My 2 Cents

Christmas Dogs - Lady Luck and Lucky Love

2011-12-25T09:20:00.003-05:00

No one is awake yet, except me and the dogs. Can't wait for Lady to see what Lucky got for her under the Christmas tree. (Shhhhh, don't tell, but it's one of those tennis ball throwing arms!)

New member of the family- Nina at home

2011-12-18T16:17:00.006-05:00

Not sure if we're going to call her Nina:
Lilly, Lucy, Nicki, Suri, Lady, Princess, SweetPotato, Sandy, Sasha. who knows. We're still trying different names.

From my Mom: Time Release Flowers

2011-10-13T06:07:00.003-04:00

Life of flowers from VOROBYOFF PRODUCTION on Vimeo.

Mom, thank you for sending me this link! I think I'm going to watch this all thru the rainy days of fall, cold snowy days of winter and blustery blowy days in this spring until the first crocuses and daffodils peak out thru the snow and mud. Only about 180 more days right?

July Daylily Blooms

2011-07-10T14:42:00.001-04:00

Daylily

2011-06-23T14:41:00.000-04:00

Big Storms in Twinsburg and Solon

2011-05-23T14:46:00.000-04:00

The big storm passed over us to the North.

Daffodils and Lucky

2011-04-11T14:38:00.000-04:00

Four Turkeys in Cuyahoga Valley

2011-04-06T10:31:00.004-04:00

I was driving on Seasons Road, just outside of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and spied these 4 turkeys!

Evidence of deer!

2011-03-15T08:35:00.001-04:00

Sunny Snow Train

2011-02-23T06:21:00.001-05:00

It was cold on the way to work yesterday, but oh so sunny. Just had to capture this image of the train blowing up all the snow.

Cold January Morning for the Chickens

2011-01-24T07:09:00.005-05:00

Video of our chickens on a cold Saturday Morning!

Winter Scenes

2011-01-16T18:09:00.007-05:00

It's been a winter wonderland here lately. The skiing is helping me to not feel the cabin fever.

Wintery Day at Hudson Springs Park

2011-01-13T14:01:00.002-05:00

I snapped this when I was walking the dog at Hudson Springs Park in Hudson, Ohio. You can just feel how cold it was. The snow was squeaking!

Planting the Christmas Tree

2010-12-30T08:40:00.002-05:00

Thanks to my son and his girlfriend, our Christmas tree is happily in the ground. It's planted about 20 feet in front of and left of the beehives.

I love having our Christmas trees scattered throughout the yard. It gives me a sense of continuity -- good memories of the past and a promise of the future.

December... Brrr

2010-12-24T11:17:00.004-05:00

Dec 9 before the snowstorm

Dec 13 after the snowstorm, this is before "winter" officially starts!

Doors in front of my office

After skiing on Sunday... little Methodist church in Peninsula.

Sunny Day for the Google Truck

2010-11-11T05:36:00.004-05:00

Here's how our house was captured on Google Maps. But what I really love is the view from our house as captured on Google Maps. Country Living!!

Hibiscus Blooming in November

2010-11-07T10:37:00.002-05:00

So glad we pulled these inside from the deck last week! Yesterday was the first snow, but today I got two wonderful one day blooms from my hibiscus plants. It's like a little bit of Hawaii here in northeast Ohio

Cardinal and Blue Jay Going After Lucky's Dog Food

2010-11-07T09:23:00.004-05:00

Lucky didn't finish his dog food last night. This morning I heard a giant racket outside and when I went to the door to see who/what was making all the noise, 5 blue jays flew away.

So got the camera. And hid behind the door. The battery almost went dead as I was holding my breath waiting for them to steal more of Lucky's left over dog food from his meal last night.

I caught two birds, in two separate photos... but with the power of computer editing, I was able to put them both in the same shot. First thing my husband says is "Wow, those two birds don't like each other!" Can't fool him!!

