Mossy Castle - Guest Heart Thursday

When Mom was a little girl the old growth trees were harvested leaving bare brown hills and the canyon.  But over the years, nature restored its beauty with a passion.  Huge fir and cedar trees were already in place when my siblings and I played on the wide tops of those huge old growth stumps.  They became imaginary castles.  Leaning from the largest stump, grasping the limber branches of the vine maple bowing overhead, we would swing across the small trickling stream. Ah, what adventures we had!

Now these stumps are covered with moss and delicate with age.  The bare feet of childhood's past would not be able to step here.  Can you find the large mossy heart on the side of the stump?

I find a sort of unearthly beauty about the grace of the mosses and fern one finds in the lands near 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: If you visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owner, or caretaker before you come, otherwise you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Wild Flowers of The Abandoned - Pink Saturday

Sissy and I were amazed.  Before last summer, neither she, no I had seen pink blackberry blossoms before--but here they were, in The Abandoned.

This is a star flower which is so lovely next to those delicate leaves.

Here is a summertime flower from the parking lot--it's a lamb's ear.

Happy Pink Saturday to all.  For more wonderful things in pink, visit Beverly at  How Sweet The Sound!


WARNING:  Those who come here without permission risk arrest for trespassing.

Spring in The Abandoned - Weekend Reflections

I am inspired by this bit of nature springing up through man's destructiveness.  I love the reflection of springtime beauty in the broken glass.  But if you look to the camera's left hand side--it looks as though someone, or something, is thrusting a fist up through the earth behind those flowers.  Perhaps a wayward fairy?  Or maybe a long lost dwarf?  What do you think? 

These walks with Sissy through the shards of vandalism are eye-opening to people's complete disregard for the property of others.

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

WARNING:  Those who come here without permission risk arrest for trespassing.

Heart in Cement - Guest Heart Thursay

Isn't this heart interesting?  It is from the ceiling along the sky walk in The Abandoned.  Now that someone cares about this amazing place, perhaps this broken heart will be mended soon!

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

WARNING: Those who come here without permission risk arrest for trespassing.

Forest Gnome in The Abandoned

Last Spring Sissy and I were exploring the forests surrounding The Abandoned.  Who did we happen to see, but this Gnome strolling effortlessly through stinging nettles and black berry vines.  He seemed to be in a great hurry, but did stop to wave a friendly hello.

Then he was on his way.  And so were we.

WARNING:  If you visit The Abandoned, you need to have permission from the owner, or caretaker before you come, otherwise you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Heart on Stump - Guest Heart Thursday

In our wanderings in the grounds in and around The Abandoned, Sissy and I find beauty everywhere.  It can be found in the ferns, moss, even a stump such as this.  Do you see the heart?

For more wonderful artwork, photography and random hearts, visit Clytie, Queen of Hearts, at Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: If you visit The Abandoned, You need to have from the owner, or caretaker before you come, otherwise you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Inside Out

I love to walk here with my sister (she has permission to be on the property).  Because of the "tweekers" who come to pillage wire and other salvageable items from the buildings, it is best never to walk here alone. 

Standing inside The Abandoned on an upstairs balcony, looking over what once was a cafeteria, it is eery to view light fixtures hanging from the inside, with no barrier to the world outside.  Great windows once stood here, until vandals smashed them to pieces.

I found a huddle of bright fabric puddled against cement and broken glass.  The curtains once covered those huge windows.

The last time I visited there, Sissy and I found this gigantic pile of debris.  Shockingly, the graffiti covered walls and empty rooms are gone.  The Abandoned is being systematically stripped to its bones. 

It is a good thing this wonderful building has such fabulous bone structure!

I am so happy to see the owners of this property are finally cleaning and maintaining this amazing complex of buildings.  I will post more photos as the clean up progresses.

WARNING:  If you visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owner, or caretaker before you come, otherwise you risk getting arrested for trespassing.