Seeing Anew

Saturday Morning in Holmes, County

2012-01-28T20:39:00.001-05:00

Saturday we drove to Amish Country to buy cheese and some bulk foods.

We stopped at Heini's Cheese Chalet in Bunker Hill.

Heini's makes over 150 different types of cheese, including Moon Cheese, though we bought several types of their delicious yogurt cheese.

You can see the large vats where they produce their cheeses.

Amish farmers bring their milk to Heini's place in these milk cans.

There were a lot of horses and buggies out this morning, despite the weather.

We passed by a small Amish school south of Mt. Hope.

Chatham Village

2012-01-20T22:17:00.000-05:00

January Sunrise

2012-01-07T08:48:00.001-05:00

At Rosepoint Cottage, Chardon, Ohio

2011-12-22T15:26:00.001-05:00

sent via mobile by Judy

Furnace Run Metropark, Oak Trail

2011-11-30T22:23:00.001-05:00

Today, I hiked the Oak Trail at Furnace Run. It was also our first dusting of snow for the year. The teasel trees along the interstate were lovely...like little puffs of cotton. I wish I could have gotten a photo of them.

Brushwood Pavillion

Trailhead

Furnace Run

Lots of firewood has been cut and stacked along the Oak Trail

Christmas Ferns

Moss in the snow

Memorial to Charles Brush: To all those who love as he loved, the far sky and smiling land.

And one shot of a red-berried tree at Seiberling Nature Realm, where I picked up my 2011 shield for my hiking stick, on completion of the Fall Hiking Spree Challenge.

Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve, Mentor, Ohio

2011-11-10T12:55:00.003-05:00

Fairport Harbor Light across the dunes on Lake Erie at Headlands Beach

Elaine shot this interesting angle on some driftwood

Driftwood on Headlands Beach, Lake Erie

Late fall at Headland Dunes, Lake Erie, Mentor, Ohio

Glens Trail, Gorge Metropark, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

2011-11-04T19:54:00.001-04:00

Entrance to the Glens Trail

Multicolored sandstone ledges

Cuyahoga River, "Crooked River"

Ledges

Sand below the ledges

Cuyahoga River

Cuyahoga River

Sand and pebbles

Rush hour traffic shadows

Liberty Park, Twinsburg, Ohio, Along the Buttonbush Trail

2011-10-28T18:37:00.002-04:00

Lichens and moss abound in Liberty Park, which has two buttonbush swamps.

Mossy log

Today's dense fog began to lift just as I arrived around 11am.

Ugh! The trails were very muddy, and I slipped and got muddy knees!

The boardwalks were even more slippery with a thin film of wet moss and assorted wet leaves on them. You don't want to slip there, as the mud and standing water on either side were several inches deep!

The sun trying to burn through the lifting fog.

A blind of some sort, though how one enters it, I don't know!

Arrowhead Orchard, Paris, OH

2011-10-24T22:03:00.002-04:00

Stopped at Arrowhead Orchard on the way home today. Got honeycrisp apples, homemade apple dumplings, and peanut brittle! I love that place!

Sunday Hike at Silver Creek Metro Park

2011-10-23T15:37:00.002-04:00

Fall foliage along Silver Creek

A very distinguished White Oak

A praying mantis along the trail, this one gold, compared to the green praying mantis we saw two weeks ago.

Garter Snake

A barn along the Chippewa trail

A lovely pond and favorite breeding place for dragonflies

Hike at Goodyear Heights Metropark

2011-10-17T16:40:00.001-04:00

Alder Pond

Carpet of leaves along the trail

Pumpkins along Route 43

Have you got your Halloween Pumpkin lined up yet?

Firestone Metropark, Redwing Trail

2011-10-16T18:27:00.001-04:00

The Redwing Trail is an easy hike along a 1.2 mile path

Cardinal on Bridge over the Tuscarawas River

Maple Leaf

Tulip Poplar Leaf

Chipmunk blends in well.

Great blue heron keeps an eye out for fish.