Remembering those Lazy Hazy Days of Summer 2010

2010-10-30T08:40:00.003-04:00

Well, I don't know how LAZY those days actually were, but now that we only have leaves on the ground and just a few still on the trees, I'm clearing the photos off my phone and feeling like reminising about warm days of summer.

Sisters weekend at Somerset PA. Happy Birthday Nancy!
Mums in Keith's vegetable garden did a "pretty" good job of keeping out the critters!

Fountain with the Hibiscus on the deck:
Hotel California in my very own backyard:

Love that Lily pond:

I Love Fall in Ohio

2010-10-27T17:19:00.002-04:00

The colors, the sky, the snap in the air. I LOVE LOVE LOVE fall in Ohio.

Incredible Red Leaves on a Maple Tree

2010-10-27T11:21:00.007-04:00

Click on the photo to enlarge it!

This was taken just outside my office on Georgetown Road in Hudson. Incredibly beautiful red leaves just tinged with green. Yesterday we had a wild wind of 50-60-70 MPH winds and gusts come thru and now this tree is just about bare of leaves. So glad I snapped the photo above last week!

Here's how it looks now:

October on the Towpath

2010-10-17T21:00:00.005-04:00

Had a great walk along the towpath from the Winking Lizard to Boston Mills Ski Resort and back during the best week of the year for fall foliage. My photos really didn't capture the beauty!

Lucky and I walked about five miles or so. Gorgeous weather.

Autumn Colors in Peninsula

2010-10-14T20:25:00.006-04:00

Bath Road between Akron-Peninsula Road and Riverview Road... Looking south toward Akron.

Bath Road between Akron-Peninsula Road and Riverview Road, looking nouth toward Cleveland.

The corner of Riverview Road and Route 303 in Peninsula.

Near the Hike/Bike Trail on Route 303 heading into Hudson.
I love fall in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
I saw these deer crossing the river and had to stop to shoot their photo.

Sedum is RED and October is in the Air

2010-10-06T07:19:00.002-04:00

That cold, damp feeling of October is in the air. While the pumpkins are still missing from the decorations, signals of fall are everywhere. No denying that fall is here!

Officially Fall.

2010-09-26T10:19:00.005-04:00

The garden seems all dried up all of the sudden. And it's officially fall.

We bottled honey yesterday. 138 pounds.

And I wandered around looking at my gardens. The gardens don't inspire me this time of year. The opposite actually.

Ugh. I don't like fall this year.

I am spending more time with the dog. Kinda boring, but I don't want to do the maintenance on the gardens. I love weeding in the spring, with all the promise of the new flowers. But tidying up in the fall. With the promise of wind and cold and wet snowy weather. Ugh. Not a fun prospect.

Used to be I'd have 4 pumpkins for the front porch. I'd decorate for fall. But now it seems silly. No kids at home is bumming me out.

Looking at where they used to wait for the bus. Thinking about a fall halloween party. Carving pumpkins. Making a scarecrow to sit on a chair in the front.

I gotta find a new "place" to be. The old fun fall activities aren't doing it.

Sitting around having coffee with my friends whose kids are off at college, trying to console each other, that isn't working either.

Maybe time to start making my Christmas presents (kinda early) or cleaning the basement again (as appealing as like weeding a fall garden)

It's fun to look at the spring and early summer gardens. I just gotta find the beauty in the fall again.

Happy Horses

2010-09-06T07:33:00.003-04:00

When I was a little girl about 10, 11 and 12, there was only ONE thing at the top of my to do list, want list, gotta figure out how to have it list. You got it. A horse. Or a pony.

I would use every birthday wish, every first spoonful into a new jelly wish and every shooting star wish on getting a pony. I bought myself a card of an old lady shoveling horse poop, because inside the card said: I just know there is a pony around here somewhere.

As a teen I would babysit horses and ponies when their owners went on vacation. One summer I had a horse (3 different horses actually) 3 weeks in a row. Those horses never had been brushed, fed carrots, rode and pampered as much as when their owner was away.

Even though its many years later, I still pine away for a horse every so often.

