Abandoned Ramblings

Last Spring, Sissy and I, on one of our walks through The Abandoned, came across this interesting object crushed into the soft carpet of fir needles covering the roadway.  At first I thought it was a vase, but it was a light bulb!

The vast parking lot is covered with soft blades of green.  It almost looks like a meadow, but up close you can see the gravel beneath.

Clytie found these near the base of an old fir tree near the ruins of The Abandoned.  I hadn't seen a star flower in years.  This delicate starry flower was one of our favorites when we were young--and still is today!


WARNING:  If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission, you may be arrested and prosecuted for trespassing.

Here, along with the blackberry bushes, the pink smoke tree overtakes the graceful spiral of stairway making it all but impossible to navigate.  Yet, somehow it is lovely.

Further on, one can stand upon a small hill to look back upon the gaunt ruins of The Abandoned.

The English ivy has overtaken much of the grounds, covering trees, walk ways and even climbing above to the sky walk overhead.

Though often invaded by those who wish to do the place harm, there can be a timeless sense of peace about the place.


NOTE: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission, you may be arrested and prosecuted for trespassing.

Lady Bug On Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

One never knows what one might find in The Abandoned!  This Queen Anne's Lace is folding it's blossoms while the little Lady Bug looks on.  What a delightful little creature!

You are right, Dani!  The flower is indeed a heart!  And to think I didn't even notice!  Lady Bug, Lady Bug, fly away home...Ah, but maybe sitting there on that exquisite heart, she IS home.


For more wonderful heart art, photography and heart stuff, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

NOTE: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission, you may be arrested and prosecuted for trespassing.

Spiral

This is one of the curling staircases of The Abandoned.  At the top of these graceful stairs is the sky walk.

The lines of this building are lovely.  This staircase is only one example of the beauty still to be found in this unusual place.


NOTE: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission, you may be arrested and prosecuted for trespassing.

Changes for The Abandoned

It appears one of the new owners of The Abandoned is a demolition business.  Happily the clean up has begun.  They have brought in architects to peruse the gaunt buildings--and so far, there is no plan to demolish these beautiful structures.

They're cleaning the roads of blackberry vines, they've installed gates and mended fences.  There are no trespassing signs placed around the edges of the property.

Perhaps there is yet hope for The Abandoned.



NOTE: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission, you may be arrested and prosecuted for trespassing.

Faeries in The Abandoned - Weekend Reflections

Sissy and I went for a walk in the Forest near The Abandoned.  We hiked down the side of the fern-clad canyon to Deer Valley, a magical place from our childhood.  The deer trails were there--still used by generations of deer.  There was a sort of wonder all around us--a soft quiet to the air as though past and present had converged.  I was sure if we waited long enough, we would see something amazing.

And we did--if you look closely--just in front of the old beaver dam--you can see a faery face reflection in the water, peeking over the "Y" of the tree.

For more wonderful reflections from around the world, be sure to visit James at Weekend Reflections.

NOTE: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission, you may be arrested and prosecuted for trespassing.

Conch Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

One never knows what oddity one might find in the grounds surrounding The Abandoned.  Here I found a heart artfully etched on the surface of a moss-covered conch.

For more wonderful hearts visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

GUEST HEART THURSDAY

NOTE: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission, you may be arrested and prosecuted for trespassing.

Where the Maiden Hair Fern Grows - Shadow Shot Sunday

Sissy and I went for a walk down through the forests of our childhood...down into a place we named as children--Deer Valley.  There was magic in the air.  Then, Where the Maiden Hair Fern Grows . . .

Sissy and I were sure we saw faeries begin to dance.

For more incredible shadow shots, visit Harriet for Shadow Shot Sunday.


NOTE: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission, you may be arrested and prosecuted for trespassing.

Love in The Abandoned - Guest Heart Thursday

 

Tuesday evening we invited Larry and Julie over for dinner.  We've been friends for almost 20 years, but I had never heard the story of how they'd found one another.  

What a small world!  In the early 1980's, they met in rehab at The Abandoned! They were both injured on the job and stayed at the facility when it was owned by the state.  It is a sweet love story! 

This magical crushed glass heart, reflecting blue skies and sun, is perfect to honor this sweet couple still married, still obviously deeply in love after all these years. Fancy that--someone found Love in The Abandoned.

For more wonderful randomly found heart photography and artwork from around the world, check out Clytie's Guest Heart Thursday!

GUEST HEART THURSDAY

NOTE: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission, you may be arrested and prosecuted for trespassing.

Artists of The Abandoned

This amazing new piece of artwork was titled " Project Mayhem" and was painted at the bottom of The Abandon's empty pool.

Sissy caught a picture of me as I took a closer look.  There's a feeling of magic echoing through the room.

Here's a view of what I was seeing.

There were other pieces of art on those walls.  This one says, "Reveal."

On another wall, we see a graceful rendition of the name, "Tech."

Above is another photo of the incredible artwork we found in the main auditorium.  It says, "Save the Dream."  This piece was done a few months ago.  I find it interesting that others who graffiti obscene things in this place have not touched these marvelous pieces.  Perhaps they recognize the true artistry found here.  I wish there were a way to save them.

What is it about The Abandoned which draws a person to it?  Perhaps it is the utter beauty, desolation, hope and brokenness found there.  It seems it might be somewhat like walking through the halls of old Rome--these abandoned beautiful ruins.

NOTE: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission you may face arrest and prosecution for trespassing.

Tree and Thistle - Shadow Shot Sunday

One can feel summer's illusive ending in this photo--there is a sense of poignant change, of nostalgia lingering in the shadows.  The crickets are chirping and buzzing--it is warm, yet in the shade where the sun's rays flee away, there is an edgy coolness--the promise of Fall and Winter to come, to The Abandoned.

For more incredible shadow shots, visit Harriet for Shadow Shot Sunday.

NOTE: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission, you may be arrested for trespassing.