Honoring an Iowa Soldier in Tennessee

I have written posts on the final resting place of Christian Brenner, a Union soldier from Iowa. My last visit to his Stone's River Battlefield National Cemetery grave in Murfreesboro, Tennessee was on Memorial Day 2019. To my surprise, every gravestone had a US flag in place for the holiday, which was once called Decoration Day, from Civil War era origins. During the Christmas season at the cemetery only the first third of gravesite rows have cedar wreaths placed on them. Those are part of the Wreaths Across America project. Christian's grave is further back from the main road so it doesn't receive a wreath along with hundreds of others. If present, a member of the 42N staff will make sure Christian's grave has some decoration placed on it for the season.

Holiday Lights of McMinnville, Tennessee

McMinnville, Tennessee is home to the Warren County seat. In the town's square, a running fountain and surrounding displays were decked out with the lights of the season last month.

Despite cold nighttime temperatures in the low teens during the Christmas week, the city display featured a full spectrum of color without a trace of snow.

Main Street's glow was a spectacular sight even for those foolish enough to venture out and photograph the displays in the freezing temperatures.

After seeing me and my tripod gear in or near the street, drivers in passing cars stopped in the middle of the road, rolled down their windows, learned out and snapped photos from their cell phones of the lite landscape. They had the good sense to keep warm and only were exposed for a few moments of the seasonally cold Tennessee weather.

The Day After Christmas at Stone's River

This is what the day after Christmas looks like at the Stone's River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Seven months ago I re-visited the site to further understand the grounds and what happened there during the Civil War. Outside of the first class interpretive center visitors will find several well cared for trails. This tree lined path in the park is devoid of signs and monuments but highlights the season during the golden hour with greens and reds. To complement this quiet scene is what the national cemetery located across the park's entrance becomes during the holiday season. See a future blog post.

Things from Christmas Past

Take a stroll through Grapevine Antiques in Amana, Iowa during December and you will find lots of things that people once used to celebrate Christmas.

Large colorful lights once used to decorate indoor Christmas trees now fill a white porcelain pan. A box of red ball ornaments from the 1950s sits nearby.

A toy helicopter without its main rotor blade, stands out among the Santas, old tinsel and nativity scenes. This small item once symbolized fascination with the Santa delivery concept, the emergence of Rudolf, and an ideal of plentiful gift giving of a particular era. Today the copter with a few photographic modifications can still draw the imagination of a once small child. Know that.

Christmas Lights in Motion

Got a Christmas tree with lights? Got a shutter controllable camera? Got 15 seconds? Set up and zoom in while the 15-second exposure is underway. Here's what you can get - a highly overexposed image of white lights reflecting off red garland and red ornaments, against the green tree. Pure seasonal motion while travelling at warp 6. Know that.

Snowy Christmas Eve in 42N Country

Seven inches of snow fell today ensuring a white and merry Christmas...and more shoveling close to guest time.