He also keeps a wary eye on me.

Hiker in red walks beside Little Turtle Pond.

Elk Mountain Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway, NC

2011-10-15T22:11:00.000-04:00

Biltmore Estate, North Carolina

2011-10-14T20:18:00.000-04:00

Around Asheville, NC

2011-10-14T08:29:00.000-04:00

Bunny (Watercolor Sketch)

2011-10-10T15:58:00.000-04:00

Springfield Bog, Prairie Trail, Springfield Twp, Ohio

2011-10-10T15:46:00.002-04:00

View from the Prairie Trail

Can anyone identify (1)?"

New England Aster

Queen Anne's Lace

Black-eyed Susan

Woodland path

Daisy Fleabane

Red-clover

Can anyone identify (2)?

Chickory with a visitor

Evening primrose?

Soybean field

Interesting Feature: The Continental Divide passes through Springfield Bog. Rain falling on the northeastern corner of the park ends up in Lake Erie. Rain flowing on the southern and western portions of the park end up in the Ohio River, and eventually the Chesapeake Bay.

Praying Mantis on the Meadow Trail, Munroe Falls Metropark

2011-10-09T17:16:00.001-04:00

Milkweed Pods

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Dandelion Puff

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Goldenrod

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Red Clover

2011-10-08T23:57:00.000-04:00

Picking Raspberries

2011-09-22T10:49:00.000-04:00

After my art class, we went to pick raspberries. Elaine's getting a bumper crop this year. I came home and did a quick watercolor sketch while gabbing on the phone to my daughter. I think I do better painting when I'm NOT paying attention LOL.

Champagne Raspberries

2011-09-20T16:26:00.001-04:00

Champagne raspberries - I wish I could send you a taste!

Rosy Dawn and Purple Dusk

2011-09-19T07:29:00.000-04:00

My art book was right. Morning light is rosy and evening light is purple. I wonder why that is.

Windsor Mills Covered Bridge, Ashtabula County, Ohio

2011-09-12T08:04:00.001-04:00

Windsor Mills Covered Bridge on Warner Hollow Road, Windsor, Ohio. One of about 16 covered bridges in Ashtabula County, Ohio. This Town Lattice style bridge spans Phelps Creek, a tributary off of the Grand River.

Green-headed coneflower: Native Ohio Wildflower

2011-08-11T13:33:00.000-04:00

Frequent visitor

2011-07-30T18:45:00.001-04:00

Morning sketch.

Along the Middle Branch of the Nimishillen Creek

2011-07-30T18:22:00.004-04:00

The Nimishillen Creek gets its name from local Native American words, ni (creek) and missilla (black alder tree, aka American Winterberry) which frequently lines the creek.

Got nuts?

2011-07-30T18:20:00.000-04:00

Thistle

2011-07-18T14:11:00.000-04:00

Summer Garden

2011-07-12T22:02:00.000-04:00

Dusk

2011-07-12T21:59:00.001-04:00

Ploughman's Platter

2011-07-06T12:30:00.000-04:00

Ploughman's lunch in a riverside pub in Bourton-on-the-Water.

Moreton-in-Marsh

2011-07-05T14:00:00.001-04:00

We stayed overnight at the White Hart Royal Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh, across the street from Mrs. T. Potts tearoom. Moreton-in-Marsh features in a number of Agatha Raisin novels by M. C. Beaton. Agatha Raisin is a 50-something-year-old sleuth whom reviewers liken to "a cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and a pit bull." If you need to escape into a British cozy mystery with a touch of spoof, I heartily recommend this series. We also recommend Mrs. Pott's toasted teacakes!

Market Hall

2011-07-05T13:57:00.000-04:00

Market Hall in Moreton-in-Marsh. Each of the Cotswolds villages we passed through seemed to have their own distinctive market hall at the end of a village green.

Ross on Wye, UK

2011-07-04T14:45:00.000-04:00

Stopped overnight here on the way from Wales to the Cotswolds.

