Now you calcium, now you don’t… OK, that was awful but so’s the sight of these abandoned dairy farms moldering away ’til the cows come home.

The so-called “Scary Dairy” in Camarillo, California was a dairy farm operated under the auspices of the former Camarillo State Mental Hospital. The dairy opened in 1932 and was part of an enlightened (for the time) program that explored alternative treatments for the mentally ill. We’ll refrain from making any “mad cow disease” references.

The dairy was closed in the mid-1960s and the hospital itself shut down in 1997. Five years later, the hospital was renovated and occupied by the new California State University, Channel Islands and in 2009 the university bought the 367-acre parcel of land that included the abandoned dairy farm.

Now known as the CSU Channel Islands University Park, the land is open for public use though the Scary Dairy is fenced off – not that this has stopped graffiti artists from making their marks. Flickr user Thomas Hawk visited the Scary Dairy in June of 2011, taking these and many more spectacular and spooky photos.

Boom To Bust

Here’s the Sinton Office of the Red Canon Dairy in Cañon City, Colorado. Flickr user jimsawthat‘s photo captures the well-worn aura of a business with deep roots going back many decades. The photographer captured the above image on December 26th of 2014.

No Milk Today

Flickr user David Benjamin visited an abandoned dairy farm in early May of 2013, and although he doesn’t give any hints as to where this gently decaying farm is located, that’s just as well: not everything needs embellishment with graffiti.

Southburied

The Southbury Training School in Southbury, Connecticut opened in 1940 and stopped accepting new mentally-challenged “students” in 1986. The facility has operated in a sort of weird limbo since then: in 2001 there were 639 residents (down from 1,111 in 1986). At that time the average age was 55 and the average resident had been at STS for 43 years.

The school’s on-site dairy farm was closed in the late 1990s with the last 101 cows sold off to a local farmer in 2003. Urbex explorer infraredrobert visited STS in March of 2015, where he snapped the photos above and more.

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Spilt Milk 12 Udderly Abandoned Dairies Dairy Farms

Who said a mug should do nothing more than hold your morning beverage of choice? Part one of this collection introduced some unique yet practical mugs, and this installment continues that discussion with 11 more. These innovative coffee and tea mugs help add some perk to your morning routine, and can prove as expressive and unique as you!

Brass Knuckles Mug

(source: thabto)

A strong cup of coffee needs an assertive cup to hold it! What better way to communicate to your boss and co-workers that you are in no mood for cheap conversation? The name “Mug” was inspired the word’s literal translation in Cockney slang, meaning, “fool.” Hit yourself hard each morning with the “Mug”.

Coffee Bean Mug

(source: rctaylorphotography)

This intriguing coffee mug makes a great project for any coffee enthusiast! Constructed by hand, a standard mug was carefully covered in coffee beans and glazed for appearance. This project can be recreated by anyone with some time and care. Simply choose a mug for a skeleton, a shade of coffee beans and begin carefully adhering them to the mug, attempting to remain true to the mug’s original shape. Before long, you’ll have a coffee mug that is sure to incite conversation wherever coffee is poured.

SmartMug Electronic Travel Mug

(soruce: amazon.com)

If you are tired of having to dump out half of your coffee because you simply can’t drink it all before it cools down, this mug could be the answer to your prayers. The SmartMug is an electronic travel mug that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter and keeps your coffee hot at your specified temperature! Perfect for that long morning commute where traffic frequently causes your coffee (and you) to loose steam before you even get halfway to work. A digital screen displays the temperature and various other information. Lights on the mug alert you that your coffee is either heating or at the desired temperature. Its like taking your coffee maker’s hot plate on the go! Stay warmer, longer with the SmartMug.

Pantone Mugs

(Source: curlby)

Now here’s a collection of mugs to brighten up any morning! Those who work in the interior design field can now express their love for pantone colors with this collection of coffee mugs. Each mug is colored and coded with its corresponding pantone color specification. Use them as they relate to your current job or project. Bring the entire collection to your next job for inspiration and laughs.