Yesterday when I was taking a walk on the street around the corner, I snapped this photo. Looking at it, it occured to me, this place is less than half a mile away from my house and I've never set foot into their horse farm (eh, em) "equestrian center". Maybe because they only ride english. Maybe because they charge people to ride, but mostly because I'm sure they wouldn't find it at a normal for a woman of my age to want to swap cleaning stalls for brushing and playing with the horses. How silly.

Maybe I don't want a horse as much as I thought I did. Now all the things I was told as a kid come into my head whenever I think about buying one. "Horses are expensive." "What if it got lose?" "You'll never be able to go anywhere." "What if the horse kicked somebody and we got sued?" "We don't have a good place to keep a horse."

Meanwhile, horses still take my breath away.

Walking Lucky

2010-09-02T07:04:00.002-04:00

New Day - Feeling Like September

2010-08-19T07:47:00.003-04:00

It's still August, but this is the first morning that I felt the "cold" snap in the air. It's a nice feeling that fall isn't that far away.

Went out and gave the chickens their food and some corn, changed their water and grabbed one egg. They're slowing down on their laying. Maybe because the days are getting shorter, maybe because they're getting older. I don't really know why. Curly has decided she's a brooder. We tried a couple of tricks to get her to stop just sitting on those fake easter eggs we put in the nest, but she's taking care of them like they're gonna hatch.

Each morning I find some of those eggs rolled into the main part of the pen, so somebodies having fun playing egg olympics. I suspect the 2 leghorns, because they are the most fiesty. The Americanas are the nicest behaved, but get picked on my all the others. And I think they are the best layers too.

Sunrise in Hudson Ohio

2010-08-17T07:56:00.005-04:00

I love a summer sunrise. That time between dawn and sunrise is magical to me, the absolute best hours of the day.New promise. New adventures. A dawn of a New Day! Quiet. Full of anticipation.

These few minutes are my most favorite minutes of the day and I love to get up and experience this little miracle!

Summer Time - Our Overgrown Split Rail Fence

2010-08-12T17:15:00.000-04:00

It's the lush and lovely time of summer. I think it's time I trim back some of the over grown row along the fence so I can actually enjoy all the great flowers!

Blackberry Time

2010-07-25T09:43:00.002-04:00

Can You Hear the Music from the Sky?

2010-07-25T09:37:00.002-04:00

When ever I go to Streetsboro it seems I get the best view of the sky. This one is from outside of Lowes near route 303. I can hear the trumpets and harps from heaven when I look at this!!

More Deer 2 babies and 2 moms

2010-07-23T16:01:00.003-04:00

This is in the field next to our house.

Summer Garden

2010-07-23T15:39:00.003-04:00

Water Lilies

2010-07-23T15:29:00.002-04:00

Black Eyed Susans

2010-07-23T15:17:00.000-04:00

Deer and the Dog

2010-07-16T11:12:00.003-04:00

Happened again today.

The deer really aren't afraid. Even when the dog is outside!

Deer Haven or Deer Heaven here in Hudson?

2010-07-13T07:48:00.002-04:00

Three full grown and two babies:

I have never seen so many deer in our yard as this year. Even with our Norwegian Elhound German Shepherd mix! You'd figure he'd keep them away, but NNNNNOOOOOOOOO!

Early morning sun in the backyard

2010-07-11T07:32:00.004-04:00

Four beautiful water lilies. I'll try to catch them open later today.
Red berries on my "little" tree in the garden. All of a sudden that tree isn't so little anymore. Hmmm. Time to rethink the garden layout!?

This time of day, everything is quiet and new. The dew makes the morning cool, but I know it's gonna be a hot July "dog day" of summer today!

I love early morning summer sun!

I've had this hybiscus plan for about 12 years, bringing it in each winter. It loves the heat!

One of my favorite subjects to photograph... the farm across the street through the pine trees.

June Garden

2010-06-21T06:31:00.004-04:00

Every spring I weed and then thin my perennial the garden thinking "Oh, this won't be to crowded!" But look at the hostas, the ferns, spider wort, and my yellow flowers, tall flowers and other things I don't even know the name of! Talk about crowded!

