Riebli Road barn

This looks like a structure that evolved, rather than having any kind of coherent plan for its construction. It sits right on the road on a curve at the bottom of a hill. Although it looks rather haphazardly constructed it has solid foundations and is always freshly whitewashed. I love the old rusty corrugated roof, and the little covered alley between structures with a gate at the back. I can only guess as to the function of the little building with a cupola--school bell? dinner bell? dovecote? All remnants of a bygone time, so I gave the shot an antique patina.

We passed this building on our way to a unique Santa Rosa institution, a place called Safari West, a privately owned wild animal park that feels like the African savannah about thirty minutes from downtown Santa Rosa. If I gave the reason for our trip, I would be giving away too much, but although the weather has turned cold, it is still sunny, giving us a good excuse for a drive.

Overnight temperatures of 19 degrees are predicted, so OilMan is covering all our citrus trees (heavily laden this time of year with oranges and lemons) with burlap bags, wrapping the irrigation valves and pruning back the tropical plants next to the house. The olive trees have been infected with some pest that destroys the fruit, which must be painstakingly gathered and put in the garbage--another chore for OilMan's growing list. Makes processing oil seem like a piece of cake....