Misty Cold Morning

I just love a cold country morning scene!

Cleveland Botanical Garden - Perfect for January!

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

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

Changed WB white balance.

Winter in Stow and Hudson

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!!

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

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!

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

Star Gazers in Bloom!

I just love the fragrance of these stargazers!

Water Lilly Blooms only 3 Days!

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

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!

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!