Posted on by Pat Coakley

On The Way Back

brokenhouse-02

On the way back from an errand, I saw this broken down house.  Mmmmmm…..I said aloud and turned around and went back.

I stood along the side of the rural road and took photos of the whole property ankle deep in colorful weeds and moist leaves.

The place was near falling down as you can see.

It was so much more beautiful in its falling down state than the McMansions I had parked near to get out and walk back to the property.

I am hoping for this type of aging, myself.   Falling down–yes, it is inevitable, but surrounded by soft colors and branches that tickle my chin and show me off to my best advantage.  I also hope some strangers will stop by now and again and think me beautiful.

©Pat Coakley 2008

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18 Replies to “On The Way Back”

  1. Pat- your posts get me weepy and happy at the same time.

    It’s the ability you have to steal a confusion of words that tumble in my brain, but YOU extract them, place them like scrabble pieces with triple word scores, and lay them out to read what I wish I could have said myself.

    I love this metaphoric comparison.
    And the soft pink of those trees against the weathered wood, well, it’s just perfect.

  2. What I love is at the time I take a photo, I am just as confused as to why I am drawn to it. Yes, there’s always some aesthetic, I suppose, but most times it is deeper than that. Perhaps, it was the almond butter crunchy that rolled into my side as I turned the corner. Sent priority early today but did I hear another storm? Oh, no, no, no.

  3. Paloma- she’s now a category 4 storm on her way to pummel the coast of Cuba, again. Three horrible hurricanes for Cuba this year making it the worst year for Cubas’ history.
    The storm bypassed us in it’s wind fury, but deluged us with an unexpected 7 inches of rain on Thursday.

    We’re in the clear.

    Thank you, postmistress of prompt parceling. Thank you.
    Did you enjoy the TJ experience?

  4. You know, I think I’d better get to a map to see exactly where you are…I was thinking the storm was headed toward you NOT already passed you. Me and
    You betcha” have difficulties with geography. TJ was very busy and as you said friendly and had cracker varieties unknown to me, just what I don’t need, I can’t tell you but I went out the door with some garlic, parmesan, sesame number. But, my staple, roast chicken, was double what I would pay and it was a small one!! So, I’m going to look for a nearby friend who shops there to invite me over for a roast chicken dinner!

  6. I love these kind of places. Falling down with out feeling lonely. It seems like there are still a lot of old farm houses in New England that have been left to nature to reclaim.

    When I was a kid, I remember watching barns all over falling in from neglect. Now the houses are starting to succumb. Still, I’d rather put in the back breaking work to rebuild one of these than move into a new McMansion.

    -Turkish Prawn

  7. Very appealing structure. I can see this being turned around into a very high-end property. But I rather like it in the current state…

  8. You’ve found one perfect poem for your photo! I have a thing for old houses myself. Yes, I find them really beautiful. :)

  9. Pat, you, your writing and photography remind me the work of Agnes Varda in her film : “Le Glaneur et la Glaneuse” (“The Gleaners and I”) … it’s a very poetic and intense documentary about collecting, consumption, use and worth of things in our society. Melancholic, poetic and with heart shaped potatoes. Watch it, if you have not seen it. It makes me smile and cry at the same time with a very warm blow to my soul every time I watch it.

  10. Great photo and sentiment. I am usually drawn to the dilapitated beauties I spot peaking out behind vines and bushes on the sides of country roads. It’s always nice to stop and take a few pics.

  13. Amber, all one had to do was press the shutter…of course this was after I’d taken many other photographs, some of which are on my Daily Shoot Gallery at:
    http://gallery.me.com/patriciacoakley#100110

    Turkish, I love them also. Although the loneliness factor hits me right along with the aesthetic. Perhaps, because I could not do one thing to help restore a house like this except be there at the end to photograph the “after”.

    Mt. Brooks, Just imagine what your week would be like if you were fixing up this house. Makes your own domestic renovations seem a bit more doable, right?

    Yel, thanks for visiting. I always love when something brings in a new viewer! I’ll be over to visit you later on today.

    Sannekurz, I am going to order this movie from Netflix tomorrow. Heart shaped potatoes has my Irish genes excited!

    Planetross, does Japan have the equivalent of these homes? Why don’t you post a picture of one or two? I’d love to compare falling down in different cultures.

    Razz, I worked on this one a bit for the tones. The original was beautiful, too, but I kept seeing something else, too.

    Russ, We always agree with Razz! Well, most of the time anyway except when we throw a hissy fit.

  14. I’m glad I came across your blog. Your pictures are great, especially this one. You have a way with words…

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