Amazing Stonework, Sept. 13

Its time for my weekly post of Amazing Stonework. A post where I showcase old buildings of interesting architecture that you probably could not afford to build today. If you have interesting buildings that you enjoy seeing, link them here to this post and share the beauty of yesteryear with us with other Amazing Stoneworks. The only real criteria is brick, stone or mortar. Join in on the fun.

I am always amazed with the lives of churches. My church for instance, changed it’s name over its nearly 200 years of life but it has remained a Baptist Church. Some churches change entirely but we really are the same if all share the love of God, we just do it a little differently. One day it will all be one.

Today’s church is a old one and according to the concrete marker out front it started as a Lutheran Church in 1856.

***EV. LUTH. Immanuels KIRCHE U. A. C.*** 1856 1896

I was not familiar with what a Kirche UAC was so I looked it up. This was an orthodox Lutheran Church holding to the teachings of the Unaltered Augusburg Confession (UAC). They combined parts of the Protestantism and Roman Catholicism beliefs.

Today this church is The Grace City Church but I am not sure which doctrine they follow. It is a striking building with many spires reaching to heaven and still very much in use.

The artistic details in the brick work are truly amazing and run all along the tops of the walls on all faces of the church. Every corner or point toward the front is topped with a spire of some sort. The back of the church had an hexagon shape to it with more of the intricate brick work and arched windows.

Both sides of the church have beautiful arched windows with detailed brick around them and concrete sills.

The area I live in is rich in history as it is divided by the Mississippi – Iowa on one side and Illinois on the other, but I am amazed at the number of wonderful buildings of the mid to late 1800s that are still standing and being used. So much of our modern mentality is tear it all down and start new with bigger and better. Not only do we miss out on the beauty of the architecture, but the heritage and history as well. If older buildings are maintained, they can be preserved for generations.

Show us the beauty of what you see and remember to always be kind. Kindness is a gift we must preserve for many generations to come. Its how we were meant to do.

CMMC – May Pick a Topic

Cee has created a fun mid week challenge, CMMC, that can really get you thinking.

Due to where I currently live, there are various forms of murals painted on the older building downtown. I chose one that I may have posted before but it so depicts this area by the Mississippi River.

Even though the paint is beginning to chip, it is still a marvel to see. There is a railroad that runs on both side of the river and occasionally you will see a restored paddle boat taking a tour group up river. Beauty of a era gone by.

As we remember the eras of long ago, remember the simplices and the kindness we tried to share where we could and try to share them again today.

***Regardless of the generation you are in, Always Be Kind.***

Monday Windows, Even in the Restroom

Ludwig has a fun post for showing off windows you see. Since we are “sheltered in place” I am going through archives and found this one that I don’t think I have ever shared. To help understand the history of this window, in 1985 a storm came through our town and crashed the steeple through the roof of the church taking out the pipe organ and nursery among other things. So in the repairs, they also decided to make some much needed renovations to the areas of damage. One was to add restrooms to the sanctuary floor. Now while you are thinking this is odd, this building is over 100 years old and with a couple of renovation already under its belt, it was now 4 floors for people to meander about and get lost in if you have never been there. So the majority of the plumbing was downstairs, except for the fellowship where other restrooms were available. But nothing much for the main sanctuary floor. And of course this building being over 100 years old was filled with beautiful stained glass windows. Now we have restroom on the main sanctuary level…with stained glass windows. Something you don’t find in every church.

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I am also sharing my favorite window which I know I have shared. Yes it is crooked because I didn’t take into account I was standing on a slanted floor.

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I have hopes you are all staying safe and sheltering as much as you can. Remember in all that you do to always be kind, especially now as our lives seem more stressed that at other times.

Kind fire

CFFC, Fun With the Past

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge allows us to bring fun from our archives or new pictures that reflect ideas from the picture above : Mural, covered bridge, car, green, grass, vintage car, people, trees, road, flowers, landscape, sidewalk, or come up with your own topic.

So below are some of my pictures of the past. Since we are venturing out less right now, I felt this was a fun way to deal with the self quarantine.

Mural, one of several from my town, Rock Island Illinois:

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Centennial Bridge between Iowa and Illinois and blue sky:

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Flowers, can’t wait until spring:

Landscape & trees around town:

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Old cars:

We are now in a time of more fear and resentment and the need for kindness and patience is drastically needed more than ever. Remember to always be kind especially when others are not. Be the light they need.

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What Is It I Ask?

IMG_20191123_221906 — The tree in my sunroom

What is it all about, this season that makes me love it so?

Is it the hustle and bustle of the people as we hurry to and fro?

Maybe it’s all the lights that sparkle and twinkle and glow,

Or the funny old man in red when he giggles Ho, Ho, Ho.

IMG_20191114_175013 — Santa(56 years old) chatting with Chris Moose and Friends on Grandmother couch

Maybe it’s something totally different as we zoom to our many places,

The joys of seeing and greeting others with the smiles on all of our faces

As fresh cut evergreens fill the air, a wonderful smell the season embraces

With glittering balls and tinsel aglow and angels draped in laces.

IMG_20191126_172747 — Angel, 29 years old

Are these real reasons, to enjoy this season, a season surrounded by love,

The birth of a baby, the birth of our salvation, as soft as a coo of a dove

Laying in a manger, a food trough for animals, a precious gift from above

Although he was King, he came as a slave, to show us the fullness of love.

Large — 1 of 27 different Nativity Scenes of varying sizes on Grandmother China Cabinet

Anita Neal

As you enter this holiday season, remember, its not Happy Holidays, although it is a happy time, its Christmas – Christ Mass – a time for celebrating His birth, remembering why He came, what He has done for us and we should reflect His love through the season. And always try to be kind.

CB Christmas

Finish with Fun

Today was the last face paint party for the summer. This was located at a local festival with wonderful games, food, music, tractors…and ending not like I thought it would. So I shall show you pictures of my fun and the pictures of what happens when there is no one around to monitor me and keep me in check. It can be dangerous? but …well it is what it is. First the fun…

IMG_20190907_091717 — Living in corn country, you got to have Kids Corm Scramble

Kids corn scramble was a big hit. They had large metal washers hiding in the corn that they had to find on a time limit to win a stuff animal.

IMG_20190907_103441 — Summer night and turtle beach are favorite faces

Then of course, a train pulled by a John Deere tractor is always good.

Antique cars, trucks and tractors…..

Then of course, every playground should have its own…camel?

As many of you know I am a strong backer of rescue animals and the conservation efforts of zoos. My dog Mimi is a rescue and I purposely do not go to shelters for the danger that I would bring them all home with me.

But today, they brought them to me and YES I was unsupervised and caved. Meet Mimi’s new little sister. She does not have a name yet, as I believe they earn their name, possible over the weekend.

IMG_20190907_133310 — German short hair pointer cross.

Mimi doesn’t seem to mind and is learning to be kind and sharing the sofa. You can see the tail is blurred as it is constantly wagging – happy puppy. Always remember to be kind even when you prefer not to share your water bowl.

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