A lot of intelligent people, when they got off of work and it’s 20 degrees out, they would just go home, get off their feet, out of those shoes that make the whole side of their foot burn with an ungodly pain, but . . . I’m not those people.
So instead, you’ve got this post. What did I do after I got off of work today, for which I am still paying? I went to two cemeteries! My mother would not approve of it, ’cause I was out there without a coat on, and it was very cold! However, I didn’t want to miss the perfect afternoon light. So here’s the day’s take.

Last Day of DecemberCemetery 1: Piatt Family Graveyard, West Liberty, Ohio.

Well, as it will probably become apparent to some people, I work at the Piatt Castles [1] [2]. We’re open for the holiday season up until the fourth. So today as I was driving home, I noticed that the afternoon light was particularly alluring, and as I have to drive past the cemetery, anyway, I might as well stop in for a few shots.

My first visit to the private graveyard was in August. As is suggested by “private,” this is a plot for members of the Piatt family, and it is located on what used to be part of their farm. Before I went up the first time, I thought that the two main crypts, one for Abram Sanders Piatt and the other for Donn Piatt; this one also is the resting place of their parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth, as well as his wives Ella and Louise.

However, when I first went back, I was surprised by there being so many graves. In actually, there are more than 20 burials there. And today, without the foliage bordering it, I realized that there are even more buried back in the trees and bushes. I learned a couple of things doing that. First of all, my work clothes are not appropriate for getting through briars. Actually, that was basically what I learned. But I got some fantastic shots. (See the bottom of the post for more.) 

Mt. Tabor in Winter

Cemetery 2: Mt. Tabor Methodist Cemetery.

The light was really too much to pass up, so, even though I was frozen stiff, I nipped in for a few shots off before I completely dissolved in the face of the wind and ran off home.

Mt. Tabor is a country cemetery situated not far from Ohio Caverns. The last time I went was four years ago, though not much has changed since then. It’s a rather extensive cemetery, considering, and has a wonderful view of surrounding farmland. One of its more interesting and unique features, apart from the largely-deserted church that I have only ever seen in use once in eleven years, is the presence of steel tombstones. Over the last decade of driving back and forth by this cemetery, I have witnessed the struggles the caretakers have had with a particular iron obelisk, which cannot stand upright and is currently held steady by a series of wires and winches. 

I really have nothing else to say about Mt. Tabor . . . oh, one more incredible feature I have not seen elsewhere is a sort of grave covering, also made out of iron, which has a sort of “lid” which can be removed, presumably to plant flowers. “Oh, gross” was the reaction I had on our first visit. I still think it’s creepy.

That’s it for the commentary. Click for photos.  (more…)