Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Tombstones and Cemeteries

Ever since the days, back in the late 40’s, when my father used to take me on Sunday morning walks around the local cemeteries, these places have always been of great interest to me.  Many of my ancestors are resting in Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington, London.  Highgate Cemetery in London was another place where Dad would point out the monuments of the many famous people who are buried there. Sadly I’m too far away to visit these cemeteries now but, whenever I have the opportunity to visit an old burial ground when we are out exploring, I like to look around.

A tombstone, shattered by a falling tree, in St Michael’s Cemetery in Wisconsin.

A rather unusual sight in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Elgin has a beautiful cemetery with many interesting tombstones and resting places.

For more on Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge go to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Tombstones or Cemeteries

OWPC – Horse

Jennifer’s subject for this week’s One Word Photo Challenge is horse, and there are plenty of images of real horses in the photo files but I decided on something a little more spectacular for this particular challenge.

This equine colossus is on display at the Frederik Meijer Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  The American Horse was created by sculptor Nina Akamu and was inspired by a much earlier work by Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci.

The 24ft bronze sculpture was cast in 52 pieces, welded together into 7 main sections and assembled onsite around a stainless steel armature that goes well below ground level. To give you some idea of the scale of this giant horse, my husband, who is 6ft 3ins tall, only just reaches its knee.

For more on Jennifer Nichole Wells’  OWPC go to This Week’s Challenges: August 6 – 12 (OWPC & WW)

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Fire Houses – Now and Then

It’s always reassuring to know that you have a well-equipped, fully functional, up-to-date fire house nearby.  The fire house in downtown Mount Prospect is at the ready and waiting to serve at a moment’s notice. I had reason to be grateful for that, one winter when I slipped and fell on some ice.  The prompt attention that I received from the paramedics who were dispatched from there was excellent.  Over the years, and at more than one location here in Illinois, we have had occasion to dial 911 and have always received help within minutes.

Nowadays, emergency assistance is usually only a phone call away, but back in the days when Franklin Hose Company No 3 was in existence things might not have been quite that easy. The fire house was built in 1887 and was located at the corner of Main and Irwin in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  It was operated by volunteers and was disbanded in 1891.  The building was moved to its present home at Heritage Hill State Historical Park in 1975.

For more on Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge go to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Fire Trucks, Fire Houses, Fire Hydrant

Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge – Out

Walk this way if you want to go out on the water.  The paddleboat dock at Lake Opeka in Des Plaines, Illinois.  For more on Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge go to Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge – July 28, 2017

 

Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge – Wheels

This week, Cee has us on the move with wheels for her Black & White Photo Challenge. Here are a few wheels that we’ve seen during our travels, starting with a tractor at Willow Springs Garden in Wausau, Wisconsin.

Wheels on a canon at the Fort on Mackinac Island, Michigan.

Wooden wheels on display at the Wade House historic site in Greenbush, Wisconsin.

The water wheel at Graue Mill in Oak Brook, Illinois.

A couple of vintage wheels at Bluesmobile Cruise Night in Mount Prospect, Illinois.

And finally some snappy wheels for the bride and groom to make a quick getaway from their reception in Indianapolis, Indiana.

For more on Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge go to Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Wheels

Daily Prompt – Gate – Open and Closed

Here was another one of those daily prompts that I couldn’t ignore.  An open gate always seems to be an invitation to walk right in, and a closed one just makes me want to climb over the wall and see what’s on the other side. Luckily I didn’t have to do any climbing at the Cuneo Mansion in Vernon Hills.  I just had to walk around the wall.  The gate had a totally different appearance on the other side.

Visitors are always welcome to walk in at the English Walled Garden in the Chicago Botanic Garden.

For more on the Daily Prompt at The Daily Post go to Gate

Weekly Photo Challenge – Unusual

Unusual, the subject for the Weekly Photo Challenge on The Daily Post, was set for us this week by Lignum Draco whose photography I have long admired.  When I saw the accompanying post I was immediately put in mind of an image that I captured last year at the Annual American Indian Pow Wow in Elk Grove Village.  Seated on bales of straw in the front row of the audience was a nun with a group of enthusiastic young children.  Next to the colorful array of costumes worn by the performers and the summery outfits of the other members of the audience, the austerity of her habit stood out, making her rather an unusual sight amongst all the traditional finery.

For more on the Weekly Photo Challenge at The Daily Post go to Unusual and, if you haven’t already done so, visit Lignum Draco’s blog at https://lignumdraco.wordpress.com/ for awesome pictures and commentary.