On the other side of the camera...

My love for old forgotten things extends far beyond buildings. I love old cameras. Just as old houses make me wonder about the memories that happened there, old cameras make me wonder about the memories they captured. I love anything that has a history even if I can only imagine what their history might have been. Like the photographer, the camera rarely makes it into the picture. I thought these beautiful cameras deserved a chance to be the subject.

A friend told me she had all sorts of photography goodies for me. I was thrilled when she handed me several of these beautiful cameras.  

The one below might be my favorite, although the flash on the first one is pretty awesome too. 

My mom found this beautiful camera. 

I did not know there was an "official Girl Scout camera" until a friend gave me hers. This camera is fabulous for so many reason. I love the color, I love the switch from color to black and white, and being a photographer for a Girl Scout troop, I especially love that there is a Girl Scout camera.

Time to plant the pumpkins...

While October may seem far off right now, if you are thinking about growing a giant pumpkin it is time to get started.

I visited my friend's pumpkin patch this weekend.  Most of the plants are still inside, but one was in the pumpkin patch, and another on it's way to the pumpkin patch.

It is hard to believe that those giant plants start off this tiny, but they do. In a few months, they will be taking over the garden with leaves that look like elephant ears.

This plant comes from the seed of the long gourd from last summer, you can see him here.  The seed shell is still attached to the leaves, but will fall off soon.

This plant was on his way to the pumpkin patch.  I will get pictures of him again once he is planted in the ground.

This is the first plant in the ground for this pumpkin season. He is protected from the elements and kept warm by his little greenhouse.  The number on the marker indicates his parent pumpkin.  This plant comes from one of the seeds from the amazing 923 pound pumpkin last year. 

Now that the plants are in the ground, I am excited to watch them grow. 

What little remains...

While on our hike to find the abandoned wheel house on the top of the mountain, we also found this collapsed cottage.  

As we got close to the top, I noticed this oil tank leaning against a tree in the woods.

Since we were hiking through the woods on a steep hill, a rusty old oil tank was an unusual find.  After making it to the top and exploring the abandoned wheel house, I knew I needed to explore more. How did an old oil tank make it up here? Then I saw all these pieces of wood sitting on top of a giant rock.

It wasn't until we got closer, that we realized this was a collapsed cottage.  It was destroyed, but a long time ago, it must have had the most amazing view.  

Standing behind where the house sat, looking out at the view.

Anything that was in the house, was destroyed in the collapsed; however, there was lots to find outside.  This old refrigerator was my favorite find here.

We found three or four rusty old bed frames all around the house.

This was such an awesome place to hike and explore. I look forward to going back here. It is so interesting to see what it looks like now, and imagine what it was like 50 years ago.  It seems like there used to be a lot of activity up at the top with the hotel and casino and the steep train ride up the side.

It is peaceful here now, with an amazing view.

On top of a mountain...

On a recent road trip, we found this forgotten railroad track.  We were curious because it went up this insanely steep incline to the top of a mountain.  Of course this meant, it needed to be explored.  

The trail was challenging.  It was steep and rocky, and I kept hoping the trip to the top would be worth it. We came around a bend in the trail and we saw this...

It was worth it!  This was the wheel house that housed the gears that pulled the train to the top of the mountain.  It was worth the climb, and the view was amazing.

Inside the remains of the wheel house...

Why did a train climb this steep climb to the top of the mountain?  While the view was beautiful, it seemed like a lot of work to get to the top.  We found out there used to be a hotel, casino and dance hall (all in one building) at the top.  All that remains is the foundation and an amazing view.

When I told my mom we climbed to the top, she told me she rode this train as a little girl.  She said the ride was scary! The train was an open trolley like train and at times it felt like you were going straight up (or down) the mountain.

 There was so much to see here, that I need to split it into two blog posts.  Stay tuned for pictures of the collapsed cabin we found nearby.

remembering the trading post...

In a nearby town, there is an Indian trading post surrounded by these wonderful forgotten little cabins. I have been drawn to them since we moved here. Every time we drive past them, I study them. I imagine what they were like years ago. Although the cabins have broken windows and roofs that are collapsed or barely holding on, I love each one of them. 

Today, the trading post above burned to the ground. I thought this little building that I loved looking at should be remembered.  Here are some pictures I took of the trading post and the nearest cabin over the past few years (my blog post on the cabins can be seen here).

This little cabin stood the closest to the trading post.

When I got there this afternoon, this is all that is left....

The nearest cabin (I love this little cabin) is still standing.

The forgotten place that calls me back...

A year ago, I visited the most amazing forgotten school.  Last week I went back for another visit.

Out of all the places I have photographed, this has remained one of my favorites. I have wanted to go back since about an hour after I got home from my last visit (you can read about my last visit here and here).

Rumor is that her days are numbered so I knew needed to make a trip back immediately. I could see the difference a year made, especially in this picture. 

Even in her forgotten state with broken windows and collapsed walls and floors, there is this magical moment as you arrive when you see this beautiful building in the distance.  As we got close, my heart started racing...this building really is still magical and beautiful. If I could go back in time and see it in its prime, I would in a heartbeat. I stand outside and study it, and imagine what it was like 40, 50, 60 years ago.

There are many broken windows, missing doors, boarded doors and windows, and yet these amazing details still exist. I am a bit obsessed with the windows. 

If you look through the window on the left, in the photo below, you can see light from places where the roof is collapsing. 

Can you believe this was an unsuccessful hotel? I wish I could have been a guest here 100+ years ago. 

This is one of my favorite photos from the day. While the opposite side of the building is massive and beautiful and captivating, this side has details and forgotten beauty that can not be overlooked.

This is only the beginning of the photos from this trip, so keep watching for another blog post on this amazing forgotten place.

If you aren't already following me on facebook, be sure to "like" my page. I put up sneak peeks of these fabulous places as I find them, so you will get a glimpse before the blog post.