When I started my quest to visit and capture pics of all the LOVEworks in Virginia, I wasn’t thinking that more would keep getting added. Back then, there were less than 50. Now, there are over 70 on the list. And I know of at least two that have yet to be listed. So I have no idea how many there actually are.
Monterey, which sits at the intersection of US-250 and US-220 — both fabulous motorcycle roads — is always a pleasant place to visit. (Something I learned recently, which may also interest some of you, is that US-250 is part of what used to be known as the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike.)
I do remember having read about the Monterey LOVEwork in Highland County becoming the 50th LOVE artwork. And I’d vaguely remembered reading about the Highland County LOVEwork and why they’d chosen to use a quilt theme. According to the Virginia.org website:
The LOVE letters in Highland County celebrate the rural landscape and heritage of this scenic community. In recognition of the many barn quilts located throughout the county, the LOVE letters used traditional quilt block patterns to highlight the many special features in Highland. L uses Maple Block to celebrate our maple products and popular festival in March, O uses the Double Wedding Ring to recognize our family heritage and sense of community, V is painted in Flying Geese to show our love of our wildlife and farm animals, and the E uses the Log Cabin block to represent our country style and love of home.
It was only after I saw that first barn quilt on the mountain east of Monterey that I remembered the connection.
I didn’t follow the trail during my recent trip, but I did see some very nice barn quilts along the route I eventually chose to take though the county (US-250 west into West Virginia).
That one was right in town. I suspect maybe that one was sponsored by the town, since that sort of looks like a public works-type building.
My camera was not tilted, the road is banked. 🙂
Monterey is only about 15 miles west of the VA/WV border. It was taking me a lot longer than anticipated to cover those few miles, what with all the stops. (That’s the sort of thing the would drive my Hubby crazy.)
The next one is certainly one of my favorites. I suspect it os owned by the same folks whose house is pictured immediately above, but I don’t know for sure.
Do you love that one, too?
You have to look a bit harder to find some of the barn quilts.
That was either the last one I saw before hitting WV, or it was the last one I could safely stop to photograph. US-250 is, after all, a twisty mountain road, and there aren’t always safe spots to pull off for stops.
Those cows were actually near the white barn in the first photo above (the Surprised Barn). I can’t remember if it was in VA or WV, but I do remember that the barn made me laugh. And seeing cows stare at me every time I stop always makes me smile.
I hope you enjoyed the Highland County barn quilts as much as I did. I saw even more in West Virginia. That’ll be in my next post.
Barn quilts are so cool. I love the bee one.
We don’t see many of them around here but I know of one on a real tight right hander with no place to pull over to take a picture. I think of you every time I see it though.
I’m glad you like the bee one, too. It’s awesome that you think of me when you see barn quilts. There were many I could not stop for. At first, it was frustrating, then I started seeing and stopping for so many, I was getting on my own nerves!
I LOVE the bee barn quilt! I also LOVE all the cow babies!
🙂
Me, too, on both counts! 🙂
I too LOVE barn quilts as you know, and I do think of you every time I see one. I envy your solo trip because all the stops do drive my hub crazy Too! You are right tbough, the best roads have little appropriate stopping area for tall motorcycles.
Also, I love The surprised barn, and banked roads. 😁