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru (National Library of Wales)

2011-07-04T11:00:00.002-04:00

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru (National Library of Wales). One of the great libraries of the world, both when it was founded (1907) and today. The 1.5 hour tour is well worth the time. The library houses not only a complete collection of books published in Wales, but also a substantial art collection. State-of-the-art technology includes digitization of ancient texts, historic sound and video archives, extensive family history resources, and compact moveable shelving. I moved 10-tons of paintings with one hand! Sadly, The Black Book of Carmarthen (earliest surviving Welsh manuscript, ca. AD 1250) was not on display, but I suppose it's easier to study it online. They have an excellent cafe and a great bookstore as well.

The George Borrow Inn, Ponterwyd, Wales

2011-07-03T14:00:00.001-04:00

George Borrow, Victorian travel writer and author of Wild Wales, stopped here at The Inn at Ponterwyd, on November 2, 1854. We stopped here for their Sunday Carvery, after our walk.

Sunday Carvery

2011-07-03T13:45:00.000-04:00

One of our best meals during our travels! Roast beef, yorkshire pudding, roast pork, applesauce, cornbread stuffing, gravy, horseradish sauce and mustard, cauliflower and cheese, new potatoes, parsnips, carrots, turnip, and buttered cabbage. And rice pudding for dessert! Oh and a pint of Felinfoel Double Dragon ale. All very much enjoyed after walking.

Ponterwyd, Wales

2011-07-03T13:40:00.001-04:00

The rolling hills and bald mountains around Ponterwyd must have made very challenging walking for George Borrow. In particular, I don't know how he managed to find his way south through the Plynlimon range. The roads up through Nant-y-Moch and Angler's Retreat look wild and desolate. I imagine you could get yourself quite turned around up amongst those mountains and hill farms! One of those Welsh places, I bet, where if you were to get lost and have to spend the night , you'd come down either a poet or a madman!

Above Aberdyfi

2011-07-03T11:30:00.001-04:00

On the other side of the dike is the Dyfi River, and beyond that the hills above Aberdyfi. The air was positively balmy today.

Ynyshir Nature Preserve

2011-07-03T11:30:00.000-04:00

A meadow full of baa-ing sheep, purple foxgloves, and the Dyfi estuary in the distance made for a very peaceful morning walk at Ynys-hir Nature Preserve. The Welsh name Ynys hir translates to long island in English.

Dyfi Furnace

2011-07-03T11:00:00.002-04:00

Dyfi Iron Furnace was built circa 1755 and sits astride Afon Einion. The waterwheel drove the bellows for the blast furnace, and nearby woodlands provided charcoal for the process. Later the waterwheel powered a sawmill, and currently, it is used to put a small amount of power into the electrical grid. According to the display inside, it was producing 10kW of electricity at the time I took this shot, enough to power about 8 homes.

Afon Einion

2011-07-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

The River Einion tumbles through Artist's Valley in Wales. I can see why artists were attracted to this valley: the water was crystal clear and the stones were such lovely colors, and the light filtering through the trees created such pretty patterns.

View from our hotel window

2011-07-02T22:00:00.000-04:00

We stayed at an old Victorian hotel on the Aberystwyth seafront, and every evening we enjoyed magnificent sunsets from our window.

Devil's Bridge

2011-07-02T12:30:00.001-04:00

Devil's Bridge, Wales. These three bridges, which were built on top of each other, span Afon Mynach, a tributary of Afon Rheidol. The lower bridge, a stone bridge, was built in 1075 by monks, possibly from Strata Florida Abbey to the south. But according to legend, the Devil was the actual builder. The story goes that an old woman was bringing her cow home from market and came to the river, which was too flooded to cross. The Devil appeared and offered to build a bridge for her, provided that the first living thing to cross it would give him its soul. When he finished the bridge, the woman decided she didn't want to cross the bridge first, so she threw a crust of bread onto the bridge, and her little dog ran after it. The Devil was so mad about being tricked into taking the soul of a dog, that he flew into a rage and stormed out of Wales, vowing never to return. The second bridge (1753) is also a stone bridge, and the most recent bridge (1901) is an iron bridge.

