Oct 31, 2011: Stones with Faces

sandypossum · 10-31-2011, 02:13 AM

Is this okay as an IOtD?

We moved to our farm three years ago. Now and then we found a stone in the garden with a face painted on it. Cute, we thought. We imagined one of the previous owners had painted one for each person in their family and placed them around the garden. A few months ago we emptied the soil out of an old bath tub that was functioning as part of the old vegie garden. As I dug my hands into the soil I grabbed onto what I thought were potatoes, but they turned out to be more stones with faces. Lots of them, in all sorts of sizes. It was a tad creepy! And then last weekend, at the back of the wood shed, I found an old bucket, sunk into the ground, full of more stones with faces. Here's a shot of them. Why why why would you go to the bother of painting faces onto stones - all different - and then bury them? I feel a horror movie plot coming on...

sandypossum · 10-31-2011, 02:15 AM

Could someone with more competence than me embed the photo please? It shows up in the thread, but not on the main IOtD page. Ta!

Trilby · 10-31-2011, 06:01 AM

Why?

Voodoo.

Those are pretty cool, sandy. I think it's some sort of message...I like it. I might start doing it here at my house.

Those look like happy faces - not tortured, voodoo faces.

I think it's a good omen! Can you research the history of the farm?

infinite monkey · 10-31-2011, 07:18 AM

Wow!

What a fun mystery!

glatt · 10-31-2011, 07:23 AM

Creepy. A perfect IotD for Halloween.

Aliantha · 10-31-2011, 07:25 AM

I think it's one for every body they buried in the yard.

Better not dig too deep!

sandypossum · 10-31-2011, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Those look like happy faces - not tortured, voodoo faces.

Yep, but they only started looking happy once we dug them up. When they first emerged they looked pretty frightened and confused.

Quote:

I think it's one for every body they buried in the yard.

Yep, that's our theory, too. But before they die their souls are harvested and trapped in a stone. We fear we may find more mass graves.

And some stones' paint is peeling off; what would be the meaning of that?

But seriously, I'm kind of concerned that exposure to the light may make them deteriorate. On the other hand, I can't bring myself to bury them again!

Sundae · 10-31-2011, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandypossum

Yep, but they only started looking happy once we dug them up. When they first emerged they looked pretty frightened and confused.

And with those two sentences you have scared me more than 98% of horror films I have ever watched.

What an amazing and timely IoTD.

Although if this was a film right now I'd be moaning at the screen, "Just move out! Please! Go!"
Keep yourself safe.

burns334 · 10-31-2011, 05:57 PM

My daughter created this one when she was a little girl, I keep it in the flower bed and think of her when I see it.

sandypossum · 10-31-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Can you research the history of the farm?

Well Brianna, yes and no. I live in a veeeery small town. The last owners had an extremely nasty split up. The old bloke moved to another town, and the woman is still local, but looks slightly terrified each time I see her and go up for a chat. Word has it she is still unable to get over losing her beloved farm (due to the bloke having drunk and gambled it all away) and avoids any discussion about it. The owners before that moved much further away, and are considered incommunicado due to something that happened here, so not sure how I would track them down. I've started asking neighbours if they know about the stones, but none of them knew about them. I am curious, but will have to tread carefully. At least I know they're not Aboriginal artifacts, which is when you get into very blurry territory about correct handling etc.

I was wondering if they were a fad at some time long ago, like macrame. The style of the face painting looks old fashioned to me, but I wouldn't know how to date them.

Aliantha · 10-31-2011, 08:11 AM

Do the words Wolf Creek mean anything to you?

wolf · 10-31-2011, 08:14 AM

I'm just going to go right out on a limb and suggest someone with a major mental illness lived in that house at some time.

yeah, it's not much, but it's all I got.

As far as you know, was there a childless woman ever living in the house?

Oh, and let us know if you've disturbed the restless and probably malevolent spirit that those were keeping down, would you?

CaliforniaMama · 11-01-2011, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

I'm just going to go right out on a limb and suggest someone with a major mental illness lived in that house at some time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

The burying to me suggests the desire to put it out of one's mind, to get rid of it but not in a destructive way.

That was my first impression, too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

I'm picturing a person--probably a woman--who has a difficult time with anger, or anxiety, and has been taught to habitually "bury" whatever issue is bothering her at a given time.

My image is a bit different.

