It usually the case that in smaller cemeteries, the statuary is molded cement. The icon above is an exception. This marble statue of an angel is nicely done. While it is not on par with many of the statues to be seen in Europe, it is a very nice addition to this city cemetery.
One of the tings that you see routinely in older cemeteries are graves with much more detail than is typically put on a grave marker in modern times. The one above give the age at death right down to the day.
When you are watching something you don't see everyday, you tend to take a lot of repetitive photos. That's what happened to me with this hawk. I kept thinking that he's do something... groom, spread his wings...something more interesting that just sit there.
Naturally, while in Staunton I made a pilgrimage to the Thornrose Cemetery. And what do I see there? A Red Shouldered Hawk! he posed on a nearby tree for som time and gave me a chance to get a few images.
Close to the wharf in Staunton is an area beside/behind a building that appears to be a spot where workers take a daily break. Or perhaps it is where the night crowd hangs out to party.
My apologies for not posting on Monday. This last week was and Monk from TV might say, a blessing and a curse. For the last week I have been recovering from the removal of all the kidney stones that have accumulated over the years. I am lightly glad that these are gone. Now I don't have to worry about one deciding it wants to move around while I'm traveling in some place where I don't speak the language and/or has limited hospital facilities.
So, back to business... In Staunton, many of the buildings still have the old fire escapes complete with pull down ladders. This one on the central Avenue side of the Worthington Hardware across Beverley street from the Clock Tower is a dandy.
When in Staunton, I always like to visit the train station and have a look at the fences that keep people out of the path of the train. While these are not ornate, they are interesting and, combined with the afternoon shadows, they make nice compositions. the partially open gate seems to suggest that it is time to board and adventure lies ahead.
Back in mid-February, when the trees were bare and the air was crisp, the cardinals were gathering out behind the house in Staunton. Since last fall I updated my telephoto lens from a 100-400mm to 150-600mm, I took this opportunity to test it out.
Sometimes times the most memorable things are the small things that we pass everyday. Often, when I look at a fire hydrant on the street, they stand out to my eye as this one does in this image. The bright red stands out against a much more drab background and becomes the focus of attention.
So, in January we headed back to Staunton for a nice long visit. While our friends Steve and Renee headed off to London for the semester, we took care of their two cats. This gave us a nice extended visit to see friends and revisit old memories.
Above is some stairs on the Mary Baldwin campus looking across Fredrick street toward the First Presbyterian church.
The old YMCA building has long since been converted to condos. It retains its noble exterior. It has never been clear to me where these people park. Probably in a lot next door, but parking is sometimes tight, even in this small town.
With the sun out and the chill diminished slightly, I managed to catch some of the play of the late afternoon sun on the buildings.
Beverley Street remains the place to see store fronts. Small towns always have an antique (=junk) store or two to display local 'items of interest'. Often there are few such items to be found in the sea of unrelenting junk.
During December, we house and cat sat for some friends back in Staunton. In spite of the bitter cold spell that we experienced, I was able to find times to get out the house and walk the streets of Staunton looking for some interesting bits to shoot.
Outside the storefront that was originally a haberdashery (an is now a cigar store), we find the traditional sign of such a place: the umbrella. I've never tried to look at it from this angle before.
No visit to Staunton is complete with a stop by Thornrose Cemetery. While three are not many gravestones that stand out as special, there are plenty that display the victorian styles of draped urns and simple geometric shapes.
Trinity church is on the National Historic Register and a great place to visit for a window into old Staunton.
