Tag Archives: grave stones

Patrick shares stories of the New Fall Tradition of Cemetery Grave Adoptions that he started last year, and meet Little Johnnie and Clara. He also gives tips and recommendations, so that you can begin your own grave adoption project.
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For more on Little Johnnie and Clara, and for photos from last year’s grave adoptions, visit Adopting Graves 2013: My Thoughts and a Look Back on a New Tradition.
For Renae Rude – The Paranormalist’s post that inspired this tradition, visit Graveyards, churchyards and cemeteries: spending an afternoon with the dead.
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8 Tips to start your new Grave Adoption Tradition:
- Know that you have the right to be in a cemetery to pay your respects, just be sensitive and respectful of others.
- Choose a grave or head stone that is interesting to you, most likely older, and out of respect, one that doesn’t already have signs of regular visitors, or family members paying respects.
- If you’re interested in the genealogy of this project, be sure to choose a head stone that still clearly displays a name and dates.
- Realize that the days will get shorter as you get deeper into the fall. Most cemeteries have times posted when the cemetery is closed, and it’s usually “dusk”.
- Bring meaningful gifts or flowers on each visit… but realize that you’re responsible for disposing of them later.
- Don’t be afraid to just talk casually, or even flat out describe your new tradition to your adopted soul.
- Take photos on each visit. Document the work you’re doing, if for nothing else, to inspire others.
- Have fun… don’t take it too seriously… and definitely don’t make it about MOURNING or being SAD.
The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Google Play Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe, submit a rating, or share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at Patrick@BigSeance.com. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!
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4 Comments | tags: 8 tips, 8 tips and recommendations, 8 tips to start your new grave adoption tradition, adopting a forgotten grave, adopting forgotten graves, adoption project, autumn traditions, big seance, big seance podcast #11, cemeteries, cemetery adoptions, cemetery genealogy, cemetery grave adoptions, cemetery photography, cemetery research, cemetery rules and laws, choosing a grave to adopt, clara, episode 11, forgotten graves, genealogy, grave adoptions, grave markers, grave stones, grave yards, graveyards, head stones, historic cemeteries, history, inspiration, inspire, little johnnie, my paranormal world, new autumn traditions, New Fall Tradition of Cemetery Grave Adoptions, new fall traditions, new fall traditions cemetery grave adoptions, new traditions, paranormal, photography, remembrance, rest in peace, RIP, seance, spiritual, the big seance podcast #11, tips and recommendations, you have the right to be in a cemetery | posted in Cemeteries, The Big Séance Podcast

It hasn’t changed a bit, this old cemetery. Until two years ago when I visited it last, it had been over 20 years since I’d seen it. I remembered several of the individual headstones like I had just been there the day before. It’s weird, the things our brains choose to remember and hold on to. Growing up, I spent quite a bit of time here as my grandparents lived nearby. In fact, one of my earliest childhood memories is of an uncle of mine giving me a ride through this cemetery on a four-wheeler, and coming back with a collection of pine cones. I’m sure it wasn’t very deep back then, but I remember strolling through this grass and over the hill… and pondering life… and probably death. I don’t remember my reasons for enjoying my time there so much, but I do recall having general conversations with any spirit wanting to listen. I also recall my Bama (grandma) packing a lunch for me on a few occasions. One thing is for sure. When I think about a cemetery, or when I’m reading of a fictional graveyard, it is always this beautiful place that ends up being the setting in my mind.














Other recent cemetery photography posts:
The Iron Fence and the Family Plot
Cemetery of Immaculate Conception of Dardenne, Missouri
Francis Howell Cemetery, St. Charles, Missouri
Perfectly Lonely and Snowy City of Souls – Return to Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis
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10 Comments | tags: big seance, blogging, canon rebel t3i, catholic cemetery, cemeteries, cemetery photography, grave stones, grave yard, gravestones, graveyard, head stones, headstones, historic, historic cemeteries, lexington missouri, lexington mo, lichen, old cemeteries, photography, return, return to the old catholic cemetery, return to the old catholic cemetery in lexington missouri, seance, spiritual, spring | posted in Cemeteries, Photography

On Wednesday of this week, I made some time to sneak away after work to find a few places to take some photos. I decided to stop by a small Catholic cemetery that I pass by often when I’m coming home from work. This was the first opportunity I’ve had to take colorful spring photos with my new camera. Having colors to play with is a whole new experience. On this Good Friday, and especially for those of you who celebrate Easter, I hope you enjoy the powerful monument that depicts the crucifixion of Jesus. It clearly caught my attention.









