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October 17, 2008
this place no longer exists
Just outside Holmesville, Ontario there used to be a farm with a pond and some little log buildings on platforms over the water and a wide gravel shoulder you could park a car on and a tall fence through which you could pass bits of bread to waiting animals. The pond must have been man-made, as it came just up to the fence, lapping beneath the wire just a bit so that you had to be careful not to put your toes in.
me with goose and ducks, 1972
There were ducks, and Canada geese, llamas, goats, and a big old gentle-natured water buffalo with a brass ring at the end of his nose. We'd bring a loaf of bread and break each piece up small, giving the pieces out slowly, watching the hillside above until the deer who were timidly hiding up there caught wind of all the commotion and came down to join the others in taking bits of bread from our fingers.
me, mom and llamas (1977, I think)
About ten years ago, on the way up to Goderich at Thanksgiving, my mom and brother and I stopped there. The buildings were still standing but the animals were all gone, the weeds were taking over and the water in the pond was low and muddy, with barely enough room for the hordes of giant brown carp who were the last remaining residents. They swam around and around, around and around, frenzied. We didn't bring any bread.
This past Thanksgiving weekend I drove by the farm again with Peter; the place had changed so much I almost missed it completely. The pond is still there, deeper and cleaner-looking now, but the weeds have grown in so that it doesn't quite reach the fence anymore and the old log buildings are all gone. No matter how hard you stare at the high hillside, no matter how long you linger, the deer aren't coming down anymore.
looking up the hill
this is right about where the one-year-old me stood, chubby-handed, grasping the fence
Posted by jodi at October 17, 2008 02:07 PM | categories: true patriot love
Comments
oh my goodness!!! i'm such a sucker for your old pictures. the little green and yellow hoodie is so classic to your color palette with your work. :)
Posted by: euni at October 17, 2008 04:54 PM
This reminds me of a photo I took when I was across the other side of the country at my sister's wedding last year. http://www.flickr.com/photos/crumpart/723138028/in/set-72157600635905765/
Posted by: crumpet at October 17, 2008 10:03 PM