In fact I cut my hosta in half and took out about a third of the yellow flowers to give to my sister when she was visiting this spring. Wow, didn't even make a dent! I think it came back stronger!

Lovely Yucca Flowers

2010-06-21T06:27:00.002-04:00

This Yucca plant is especially beautiful to me because my dear Mother in Law gave it to me years ago.
This is the first year that it has really bloomed and it is spectacular! I split it a few times and all the off shoots have this wonderful bloom!

Deer Eating My Flowers

2010-06-21T06:20:00.002-04:00

I glanced out the window a few minutes ago and there is a deer eating my flowers.

Even with our Lucky dog, we still have the critters visiting our back yard.

Big Bad Storm 4 years ago

2010-06-18T13:45:00.006-04:00

Can you say "Dorothy"?

We've had a few storms this summer, but nothing like the storm that hit in 2006.
It's funny to see how much the trees have grown in just 4 years!

A few minutes later, lightning hit. Broadband stopped when my ethernet card got fried.

This is what it looked like just a few minutes before the big storm.

Day Lilies in Bloom by the Coop

2010-06-18T08:37:00.001-04:00

All those beautiful orange faces of the common ditch lilies... oops! I mean day lilies!

Lemon Drops with a Black Eyed Susan Sneaking in

2010-06-18T08:19:00.000-04:00

Hudson Ohio Festival Days!

2010-06-18T08:11:00.002-04:00

I like to call it Hudson Garden days, because gardeners from miles around come in to town to tour 6 or 7 Hudson gardens. Our town is always especially beautiful this weekend!

Tonight is the Ice Cream social and tommorow is the BBQ cook-off.

Love the Peonies

2010-06-18T08:08:00.001-04:00

Peonies in bloom! With just the hint of the Ladies Mantle in the bottom right.

Poppy Day: Happy Birthday Ben!

2010-05-28T06:02:00.005-04:00

Four Poppies in bloom with more buds to open later today!
As Grinny always said, "The poppies always on Ben's Birthday, so these are what I call the Ben Flower."
May 28,2009

From seed packets from Linda!

Sunrise at the Farm

2010-05-26T05:55:00.003-04:00

What a difference 3 months makes from a Cold Misty Morning!

I love Purple Flowers in May

2010-05-24T18:45:00.003-04:00

Love how the blooms are really in full majesty!

Early May... not as pretty...

Capturing a Honey Bee Swarm

2010-05-24T09:21:00.002-04:00

Keith got the bees out of a really tall tree in our backyard.

Here's some photos from the swarm of honeybees that escaped from one of the hives last week and a post of a swarm from two years ago. Seems like the bees like to swarm from the beehives in late May or early June.

Early Poppy Flower

2010-05-19T21:39:00.004-04:00

Ben's first flower was early this year!!

thanks Linda!!

Catching a Swarm

2010-05-19T21:19:00.004-04:00

Click on these photos to get up close and personal with our bees. Thanks Ben for the photos!

There They Are!

Shake 'em Loose

Safe In the Can

Purple Columbine

2010-05-19T21:15:00.001-04:00

Donzell's Garden Center in Akron Ohio

2010-05-14T12:52:00.003-04:00

Donzell's does a great job with their displays and spring is no except. Its great to drive into their place and see all these friendly pansy faces greeting you!!
I love their pansy display as you drive into their Akron location on Waterlou near Arlinton Road.

Sunrise

2010-05-04T19:03:00.000-04:00

Lilac Bushes from the Deck

2010-05-03T18:59:00.002-04:00

Chickens in the Morning

2010-04-21T06:52:00.003-04:00

I went out when the sun was coming up at about 6:30, but the chickens were already wide awake and outside. It was chilly too!

Frosty Morning and Long Grass

2010-04-20T17:29:00.001-04:00

PJMs in Full Bloom Yesterday

2010-04-18T07:14:00.001-04:00

The PJMs are in full bloom and the hyacinths are starting to fade.