For more of my photography, including cemetery photos like these, please visit my Flickr page.
A few recent cemetery posts you might like:
Francis Howell Cemetery, St. Charles, Missouri (Big Séance)
Perfectly Lonely and Snowy City of Souls – Return to Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis (Big Séance)
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6 Comments | tags: big seance, catholic cemeteries, catholic cemetery, cemeteries, cemetery, cemetery photography, cemetery photos, cross, crucifixion, crucifixion of jesus, Flickr, grave stones, grave yard, grave yards, gravestones, graveyard, graveyards, head stones, headstones, historic cemeteries, historic cemetery, historic grave yard, historic graveyard, immaculate conception of dardenne, immaculate conception of dardenne missouri, immaculate conception parish dardenne, jesus, lichens, mary, metal cross, monument, mother mary, mother mary statue, nature, paranormal, photo, photography, seance, spirit communication, spiritual, spring, spring photos | posted in Cemeteries, Photography














More Recent Cemetery Posts:

Perfectly Lonely and Snowy City of Souls – Return to Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis (Big Séance)

Lessons in Photography & Other Nerdly Stuff (Big Séance)

Another Visit to Gumbo (Big Séance)

A New Lens and a New Cemetery (Big Séance)
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2 Comments | tags: big seance, busch wildlife, busch wildlife reserve, cemeteries, cemetery photography, country cemetery, country grave yard, country graveyards, francis howell cemetery, francis howell cemetery saint charles missouri, francis howell cemetery saint charles mo, francis howell cemetery st charles missouri, francis howell cemetery st charles mo, grave markers, grave stones, grave yards, graveyards, head stones, headstones, historic, historic cemeteries, historic grave yard, historic graveyard, old cemeteries, old country cemetery, paranormal, photography, saint charles missouri, saint charles mo, seance, spiritual, st charles mo, st. charles missouri, winter | posted in Cemeteries, Photography

I wanted to be inspired to blog about something exciting tonight, but it turns out my brain (and my body) is tired from long work days this week. How about some more photography from two new cemeteries? While at the second cemetery, I captured a killer sunset that just took my breath away. I’m not entirely sure I did a great job of capturing it, but it was fun trying.

Fifteen minutes later I caught this one with my iPhone in the grocery store parking lot.

Back to the cemeteries… Bellerive Gardens in Creve Coeur, Missouri and Thomas Howell Cemetery in St. Charles, Missouri.


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While I’m at it, I’d love some constructive criticism from any experienced photographers. I had a chance to talk photography with a colleague at school today. He’s a “retired” administrator and former music teacher who has been doing some long-term subbing in our building. He does photography on the side, and so I took advantage of the opportunity to ask him some of those silly questions that a new photographer might ask when they’re learning lingo and the how-to. You know, like when do I need to switch lenses? What’s ISO? Things like that. I’ve found that he is GREAT at explaining things to me and making me not feel stupid. Ha! (He’s really great at explaining new sound systems too, by the way.)


A lot of times when I’m shooting in a cemetery, I have the urge to lay on the ground for several shots. If you don’t know me, physically, crawling across the ground, under trees and bushes, and straining to get back up again is not the greatest activity for my back and will almost always result in breaking out the good pain pills. It’s also funny when you stop by the grocery store on the way home and realize you have twigs and leaves clinging to you everywhere. It’s totally worth it, though.

Anyway, I’ve suspected this, but I’ve learned that I think I tweak things like the saturation and contrast a little too much in Photoshop Elements. I need to find a balance. You learn as you go, I guess. Here’s the link to most of my favorite recent photos from the new camera.



This was on a grave marker. How cool is that?!
Question: Do I need a Flickr account, or something similar? Why? Why not? What’s the point of it?



Love creative photography? You might also like:
Something Unsettling (KarlPfeiffer.com)
Photos by Randall Keller on Viewbug
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14 Comments | tags: angels, artsy photography, big seance, blogging, canon rebel, cemeteries, cemetery photography, constructive criticism, contrast, creative photography, dslr photography, filters, Flickr, grave markers, grave stones, grave yards, gravestones, graveyards, headstones, historic cemeteries, learning photography, lessons in photography and other nerdly stuff, lessons learned, lessons learned in photography, macro, macro photography, new photographer, paranormal, photography, photography lingo, photography questions, photoshop elements, saturation, seance, spiritual, sunset, t3i | posted in Cemeteries, Photography

This afternoon I made another visit to Gumbo Cemetery in Chesterfield, Missouri. I hadn’t been there yet with the new camera, and I was excited to get more practice in! This cemetery is the resting place of Clara, from my Grave Adoption series. All photos taken with the Canon Rebel T3i and a prime 50mm f/1.4 lens.








