Monday, March 14, 2016

Still Life with Skull

For those who were interested in this odd structure....

It is on my neighbors property and I believe it was/is part of a camping/party area somone set up some years ago.  There are swing-sets and stone benches nearby as well as a pet cemetery.  I know this only because of the headstones next to the swing, under a nice tree, that read Mouser and Oreo.  It might seem a bit odd to put the cemetery next to the playground, but isn't that the point?  So that our lost friends can stay near us?  I have to appreciate the sentiment at least.  Anyone who takes the time to chisel out the name of a pet on a stone slab wins a few points in my book.









As for the skull, the current owner of the property must have put it there, so carefully centered.  He is a pretty decent guy and I suspect he saw the irony and amusement in the gesture.  It's kind of amazing what one skull can do as it does give the whole area a rather creepy, alter sort of vibe.  In an odd way, it sort of completes this spot with its abandoned and rotting swings, benches that are sinking into the ground and old pets long dead and left behind.

Other than Connor checking it out and taking a few pictures, we left it alone. I often find little oddities out in the woods left by previous occupants or passers-by.  Unless it is garbage, I leave it alone other than to wonder at the motivation of whoever left it behind.  In a thousand years, those stones that say "Mouser" and "Oreo" my be as mysterious and enigmatic as the petroglyphs.

If nothing else, the skull made for a rather interesting still life.



11 comments:

  1. Interesting spot in the woods, it must have a story:)

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  2. What a pleasant spot. I can't help but wish I had known Oreo and Mouser. I'm glad they were loved. Any thoughts on what kind of skull?

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  3. Looks like a very peaceful place.

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  4. I love the names, Mouser and Oreo.

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  5. I've been in the desert so long now that I can barely remember what it's like to have leaves and trees and lichens around. But when I lived in the Pacific Northwest, someone would make stone "towers" on the beach and others began putting odd things in them and on them, giving it all a strange feel and giving rise to speculation of otherworldly and outer-worldly visitors. The "artists" were eventually discovered and all the local lore about alien visitors went up in a poof!

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  6. Oooooh, shades of Stephen King/or is it Steven King? Pet Sematary!!! and no that is how it is spelled according to his scary book! I love those names, obviously treasured pets. It does look very peaceful

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  7. Love skulls ~ animal skulls in particular. That one was a doe at sometime. I find them curious pieces that are so beautiful.
    I would love to make something like that in a section of my woods. What a great idea. I do have a pet graveyard not too very far from our house.

    What a great spot.

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  8. One word, creepy. Okay, more then one word. I get lost in the wonder of the past, especially with unexpected discoveries. Here are two better words, interesting find.

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  9. What kind of skull is that? I think the idea that someone, at some time, took all that time to make that place is remarkable. I'm glad it's still there.

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