Tulips Already?!

2010-04-18T06:12:00.009-04:00

This is a photo from the neighbor's tulip bed next door. It seems early for tulips this year. I remember April 22 moving from Rhode Island to Ohio and the tulips were up in Warren but not here in Hudson... It seems early this year.
Aren't these multi color tulips beautiful?
This one is near the driveway.
Glad I got this shot of the tulips above... We were working on the house yesterday and the multi colored ones got stepped on. :( But it will make the house look better year round, so a little smoosh on the tulip is worth it!

Record Big Chicken Egg 116 grams

2010-04-17T07:33:00.003-04:00

Wow. The chickens are loving spring time and really laying again. But this week one of them laid a REALLY BIG EGG of 116 grams (4 1/8 ounces). That's a big egg! A record for our chicken coop. Wonder if it will have two yokes when I crack it open?

Crock Pot Recipe Links

2010-04-16T16:31:00.004-04:00

Maybe you remember I put cookie links on here back in 2007: Cookie Recipes

So here's a 2010 list of Crockpot recipes from a great viral email from 50+ Friends that my sister sent me!

Crock Pot - Beef
All Day Crock Pot Beef
Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Beef and Pasta Casserole
Beef Diablo
Beef Fajitas
Beef Ragout Over Rice
Beef Tips
Beer Braised Beef in Crock Pot
Burritos Crock Pot Style
California Tamale Pie
Cattleman's Beef and Beans
Cheeseburger Sandwiches
Cheesy Meat Loaf
Chili Beer Brisket of Beef
Classic Swiss Steak
Complete Crock Pot Dinner
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Country Swiss Steak
Cowboy Casserole
Cranberry Pork Roast
Crock Pot Beef Burgundy
Crock Pot Beef 'n Peppers
Crock Pot Beef with Mushrooms
Crock Pot Beef Roast
Crock Pot Cabbage Rolls
Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage

Crock Pot Creole Steak Strips
Crock Pot Delight
Crock Pot Easy Swiss Steak
Crock Pot Enchiladas
Crock Pot Fajitas
Crock Pot Fajitas II
Crock Pot Italian Beef
Crock Pot Meatballs
Crock Pot Rump Roast
Crock Pot Sauerbraten
0D Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce
Crock Pot Swiss Steak
Crock Pot Taco Casserole
Fiesta Tamale Pie
Glazed Corned Beef
Glazed Corned Beef #2
Harvest Dinner
Harvest Pot Roast with Tomato-Wine Sauce
Hot-and-Spicy Sloppy Joes
Lean Crock Pot Beans
Nina's Beef and Beans
Pot Roast Dinner
Old Time Beef Stew
Pot Roast with Noodles
Ranch Style Beef
Reuben Casserole
Roast Cooked with Coke
Roast with Veggies
Sage Pot Roast
Salsa Swiss Steak
Savory Pepper Steak
Savory Stewed Beef
Slow-Cooked Beef Stifado
Slow Cooked Pepper Steak
Slow Cooked Steak Rolls
Slow Cooked Swiss Steak Supper
Slow Cooker Italian Spaghetti Sauce
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Slow Cooker Swiss Steak
Slowly Deviled Beef
Smothered Steak Strips
Spaghetti Sauce Italiano
Spicy Wine Pot Roast
Stuffed Cabbage Casserole
Stuffed Pasta Shells
Swiss Bliss
Swiss Steak
Teriyaki Steak
Three Pepper Steak
Three-Way Beef
Yankee Pot Roast and Vegetables

Crock Pot - Pork
Casserole in the Cooker
Chicken Lickin Good Crock Pot Pork Chops
Chinese Style Country Ribs
Country Pork with Mushrooms
Cranberry Pork Roast
Crockpot Apricot Pulled Pork for Sandwiches
Crock Pot Festival Sausage
Crock Pot Hawaiian Pork
Crock Pot Pork Chops Supreme
Crock Pot Sausage & Potatoes
Crock Pot Sausage and Egg Casserole
Crocked Cherry Pork Chops
Polish Kraut and Apples
Pork Chop Delight
Pork Chops and Mustard Sau ce Potatoes
Pork Chops with Corn Stuffing
Pork Stew with Vegetables
Rosemary Potato Pork Chops
Sauerkraut Supper
Slow Cooking Pork Chops
Soy-Glazed Spareribs
Super Easy Pork Chops
Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa or Polish Sausage
Sweet 'n' Sour Ribs
Sweet 'N' Sour Sausage

