Sleeping Peacock

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Old North Church Cemetery ~ Nacogdoches, Texas

Nacogdoches is the oldest town in Texas; therefore, it is logical that its cemeteries contain the oldest graves in the state.  The Old North Church Cemetery on the north edge of the city is replete with wrought ironwork.  Most of it  is in good shape; other fencework is failing.  The following is taken from a historical marker at the entrance of the cemetery:

According to legend, the first burial in this cemetery was that of a young girl whose family, traveling through the area when she died, buried her here before continuing their westward journey. Oral tradition also suggests that William Whitaker was already interred in a brick vault by the time Richard Sparks set aside land on this site for use as a community graveyard in 1838. The Union Baptist Church (later the Old North Church) was organized in the spring of that year. The oldest marked grave is that of Saletha Easter Whitaker (d. 1845). Dr. John M. Sparks and his wife formally deeded ten acres, including the original five acres set aside by Richard Sparks, to the Union church in 1892. The cemetery historically was divided into two sections. The east side was used for the burials of local slaves, many of whom were members of the church, and eventually became a separate cemetery. Other burials of interest include those of veterans of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Texas Revolution. Records indicate that some 47 Confederate Civil War soldiers are buried in the southern portion of the cemetery, and 21 Union soldiers are interred in unmarked graves. Most of the Union veterans were victims of an epidemic of dysentery during the Reconstruction era.

LINKING TO TAPHOPHILE TRAGICS

Log Barn

This is the only log barn I've ever seen in this area so I believe it to be VERY old.  

From all indications, it is still being used.

Linking to Tricia's BARN CHARM

Hand in Hand

Desert Ridge Marketplace

Phoenix, Arizona

Grass

Frank LLoyd Wright Church

On my recent trip to Phoenix, a drive through my old neighborhood brought back many memories.  For almost 30 years I lived just one block away from this beautiful church designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  When I first started blogging back in 2009 it was the subject of several of my picture-a-day posts.  Those first couple of months I struggled to find subjects to photograph.  Now I find interest in so many things that I never even noticed before.

Fence No. 15 ~ Jerome, Arizona

The dictionary does not define how tall is a fence.  This might be characterized as terracing but in a stretch it might be defined as a fence which keeps the gardens of the Surgeon's House from spilling out onto the streets of Jerome.  (Although it does appear that some spilling has occurred.  Maybe next year when I return there will be flowers growing in the street!)

LINKING TO FRIDAY FENCES

An Extended Family Get-Together

City Cemetery ~ Henderson, Texas

City Cemetery in the small town of Henderson, Texas, is the final resting place of many Texas pioneers, with graves going back well over a century and a half.  It is located on a hilltop overlooking the city and is my favorite cemetery in this area in which to wander.  It contains two very large sculpture headstones which I hope to show you in the future but I need to go for another visit to rephotograph them since I haven't been for a visit in over a year.

Visit Taphophile Tragics to see gravestones and cemetery photographs from all over the world

NOTE:  Due to time constraints and just because they're so frustrating,

I no longer comment on blogs which contain word verification.

 

Summer Monsoon Over the San Francisco Peaks

Photographed outside Flagstaff, Arizona, July 2011

Roseate Spoonbill

Caldwell Zoo

Tyler, Texas

How can you not fall in love with a pink bird!

Purple

I wish I had a bouquet of these pretty purple African daisies for blogger friend Magpie, 

who has been feeling a bit purple -- er, excuse me, blue -- the past few days!

I chose these because she is ga-ga over purple!

Oxalis

Photographed along the roadside on one of my walks

There seems to be a revolution going on out here in blogland over Google's new verification phrases and the fact that half of the phrase seems to be illegible to most people, me included.  I must join this revolution and as of today I will no longer comment on blogs which use this verification process.  If you love getting comments as much as I do, I urge you to remove that step from your blog.  I removed mine several months ago and by following the instructions given by bloggie friend TexWisGirl I have not received any spam on either of my sites.  The following is a link to her post today where she again gives instructions on how to remove this pesky, time-consuming step and what to do to prevent spammers or hackers from posting on your site.  Believe me, it's easy!  Just click on her link above to get that info.

Peeking Over the Top ~ Fence No. 14

This curious ostrich peeks over the top of a tall fence at Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park, Arizona.  Although this ostrich lives in a zoo, Arizona is home to several ostrich ranches, and the Phoenix suburb of Chandler even hosts an annual ostrich festival.  Wanna go for an ostrich ride, anyone?  I believe those are the White Tank Mountains in the background.  If I'm wrong, Magpie will please correct me.

Linking to FRIDAY FENCES