Resting Place

Old graveyards have a peaceful dignity and grace. Long removed from recent grief and sadness, they stand worn with lichen and time, bearing long lost loved one’s names, wife of so and so, son of such and such. Old names too, that have so long gone out of fashion that they seem to be from another word. It was another world. These cemeteries tell stories of a community, of tenderness and love, of sorrow and faith, of life and death.

I was intrigued by the stones in the Blomidon Cemetery in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia which I visited while clamming on the nearby beach. My friend Christy Ann and I  snuck away to read the stones (this wasn’t the first time we’ve hung out in an old graveyard).

Often a family history is laid out before your eyes to puzzle out.

Phebe I. Newcomb- Blomidon Cemetery - Marie Cameron 2013  Mary Newcomb- Blomidon Cemetery - Marie Cameron 2013 Mayhew L. Newcomb- Blomidon Cemetery - Marie Cameron 2013

Here Mayhew L. Newcomb was buried alongside his wife Phebe L. and his mother Mary.

Issac Beach- Blomidon Cemetery - Marie Cameron 2013      Wilford and Mira Beaches- Blomidon Cemetery - Marie Cameron 2013

And here Issac Beach was sadly joined by (in all likelihood) his grandchildren several years later.

Snapped Rose buds - Blomidon Cemetery Marie Cameron 2013

There is a wealth of symbolism to the imagery carved into the old marble slabs. The children of Elisha and Eliza J. Beach, Wilford L. and Mira J., were only toddlers when passed away in November 24, 1875 and January 19, 1876.  Only three years, 3 three months old and one year, one month old. Broken rosebuds were used for their gravestone, symbolizing two lives cut short before they had a chance to bloom.

Broken Chain Grave Stone - Blomidon Cemetery Marie Cameron 2013

On another stone a broken ring of chain symbolized that the family circle was severed.

Finger Pointing on Book - Blomidon Cemetery Marie Cameron 2013

A finger pointing to an open book, referring to one who was a scholar, is carved into Hannah Lyon’s stone of 1873.

Mouring Willow Grave Stone - Blomidon Cemetery Marie Cameron 2013

This weeping willow, representing earthly sorrow, was carved into Phoebe Rans Loomer’s in 1875.

Sophronia Blomidon Cemetery Marie Cameron 2013

Sophronia is a beautiful name I’ve never come across before but appears to have been the name of a flower and though uncommon, was given to girls in the 1850s through to the 1880s.

Sophronitis_cernua_(as_Sophronia_cernua)_-_Bot._Reg._13_pl._1129_(1827) web

I had to see what sophronia looks like and found this lovely image from The Botanical Register vol. 13 pl. 1071 by designer (and botanist) John Lindle and engraver J. Watts.  (1827) on the web. (http://www.botanicus.org/page/133102) It’s an orchid, soprhonitus that also goes by the more common name of cattelya. How lovely to be named after a recently discovered orchid. In Victorian times this would have symbolized refined beauty.

Lichen Covered Concrete Grave Marker - Blomidon Cemetery - Marie Cameron 2013

Adorned only with lichen, this little concrete marker is the headstone for some unknown occupant.

Blomidon Cemetery at Sunset Marie Cameron 2013

Blomidon Cemetery is dreamy in the early evening light where elaborately engraved marble stones stand out among the small concrete markers covered in golden lichen and modern ones of sleek black granite.

View Between the Birches at Blomidon Cemetery Marie Cameron 2013

Many of the old graveyards in Nova Scotia come with a view, in this case, you can catch glimpses of the Minas Basin between the birches and watch that blue water coming and going over the red Blomidon mud.

View of the beach near Blomidon Cemetery Marie Cameron 2013

I’m sure the sight was panoramic the late 1800s before all the trees grew up. It must have been of some comfort to the families to have their dearly departed laid to rest in a place of such serene beauty.

Blackberry Brambles, Cups and Saucers

Cup o' Blackberry Brambles photograph by Marie Cameron 2013

 

This is the vision I had in mind when I set out for Elizabeth’s blackberry bush with my pruners this morning.

I have been collecting china that lets me believe I could drink a  Nova Scotia summer in a tea cup!  I spent many summers collecting wild blackberries from brambles a good deal taller that I was in the woods behind our family home.  I’d come back all scratched up with ice cream containers full of berries. I’d fill up our deep stainless steel sink with water and swish the blackberries about until they were clean and glistening. Then I would strain them up into my hands like I was gathering up all the stars from the night’s sky.
Blackberry Brambles photograph by Marie Cameron 2013

I couldn’t just snip a branch and be on my way though – you never know when you’re going to need a good picture of a blackberry and they were so beautiful in the early morning light!

Blackberries Green photograph by Marie Cameron 2013

I liked these green ones hiding in the shadow of the roses, and I would have missed them if I didn’t pause to enjoy the moment. Did you know that roses and blackberries are related? I guess you don’t have to be pricked to many times to figure this one out.

Blackberries, Roses and Sky 2 photograph by Marie Cameron 2013

Then there were these dark beauties basking lush in the full sun.

Blackberries and Sky photograph by Marie Cameron 2013

I love the graceful arch of the branch laden with ripe fruit and all armed with thorns!

Blackberrie - Red, Green photograph by Marie Cameron 2013

And it’s interesting to see all the hues of ripening on the same branch.

Blackberries Close Up photograph by Marie Cameron 2013

How did I not even eat one of these? Oh, how I sacrifice for my art!

Blackberry Tea photograph by Marie Cameron 2013

Now I’m just having a hard time picking out a favorite photo, perhaps I’ll have to do more than one painting!

Blackberry Cup and Saucer photograph by Marie Cameron