Above Cwm Rheidol

2011-07-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

A narrow gauge steam railway passes through Cwm Rheidol (the valley of the Rheidol River) on its way to Devil's Bridge, an hour's ride east of Aberystwyth.

A walk on the promenade

2011-07-01T20:30:00.001-04:00

An afternoon walk on Aberystwyth's promenade and the view north to Constitution Hill.

View from Constitution Hill

2011-07-01T16:00:00.001-04:00

An electric-tram ride up Constitution Hill on the north side of Aberystwyth gives you a bird's eye view of the town, the old college, the castle on the promontory, and even a bit of the harbor south of town.

Aberystwyth: Old College and Castle

2011-07-01T03:00:00.001-04:00

Yr Hen Coleg (Old College), Prifysgol Aberystwyth (Aberystwyth University), was founded in 1872. In the foreground is Y Tŵr-y-Gogledd (North Tower) of Castell Aberystwyth (Aberystwyth Castell), which was built 1277-1289 under the orders of Edward I. Today it is in ruins, mainly due to the harsh seaside conditions.

Baaa!

2011-06-21T20:43:00.000-04:00

Purple flower - can anyone identify?

2011-06-20T17:43:00.001-04:00

Purple flower - can anyone identify this? It was growing by my daughter's driveway. It's a monocot (3 petals, parallel veined leaf) but we don't know if it's a garden flower or a weed. It's pretty whatever it is.

Clematis

2011-06-13T17:07:00.001-04:00

Clematis

Well-fed squirrel

2011-06-10T13:05:00.002-04:00

Well-fed squirrel

Mr and Mrs Robin's New Family

2011-05-30T15:07:00.001-04:00

Felix (Meredith and Alan's kitty) asked if he could name the baby robins, and of course, I was happy to accept his kind offer of help. His baby name choices??? "Lunch," "Snack," and "Dinner"!!

Watching the Sunset

2011-05-25T19:09:00.001-04:00

Watching the sunset

Snowing blossoms

2011-05-12T10:23:00.000-04:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Lily of the valley

2011-05-12T10:12:00.000-04:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

So how soon will it be before Google can figure out the bftp:// (beautiful fragrance transfer protocol)??

Crabapple and tulips

2011-05-12T10:01:00.000-04:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Spring Blossoms

2011-04-30T23:03:00.000-04:00

Spring Blossoms

Old Welsh Chapels in Jackson and Gallia Counties, Ohio

2011-04-11T22:50:00.001-04:00

Tyn Rhos

Nebo

Sardis

Horeb

Salem

Oak Hill (now Welsh American Heritage Museum)

Spring thaw finally

2011-04-09T09:49:00.001-04:00

Spring thaw on the middle branch of the Nimishillen Creek in Hoover Park.

Ahhhhh.....Spring!

2011-03-14T16:02:00.000-04:00

Hibiscus

2011-03-04T17:02:00.000-05:00

Hibiscus

Beach and Gardens

2011-03-03T18:25:00.000-05:00

Wedding on the beach

2011-03-02T19:10:00.000-05:00

Wedding on the beach, Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, Dreams Resort, March 1, 2011 around 7:00 p.m. CST. I thought this photo turned out nice, so if I see anyone from the bridal party, I will try to get a copy of the photo to them.

Patient fisherman

2011-03-01T16:45:00.000-05:00

Patient fisherman

Darjeeling Tea

2011-02-28T16:00:00.000-05:00

Darjeeling Tea

On the rocks

2011-02-28T15:00:00.000-05:00

On the rocks

Pelicans

2011-02-28T13:01:00.000-05:00

Pelicans

The View from Lunch

2011-02-28T12:30:00.000-05:00

The View from Lunch

Snowy Egret

2011-02-28T10:00:00.001-05:00

Snowy Egret

Rocks

2011-02-27T18:44:00.000-05:00

Rocks at the end of the cove

Heavy surf today

2011-02-27T18:42:00.000-05:00

Heavy surf in the cove today

Find the Iguana!