Crock Pot - Poultry
90s Style Crockpot Coq Au Vin
Bacon Wrapped Chicken
Baked Cajun Chicken
Baked Chicken Breasts in Crock Pot
Basil Chicken
Broccoli Rice & Chicken
Cantonese Sweet & Sour Chicken
Caribbean Chicken
Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken
Chicken & Cherries Jubilee
Chicken a la King
Chicken and Cherries Jubilee C/P
Chicken & Rice Casserole
Chicken and Artichoke Casserole
Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken Breasts Supreme
Chicken Creole
Chicken Crock Pie
Chicken Curry
Chicken Curry #2
Chicken Curry Hurry
Chicken Hearts Crockpot
Chicken in the Crock Pot
Chicken Marengo
Chicken Merlot with Mushrooms
Chicken Ol??
Chicken Paprika
Chicken Parisienne
Chicken Parmigiana
Chicken Sesame
Chicken Stew
Chicken Stroganoff in Crock Pot
Chicken Taco Filling
Creamy Chicken with Vegetables
Crockpot Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dip
Crock Pot Chicken
Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Crock Pot Chicken Dinner
Crock Pot Chicken in Mushroom Gravy
Crock Pot Chicken Teriyaki
Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla
Crock Pot Garlic Chicken
Crock Pot Lacquered Chicken

3 Types of Paperwhite Daffodils

2010-04-13T07:08:00.000-04:00

Three types of paperwhite (narcissis) daffodils means 3 times the enjoyment.

Spring has Sprung in Hudson Ohio!

2010-04-09T17:13:00.003-04:00

Spring time means this week forsythia, daffodils, cherry trees, hyacinths, and paperwhites too!

Can't wait for a beautiful spring weekend!

Blue Herons at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

2010-04-02T07:05:00.006-04:00

These birds are majestic. I love the Blue Herons at Ira Road and Bath Road in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Akron. I believe that these roosting grounds are actually inside the city limits of Akron Ohio! Hard to believe it's inside the city limits.

Daffodil Time in the Garden

2010-04-02T06:58:00.003-04:00

It's daffodil time and I'm really enjoying the first signs of spring around the gardens.
From Saturday to Tuesday, what a difference the sun and temperature makes. We had a high of almost 80 here yesterday and my gardening fingers can't wait to dig in the dirt and soil.

Last night I broke off some old Hosta sticks and wilted leaves... should have put on some gloves, but I couldn't help myself. Just being outdoors where the birds are chirping and the peepers peeping gets my heart beating faster. I think spring is my favorite season!

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Train

2010-03-07T07:24:00.003-05:00

We were coming back from the Covered Bridge when the train appeared in the distance on our right. I pulled over, opened the trunk, grabbed my camera and started shooting! Wow it was loud!

The engineer blew the whistle and I jumped a mile... and missed a couple of shots, but I think you get the idea!!

Everett Road Covered Bridge in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

2010-03-07T07:12:00.003-05:00

This is the only covered bridge in Summit County and was restored in 1986.

I love the way the inside trusses look.

Snow melting from the roof was dripping down against the blue sky...

Brandwine Falls -- Aperature Priority for Shutter Speeds

2010-03-07T07:09:00.002-05:00

A beautiful day at Brandywine Falls in northern Summit County Ohio. While thre was lots of snow still on the trail, we were able to get close enough to capture different shutter speeds on the falls.

Misty Cold Morning

2010-02-04T12:49:00.001-05:00

I just love a cold country morning scene!

Cleveland Botanical Garden - Perfect for January!

