.JPG) |
The Dillon Cemetery
Dillon, Colorado |
Whitney asked me the other day what was my obsession with cemeteries. HaHa! I don't have an obsession.....I just frequent them, doing ancestral searches. That eased her mind, but wonder what she's going to think about this post? The one where I show you that unusual cemetery I found in Colorado.....the one I promised to tell you about.
I call it unusual because our cemeteries here in SC don't look like this one in Colorado. The cemeteries here are flat and have grassy lawns that are mowed often and families of the people buried there, place flowers at the headstones.
This particular cemetery is in Dillon, CO. And unless you pay very close attention or know it's there, you will miss it. It's back off the road a little and it's on the side of a huge hill or small mountain, whichever you choose to call it. Coloradoans (is this a word?), take great care in preserving their environment. They reduce, reuse and recycle with the best of them. And, they leave their open spaces untouched as much as possible. So when you see the state of this cemetery, you will understand the reason it looks unkempt. It's scruffy with sagebrush and tall grasses, but look closer. It's a controlled unkempt, I think. You see native grasses and beautiful wildflowers. No doubt, just how these dear souls wanted it to be. And as unusual as it seems, it's also a beautiful place to be. Dead or alive. Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Anyway, here are the pictures. Hope you enjoy.
 |
| A soldier from long ago. |
 |
| Overlooking Lake Dillon and the Mountains. |
 |
| Do you see the tiny little tombstones tucked snuggly among the sagebrush and grasses? |
 |
| I hope not to offend this family, but it seems they have a great sense of humor. Their epitaph...."On The Road Again", is my theme song and has been for many years. I keep the roads hot. I might borrow this as my epitaph one day. |
 |
| Wildflowers..... |
 |
| Sagebrush...... |
 |
| ......and, Native grasses. |
 |
| So peaceful! |
 |
| Just missed a chipmunk that was perched on top of this stump. |
 |
| Love this fence. It looks like they are taking advantage of the dead pine trees in the background, repurposing them as a fence. |
 |
| The fence seems to go on forever. |
Looks eternally beautiful to me,
Laurie
My goodness, Laurie, but you have really been busy! I haven't had a chance to do much visiting lately, so I spent some time reading your recent posts and I see how much I have missed(again)! It was good reading about the race you and Whitney participated in and those wonderful cemeteries you visited. I love to visit old cemeteries and read the inscriptions on them and trying to visualize the personalities and lives of the deceased. Sometimes, there will be babies buried next to a mother and it makes me feel sad,especially when there are several little ones around the same mother. The pics you took are wonderful and remind me of the old westerns my husband so much enjoys watching. You know the ones where the tumbleweeds are blowing around the tombstones? I am afraid I missed the fact that you had a new lake house. That is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the post about your grandson and the one about your grandmother is so touching and sweet. She must have been quite a lady. I never met my paternal grandmother as she passed away a couple of years before I was born. They named me Jewel Lynn, as her name was Jewel and I don't know why they didn't choose to call me Jewel. I could tell you some crazy stories about my name related to birth certificates, etc. My maternal grandmother lived in North Georgia, so I didn't see her often and know her as well as you did yours. You were very blessed, for sure, in knowing that dear lady!
Thank you Ms. Jewel Lynn. I'm am so happy and blessed to have met you, too. Please blog about some of the birth certificate stories. I would love to read them. Hope your weekend is great. Post about the lake house is coming soon.
DeleteBy the way, thanks so much for dropping by my blog to check out that crock. My posts have been irregular for months, as you can see! I am so glad and I feel so blessed to have met you via our blogs!
ReplyDeleteThe cemetery looks like a part of the scenery- much nicer than some of the cemeteries around here.
ReplyDeleteIt does! And it was so peaceful, too. Well, I guess they all are. Haha!
DeleteWhat an absolutely gorgeous place for a cemetery!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nell. Isn't it, though.
DeleteThis is a peaceful place - just lovely. I love to visit cemeteries, sit there, read, dream, let my thoughts go on their journey... Your pictures are beautiful. I'd love to see this place myself.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carola, it's even more beautiful in person. Hope you get to go there some day.
DeleteWhat an amazing cemetery. I have never seen one that is quite that rustic and spread out like that. I love going through old cemeteries. GREAT pictures- xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThanks Diana!
DeleteI like cemeteries. I just had a pic from one on IG. Google Hope Cemetery in Barre, VT. It is pretty spectacular. The gravestones.
ReplyDeleteI sure will...thanks for the info.
DeleteWow! Just popped over for a visit. Those are some very detailed and interesting tombstones.
DeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteThis is an obsession I share, my friend...have never been through this in Dillon, however! And, just an FYI - did you know there is actually an old town at the bottom of one end of the reservoir, on the way to Breckenridge. Next year, you must drive to there, and check out the dredge boats, etc. You'll love them. Can't believe the beetle kill in the first picture up there! Happy Sunday, Laurie - beautiful pictures - XOXO
ReplyDeleteThanks Tanya. We actually went to Breck a couple of times, but I don't recall seeing an old town. But, they were doing construction on the roads so it was hard to see anything but that at times. I'll definitely check that out, next time. We should make plans to meet in Colorado sometime and you can give me the grand tour of all things old and out of the way. Love, love the history.
DeleteI used to visit cemeteries for genealogy too.
ReplyDelete