GLASGOW —
Photographs are more than simply pictures. Sometimes a photograph is a piece of recorded history, and sometimes, a stimulation toward a particular mood or inspiration.
A photograph is capable of capturing a point of view that the eye once saw so that it can be seen and studied again and again.
We enjoy making and assembling photos at our house. We’ve got several collections in albums and a few are framed and hang on our walls.
There’s one photograph in our home that’s been the source of an occasional argument.
Several years ago, I snapped a scene in either Kansas or Colorado. My wife says the photo was made in Colorado; I maintain it was in Kansas.
The picture is of a rustic, abandoned house, resting in the corner of a somewhat overgrown and lonely-looking yard. A windmill droops nearby, tired from working in the winds from the majestic sky.
We had been making a car trip out that way when I stopped and focused the camera. The kids were asleep in the back seat at the time, so they don’t remember if it was Colorado or Kansas or Turkey Neck Bend.
The photograph is displayed in a wood frame, hand carved by my father-in-law. He even used wooden nails to construct it.
Just to look at it makes me feel lazy. I am attracted to the simplicity that the picture represents.
The sky is light blue and soothing. It looks to be a place ideal for solitude.
I like the photo for what it is. It is a scene of peace. Nature is in control. Neither the house or the windmill seems concerned that the yard has grown up.
I also like the photo for what it is not. It is not filled with people or modern machinery. Certainly, it is not noisy or busy.
If the demands of my life seem to scream for my attention, the photo offers a pleasant diversion. If I feel perplexed and confused, the photo seems to suggest an answer.
Sometimes I think I would like to be at that old house. There I would enjoy piddling about and caring for the yard, studying the sky, and spending enough time alone to develop some new thoughts. It would be nice to hang out with the windmill. I could get along for a while without the telephone, computer or alarm clock.
This daydream has come to me through the years when I felt especially rushed and tired. Sometimes the only thing that kept me from going there is that I didn’t know which state it was in.
Features
Photo provides serene scene
- Features
-
- ROTARY REPORT: Barren ROTC to be topic Thursday
-
SLIDESHOW: Sports figures react to Joe Paterno's death
Players, coaches and sports journalists took to Twitter on Sunday morning to react to the death of former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno.
-
Viral video: Announcer goes nuts after full-court shot wins game
One college basketball play-by-play radio host likely needed some throat lozenges when he woke up Sunday morning, a day after his shocked, screaming reaction to a game-winning basket.
-
Viral video: Groom surprises bride with Justin Bieber dance
The choreographed wedding dance is a staple of a healthy viral video diet, right up there with cute kittens and babies laughing at everyday sounds. Still, it's hard not to smile when you watch one as well-executed as this groom's Justin Bieber tribute to his new bride.
-
Viral video: Anchor has Ron Burgundy moment on live TV
A morning meteorologist at a TV station in Green Bay, Wis., had a real-life Ron Burgundy moment this week thanks to a prank by one of his co-workers.
-
Christmas sights
A dog at the entrance of a house on North Race Street got a festive touch for the holidays.
-
Viral video: Woman makes amazing hockey goal, wins truck
Some folks are calling it a "miracle on ice." A 59-year-old woman who had never held a hockey stick made a nearly impossible goal, sending a puck into a tiny opening to win a brand new truck.
-
Viral video: FedEx guy tosses computer monitor over fence
During the holidays more than any other time, shoppers rely on delivery services to bring important packages to their doorsteps safe and sound. But a YouTube video gone viral shows that sometimes, packages aren't exactly handled with care.
-
Viral video: Senior citizens stage flash mob
Flash mobs aren't just for teenagers anymore. A group of senior citizens proved it recently after staging a song and dance inside the Christmas decorations department of the Target store in Lawrence, Kan.
-
Guide to this year's hottest gift: The tablet
Tablet computers and e-readers are extremely popular and are expected to be strong sellers this holiday season despite a weak economy. But the array of models and brands can confound many potential gift-givers. Check out this guide to tablet-giving on any budget.
- More Features Headlines






