Ice Storm.......woo hoo!

So, we've had a tiny recent ice storm. It was actually sleet, but on top of a thin layer of snow and ice. The problem was that the temp was 32, and the sleet had been coming down for hours. So, everything - I mean everything - was coated with ice. The hard part? 32 was to be the warmest temp for several days. It's Sunday, December 21st, the first official day of winter. Appropriately enough, the temp outside is 7, but with the wind - gusting up to 40 mph - the wind chill temp is between -15 and -20. But today, at least, it's half-assed sunny. The next time we move above the freezing point is Wednesday, on Christmas Eve, when we'll hit 40 -with rain. yay, wintertime in NW Ohio...

The hard part for some folks in town is tree deadfall and downed power lines. Fortunately I haven't experienced that yet - but as a backup plan, I can always walk to work a half mile away - and make coffee! Oh, and I'm all set with a ton of wood and a wood stove. At any rate, here are some photos of our ice, which is going to be around for a few more days -


For this one, I was outside, and though sheltered, still couldn't avoid the falling sleet.




Brrr!!!

My Animals are So Great.....

Of course, any animal parent would say the same, but mine really are. In case you've been wondering how Djiini & Kathman are doing, here are some updates!

Below, Kathman is on one of his favorite posts, on top of the wall unit...that angled thing behind him is actually the narrow stairway to the upstairs.


Djiini, who is notorious about avoiding a camera at all costs, must have let her guard down for me to capture this one. I love her death-ray aimed at Kathman, who was inadvertently walking by a hidden doggie bone.


And finally, Kathman has decided to learn to read. He loves to sit on the TV stand - in this case, he seems really interested in Humana's health benefits for AARP members.

Smart Squirrels!

I found this out in the front crabapple tree the other day - it's a small gourd that was part of my Halloween yard decorations. The squirrels (there are 2 that live in the back yard and play in the front) wedged it into the fork of two branches, resulting in a little gourd-ateria!

I couldn't help myself....mwa ha ha ha...

Halloween Decor

Punkin' Carving 2008

This was my first ever pumpkin carving event, at the age of 39. What a sheltered life I must be living! My friend and his children came over to show me how it's done. Amid pizza, root beer, and a break to warm up and watch the Simpsons, we ended up with some real show-stoppers, I think!!

The pumpkin guts were truly disgusting. I'd heard that they smelled bad, which I didn't really find to be true - but getting the stuff out of the pumpkin wasn't nearly as easy as I thought. I started with a big soup ladle, went to a serving spoon, and then a regular tablespoon - it's hard work. But at some point, it seems inevitable that you have to just roll up your sleeves, shove your hand in, and pull out the goop. Which made me feel a bit like doing what I intended for my pumpkin to do......

I can't take original credit for that - think it's a classic - but all those pumpkin guts, as we called them, came in handy for this guy.

Mwa ha ha ha haaaaaa!

The Evolution of a Bedroom

The Before...

And the After.....

I KNEW it!!!!!!

They ARE having an affair!

Photos from recent trips

Washington, D.C. Note the cool orange eclipse - my rental sportster - and the proximity of my streetside parking spot in front of the Capitol!

....and adjacent to the newest Smithsonian addition, the Museum of the Native American Indians. The architecture was breathtaking. Part of the landscape are some rows of corn, sheltering beans and gourds growing on the ground. The Capitol in the background provides an interesting juxtaposition.

From the interior; a kiva-inspired dome.



Lone tree, South Dakota

Gary's horses nuzzling.....


Badlands, South Dakota


Djiini is good about tolerating my occasional quick photo stops.....note chin resting on dashboard!


Djiini is confused - it's snowing, but I'm wearing my vacation lei! (note the snow flakes on her nose)

Later that day, at the river that runs through Gary's ranch....





Hiking in the Big Horns, Wyoming


Wild Horses (there were more but I could only get two in one frame because of their spread).
Christmas in September! In the Big Horns, we encountered a bit of snow one day.....followed by a day at lower elevation (and much hotter!).

So, I think I've found my first ever Christmas Card Photo in September......


On a recent trip to Wyoming and back, I took my dog Djiini. To make up for some doggie photos to come, I'm posting an image of Kathman here....kind of a cat and doggie karma.

South Dakota: sunflowers. Giant, big-as-your-head sunflowers.


Crazy Horse, South Dakota.
Seems to me it is taking an awfully long time to complete this sculpture. In fact, an Egyptian pyramid could have been built in the time it has taken this sculpture to reach its current state. Egyptian as in ancient & without tools. I think it's a shame that such a wonderful tribute and idea has been so long delayed.

Djiini at Gary's house, Hyattville, Wyoming.

Travel photos coming soon.....

So far in September this year, I've done a bit of travel - driving from NW Ohio to Wyoming and back, and then flying to Washington D.C. (and staying in Virginia). So, in less than 2 weeks, I've been to:
Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana (and back), Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Unfortunately I haven't been super photography oriented during these trips, but there are some worthwhile images that will be posted here soon.

What's your Geography IQ?

Well, mine was 112...which I'm not sure is good. The only issue: If the map were larger, you could actually see specs on the map such as Easter Island or the Maldives. Good fun, though! Good luck -

Yellow......

The sunflowers are from the yard, and I hear that a squirt of lemon helps preserve them as cut flowers. Not sure if that's true or not, but I picked up a lemon yesterday. Oddly, Kathman is crazy about this lemon. He has 'kneaded' it several times, no doubt releasing some lemon oil essence. I couldn't help but snap a photo - the yellow of the hibiscus outside - the flowers - the lemon - and a little yellow glint in his eye just seemed to jump out at me.