Amazing Stonework, August 19

Yes, I am behind schedule. Its been one of those weeks. But I have a beautiful building for you today, built in 1904, out of porphyritic granite. After doing my granite research and verifying the many colors ranging from white to black, I believe this to be Dakota Mahogany, from Milbank, South Dakota. This granite bed is 2.6-2.7 billions years old and that in itself is amazing. This being Iowa, that makes more logic sense that the granite on the east coast, but I am no expert.

The building is still used as a high school and will soon be crawling with teenagers. As I pass by it going home from work, I see the marching band is already practicing, getting ready for football games. Football means fall and I am more than ready to be rid of this 90 degree heat.

In reviewing a lot of the columns you see on buildings today, you see them polished and shinny but these they left in their natural block form that was ground into rounded shapes where they came out from the building. You can see the individual blocks and enjoy their wide variety of color.

But when you look close, you can see the cuts in the stone where they shaped the columns plus making their colors more prominent. Even the feet of the columns are cut and sanded into shape.

Above the doorways on the east and west sides of the building are beautiful arched windows with a masonry balcony above them that has interesting metal grillwork. Here I want to tie in with Monday Window and Ludwig’s challenge of beautiful windows for these are indeed striking.

The north side door is not as artistic but still amazing to look at with scroll work and stone columns at the roofline.

The south side of the building is where the school has expanded down through the next block making a quite large school. And while the extension is made of brick, it just doesn’t have the artistic heart of the older building. So I remind all to look at older buildings with a different eye and see the beauty of architects of old. You could not afford to build buildings of this artistry today. So I remind you before destroying an older building, check to see if there is any soundness left to the structure and if so, find a use for it and let its beauty remain among us.

In closing I remind you of always being kind. Kindness can open doors thought to be closed and let light in through windows once thought dark.

Amazing Stonework, July 19

Good afternoon friends. I started this challenge to share the beauty in older designs and architectures of the past that are in my area. So join in and share the beauty of stonework, brick, or concrete buildings in your area with interesting designs. Include the tag above so that others can tie in with you.

Today’s subject is an old bank, American Commercial and Savings Bank, that I am not sure is even being used at all. It is generally very quiet around it even thought it has 5 floors above from today’s focus. Today we are studying the three arch windows above the the main entrance of the second floor. So I tie in again with Ludwig’s Monday Windows for sharing the beauty of ornate windows.

The windows and the door itself are a combination of ornate and columned ironwork as well as detailed masonry. The center window has an ironwork eagle that ties in with the other metalwork of the window. The detailed masonry above the windows looks more beautiful with the colors of aging dripping down their faces. While the two side windows are not as ornate as the center window, their beauty is still amazing.

The center window highlights the filigree from above the door bringing in more hearty metal work to show off the beauty of the center window. The masonry details inside the arch of this window make it even more lovely.

So I challenge you to not dismiss those old building but to look for the art and design that was created with far less technology than we have available for us today. Share it with us here and appreciate the artist of then.

And as always I remind you of the beauty of kindness. It is what make our world beautiful. Use it often.

Amazing Stonework, July 11

The beauty of Stone, Brick, Marble or other stonework

Good afternoon friends. I started this challenge to share the beauty in older designs and architectures of yester year that are in my area. So join in and share the beauty of stonework, brick, or concrete buildings in your area with interesting designs. Include the tag above so that others can tie in with you.

We are at week 2 of a beautiful church here in Davenport, St Johns United Methodist Church. As a reminder, its architecture style is Gothic Revival and today we are finishing this building by covering some of the windows. The church does have a more modern addition but I am focusing on the older structure built in 1902 and opening in 1903. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 7, 1983.

While all church windows are amazing to look at, most people focus on the beauty of the glass. I want you to focus a little more on the stonework around them that is supporting them and in some instance highlighting their beauty.

The BIG one…I have seen it on the inside as well and it is quite stunning.

Check out the details of the stone within the window design itself.

This next window is a favorite as it is small, probably an attic window. I think I see AC vent tubes. But the stone decorative arch around it is so delicate and an artwork by itself.

All along the sides of the church are these lovely small arch windows with beautiful colored glass.

Windows allow the light of love to shine in through them which can brighten any room.

I hope you have enjoyed walking through the beauty of this church and can develop and eye for looking at other older churches and buildings. These buildings no only reflect the beauty of the architecture of the era but the compassion of the artist who made sure the details reflect their own beauty. I also tie in with Ludwig’s Monday Windows, to share the beauty of these windows.

And as always, remember the beauty and the power of kindness. When used correctly, they reflect the inner beauty of your own heart.

Amazing Stonework, June 28

Good morning friend’s. It is Monday morning and time again for you pics of amazing stonework in your area. While my original concept was buildings, My goal is to highlight the artwork created by builders of long ago, so share your beauties with us. Remember to attach the tag above so that others can follow you as well. Enjoy.

Today’s building is the old Capitol Theater here in Davenport Iowa. It closed in 1977 after a 57 years run. But there has been work going on it for a couple of years so hopefully this beauty is being restored to live once again.

I want to combine Amazing Stone work with Ludwig’s Monday Window as this building has wonderful windows.

Even though the window is more modern, the stonework around it is beautiful. The details cut into the granite (?) is quite amazing. The building corner that this was originally built for theater,

Other details along the front of the building show more intricate details.

Since entrance into the building was not an option, I did find this picture in an article showing historical theaters of the area. I wanted to share as well. Hopefully this building will get fully restored to re-share it’s beauty with us.

And remember, even buildings has stories to tell and tell stories is how we keep history alive. Combining history with kindness can prove that we were, still are and can always show love to each other.