Camera Lens Mug

(source: dvice)

Any fan of photography would be proud to pour themselves a tall cup of coffee into this amazing mug. Constructed from a real zoom lens, this mug is both intriguing and charming. At the moment, this mug is concept with few in actual existence, however we may soon see them on shelves, ready to be snatched up by photographers everywhere! What better way to assert one’s love for your hobby than to drink out of a mug made from the tools the trade?

A Mug With Security

(source: core77)

Had enough of your friends or co-workers using your coffee mug when you aren’t around? Worried about the health risks of sharing cups? Finally, a coffee mug with security! A hole at the bottom of the mug that can only be plugged by the mug’s key-holder serves to prevent anyone but it’s owner from using it. Try pouring coffee into it without the key to plug the hole and you’ll have quite a mess to clean up!

Gun Mug

(source: shopmodi)

Kill time with this innovative coffee mug! Sporting a trigger and lever that feels like that of a large revolver, it has never been easier to shoot the breeze at the breakfast table! You’ll have endless fun asking a coworker or friend if they “feel lucky, punk?” as you maintain a tight grip on the mugs firm and comfortable handle. This unique mug is sure to please any gun enthusiast or just help you feel a bit more like John Wayne in the morning! Sniper scopes sold separately!

Mustache Mug

(source: shanware)

As any man with a bushy mustache knows, the morning brew is often no cup of tea! Many have struggled to find a way to drink their coffee or tea without also wearing it. This question need no longer be asked, for the Mustache Mug takes saves your facial hair from contact with scorching hot beverage. Featuring a mustache shield at the drinking end of the mug, beverages can be easily consumed without the constant wiping that comes with standard mugs. Perfect for consuming coffee during a meeting or on the go where dabbing your upper lip with a napkin after every sip is simply impractical!

Undress Me Mugs

(source: cgets)

Some people need a little extra push to wake up in the morning. Available in both “His” and “Hers” versions, the more you drink the more of the naked woman/man you see! What more motivation to drink your coffee fast could you need? After drinking your coffee faster than ever, you’ll find yourself awake and ready to conquer whatever the day brings! “Undress Me” mugs are a great pick me up for those sluggish mid-week mornings and the ultimate cure for the slow-starter!

Mug With a Pocket

(source: Vat19)

Have you ever dreaded that long walk to the trash to throw away your spent tea bag once all its contents have been strained into your tea? Tired of leaving tea-bag stains on the table or desk because you don’t want to put the paper down and leave your breakfast to dispose of said tea bags? This mug is perfect for avid tea drinkers, sporting a handy pouch on it’s side made for holding spent tea bags for as long as needed! No more messes to clean or tea bags to be thrown out of your speeding car. This handy mug makes the morning wake-up a little more comfortable.

Inbuilt Plunger Mug

(source:nathanaelb)

A perfect tool for those busy professionals who are always on the go, a mug that makes your coffee and holds it all in one! Simply raise the plunger, add the coffee and hot water stir and then plunge it down. Add milk and sugar to your preference and you’ve got a steaming cup of Joe in minutes. No more waiting for the percolator to brew up a pot while you wait! Add an extra 15 minutes to your morning sleep with a plunger mug.

Whether you’re a coffee drinker or tea drinker, there’s one thing everyone can agree on: The mug you use to drink your beverage of choice is just as important as the brand you like, the amount of milk and sugar you take, and your favorite biscuits to go with your drink. To take you away from the boredom of everyday mugs, and to provide some additional options for the newly addicted, here’s a collection of mugs that are unique and practical at the same time.

MyCuppa Mug -Tea and Coffee

(source: amazon)

This mug is useful on so many levels. Whether you have just started drinking coffee and need a guide to help you try different versions before you pick one, or you’re just not that good at measuring ratios and don’t want to bring out the measuring cups every time you make coffee, this mug is there to help you. This mug also makes a great gift for someone else because after all, it’s not just a mug, it’s a guarantee that you’ll never get their coffee wrong again.