The back of Clara’s headstone.








You might also like:
A New Lens and a New Cemetery (Big Séance)
Learning Curve and the First Shots with my New Camera (Big Séance)
Christmas Eve at Machpelah Cemetery, Lexington, Missouri (Big Séance)
Oak Grove Cemetery, St. Charles, Missouri (Big Séance)
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7 Comments | tags: another visit to gumbo, big seance, blogging, canon rebel, canon rebel t3i, cemeteries, cemetery photography, cemetery photos, chesterfield, chesterfield missouri, chesterfield mo, grave stones, grave yards, gravestones, graveyards, gumbo cemetery, gumbo cemetery chesterfield missouri, head stones, headstones, historic cemeteries, missouri, paranormal, photography, seance, spiritual | posted in Cemeteries, Photography

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Emmanuel United Church of Christ Cemetery
Weldon Spring, Missouri











Emmanuel United Church of Christ, Weldon Spring, Missouri
Some of my first shots with the new lens

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You might also like:
365 and 2014 and New Chapters (KarlPfeiffer.com)
#HauntedPhotoAWeek (Renae Rude – The Paranormalist)
A Very Wintry Update (Big Séance)
Learning Curve and the First Shots with my New Camera (Big Séance)
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5 Comments | tags: a new cemetery, a new lens, a new lens and a new cemetery, big seance, blogging, canon ef 50mm f1.4 lens, canon EOS Rebel T3i, canon rebel, cemeteries, cemetery photography, Emmanuel United Church of Christ, emmanuel united church of christ cemetery, Emmanuel United Church of Christ Cemetery Weldon Spring, grave markers, grave stones, grave yards, graveyards, headstones, historic cemeteries, missouri, old cemeteries, paranormal, photography, photos, prime lens, seance, snow, snowy cemetery, spiritual, Weldon Spring, weldon spring missouri, weldon spring mo | posted in Cemeteries, Photography
18 Comments | tags: big seance, cemeteries, cemeteries at sunset, cemeteries in winter, cemetery, christmas eve in a cemetery, grave markers, grave stones, grave yard, grave yards, grave yards at sunset, grave yards in winter, graveyard, graveyards at sunset, graveyards in winter, head stones, headstones, historic cemetery, history, in the cemetery on christmas eve, lexington, lexington missouri, lexington mo, machpelah cemetery, machpelah cemetery lexington missouri, machpelah cemetery lexington mo, magic hour, missouri, missouri cemeteries, missouri grave yards, missouri graveyards, nature, paranormal, photography, photos, pictures, seance, snowy cemeteries, snowy grave yards, snowy graveyards, spirit communication, spiritual, sunset, winter | posted in Cemeteries




























Interested in my other cemetery posts?
A Lonely Old Country Cemetery at Magic Hour – Bellflower, Missouri
Walnut Grove Cemetery, Boonville Missouri
Assumption Cemetery, O’Fallon Missouri
Cravens Cemetery, Camden Missouri
Cemeteries: Concordia and Emma, Missouri
Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri
Forest Grove Cemetery, Lexington, Missouri
Lexington’s Old Catholic Cemetery
Machpelah Cemetery, Lexington, Missouri
Two Smoky Mountain Cemeteries
Just a Stroll through a Random Cemetery on the Way Home
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6 Comments | tags: big seance, cemeteries, cemeteries at sunset, cemetery, grave markers, grave stones, grave yard, grave yards, grave yards at sunset, graveyard, graveyards at sunset, head stones, headstones, historic cemetery, history, magic hour, missouri, missouri cemeteries, missouri grave yards, missouri graveyards, nature, oak grove cemetery, oak grove cemetery saint charles missouri, oak grove cemetery st. charles missouri, paranormal, photography, photos, pictures, saint charles mo, seance, spirit communication, spiritual, st charles mo, sunset | posted in Cemeteries