2010-02-01T13:53:00.005-05:00

Nothing feels better than visiting Madagascar and Costa Rica for a few hours on a bitter cold January day. Just love the smell of soil and plants. The sounds of the birds and a waterfall. Seeing the butterflies and the mist. Great experiences!

Woodpecker

2010-01-26T08:07:00.003-05:00

I've had this feeder up since before Christmas, but today is the first day I've seen birds there. And how lucky to spot this woodpecker!

New Pets

2010-01-26T07:21:00.004-05:00

Changed WB white balance.

Winter in Stow and Hudson

2010-01-26T07:00:00.010-05:00

Scenes in "brown and grey" from Saturday in Stow and Hudson. This one is from the LifeCenter Plus garden around back in Hudson, Ohio:

Meadowbrook Lake Park waterfall in Stow Ohio. Rule of Thirds.
Framing the focus.
Leading the eye.
Fast shutter.
Slow shutter.

From the Top and the Bottom

2010-01-14T08:20:00.001-05:00

Tiger. (The ski slope at Boston Mills, not the golfer.)
Getting on the chair lift. Notice the skiers are blurry because they are moving, but the signs aren't. Well, okay, they are dark, but it was without a flash!
From the hill, down toward the lodge and parking lot at Boston Mills ski resort in Peninsula, Ohio.

Lovely January Evening in Hudson Ohio

2010-01-12T21:59:00.008-05:00

On the way home from Mary's house, after Mavis Winkles, I just had to stop to take this photo. The snow looks so calm and I loved the reflection on the window of my car.

Without the white balance.

Cold. Cold. Really Snowy.

2010-01-06T16:56:00.004-05:00

Did I mention it has been snowy and cold here?
Just get a load of these ice cycles!!

With all this snow I have become a "PRO" with the snowblower. I actually kinda like running it now, but don't tell my husband or it will become my job!!

Off to go skiing at Boston Mills for some lessons. I need a bit more confidence so I'm stop worrying about getting hurt!!

Stay warm!

Snow at the end of the year.

2009-12-29T16:19:00.001-05:00

Went skiing today. Lots of new snow. Cold, but fun. Probably did about 10 runs in 2 hours.

Yesterday I tried the snowblower and got frustrated, but today when my husband ran it, the thing worked like a charm. Hmmm.

Hawk on Seasons Road

2009-11-26T07:10:00.003-05:00

This Hawk just kept staring at me. I had to pull over and stare back. He moved 3 times. I tried to get a photo at his first spot where he was almost eye to eye... but I wasn't quick enough. This must be his territory. Or maybe there was a mouse underfoot that I scared away.

2009-10-27T16:46:00.005-04:00

It's time for me to relax after launching a set of new business marketing programs.

The trees are gorgeous this time of year and we got a chance to see the carp fish and the ducks walking on them this past weekend. Unforgettable!!

2009-10-18T09:55:00.008-04:00

The garden is winding down for the year and I'm already dreaming of what the spring will bring. This year the black eyed susans were especially strong. I also liked what the Yucca plants were doing in the garage garden, although in all 5 or 6 places I have them, no blooms yet! Maybe they are a female/male kind of plant and I only have one gender!

The holly bushes are doing GREAT! So I know I don't have that problem with them.

Autumn Colors in Hudson Ohio

2009-10-18T06:11:00.003-04:00

Yesterday wasn't the most beautiful day from a sky standpoint, but the rich colors of the trees are almost at peak.

Ravenna and Stone Roads.

Same spot, a year ago:

Mary's water lily blooms!

2009-09-29T07:28:00.004-04:00

I love this water lily -- it's the first bloom for this plant and it's just so beautiful it looks like a fake -- but it isn't!! Mary gave me this little lily for the pond in early June and it has really thrived in the water. I don't know if it is the gold fish or the locust tree leaves or what, but the water lily's leaves got nice and huge and now it's blossoming.

We only get 3 days out of the other lily's blossom, so I feel lucky to have caught this one on film. (on digital 0's and X's ??)