2011-02-27T18:38:00.000-05:00

Can you find the iguana below?

Here he is:

Banderos Bay, Puerta Vallarta, Mexico

2011-02-27T10:46:00.001-05:00

Puerta Vallarta, Mexico

Amarylis

2011-02-02T12:59:00.001-05:00

At home in the snow

2011-01-21T15:01:00.001-05:00

Birdless

2011-01-06T14:25:00.001-05:00

Chelsea Buns on Christmas Morning

2010-12-25T11:12:00.000-05:00

I made these with half the butter and sugar and they turned out yummy. Easy too.

Stopping By Woods

2010-12-22T16:17:00.000-05:00

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost, 1923

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Winter Sunrise

2010-12-07T22:18:00.000-05:00

Winter Sunrise, Stark County, Ohio

Diddle Dee Jam

2010-12-03T11:03:00.003-05:00

A big thank you to Char, who brought this cute little jar of jam all the way back from the Falkland Islands. The jam is made from the berries of the Diddle Dee shrub (yes! that's it's name!).

All Saints Church, Breadsall, UK

2010-11-18T12:57:00.003-05:00

Today I walked 6.5 miles, from Derby to Darley Abbey and then on to All Saints' Church in Breadsall. The south side is the oldest part of the church, some stones dating from around A.D. 1150. The porch itself dates from around 1250. A Saxon church may have stood here earlier, around the year A.D. 1002. In 1914, women suffragettes set fire to the church, destroying the roof and interior woodwork, in protest over the lack of women's rights to vote.

The rain managed to hold off while I was out today, though the grey cloud cover cast a dreary pall over everything I tried to photograph. I stopped at Darley Park for tea on the way back, then went back to the hotel for a much needed nap.

A rainy walk to Markeaton Park

2010-11-17T09:44:00.006-05:00

I took a five-mile walk this morning. My first stop was the Orangery at Markeaton Park.

It was closed for the season, but a friendly couple told me about a tearoom just beyond the park at the Home Farm.

A cottage near the park entrance:

Around the corner was the Home Farm, where you can order your Christmas Turkey or Goose.

The rain was coming down hard at this point, and I was cold, so I was glad to find the tea room. Inside a nice fire was going in the stove.

I had a pot of tea and a scone with jam and butter.

I then headed back to town and bought some books at Waterstones, and an egg and cress sandwich and some crisps at Tescos.

Back in the room I peeled off my wet layers -- jacket, down vest, and sweater--and hung them up to dry, and polished off my lunch. Now I'm about ready to bury myself under four layers of blankets and look at the books.

Christmas Pies

2010-11-16T18:35:00.002-05:00

Mince pies from the Derby Market Hall, and a pot of tea. I hope Dan gets here soon! I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out, just looking at them!

Early morning delivery at The Seven Stars

2010-11-16T18:31:00.004-05:00

Early morning delivery at the Seven Stars Pub, Darley Abbey. It was a real pea-souper fog this morning, when I went out to the Welsh Learner's Circle meeting, and the thick fog continued well into the afternoon. Made me glad for any chance to be inside and warm today--learning Welsh in the Quaker Meeting House, having a coronation chicken sandwich in the tea room across from Derby Cathedral, shopping for books in Waterstones and WH Smith, and buying yarn in the Market.

A walk to Darley Abbey, Nutwood Nature Preserve and Derby

2010-11-15T12:27:00.006-05:00

I'm in Derby, England for a week. Today I walked about 7 miles to Darley Abbey, Nutwood Nature Preserve, then to the Derby Market place, then back to our hotel.

I began the walk by crossing the footbridge to St. Mary's Chuch and walking down to the River Derwent.

The footpath followed the river alongside playing fields.

It eventually led to a country lane alongside a field.

