Everything's Rosy

This one was a real find--also in Fayette County, Iowa. I passed by the barn and then hit the brakes and backed up for a closer look. The sounds of new age music seemed to emanate from the dozens of rose bushes; it was quite the unusual barn quilt experience!

Brad Mackenzie was strolling through his gardens, enjoying what his wife, JoEllen, calls "our little hobby farm."

The farmhouse borders a valley where deer, turkeys, coyotes, and eagles can be seen from the deck overlooking the spring-fed pond stocked with perch.

The MacKenzie’s twenty-two acres might be called more of an “environment” than a farm, and passersby on Highway 18 often stop to take a second look at some of the 350 varieties of roses that Brad MacKenzie raises, or the peacocks that roam free on the property.

The Rolling Star barn quilt completes the tableau. The idyllic setting has been carefully created, and JoEllen declares, “I don’t think we will ever be moving!”

If they do, she has promised to let me know. I could definitely live here!

Back to Iowa

Today I am back in Iowa. Not physically, but I am going over that chapter and remembering my single longest--twelve day--barn quilting adventure in June of 2009.

I spent an entire day photographing barns quilts in Fayette County and had interviews set for the next day. Unfortunately, storms and hail came through and chased me east--right into Wisconsin! Fayette has some great barns and quilts, though.

The one at the above left caught my eye because of the silo; I couldn't figure out what the heck it was made of. That information would come later in the week. Above right, though it's a bit hard to make out, is a windmill square--an apt choice for this farm. The last one--I don't know--the little barn, the grass, the sky all seemed just "picture perfect' to me.