Monday, February 22, 2010

Water Spigot

Photos show up sometimes in the strangest of places. Last week, driving along the myriad of roads that crisscross Evergreen Cemetery, I was looking for a place to stop, rest, and enjoy the view of melting snow and quiet gravestones. I had picked up a toasted, tuna sub (my favorite) along the way for some company and just wanted a sunny spot to enjoy lunch. I think in the past, I have mentioned on more than one occasion that I spent many a childhood day playing amongst the stones and parts of 9 years working for the City of Portland, doing among other things: digging graves, mowing grass, cleaning gravestones and feeding the ducks. From mowing grass for eight hours a day to finally getting to ride around with the foreman all day in his jeep, keeping him company by listening to his endless stories, it was quite a progression and one that I welcomed. Eight hours of pushing a mower can get a bit boring and tiring, as you might imagine. There are still many of these cast iron frames that in case the cemetery's water faucets along the dirt roads. Their patterns are quite delicately carved also. The smells of spring were everywhere that late morning, and the sandwich was delicious!

7 comments:

  1. Love the Victorian decorative spigot. I have never seen one like that.

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  2. This is a lovely shot! Wonderful composition there with the snow adding a nice touch. I like walking through old cemeteries and there are two near my office. You have reminded me that I need to get out there and get some pictures for my blog.

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  3. Cemeteries are underrated as picnic spots! This one is lovely-- that spigot is just beautiful. Ours are very ordinary!

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  4. spigot ... is a spigot a tap ... what a deliglhtful word. Shall have to use it.

    Is the water still running in this tap? It is gloriously old-fashioned. I cannot imagine anything more boring than pushing a mower for 8 hours. But at least at the end you got a pay cheque.

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  5. From a mansion to a cemetery is an interesting shift. In fact, wandering around an old cemetery is very interesting. The stones and inscriptions tell many stories.

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  6. Admiring gravestones over lunch sounds a lot better than mowing the grass at a cemetery. What a job that is.

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