It’s Sunday. We were lazy. We went to The Chapel via the internet. Pastor Mike was continuing his teaching on the Reformation. This week we listened to ‘Scripture Alone’. One of Martin Luther’s questions was – is scripture alone enough, or do you need more? We already knew the answer, but Pastor Mike always makes you think about why you believe what you believe, which prepares his congregation to ‘always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.’ (I Peter 3:15)
After church, we went in search of more cemeteries. There are 6 within this State Park. Today, we found 4 of them. One was too far away, the other we couldn’t find.
I know many of you surely must wonder what our fascination with cemeteries is. Honestly, I don’t know if I have an answer for you. For me, it’s so interesting to see what people used to write on the headstones – poems, verses, information about the person, etc. It’s also a fascination with all things ‘antique’. I have no desire to own antiques, but I like to look at old things like houses and cemeteries and marvel. I’m talking ‘really old’. Before the 1900’s.
Today, we found all these abandoned burial grounds where real people were laid to rest. It’s sad that in most cases, no one even cares for nor remembers them. These people were born, lived and died according to God’s design. They all had an impact on others. Most of us are ‘behind the scenes’ people, but we all impact others in some way – good or bad. And then those people, impact other people and so on and so on.
I guess I just like learning about people. All people. Once upon a time, I actually interviewed couples about how they met and put it in the church bulletin where we were attending every week. That was fun!
Burial Ground #1 – The Barnett Cemetery
The people here are all from the same family. However, one anomaly we noticed was the fact that the sign says “Barnette”, while the markers say, “Barnett”. I would think the family would know best, don’t you?
This is a very small plot, located by the side of the road into the Park.
In memory of Jane Barnett the wife of Micajah Barnett who willingly departed her life for the love of Christ December the 17th 1812 aged 45 years
Here’s a part you may not be able to read:
…. the good cityzyn obliging neighbor affectionate husband and kind parent indulgent in after all conspire to (we can’t figure out this part) . . . his character
O Death Great is thy triumph
But he shall rife in the Glory at the great DAY
I wonder if this one was re-done at some point.
It looks new.
This one too
Look how the tree has grown around this unreadable marker
We left here and drove down the road a bit.
#2 – The Lee Cemetery
This one had different names, but the main (aka largest) monument says Lee on it. It was pretty obvious this one was very close to the home as there were remnants of a house still there. The plots here are also newer – some are very recent.
Steps to . . . ??
Checking out the area
We guessed the front steps
Crumbled ruins
Down in the cellar
Interloper?
Certainly the most recent inductee
She was the sunshine of our home
Some of the plots here also have foot-markers
There were several of these white and pink stone markers. If they ever had names, you certainly can’t tell now.
It was a bit of a walk to the next one.
#3 – No name for this one. It covered a much larger area and the markers were just scattered all around in the woods with different names on them.
No date for poor Jane Sabo
Can’t read much of this one
Can’t read this one either, but someone very recently put flowers on it. They’re artificial, but they don’t have a bit of dirt on them.
Look! More ‘Lee’s! I’m guessing these are from a different family?
Sarah Rakeshaw
She was a consort. That’s an old term for a wife or husband. Whew! I thought worse . .
But then, she WAS an acceptable member of the Episcopal Church for 42 years.
A newer addition to the neighborhood
Poor little boy only lived 2-3 months!
“A little flower of love
That blossomed but to die
Transplanted now above
To bloom with God on high”
We were going to try to piece this back together to read it, but couldn’t even budge the smallest piece! How did they get these things in here???
On to the next stop.
I don’t think we want to go that far . . .
Remember we’re on a bike trail. There’s a ramp. Blaine went around, I went over. : )
Then, we came across this
and Blaine had to go check it out. (Remember when I mentioned hearing the shooting during the horse show?)
I didn’t go. I didn’t feel like climbing thru barbed wire.
Knowing me, I’d get something caught on it!
Here’s the shooting range!
We continued on and came to a bike ramp/creek crossing and me in my tennies again.
Guess what my knight did this time?? He hoisted me onto his back and carried me across! Not a particularly lovely sight, I’m sure, but definitely sweet!! : )
#4 – No name for this one either, but it had a wrought-iron fence around it, bent in places apparently from falling trees. I don’t think it’s possible for a person to bend this stuff.
A place of rest? Or a place of waiting to get in?
Gives “waitin’ on a woman” a whole new meaning, doesn’t it?
This chair has been here a REALLY loooonnnnggg time!
The cemetery tour is now complete. I’m sure you’re glad. : )
But we still had a ways to go to get home.
Blaine just had to kick the bucket. : )
Take a look at that vine!
It’s huge!
A short rest on the river rocks. Ahhhh! So relaxing!
We ended up walking about 8 miles again. This time, mostly on mountain bike trails. I don’t like walking on bike trails because I don’t like the thought of someone flying up behind me or coming around a corner and scaring the bejeebers out of me! Or running me over in the middle of nowhere with no cell service! But today, we figured it would be safe as there was hardly anyone in the Park.
We saw a total of 4 bikes today – one was being pushed, one was leaning up against a tree (where was the rider??), and only two (an older couple going slow) were actually riding and we had to move over for.
After, we went grocery shopping and Blaine talked me into trying Little Caesar’s Pizza. I was skeptical to say the least. I was especially skeptical when he left me to check out our groceries and went to order dinner, then came back before I was done and said he already had it in the Jeep. What??? How can that be?? He said they pulled our pizza and wings off the shelf already prepared. What??? We got home and put cold stuff away and ate. It was actually pretty good! Not the best we’ve ever had, but far from the worst. Especially for $14 for a large supreme pizza and eight wings. PLUS we got free ‘cheesy bread sticks’. We saved all but two of the bread and re-heated it to go with our soup the following night. So that’s my advertisement for Little Caesar’s. Don’t be afraid to try it.
By the way – – it took me over 6 hours on 12/2/17 to post this page due to the slow internet. HOWEVER, I’m thrilled to at least HAVE internet! While I did this, Blaine was a domestic god, sweeping floors and washing windows. Thanks, Dear!