Anyway.

The weather has really shifted here in northeast Ohio. Yesterday was extremely windy and with the exception of my white and pink hibiscus in the side yard, most of my flowers have faded and need to be dead headed.

Early September in the Garden

2009-09-06T09:50:00.002-04:00

Star Gazers in Bloom!

2009-08-16T09:07:00.000-04:00

I just love the fragrance of these stargazers!

Water Lilly Blooms only 3 Days!

2009-07-29T19:15:00.001-04:00

I missed the first one... now there is another one and it's on the second day and I am missing it. Maybe I can catch a glimpse tomorrow of it!!

A Surprise in Streetsboro on Saturday

2009-06-02T07:25:00.012-04:00

Some things turn out better than you think that they are going to... and that's what happened to me on Saturday.

I had to take the car to get an oil change. Instead of sitting in the dealership lobby for an hour, it was such a beautiful day, I decided instead to take a walk.Here's a few photos from my adventure.
Surprise! It's a 1.2 mile hiking trail around 2 little lakes with all kinds of turtles, chipmucks, rabbits, swans and beavers.

There's an industrial park right behind the dealership and as I walked along I remembered that little parking lot with a picnic table.

What I didn't realize was the beauty I would encounter hiding behind the industrial park buildings!

What a wonderful treat for the soul.

What a great treat and surprise for myself. Here I thought I was going to spend Saturday morning doing boring errands like an oil change... instead I was treated to a wonderful walk in the woods with wildlife!

Happy Birthday Ben! Your Poppies are OPEN!

2009-05-29T08:50:00.004-04:00

Don't you just find Poppies so CHEERFUL! Thanks Linda for sending the seeds. These are especially fun for me because they always open on Ben's Birthday. Just a few hours late this year. Oh well, I still luv 'em!

Here's how they looked at the beginning of last month!

In other news, I just finished posting a new page on my company website called brand strategy.

Perennial Gardens All Set for June!

2009-05-25T08:31:00.002-04:00

Frost in Late May :-( Note to Self: Cover Tomatos Until June

2009-05-19T10:17:00.001-04:00

Frost hit the Tomato plants hard this morning. The temperature got to 30 degrees last night. We covered with newspaper and soaked down everything good. This morning at 5:30 I resoaked the entire garden. The frost was all over the place already.

The peppers are a maybe.. everything else will survive. Beans and squash are popping out of the ground today.

The dark is a little frost damage on the potatoes.
Next year the clear plastic hoop will move to cover the tomatoes until June.

First Day of the Water Lilies

2009-05-17T10:22:00.000-04:00

Baby Calf, Just Born, Tries to Stand on its Wobbly Legs!

2009-05-03T13:42:00.017-04:00

Our dog Lucky was barking at something across the street. When I looked out the window and saw a car had pulled over to look at the cows, I saw a brand new calf! The people in the car said a calf was just born.

Slowly I walked up to the fence and sure enough this was a brand new calf. Click the arrow on the picture above to watch a one minute video of it trying to stand for the very first time!!

This was one of the first times that I've noticed a cow have her calf right next to the fence!

Lucky under the Apple Blossoms

2009-05-03T13:21:00.001-04:00

More Blossoms in Early May

2009-05-03T13:12:00.002-04:00

Apple Blossoms and Hostas

2009-05-03T12:37:00.001-04:00

Just the beginning of all the Beauty.

Why I Love Living Here in the Spring

2009-05-03T12:27:00.003-04:00

New baby cows across the street. They're so sweet and innocent!

Front Steps in Bloom

2009-05-03T12:22:00.003-04:00

Linda's Poppies -- Best Year Yet!

2009-04-06T08:17:00.001-04:00

I think the poppies that Linda sent me are going to have their best year ever. Especially when you consider that they don't bloom until around Ben's bday, six weeks from now!

Sun & Warmth: Daffodils before work and then again at Lunch Time

2009-04-06T08:13:00.002-04:00

Thursday morning, April 2nd before work.

Thursday around 2 pm after a morning of sun!