I picture a male (in overalls), not quite a "man," who buried them surreptitiously. Maybe embarrassed, or to hide them, or to keep them safe in a "taking care of them" kind of way.

I can imagine them being painted as the happy souls of people who were possibly hurt in some way by the painter. He was sorry he hurt them or wanted to remember them in their happy, or nomal, way.

Or, maybe they are just people he loved and admired, but in a quiet, shy way.

(Ooooh, my imagination is running away with me!)

It feels very 1940-1950ish to me. Maybe even earlier.

I wonder if we'll ever know?

It is fun to see the different impressions we all have!

HungLikeJesus · 10-31-2011, 08:50 AM

Yes, that's definitely creepy and appropriate for today. Thanks!

infinite monkey · 10-31-2011, 09:01 AM

One halloween when I was in HS, we had grown pumpkins in the garden and had a bunch of them sitting on the front porch, for sale.

One night I heard some noise on the front porch. I turned the porch light on and looked out...most of the pumpkins had been carved (not even removing the innards, just some fast face making, and one that had the word "beer" carved into it) and they were all lined up facing the front door.

I thought it was pretty good. I'm pretty sure it was my neighber...the Neighbor "Hood" who I actually kind of liked even if everyone else called him Damian because he, well, looked like Damian!

10-31-2011, 02:13 AM	#1
sandypossum tri-continental dag hag Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 247	Oct 31, 2011: Stones with Faces Is this okay as an IOtD? We moved to our farm three years ago. Now and then we found a stone in the garden with a face painted on it. Cute, we thought. We imagined one of the previous owners had painted one for each person in their family and placed them around the garden. A few months ago we emptied the soil out of an old bath tub that was functioning as part of the old vegie garden. As I dug my hands into the soil I grabbed onto what I thought were potatoes, but they turned out to be more stones with faces. Lots of them, in all sorts of sizes. It was a tad creepy! And then last weekend, at the back of the wood shed, I found an old bucket, sunk into the ground, full of more stones with faces. Here's a shot of them. Why why why would you go to the bother of painting faces onto stones - all different - and then bury them? I feel a horror movie plot coming on... __________________ you're never too old to have a happy childhood Last edited by sandypossum; 10-31-2011 at 02:17 AM. Reason: didn't read well!

10-31-2011, 02:15 AM	#2
sandypossum tri-continental dag hag Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 247	Could someone with more competence than me embed the photo please? It shows up in the thread, but not on the main IOtD page. Ta! __________________ you're never too old to have a happy childhood

10-31-2011, 06:01 AM	#3
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Why? Voodoo. Those are pretty cool, sandy. I think it's some sort of message...I like it. I might start doing it here at my house. Those look like happy faces - not tortured, voodoo faces. I think it's a good omen! Can you research the history of the farm? __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

10-31-2011, 07:25 AM	#6
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	I think it's one for every body they buried in the yard. Better not dig too deep! __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

10-31-2011, 05:57 PM	#9
burns334 High Propagandist Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: East Windsor, NJ Posts: 112	Rock face My daughter created this one when she was a little girl, I keep it in the flower bed and think of her when I see it.

10-31-2011, 07:18 AM	#4
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	Wow! What a fun mystery!

10-31-2011, 07:23 AM	#5
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Creepy. A perfect IotD for Halloween.

10-31-2011, 08:11 AM	#11
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Do the words Wolf Creek mean anything to you? __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

10-31-2011, 08:14 AM	#12
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I'm just going to go right out on a limb and suggest someone with a major mental illness lived in that house at some time. yeah, it's not much, but it's all I got. As far as you know, was there a childless woman ever living in the house? Oh, and let us know if you've disturbed the restless and probably malevolent spirit that those were keeping down, would you? __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

10-31-2011, 08:50 AM	#14
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Yes, that's definitely creepy and appropriate for today. Thanks! __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

10-31-2011, 09:01 AM	#15
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	One halloween when I was in HS, we had grown pumpkins in the garden and had a bunch of them sitting on the front porch, for sale. One night I heard some noise on the front porch. I turned the porch light on and looked out...most of the pumpkins had been carved (not even removing the innards, just some fast face making, and one that had the word "beer" carved into it) and they were all lined up facing the front door. I thought it was pretty good. I'm pretty sure it was my neighber...the Neighbor "Hood" who I actually kind of liked even if everyone else called him Damian because he, well, looked like Damian!

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