Skase Teacup Set

(source: steve watson)

The concept behind the Skase teacup set is as beautiful as the resulting product. Watson describes his creation as based on the idea of symbiosis, i.e., just because two different elements have had a prolonged association, that doesn’t mean they necessarily benefit each other. Applying that concept to the relationship between a (flat-based) teacup and a saucer, Watson has removed both the flat base and the saucer while giving the cup a unique design without taking away the balance and stability.

Dunk Mug with Biscuit Holder

(sources: gadgets, firebox)

Drinking coffee or tea should never be a hassle. Who wants to bother with saucers and plates, laying out biscuits, and so on? With this dunk mug, you dont have to worry. No more handling extra saucers or dealing with boxes of biscotti, or even extra washing. The idea is so clever, and though not revolutionary, so utterly simple and useful that you have to wonder, why didn’t anyone think of it before?

Crinkle Cups by Robert Brandt

(source: generate design)

The concept for these cups isn’t entirely new. Take something disposable, redo it in something reusable and voila you have a coffee cup that also serves as a pop art conversation piece. However, the crinkle cups concept from Robert Brandt is not only one of the designs that started this trend, but to this day remains one of the best realization of the concept. First introduced in 1975, the cups are still popular both for drinking water, wine, and espressos, but are also equally popular for making a statement about our disposable culture.

Alcatraz Replica Mug

(source: golden gate national parks conservancy store)

These tin cups were used in prisoners’ cells and dining halls for the simple reasons that they are both durable, and unlike ceramic cups (which can be broken and made into weapons), these are largely safe for a closed environment containing large numbers of people with violent tendencies. If you like this replica mug, you should also check out our collection of ‘jail hotels‘ where as the name suggests, you pay to be in prison!

Amazing Self-Stirring Coffee Mug

(source: stirring mug)

The self-stirring coffee mug really is awesome. All you do is pour in the coffee, add the cream and sugar, and press a button. Voila! Now need for a spoon or a stirring stick, the mug does the job for you, which also means less washing for you.

I Am Not A Paper Cup

(source: design milk)

‘I am not a paper cup, I promise!’ says this mug, but on the surface, it’s hard to believe. However, if you look deeper, you’ll see that this mug, made with two layers of porcelain that keeps your coffee warm and your hands protected from the hot beverage, and a silicone cap that is flexible and reusable, is really quite fantastic. Not only that, but you can also make the difference, environmentally, with all the paper cups, plastic caps, and cup holders you’re going avoid.

Stacked Coffee Mugs

(source: what on earth)

Love your triple espresso but don’t want to keep refilling? This stack of three coffee mug is just the thing you need. The mug holds 8 oz. and is just the kind of thing that will get the conversation going and help your high tea stand out from the others.

Global Warming Mug

(source: philosophers’ guild)

Many people can’t really get their day going until they’ve had their morning cup of coffee. Why not drink that morning power-up from a mug that is both cool to observe, and thought-provoking at the same time? As you pour the hot coffee into the mug, you can see exactly what the world will look like if we continue to abuse our planet and the polar ice caps melt. Check it out in action!

On-Off Mug

(source: swissmiss)

This mug, covered with heat sensitive pigment, changes from black to white (or vice versa) depending on whether it’s full or not, and how full it is. Furthermore, it also shows ‘on’ or ‘off’ as you fill it, or gulp the coffee/tea down. This, of course, comes in handy in preventing spills as you can tell which mugs on the table are full and which are empty. However, since the pigment is activated by heat, don’t expect it to work at room temperature.

Bonus: The Pessimist’s Mug

(source: demotivators)

The pessimist’s mug can be used as a reminder to yourself to stay optimistic, or given as a gag gift to your favorite Debbie Downer. Whether you use it as a joke or for personal development, the mug can be powerful in its otherwise humorous message.