Red Leaf Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

Our last trip to The Abandoned was just as Fall ended and Winter began.  Fall's heart lay upon the mossy ground.  Such a lovely contrast of colors--so very perfect for Christmas and for Guest Heart Thursday.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Past and Future - Weekend Reflections

There is something so warm and friendly about home.  This is home to me.  Our home is over 100 years old. I often reflect upon the woman who once cooked there over a wood stove--the one still outside our kitchen door.  I think about the bread she baked, rolling it out over the green marbled surface I now use as my desk top.  The aroma of baking bread would have filled the entire neighborhood.  I wonder what Christmas was like here, over a century before I arrived.

Reflections of past and the future interlaced here in my home.

When I walk through The Abandoned, the contrast between home and this place strikes me.  Emptiness reigns in the present.  One wonders about its past--and what the future will hold.

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

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Bursting Green Hearts - Guest Heart Thursday

I found these beauties across the street from The Abandoned, where the magic still lingers from my childhood.  These dainty leaves are lovingly tended by our darling Mumsie.  She has a way with plants.  I think they like the way she talks to them.  How she lovingly tamps the earth snug against their roots.  But beware should the stray weed grow there--unless it is pretty.  Then perhaps Mum will let it stay awhile!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Heart Within Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

Last weekend, Sissy and I went for one of our walks through The Abandoned.  Of course, Sissy saw this one first.  This heart of wood was a Heart Within Hearts.  Like Sissy and me.  Our hearts are inextricably intertwined.  Her heart within mine and my heart within hers.

On this Thanksgiving Day, I thank God for my sisters and brothers--for our parents, our grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.  My life would not be what it is without each and every one of them.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Mountain Reflections - Weekend Reflections

Sissy and I took a walk through The Abandoned after it had rained hard for a few days.  Pools of reflecting waters lay everywhere.  Both of us gasped as we rounded the corner.

Mounds of discarded carpet laid mountain reflections in the edgy quiet of still lake waters.

Only we stood in the mystery of The Abandoned.

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

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Heart on a Rail - Guest Heart Thursday

The Abandoned has many pathways, some cleared, some not.  One of my favorite places to walk is a forgotten foot path where a rustic wooden bridge crosses the old waterway.  It leads to the strawberry trees just beyond. It is a truly magical and lovely place.  I don't know of anywhere else where strawberry trees grow.


As Sissy and I walked that lonely path, I found this green mossy Heart on a Rail.
 
For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Mysterious Green Flowers

One can find the most amazing flowers dwelling in The Abandoned.  Master gardeners planted them when the buildings were new.  I was fascinated by the delicate beauty of these green-tinted beauties.

I am looking forward to walking there with my darling Sissy this week--with all the beauty of Fall around us.

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Rubble Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

This rubble heart was one we found beside one of the huge piles of rock, walls, carpeting and anything you might imagine.  Malaya says, "I like this heart very much."  So does the stuffed cat.  (grin)


For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Grim and Gruesome

In the basement of The Abandoned is this strikingly beautiful fireplace.  One wonders what the symbol gracing the chimney might signify.

Last Hallow's Eve, someone sprayed fake vampire blood all over this stunning structure.  Grim and Gruesome--gruesomely perfect for the holiday, grimly hoping those who vandalized this will be caught. 

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Spit Bug Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

On one of our rambling walks through The Abandoned, Sissy and I found this amazing spit bug heart!  Isn't it pretty?  I'm sure that bug sensed Sissy was coming and made it quick for her.  (grin)  I was just there along for the ride, to see and capture his beautiful handiwork!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Blasted Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

I am always amazed at the beauty to be found in the broken chaos of The Abandoned.  There is a sort of rash beauty to this blasted heart, found in the windows two stories up, looking out over the main entry area. 

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Tunnel Entrance

Upstairs there is an empty elevator shaft, seen here on the left.

A floor below, cloaked in the darkness, just past where the elevator still hangs motionless against the floor...

...One can find an entrance to one of the hidden tunnels which still exist in The Abandoned.  Today there is no access.  You can see where vandals have tried to pry up a bolted sheet of metal placed there to keep them out.  So far, the vandals have been unsuccessful. 

There are rumors of another tunnel entrance which once connected with the old Dammasch State Hospital.  My Dad worked there as an aide years ago--he has told us the rumors are true, but I have never found it.

Such a strange, mysterious place, filled with hidden stories and odd bits of magic.

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Gaze of Tree Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

Walking through The Abandoned, one can find all kinds of magical things.  As Sissy and I trekked through the grounds last summer, I felt someone watching us--you know that feeling--a sort of shivery sensation, right up the nape of the neck?

