Tennessee Homestead

On our 2021 visit to Jonesburough, TN to see our daughter and her family, with fall colors igniting the Appalachian mountains nearby, we spent several days exploring the backroads looking for scenes that depict the rural, southern lifestyle still thriving in this part of the U.S.

Our excursions took us deep into this heartland on both the Tennessee and North Carolina sides. Many of these backroads do not clearly designate when one has passed from one state to another, so we cannot be certain which state this photo was taken in, but we’re calling it “Tennessee Homestead” because we had seen so many comparable scenes on the way to this location.
Even though fall was in full regalia, as seen in the background trees, that was not so much the focus of this photo as was the old barn, surrounding structures and the white fence. This barn style is fairly typical in this region, especially the open drive-through for parking farm equipment like tractors. Of course, the background trees contribute a special feeling as well. When we view such parcels, our minds turn to thoughts of life in simpler days in an agricultural, rural community. Small churches of various denominations are always close by. Neighbors are not crowded in, but close enough to be your friends and helpers in time of need. Horses and cows may dot the green pastures. Family graveyards are common. In our modern world, such a scene seems almost archaic, but couldn’t we all benefit from a simpler life? You be the judge.