A photo of Johnnie’s grave during one of my recent visits.
Tonight I simply wanted to log on and tell you about my return trip to Johnnie’s grave to retrieve the pumpkin I left for him.
I left a pumpkin at Clara’s grave, too. I knew they would be fine for a month or so, but also knew I had the responsibility of going back to pick them up before they rotted. I mean, I didn’t want to see Linus and Lucy waiting for the Great Pumpkin next fall if I return for a visit. That would be embarrassing, and I’d feel really bad. So yes, I was stressing out just a bit about getting back to dispose of the pumpkins. The only problem? After Halloween, when we get busy with our lives again and “fall back”, I’ve discovered it is nearly impossible to get to a cemetery (unless you live right next to it) before dark! Even on days where I get to leave work at a decent time after school, it’s getting dark on the way there! I had every intention for over a week to get back to both of these cemeteries, but lack of sunlight was really making it difficult.
When it comes to cemeteries (and most situations in life, actually), I’ve always followed the accepted rules. For most cemeteries, unless otherwise posted, you are prohibited from entering between dusk and dawn. Well a few nights ago, I rushed out of school as early as I could, but darkness beat me once again. I was already en route to Johnny’s cemetery when I decided that this mission to dispose of a pumpkin was important enough of a reason to go to that cemetery in the dark. I was frustrated and tired of the daily race and wanted to check this off my to do list.
I’ve spent hours and hours in cemeteries, both as a child and as an adult. They’re like peaceful parks to me. Though I don’t recall a cemetery visit after sundown, I was pretty confident that I wouldn’t have any fear issues. I thought back to the day I returned to do some follow-up investigation at an abandoned farmhouse… in the dark… without my team… and how good it felt to prove to myself that I could do it. I had no worries. My confidence wavered a bit, however, as I tried to locate Johnny’s grave. In the daylight, I knew that path like the back of my hand. At this point I’d been there probably ten times. But I assure you, it’s a whole different story in the dark.
By the time I made it to Johnnie’s grave, I was more worried about cops or someone in one of the few houses nearby thinking I was a trouble maker. This is also why I didn’t use a flashlight. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. But surely anyone would be understanding of my pumpkin mission, right? I felt a bit rude dropping by for such a brief visit, but I quickly greeted Johnnie and explained that I was taking his pumpkin back. I hoped he understood. I sent a quick prayer for him to be at peace and then crouched down to search for the pumpkin. In the shadows, my eyes finally settled on it. It was still there. It was either upside down or no longer had its stem, but it was hard to tell. I grabbed with both hands, but my fingers went right through the pumpkin. I had to hold back from blowing chunks right there. I waited too long. Fortunately, I was prepared with a trash bag and managed to scoop it all (or what I hoped was all) in the bag. I think I said something goofy to Johnnie about this awkward moment before heading back to the car that was parked nearby on one of the paths in the middle of the cemetery.
In the car, the next priority was finding my hand sanitizer. Once my hands were taken care of, I had a fascinating moment just sitting there in a silent car. I was enjoying the surroundings and realizing this wasn’t something you see every day. I wasn’t too frightened. In fact, I could have stayed there a while longer, admiring all of the silhouettes off in the distance. Once again, the fear of police lights driving up the hill to the cemetery got me moving quickly. I made my way to the main road and headed for home, while planning the next day’s rushed visit to retrieve Clara’s pumpkin. Would it be in the same condition? In my head, I made a few quick notes on the lessons learned during this trip to grab a squishy pumpkin in the shadows.
You may be interested in my other posts in a series titled “Adopting Graves”, where I’ve enjoyed sharing my journey of adopting and researching two graves during the autumn season. For previous posts, visit:
Adopting Graves 2013: My Thoughts and a Look Back on a New Tradition
Adopting Graves: Second Visit with Clara and Johnnie
Adopting Graves: Some genealogy on our little Johnnie and his family
Adopting Graves: More on little Clara and her family
Adopting Graves: A New Autumn Tradition (2013)
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4 Comments | tags: adopting a forgotten grave, adopting a gravestone, adopting graves, adopting graves 2013, adopting gravesites, afterlife, alone in a cemetery, alone in a graveyard, autumn, autumn season, autumn tradition, autumn traditions, big seance, blogging, cemeteries, cemeteries after dark, cemeteries at dusk, cemeteries at night, cemeteries at night and my pumpkin mission, cemetery, clara gegenbauer, clara i gegenbauer, fall, fall traditions, forgotten graves, grave, grave adoption, grave markers, grave site adopting, grave stones, grave yard, grave yards after dark, grave yards at night, graves of children, gravesites, graveyard, graveyards after dark, graveyards at night, head stones, headstones, heaven, historic cemeteries, history, johnnie michel, johnnie michel grave, johnnie michel gravesite, linn cemetery, linn cemetery wentzville missouri, linn cemetery wentzville mo, meramec, missouri cemeteries, my pumpkin mission, new tradition, other side, paranormal, photography, pumpkin, remembrance, rest in peace, resting place, RIP, seance, souls, spirit, spirit communication, spirit world, spirits, spiritual, wentzville missouri, wentzville mo | posted in Cemeteries