I briefly wondered if the footpath to Nutwood Nature Preserve went across this field (note the bull!) Thankfully, it did not, especially after seeing this story in the local news yesterday.

Instead, the lane took me into Darley Abbey Mills, then over the toll bridge by the weir. A weir is a low dam used to create a millpond, which then provides water-power to nearby mills.

At the other end of the bridge was the footpath to Nutwood Nature Preserve, located on a bend of the river. Across the fields you can see the steeple of All Saints Church in Breadsall, a parish which is mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1087.

I walked into the village of Darley Abbey, then up through Darley Park, formerly the grounds of an Augustinian Abbey in A.D. 1146, and later, in 1727, the home of William Evans , builder of the cotton mills at Darley Abbey.

The only remaining parts of Darley Hall (built in 1727) are the stables and terraced garden, now a tea room. I stopped to warm up with a cup of tea. The weather was sunny and warm enough to sit outside.

I then walked into the village, past the Abbey Pub, the only remaining building of the medieval abbey. This building may have been a guest house for travelers and pilgrims during the 13th century.

The now abandonned cotton mills have quite a few broken windows, no doubt prompting this sign on one of the buildings in the village.

I continued up to St. Matthew's Church on the hill. This is where the Evans family and mill workers attended church.

On my return, I passed St. Matthew's School. The headmaster's residence was the section on the left, and the headmistress's residence was the section on the right. The classrooms were in between.

The three story cottages below were built by the Evans to provide homes for the mill workers.

The return path to Derby went along the river, under St. Alkmund's Way and several other bridges.

In the city centre, I passed Royal Oak House and went up into the Market,

and found a craft store where I could buy more watercolor paint.

By that time, I was pretty weary, so headed back to wait for Dan. It gets so dark early here -- the sun sets around 4 p.m.

Young Squirrel

2010-11-11T14:19:00.000-05:00

Young Squirrel

Cold

2010-11-07T09:58:00.000-05:00

Out on a walk yesterday, and the morning snow was just beginning to melt and drip from branches. These droplets couldn't decide whether to be ice or snow at that particular moment.

First Snow. Winter is here!

2010-11-06T09:45:00.000-04:00

First snow. The view from our window when we woke up.

Straw Flower

2010-11-04T22:10:00.000-04:00

Straw Flower

Colorado National Monument and Glenwood Springs

2010-10-21T00:07:00.002-04:00

Today we drove out to Grand Junction and the Colorado National Monument.

We returned via I-70, following the Colorado River east

and enjoyed an evening soak in Glenwood Hot Springs.

North on Route 133 in Colorado

2010-10-19T23:39:00.002-04:00

North on Route 133 in Colorado

Quaking Aspen, Douglas Fir, Snowy Mountains, Colorado

Mountain Stream in the McClure Pass, Colorado

2010-10-19T20:51:00.001-04:00

Mountain Stream in the McClure Pass, Colorado, below Glenwood Springs

Driving along the Million Dollar Highway

2010-10-19T00:56:00.001-04:00

A short video clip of the drive along the Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Ouray, Colorado. Those were some sheer drop-offs, which were for the most part, lacking in guard rails.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

2010-10-19T00:03:00.003-04:00

Driving north from Durango to Black Canyon of the Gunison, Colorado

The road to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison went through desert land like this.

Then suddenly the earth just seemed to split open to reveal an entirely different world 2000 feet below the desert surface:

First view of the canyon

Canyon side

See the Gunnison River down there?

Gunnison River from 2000 feet up. Empire State Building would reach about half way up the canyon.

Bird's Eye View of the river. Very knee-wobbling shot.

After a 5-mile, 16% grade descent down the canyon side, here is the Gunnison River at ground level.

Mesa Verde, Spruce Tree House

2010-10-17T22:35:00.001-04:00

Spruce Tree House

Blue Bird

Mule Deer

View from Wolf Creek Pass

2010-10-17T22:33:00.000-04:00

View from Wolf Creek Pass