The Magic Lives On

Yesterday I visited The Abandoned for the first time in months.  Sissy and I were in awe of the demolition taking place.  Everywhere there is twisted wreckage and broken walls.  Though the main structure is still mostly intact, I was amazed to see how much land had been revealed.  The complex is HUGE.

One can still peak through a window from the outside to the inside--to see the work of graffiti artists.  I loved this contrast of winter grasses and swirled blue.

This is another example of fabulous graffiti art from the television show, Grimm.  How truly fun to see a smiling face perched behind piles of twisted metal and rubble.  An inside wall, now on the outside.  Amazing.  This funny face made me laugh.

The magic of The Abandoned still lives.  Even when it is gone, the ghosts of memories will persist. 


WARNING: With the demolition of these buildings, The Abandoned is especially dangerous. You shouldn't visit The Abandoned without permission from the owner or caretaker. If you do, you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Summer Hearts -Guest Heart Thursday

My sister Clytie and I love to walk here in Spring.  Both exotic and native flowers fill the encroaching forest.  This color just fills my eyes.  Do you see the petals?  They are hearts--summer hearts!  Ah, I do miss summertime.

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

WARNING: With the demolition of these buildings, The Abandoned is especially dangerous. If you visit here without receiving permission, you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Graceful Heart -Guest Heart Thursday

Another graceful heart imprinted above the piled rubble.  Soon pictures of this place will be all that's left.

Those and our memories.  I wonder if the magic that was here will still linger?

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

WARNING: With the demolition of these buildings, The Abandoned is especially dangerous. You shouldn't visit The Abandoned without permission from the owner or caretaker. If you do, you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Demolition Has Begun

As of a few weeks ago, the big machinery was moved in.  The walls of The Abandoned are being torn down and soon it will be leveled as though it had never been.  Memories will continue, but the buildings will be gone.  One of the owners told Sissy and I that there are plans to put in over 400 brand new homes in this area.

But the forests of our childhood will remain.  The old growth trees will continue to flourish, maiden hair fern will grow in the canyon next to the creek, wild animals will thrive and Sissy and I will still be able to walk the paths where we played as children.

WARNING:  Because of the current on-going demolition, The Abandoned is especially dangerous at this time.   Those who come here without permission risk arrest for trespassing..

Skylight Glass Heart -Guest Heart Thursday

The last time Sissy and I walked through The Abandoned, I took this wonderful photo of the sun splashing through a piece of broken glass in the skylight.

If you look closely you can find hearts all over in the shattered glass.  I find it amazing, that in the wake of vandalism, there is still beauty to be seen.

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

WARNING: You shouldn't visit The Abandoned without permission from the owner or caretaker. If you do, you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Heavenly Clouds

This picture was taken from my parent's driveway looking back toward The Abandoned.

Daddy flew away to heaven Saturday evening--from Earth's sunset, into heaven's sunrise.

Thank you for your warm thoughts and prayers for my family at this time.




WARNING: You shouldn't visit The Abandoned without permission from the owner or caretaker. If you do, you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Daddy is Going Home

Dad loved The Abandoned.  He watched over it for years, often taking his exercise there (with permission from the owners and caretaker, of course).  I can still see him with his cane, walking slowly along the road--with that funny little smile on his face as he did. 

Daddy doesn't have long in this world.  The last time I was at the hospital with Mom, we passed the time by going through Daddy pictures on my computer.

Dad was always full of fun and just a tad dramatic--as you can see by this hilarious photo taken many years ago during a family camping trip.

Here's another.  Dad worked many many years at Dammasch State Hospital as an aide two.  One of the interesting things I remember as a child, was when a patient would escape from the hospital they would often come to our house, asking to use the phone.  Sometimes they would be spotted walking along the road and a car would be sent out to pick them up. Dad was usually one of the aids who went out to find patients.  This happened quite a bit.  For Christmas one year, our brother Dow had a tee shirt made for Dad--it said Dammasch Escapee on the front.  Dad loved that t-shirt.

This is one of a set of unexpectedly poignant photos.  I didn't even know they were in my files until I clicked on them...Mom and I both gasped.  The pictures were taken last August.  I don't even remember taking them.

This is the one which caught our hearts the most.  Daddy's empty chair.  Daddy is not coming home.  He is at the VA hospital now, getting ready to slip into heaven.  Very soon he will be free of the brace around his neck and from the chair where he sat for so long.  He will be able to walk, run, jump and fly. He will see his Beloved Savior, his Mom, friends, his sisters and brothers again. 

Dad had to wear a brace day and night, because of a broken neck from an accident almost four years ago.  He hated wearing that brace.  I think it would make Daddy smile to know we kids are planning on taking that brace home and blowing it up, out behind Grammie's old house.  Silly, I know--but I do think he would grin over the thought of all of us gathering to blow up that brace.

Thank you for your prayers for our dear family.  God bless you all.

UPDATE:  Dad passed away this evening at 5:45 p.m.  Though we are happy he is free from pain and is in heaven, we will all miss him more than I can put into words.