The land around this house is still cultivated, perhaps by a more successful neighbor. Or, perhaps the owner of this house did so well that he built a better house over the hill.

The ground had been tilled as close as possible to the house and its trees, and I saw green shoots emerging between the mounds of soil. Choosing the shortest route from the road, I crossed to the house in as few steps as possible, treading as gently as I could on the bare tops of the mounds.

1. Back of the house. Fallen trees made it hard to get a front view.


2. Side yard. The lean-to on the right is joined onto the main building, which looked like a single room.


3. Peeking in a window, I saw that some of the roof had caved in, and that the floor sagged. I decided not to go in.


4. Until I saw the stove.


5. Airy kitchen; great view from the sink.

I saw no graffiti, litter or vandalism. These seem to be city habits.

Other than the stove and sink, I didn't see much stuff. My wife found the best thing; a deer carcass lying in the highway ditch, evidently roadkill, with the head cut off. She didn't take a photo. We guessed that some would-be hunter found it, took the head home with him and mounted it; "Look what I got!"

My wife came along and edited #1, an in-camera HDR shot that came out pretty pale. She's good.

1. What she did (iPhoto 9.5.1):


2. Result: