Stars, Peacocks and Goslings

The five pointed star.

The five pointed star is on so many buildings here I had to research it to share with you.  Called a barnstar (or barn star, primitive star, or Pennsylvania star) is a decorative painted object or image used to adorn a barn.  They have no structural purpose, but may be considered lucky, similar to a horseshoe mounted over a doorway.  Barnstars were used in the U.S. during the 18th century and as late as 1870 in Pennsylvania, where their popularity greatly increased after the Civil War.  They remain today a very popular form of decoration as is evident from here to Texas where we first saw them and are most often hung next to the front door or at the peak of the house.  In Texas it also means a declaration of pride in their state symbol, the lone star.

Playground train.

Playground ship

One of today’s parks was so neat I have to share some photos of it above and below.  The park has five peacocks originally brought there by the father of the owner who saw them in Hawaii and liked them so much he purchased several for the campground.  Today five males and one female remain and they don’t mind the cold weather.  The males safely roost in the trees while the females are more vulnerable to foxes during nesting times when they remain on the ground-hence their fewer number.  The playground is truly a place where imagination can run wild.  The park is also located on a river which makes for scenic campsites.  A statue in honor of the current owner's father thanks Bill Sr. for bringing out the child in all of us.  The campground just put in a new Bocce Ball court and also built a new store/office on the site of the old Boy Scout camp building.  The campsite was originally a Scout campground and the new buildings were constructed in the same way as the original buildings were with wide plank siding. 

The new Bocce Court is ready for play.

 

Their new office/store.

We also met Jim and Kris Mays here.  They have been coming to the park for twenty years.  He is the same age as my Jim and we discovered their ancestors came from similar areas-Oklahoma before my Jim’s grandparents migrated to Indiana. 

Jim Mays, Kris Mays, Chris Mays and Jim Mays from left to right!

 

Their campsites on the river-what a view!

One of the male peacocks.

When we got home to our RV I saw two Canada geese with five baby goslings in the pond in front of our space.  They are already pretty large and stay close to their parents.

Proud parents of five youngsters.