Monochrome is perfect for this day, as I had to say goodbye to my son who is leaving for five months of military training in the U.S. National Guard. As my girls also live away from home now, it means we officially have an empty nest.
And so the pictures you will see in this post - of a burned out home - are rather symbolic.
I walk past this house often. It burned down last winter, and my heart goes out to the family.
I did learn that everyone in the house survived, so I was very glad to learn of that. What a life altering experience. It reminds me to be appreciative of all that is good, and that I have my home and health and family.
I have never walked onto the property before, and I felt bad for trespassing. But it was so quiet. I almost felt as though my visit might make the place feel less lonely.
All around were the artifacts of lives halted.
A patio where string lights magically still remain.
A portable fire pit.
And across the lawn, an old boat trailer - reminiscent of family trips and enjoyment and happier times.
Thanks for visiting my post.
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The house really suits the monochrome. Really brings out the starkness. What caused the fire?
ENGAGEtokens.!ENGAGE 25
I actually have not heard, @bengy. I didn't read about the fire in the paper. I just walked past the place one night, and stood there stunned. It is about half a mile from my house as the crow flies. But I posted a picture on Facebook at the time, because someone had a sign out front with a GoFundMe campaign for the family, and when I posted it on Facebook a local friend assured me they were doing okay.
oh, a melancholy post, indeed... 😢
It is so hard letting go of the little ones when they spread their wings, and I also feel sorry for that family who was burned-out. Hope they are doing okay now. 🙏
Yes, I have heard rumors that they are doing okay, @thekittygirl. Someone on Facebook told me that they are a family that has a very strong bond and they have been working on rebuilding their lives.
Thanks for the good thoughts. My little ones have indeed spread their wings. It's what we always wanted for them, but the reality is harsh.
Terrible to know how vibrant and full of life a home once was, your photography tells the story of the devastation that happened.
Enjoyed this in monochrome gives more detailed effect Jayna.
Thank you very much, @joanstewart. It pains me to see the place, but I thought perhaps i could turn it into art somehow.
That empty nest is a tough one but I'm happy you found solace in your photography - beautiful yet sad photos and monochrome was perfect for that!
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much, @porters! Yes, black and white seemed to be the right way to capture that dark hull of a house.
I lived in the US for a while during the '90s, and it fascinates me that many houses are built of wood as the primary material. I have seen them in AZ and in NY state, places that have contrasting temperatures.
They make for easy burning targets, as what has happened to this one. We get a lot of arson here, but with everything being brick or stone it's not quite so easy.
It does seem bizarre that we continue to use match sticks for building material! I suppose the alternatives are too costly?
Thanks for joining the convo, @slobberchops!
GREAT POST!!!
Thank you for publishing it to our community feed!
Compliments of the PHC founder @jaynie...
We have tweeted, upvoted and reblogged it for you.
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Oh - thank you so much!! Mwah back to you, @powerhousecreatives!!
Oh, what an emotional post. I congratulate you for turning all those feelings in those beautiful photos.
The thought of you accompanying the lonely house really moved my heart.
I send you a big hug and many blessings foryou and your son's journey.
♥️♥️
Thank you so much for your sweet message, @vicvperezdelara. I appreciate your kind thoughts very much!
Beautiful @jayna and the black and white gives you the suspense of what could have happened. Excellent.
Thank you, @isabelpena! I do love the drama of black and white. It captures the essence of something like this much more than color.
That is true dear friend @jayna
I've unfortunately know several people who have lost their homes to fire.. including my sister. It is a horrible heart wrenching thing to go through. I am always happiest after I hear that there was no loss of human life. Everything else is worthless in comparison.
On the brighter side.. Awesome subject matter for monochrome shots though!!
Thank you, @bdmillergallery. I'm sorry to hear about your sister losing her home. What a terrible thing. But as you say human life is what matters. If everyone survives, they can eventually recover emotionally and rebuild.
Thank you for sharing this amazing post on HIVE!
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Oh my. Thank you so much, @stevenson7. That sounds like an amazing initiative. I will check it out! Thank you so much for the support. :-)
Sure thing.
Thank you.
The monochrome effect was perfect. It expresses the realness and emotion of the place. You took great photos. My good wishes to you and all your family.
Thank you. The good wishes are truly appreciated. It is a challenge to see my son go off on such a big important mission, but of course I'm very proud.
