GATES

I have a thing about gates. It's right up there with my thing about French door handles and shutters.

There is so much character to be seen in the old gates and bits and pieces the farmers use to cobble them together round here.

Rusty old metal like cottage roofs perched on top to protect the post.

Tied up with blue baling twine of course.

Or orange twine just for a change. This tones in well with the nice rusty effect on the metal.

Rust, verdi gris and just plain rot, all have a patina, a tone, texture and colour. they are outdoor artwork in their own right.

Yellow twine, not so different, I think it is just faded orange twine! Old rusty chains, the original fasteners. They are sometimes still there, sometimes not. The best have a huge old hook at one end and a big ring at the other.

A frame to the farm yard within.

Farmers are great penny pinchers, they have to save money wherever they can. The old gates last a lifetime or two round here, they are patched and repaired, have their own line in fashionable coloured twine ties added every year, hinges reworked with wire and rope and a general air of use, reuse and use all over again.

We don't just have field gates round here, oh no, we even have a this stunningly beautiful old gateway that hides the old farm house up the lane.

I love these worn old gates, they have SO much character and charm.

The peeling paint shows the years of wear. How many times were they painted?

The wood itself is old and worn. The couple who own the house like to 'improve' things. If you look carefully at the beautiful house in the background through the gates you can just make out their latest 'improvement', shiny new white plastic windows. How out of place on such a graceful old lady. I dread the day that they cast their eye on the old gates and no doubt replace them with something bold, modern and cold.

Why all the gate photos today? Apart from my aforementioned gate/shutters/door handles fixation, there is another reason.

This week it was Bill Gates birthday. Whether you love him or hate him, this man brought us Microsoft and through that millions of people to the world wide web. He brought me to this blog space and you to it too. He brought us together to share our thoughts, fears, loves, lives and joys.

He gave us a gateway to sharing.

Dear Mr Gates, Happy Birthday.

Karon x

Comments

[Sarah]

Yes Happy birthday Mr Gates!
I have to admit a bit of a liking for gates myself and if I look into my photo collection there will be the evidence too!
Great photos as usual Karon, have a good day
Take care
Sarah x

[Patti Smith]

Gates always make me think of walking through them to something different and exciting. I love your photos. It makes me feel as though I am right there. Thanks. Have a great weekend!
Patti xx

[Ellen]

Loved your pictures of the gates. My fascination is doors. Love pictures of doors. Haven't checked your blog for a couple weeks and was so saddened to read your entry about your dear Mother. Put a lump in my throat knowing what a hard decision that was for you but the best decision under the circumstances. Oh how hard life is at times.
I really love reading your blog. You should be a writer. Thanks for sharing all your wonderful pictures and commentary.

[Nan]

My mister just told me there was a concert by U2 in British Columbia this past week and Bono talked about his friend Bill Gates and he asked the entire audience to sing happy birthday to him! The Gates' live 20 minutes from my house - but a WORLD apart from our humble abode! When we drive into Seattle we cross over the 520 floating bridge and we can spy his house across the lake...and when we're out on a boat on Lake Washington we always cruise by his house...but we don't get too close because I'm sure if we did the Navy Seals would spring out of the water with machine guns a blazing! He has done wonders for Seattle, for our state of Washington and for the world...so I second your happy birthday to Mr. Gates! xo, Nan