Monday Window, June 7

Thank you Ludwig for posting such a fun challenge. I have not played in a while but with my new camera(non professional but fun) I had to join in. I take you to old windows…

This house just recently had a full renovation and restoration, I may have posted this window once before but felt it needed posting again. I would love to look out of this window.

Churches generally have wonderful windows and this one is no exception. I bet it colors are amazing inside.

Since I am a fan of older architectural structures, this last one had to be shown.

In closing I remind all the value of kindness. It should be used often. Open a window of far reaching kindness.

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

JusJojan & Monday Windows a Possibility

It is a possibility to join two blog ideas that have nothing in common but in reality if you turn your words right anything can be a possibility. For instance…

The possibility for modern day construction to be able to replicate the beauty created in older stone work of buildings made in the early 1900 is not really possible or feasible thus making it an impossibility.

Coming home from work today I caught the image of the windows of the 3rd and 4th floors of the county government building and was intrigued by their beauty. I was driving so I apologize for them not being straight, plus it is my phone camera.

This spring I plan to make a blog post on the beauty of the stonework in my area. Some of it is quite beautiful and some of it you look at and go ‘what were you thinking’ thus proving the possibility of most any design regardless of it making sense. Maybe by then I will have a real camera.

May you have a week of great possibilities that make you happy. And if you do or even if you don’t, remember the rest of us struggling with our impossibilities and be utmost kind.

Kind breeze

Back on the Air, Monday Windows, Snow

Hi, Hello, Howdy and How in the world are you? It’s been crazy since my last post . Friday of last week…5 days ago…all due to careless incompetence. If you remember I got a new roof, yea for that. But since I have satellite TV and internet the dishes needed to be carefully removed for later re-installation once new roof was on. So what did they do…cut the wires, let them fall to the ground and throw them in the roof trash trailer. Not what they were supposed to do. The company was very apologetic and paid for the replacements and said “good help is hard to find”, really…train your people correctly and then they become good help.

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It is amazing to me the different work ethics across the country as I have now lived in 6 different states but where I am now I believe has the worse. They do great work but fall short of that last 5% to complete the job. Its amazing.

All that being said, lets do a little catching up. Technically I am still in the allowed timeline for Monday Windows as I believe it’s a weekly prompt…so I want to show another beauty from our sanctuary. It shows Jesus’ Baptism.

Jesus Baptism — Again my camera is crooked, sorry.

Monday was also the first snow for the season. It was the best kind of snow – snowed during the night, beautiful to look at, streets were still clear and it was gone by lunch. If it snowed like that all the time, I would never mind the snow.

Plus it was Daisy’s first snow. It was a difficult time of keeping all 4 legs on the ground. Then we nosed a bush and the snow falls off scaring us because it moved…scary stuff. LOL.

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Today’s snow is a bit different setting records of earliest snow, coldest temps…and flooding. You know its bad when you get a flood warning and a snow warning on the same day. Yes, we are still flooded – not the major flood stage of 22′ like this spring but still the Mississippi is out of its banks and has been most of the year. That is crazy to think about. Special government programs are being setup for these people whose homes have been in water in some form for 8 out of the 10 months this year thus far. I would ask that those of you who are prayers to please remember the people along the Mississippi. I learned from my youth while living in Florida that you don’t want to be too close to the water. It can be a monster of unfounded proportions.

And finally a couple of pictures of today’s snow. It will still be snowing for a couple more hours; current temp at 28 but feels like 17.

The Trunk or Treat at the church has been cancelled more for temp concerns than snow as the snow can be cleared by then but the wind coming this evening will make the temps dangerous for small ones to be out in. The malls had their trick or treat last weekend so the kids got to do some there, as well as other indoor places that celebrated. And some communities just moved it to the weekend.

I feel the “white” season is among us. With higher than normal moisture in the air, we may see more of that stuff than normal. It does warm back up into the 40’s this week so it wont last but still…

So, I leave you with warm thoughts of kindness and love. May you feel the warmth of Christ’s love as it wraps around you and remember to always share the warmth and be Kind.

kindness warmth

Monday Windows, FBC Davenport, Iowa

What a fun and interesting challenge for windows. Doors and windows are amazing portals into an different world belonging to the building or boat or whatever, to let God’s light shine in and warm its space. Ludwig has created this fun challenge and those who participate with Monday Windows usually have amazing pictures to share.

I am posting again on the windows of my church, First Baptist Church of Davenport. An amazing historical building that is still filled with wonderful life. Today’s window showing, while it is in my church, this time it is not in the sanctuary. We have a room called the Parlor where more fancy events or serious meeting occur. It is filled with beautiful antiques and soft comfortable sofas.

All three windows for this room are similar with a different scripture texted across the lower section of the arch portion of the window.

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I do apologize for not holding my phone straight but the window’s beauty still comes through. Two windows are on one side toward the front and one window is on the side facing the parking lot. The outside of these windows are almost as pretty as the inside with the beautiful stonework between the windows.

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Come join in on Monday windows and as you share the beauty you see, remember to share everything to do, or say or everywhere you go, to do it all with kindness.

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Monday Windows

Ludwig has a fun post to show off Monday Windows. My church is one of the oldest churches in the area dating back to the 1880’s and is know for its beautiful windows. below are the outside and inside view if one of them.

IMG_20190924_130620 — Outside, obviously

The stonework on the outside really is beautiful.

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There are 3 large windows like this and 4 others that are a little smaller. And they are all dedicated to someone long before my time.

If you look around your town, I am sure you will see many beautiful old buildings, some no longer used but still quite stunning.

And always when passing new and old acquaintances remember to be kind, it may be just the light someone needs that day.

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