You should be proud.
Do have a great day.
Beautiful photos, the B&W effect on this place surely transmits a sense of tragedy and the passing of time. My heart goes to you, so you feel accompanied and surrounded with love even though your son and daughters are not that close. All the best for you and your family!
Thank you, @zoeanavid. I did think the black and white did justice to the setting of that poor old house.
I do get to see my girls regularly, so that is certainly comforting! And hopefully we will all be reunited at Christmas when my son takes a leave.
Happy to be reading that
Yes, I so agree, @nathanmars. Life and limb are what's truly valuable. Thanks so much for coming by.
Hello! How well told. How do you say we have to remember to appreciate everything good in our lives, many people even having something as valuable as a home, health and family, are so unhappy about things that are not worth it.
Greetings
Yes, @syllem, it is all in our perspective, isn't it?
I love dilapidated old places and B&W always seems to make them feel more dramatic. Nice snaps, and good to hear the people survived the fire.
My mother in-laws house burned to the ground. She got out but lost everything. It's a life-changing event.
Anyway, All the best to your son, I'm sure he'll go fine...And maybe you have plans for his vacated room!
Thanks very much, @galenkp. I appreciate your thoughts. I'm sorry to hear about your mother-in-law's house. That is truly tragic. I hope she has regained her life and found away to be at peace with what happened.
Yes, I could set up an Air BnB for his room - ha ha. He might be a little troubled about that when he returns from basic training in 5 months, however!
Thanks for your kind words Jayna.
He'd be welcome back of course...You may even offer him a discount off the nightly rate! Lol.
You have so many good idea! Ha ha ha.
Lol...I had an idea in 2007 to create this thing called "digital currency"...I was going to call it Bitcoin. Years later I realised I should have followed through with that one. Oh well, live and learn. :)
I know, I'm a fool...It keeps me young(ish) though.
Thanks for the comment.
!ENGAGE 25
I was looking to change jobs circa 1993 and a few friends told me I should go interview at this cool young company called Google. It was walking distance from where I lived at the time. But I got a great offer from another cool young startup and accepted without taking my friends' advice. I've said "oops," "darn" and more in the years since then - pretty much anytime I can't afford something I want!
So...What you're saying is that I'm actually commenting to the CEO of Google...Or would have been had you taken that job! Lol.
What do they say @jayna? Sliding doors? Serendipity?
Who knew a company called Google could go where they have gone...
ENGAGEtokens.I don't have children so my nest has always been empty, but my Mother said that one of the toughest days of her life was the September morning when the school bus rolled by and she didn't have a kid eligible. After 26 years.
So a burned out house nicely photographed in mono seems the perfect subject and medium.
I'm glad you told us that everybody was OK, I wondered right away.
Oh my gosh, 26 years? That is a very long time to have kids in school. You either have a really large family or you guys are really well spread out!
Yes, thank goodness the family survived. We can replace our things, but not our loved ones.
There were 5 of us, with my baby brother 15 years younger than me. So my 13 years (kindergarten only one stop per day :) and my brother 15 years later. That's a whole lot of activity to end all at once.
Wow, no kidding! There were five of us as well, but we were 10 years end-to-end and I think my mom was quite relieved when it all simmered down.
Yeah, I feel so much sadness by reading your post. Maybe you will just make this place lonelier from the time you were there but I think it's fine. As long as people will come into a certain place. That place won't be considered as dead yet.
It is sad, isn't it? I think they will rebuild. I assume it is a matter of time and resources. And then they will create a happy home again. Probably they have to receive insurance money to proceed.
nice post. You'll be getting into Urbex soon :)
I know! I've been following @slobberchops around for a while now. It's so incredibly fascinating, but it also totally freaks me out. I'm not at all sure ghosts don't exist.
@slobberchops was exactly who came to mind :)
Pure genius!
his posts take me back to being a kid and always being in trouble or bored and getting into abandoned factories etc
Sounds like a really awesome childhood!
The beginning of a new stage of your life! It will take some adjustment but I'm sure you'll find lots to do to fill the space in your empty nest. hugs
You are right of course, @felt.buzz. I'm a super busy person, between my crazy job and fiction writing, blogging, 10k daily step goal and love of food and cooking, there really is never a dull moment. In fact I'm trying to figure out if I can survive on just four hours of sleep nightly. 😅
Great Job.
Thank you.