Cook’s Memorial? – Nikon D300, f13, 1/640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
As best as I can figure out what is in this photo is a cook’s memorial that I found 7 years ago today out on a range in Utah’s West Desert.
When I am out in the field looking for birds I sometimes come across strange or even odd things and this pile of rocks, red bows, seashells, pottery shards, and wooden spoons was one of those things. I hadn’t been to this area in several weeks when I discovered what appears to be a memorial of some kind. The wooden spoons appeared to be high quality and not the kind that you can pick up at a dollar store. I decided that what I found and photographed might be a memorial for a cook.
I spotted the cook’s memorial over the rest of the winter and into early spring and then one day I simply couldn’t see it anymore.
I wish I knew the story behind the pile of rocks, seashells, pottery shards, red bows, and wooden spoons and how it came to be. Was this memorial for a woman? A mother, wife, sister, brother, husband, a ranch hand who liked to cook? I’ll never know.
I did photograph some birds that day including a few Horned Larks perched on rocks not far from this little memorial.
This cook’s memorial isn’t the only strange or odd thing I have spotted while out in the field looking for birds. Perhaps I should write about them more often.
Life is good. Sometimes it is a mystery.
Mia
I found a small arrangements of old horseshoes, woodpecker feathers and the husks of dragon fly bodies once high up in a cave/cayon off the Green River with my family. We thought it must be for a favorite horse. A life honored by spoons, pretty stones, pottery shards and spices is a fine thing to remember a life by. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, you should write more about them, they are fascinating. I too often see strange memorials, out in desert mostly, but a few in the mountains. I photograph them when I come upon them and have even added a token at times. Interestingly I have had friends comment they knew the person the memorial was for when I have posted the photos on social media. Not to be morbid but on the line of EC’s thought I have told my daughter where I want my ashes spread and what memorial I want. I hope to look down on hikers who visit and ponder why is this here.
Lovely.
And now you have me wondering what a memorial to me would look like… Or to you?
Hi sweetie! I enjoyed reading about the memorial! The person who built it was a traveler who lives nearby! Looks like when they returned! They put it there for the ancestor of them and did it to honor them! It is great of the loved ones! This is my story! Love ya.
The rocks looks to be all different colours so the person maybe collected rocks & shells too. Lovely tribute if it is a memorial to a cook.