I faithfully pass them on to her. Thank you so much for visiting!