St. Mary's of the Assumption Church, Coaldale, Pa

Here's one from my archives. I visited Coaldale in 2011 after a long absence. This is St. Mary's of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church at 225 Second Street. Opened in 1892. Not sure, but it was probably closed during the mass consolidation of Catholic churches in the coal regions of PA around 2005.

The Return of Smiley

I caught Smiley, the bobtailed opossum, on my trail cam videpo. He stopped by for a snack back on July 1st.

Bowling Green Volunteer Fire Department

Bowling Green Volunteer Fire Department, 12420 McMullen Highway SW, Cumberland, Md. Allegany County Station 8. The BGVFD was organized in July of 1947 and built their first station later that year. In 1956 the original station was purchased by the State to relocate the highway and they moved to a new station. The highway work was never done and the department purchased the property back. In 1990 a four-bay addition was built, two bays at street level and two to the rear parking lot. In 2005 two more bays were added to the south side of the building. Primary responce are include the communities of Roberts Place, Bowling Green and Potomac Place.

Marrow of the World

Del Gue: "Ain't that somethin'? I told my Pap and Mam I was coming to the mountains to trap and be a mountain man; acted like they were gut-shot. Says, "Son, make your life here, here's where the peopls is. Them mountains is for animals and savages." I says, "Mother Gue, the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world", and by God, I was right."

Jeremiah Johnson: "Yes, you were."

Del Gue (as he rides away): " I ain't never seen'em, but my common sense tells me the Andes is foothills and the Alps is for children to climb! Keep good care of your hair! These here is God's finest sculpurings! And there ain't no laws for the brave ones! And there ain't no asylums for the crazy ones! And there ain't no churches, except for this right here! And there ain't no priests excepting the birds..."

Jeremiah Johnson, 1972

The Slumberland in Cumberland

The Slumberland Motel along the National Highway in LaVale, Maryland. It is right off of Exit 39 of Interstate 68 in western Maryland.

Spring Run Cemetery

I've wandered a cemetery or two in my time. I've seen the old carvings here and there. I saw these from the road as I drove by and had to stop. Most are from the 1870-1890's. Flowers mean beauty, a wreath is victory in death. A tree or weeping willow is for earthly sorrow. The shaking hands mean farewell. The pointing finger points to heaven. Some also have flowers or branches in them. An angel  is a guide to heaven. The angel in the second picture was from the grave of a child. 

Saturday Evening at the Yard

Saturday evening we caught our first Orioles game of the season. Seems lately that it's been late August til we've made it down the past couple years. As a bonus they were still finishing up Interleague play and the Colorado Rockies were in town. The bonus bonus was that the O's won. And there was an awesome sunset. You can't see a sunset like that from the good seat. Let's hear it for the cheap seats!