Glancing up, I saw this heart gazing down at Sissy and me.  It seemed quite intrigued, as can be seen by the look its, er, face--and the very attitude of it's, er, body language.  Amazing what can be inferred without one single word. 

What do you think it's saying? 

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Sunny Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

Thursday I took a walk with my sweet Sis Clytie.  When I leveled this picture after I got home, the Sunny Heart  of this tree became even more apparent.  I love this bright heart -- it was like a reflection of the joy I was feeling, to be once again walking with My darling Sissy through the magical place we call The Abandoned.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Heart in Grass - Guest Heart Thursday

Here in The Abandoned, when Summer vies with Fall a heart-felt explosion ensues.  I love the way this heart pops from the grass--like a miniature bit of fireworks.

Happy Halloween everyone!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

 

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Gazebo Ruination

One of the beautiful places in The Abandoned has been this lovely Gazebo.

Mid-summer, vandals set fire to this beautiful structure, causing it to become unstable.  When Sissy and I walked there--the embers were still warm.

I am sure the gazebo will collapse this winter.  Even in the thros of its collapse, it is still lovely.  At least I can capture a bit of that dilapidated beauty on camera before the inevitable.



WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Heart of Graffiti - Guest Heart Thursday

Deep in the bowels of The Abandoned, one can find the most intriguing art.  This wonderful red heart is no exception.  There is something quite striking about this bold red heart.

Amazing graffiti artwork is one of the fascinating aspects of The Abandoned.  Indeed--it is a part of the magic to be found in this fascinating place.  

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Glory Light In the Abandoned

Sissy and I were on our way back to our parent's place, when we turned to see this magnificent sight.  The camera picked up the actual glory light we saw--and then some.  What a magical place this is!

To see more fascinating photos of the skies, visit Skywatch Friday.


WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Reflections From Above - Guest Heart Thursday

The camera, rather than focusing on the immediate heart shaped glass--sharpened its  eye on the reflection of the ceiling above instead.  This makes for a fascinating photo.  This picture made me blink a few times, until my brain became used to looking at it!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Green Goat Glass - Weekend reflections

Sometime back, Sissy and I visited the old Dammasch State Hospital Dump.  Not many people know where it is located these days.  There was an incinerator at the hospital which melted and burned most of the hospital's garbage.  That waste was then dumped along a ravine, now hidden by trees and undergrowth.

Today one can find beauty amidst nature's attempts to cover this scar.  Hidden in the moss and forest flowers you can find all kinds of things at the dump -- twisted glass, vintage jars, tiny glass bottles, along with spoons, knives and forks.

The melted piece of glass above reminded me of a mythical creature--sort of like a goat with a unicorn horn!  What do you think?

To see more wonderful reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections!

WARNING:  Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Purple Thistle Whisker Flower

I saw this thistle pushing up through the roadway and suddenly in my mind's eye I rushed back into the past.

When my siblings and I were small we used these thistle flowers to pretend we were shaving like Dad.  Yep--I know, we were just kids--and I was a girl, but it was so much fun to whisk that purple brush around in the bottom of a cup of suds, then whirl it onto our smooth beardless chins.  Dad made shaving his face look like so much fun.


WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Flotsam Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

Bits of flotsam swept across The Abandon's bleak roads can be magical.  Here Sissy and I found a perfect heart--gently shaped by the hand of some capricious strand of breeziness.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING:  Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Deer in Abandoned Glade

Sissy and I were walking along the skybridge.  I was in the middle of saying something, when Sissy grabbed my arm.  SHHHHhhhhhhh...she said.

I said, "What?!"  Silently she pointed to the ground below.

There she sat beautifully nestled in a glade of sun warmed grass.

She looked straight at us.  She didn't seem one bit afraid.

Then she got to her feet, nonchalantly turned toward the forest.

And was gone.


WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Yellow Swamp Beauties - Weekend Flowers

These pictures were taken from a small hidden bridge along a path which leads to an unusual fruit tree.  How I love the tasty fruit of that strawberry tree!

The once lively pond and stream is now a swamp clotted with beautiful yellow flowers.  Frogs, spiders, insects and birds seem to adore living there.

Close up, the detail of these bright blooms is lovely.

This is a jumping spider.  Sissy and I spotted him on this wrinkled leaf in the midst of the yellow lilies, as we crossed over one of the hidden bridges found in The Abandoned.  It was a decided shock, to see this critter watching us, for sure!

I love the idea of Weekend Flowers!  To see more lovely blooms from everywhere, visit Terra's blog Goodies for a Pleasant Life.

WARNING:  Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.