As Dead As A Doornail, Literally

I stumbled upon a beautiful old cemetery yesterday that took my breath away, AND it's only a couple miles from our place in Limestone!

It wasn't the biggest cemetery but I must have spent over an hour in it reading, and trying to read, the old headstones.  It was so peaceful and quiet. Most of the headstones were from the last 1800's to early 1900's, and there was a section with some newer stones and dates too. 

Many were very difficult to read, covered in lichen, moss and other fungi but some were simply just faded too.

There were enormous cedar trees inside too, and I mean enormous.  Most I couldn't wrap my arms around, beautiful -

Many of the headstones and markers were in disrepair, with some broken and some simply sinking into the ground or perhaps the ground growing over them they've been there so long.  Here is one of the cedar trees that is swallowing up a smaller headstone -

Here is a sampling of just a few -

Oddly, I had to drive through a newer looking development with BIG beautiful houses.  Build houses.  Houses with foundations, garages, basements and attics.  That BIG! And at the other end of this development and at the dead end of a street sat this historical treasure!

SO Much To Do, SO Little Time

I had to run some errands yesterday, one in particularly that took me back to Walpole and then over to Westwood, my hometown, the town I grew up in.

My visit to Westwood was to pop-in to see a couple different folks and drop off some items but to be honest the main reason was to visit my folks gravesite one last time before embarking on my new adventure (yeah, adventure is what we're calling it.  Hoping it starts to feel that way soon, alas).

Each visit is tough but they also bring with it a rush of wonderful memories too and I cherish each one as it comes.  However, this visit was an emotional one 😢, more so than usual. Although, I'm guilty of perhaps not visiting more often as I should have over the years, my abilities to pop-in on a whim will soon be over, which made this visit special and more emotional -

Yesterday ended with this stunning sunset off my back deck, which are sadly coming to an end soon too.  Brought a smile to my face, as I assumed it was my folks sending me a message to hang in there and stay positive -

It's difficult closing a chapter, even if the next one looks promising.

#Blessed

Gobble 'Til You Wobble

Let's talk turkey, shall we...

These three Tom's were hang'n out in the front yard of 254 Orchard Street in Millis the other afternoon when I pulled up in the LLV.  A beautiful rustic historic house, just off the street. The boys were a bit skittish and camera shy but I was able to snap these pics before they got antsy and scurried off -

I even got a shot of the historical societies sign showing the age of the house -

I asked ChatGPT to tell me more about this house and Dr. Abijah Richardson and the below is what AI came back with, interesting -

Maura Tom turkeys!

I see them everywhere these days.  This flock was hang'n out in the Westwood cemetery yesterday late morning. Following my dental appointment in Needham, I stopped in to visit my parents grave.  Just before I stepped out of my car I was greeted with "gobble gobble gobble gobble".

It was SO peaceful and serene there.  I was the only one there (well except for the deceased - yeah, bad pun) and it was a beautiful morning -

Here the six of them are marching off in a straight line -

I was in no rush, so I drove across the street to BiBi Cafe & Bakery, grabbed a hot coffee and an apple maple scone (OMG, SO delicious), then back to the cemetery I went.  There's a little pond in this cemetery with a spewing fountain, see below, so I grabbed a spot on a sunny bench nearby and took it all in.

Reminiscing about my folks, while enjoying my coffee and scone, and taking in the sights and sounds - a pair of red-tailed hawks circling above and screeching, a grey heron wading in the pond, the turkey's gobbling, blue jays carrying on like they do, a frog croaking and the splashing water of the fountain.

Of course a tear or two rolling down my cheeks but SO thankful for the wonderful memories I have, where I am and what I have.

Well, seems this turkey post took an unexpected turn or did it?

#Blessed

I Guess It's Called Progress...

I took a break from working in the yard the other afternoon, hopped on my motorcycle and rode to the Westwood cemetery to visit my folks.

It was the first time I've visited since the fall, so I was taken aback when I pulled in and saw what looks to be an expansion taking place.  The plot where my folks are buried was a peaceful spot that was nicely shaded for a good portion of the day.  However, now with the clearcutting that was done, there is NO shade.  I find it too open now, and sadly not as comforting and peaceful.

I'm sure the area being worked on will look nice when they're done but just won't be the same.

You can barely see the headstone, below, with how BIG these two Hosta plants have become.  Come the fall I will divide these dudes up, maybe even move them to each side of the headstone versus in front.  Of course I'll bring some home with me to plant here at the ole homestead.  I'm a fan of most variegated plants and especially like the yellow and deep green colors of these hostas.

View of the "progress" from just over the headstone -

View from the access road leading up to mom and dads plot -

I will also tell you that this cemetery is filling up based on all the new plots and headstones I saw, which explains and makes sense on this new expansion work.  I just hope their master plan keeps the serenity, peacefulness and beauty in mind as they expand.  Change is inevitable...