Penguin Swimming

Around Ohio

Penguin Swimming

This is an unusual view of a penguin, but I thought it was a pretty neat shot. I love to watch penguins swim and play in the water. Penguins eat krill, which is a shrimp-like crustacean. They may also eat squid and fish, depending on the species. Penguins generally live on islands and remote continental regions that are free of land predators. This works out pretty well, since they can't fly. However, they do spend a lot of time in the water. Would you like to have a pet penguin?

Three Penguins

Around Ohio

Three Penguins

In case you weren't aware, penguins are not native to Ohio. You will only find them in the wild in the Southern Hemisphere. They have been classified as birds, although they can't fly. Penguins preen their feathers frequently. The feathers help ensure waterproofing and insulation. The details on these penguins made them interesting to photograph.

Two Penguins

Around Ohio

Two Penguins

Aren't these little guys cute? They always look dressed up and never have to change their clothes. They don't seem to mind the audience gathered around them. In fact, it looks like they might think they are the audience.

Brown Bear

Around Ohio

Brown Bear

This beautiful brown bear is native to North America. The bear population is slowly increasing in Ohio. I've noticed that live bears do not look a lot like teddy bears. I prefer live bears myself.

Polar Bear

 Around Ohio

Polar Bear

Here's another clue: I was on the north side of Columbus, surrounded by lions, tigers, monkeys, and bears. You guessed it. I was at the zoo! The "Flying Fish" were part of the habitat for this polar bear. From ground level outside, we could see the bear; we could also walk down underground and see the water tank full of fish where he could swim. By looking up through this tank, we could see the flying fish. I thought it was fun to take pictures of.

Flying Fish

Around Ohio

Flying Fish

Did I fool you? Okay, I admit these fish are not flying. But it sure was a thrill to stand under them and look up at the sky. Any guesses as to where I was?

Red Tree by Water

Mud Valley Memories

Red Tree By Water

This is the last in my series on autumn in Mud Valley. I think it captures the spirit of that beautiful place. The pasture, still lush and green, the trees reflected in the quiet water, and the surprising red of the maple make a perfect picture, captured forever.

Buggy

Mud Valley Memories

Buggy

I do not have a lot of pictures of horses and buggies, but I am glad I got this one. It adds a nice exclamation point to this peaceful autumn scene. Once we saw a professional photographer pull up at this very spot, get out of his car, and mount his camera on top. He waited a while for some buggies to come by, but I don't think any ever did. I guess you have to be good.

Corn Stalks

Mud Valley Memories

Corn Stalks

These rows of corn grew on the other side of the big white barn next to our house in Mud Valley. Since I always took my camera on our walks, I was ready when the sun cast its light on these dying stocks. I liked how the corn towered over my head. I thought it would be fun to run down the rows between the stalks. But I would never tell any secrets in a corn field -- it has too many ears.

Autumn Gold

Mud Valley Memories

Autumn Gold

I walked along this road almost every day during the two years we lived in Mud Valley. Sometimes it seemed like a very long walk. Other times there would be lots of buggy traffic. I always enjoyed watching the horses as they got closer and closer and finally passed by within an arm's reach. Everyone should take time to enjoy the fall trees from a footpath, a bicycle, or a buggy.

Yellow Trees

Mud Valley Memories

Yellow Trees

While we were out on a walk one day, this stand of trees caught my eye. I liked the glowing yellow behind the dark trunks in front. Of course, fall is a gorgeous time in the rolling hills of Holmes County. I will be posting a few more pictures of the beautiful fall scenery that I saw there.

Autumn Sun

Mud Valley Memories

Autumn Sun

The hot July temperatures are sliding downward as we head into the last weeks of August. The sun slides south along with the temperatures. This picture was taken over Mud Valley late one Autumn day. It reminds me that my squash must hurry if they're going to get ripe before the first frost.

The Colt

Mud Valley Memories

The Colt

Today I found this picture of the spindly-legged colt belonging to Papa donkey, pictured on July 2. It is a beautiful little animal and looks just like its mother. I suppose it has its own colts or grand-colts by now.

Corn Crib

Mud Valley Memories

Corn Crib

Here in Madison County, the corn is still growing. It is still several months until harvest. Even then, the corn will go into large silos, rather than small corn cribs like this one. However, there were a lot of these around Mud Valley. At the farm where we lived, I liked watching the corn grinder as it chewed up the corn cobs. Now, instead, I can watch the corn spout out the top of the combine already husked and taken off the cob.

Cheesy Mice

Favorite Pastimes

Cheesy Mice

I recently had a birthday, and my sisters helped me celebrate it in grand style. They made quite a feast for me. I liked these critters best of all. Their raisin eyes and orange carrot ears give them quite a stylish look. They're the only mice I ever wanted to eat.

Scioto River

Around Ohio

Scioto River

This beautiful scene finishes off our tour of Scioto-Audubon Metro Park. The Scioto River begins somewhere north of Indian Lake, in Hardin County, from a couple of smaller streams. It flows north, then turns east in a very squiggly fashion, until it turns south in Marion County not far from Marion. From that point it is a fairly straight run south through Delaware County into Franklin County. It is joined by the Olentangy River in downtown Columbus, making it the scenic river you see here. Flowing south to Circleville in Pickaway County, it is joined by the Big Darby Creek. As it enters the Appalachian foothills around Chillicothe, the twists and turns of the Scioto River make it a crazy blue line on the map, until finally, at Portsmouth, it joins the mighty  Ohio.

View from the Tower

Around Ohio

View From The Tower

Here we have a rather unique view of the Columbus skyline. That looks like an interesting sculpture in the foreground, but it's actually a climbing wall. I did not get to try it that day, but I would like to some day. There were two doors on the side of the climbing wall that were padlocked; I was curious about what those were for. You can see the Scioto River bridge over in the distance. I think they did a good job putting this park together.

Water Tower

Around Ohio

Water Tower

It's not often you get to see a brand new, freshly-painted water tower. At least this one looks brand new to me, and it has the name of the park painted on the top. I thought it was a pretty neat idea to put the observation deck on it. I like how the support beams make geometric patterns against the sky, giving the effect of a giant spider. Climbing to the 30-foot-high deck was high enough for me.

Boardwalk

Around Ohio

Boardwalk

This is the boardwalk where I took the picture of the Mallard ducks. It does not actually cross a lake, but rather a large pond. I enjoyed looking at the reeds and the other pond life. You can see the water tower up ahead where we will climb to the observation deck. A lot of parks have boardwalks now, which I prefer over getting twenty red ant bites on my ankles.

Bobbers

Around Ohio

Bobbers

It turns out these bobbers are pretty good for fishing. I have spent many years watching ducks, and I guess this is what led to my sister's and my getting ducks of our own. We would have gotten some Mallard Ducks but needed a $25 license to own them. I'm sure the government has a good reason for needing more money.

Mallard Ducks

Around Ohio

Mallard Ducks

Scioto Audubon Metro Park in downtown Columbus offers a scenic retreat from busy city life. I enjoy walking through the different areas of the park. From the observation deck in the water tower, you can see the lake below. You can also walk across the lake on a wooden boardwalk. It was from there that I got a shot of this beautiful pair. I like to check out the police impound lot next to the park, and I noticed it was flooded. Might have been a good day to get towed.

Icicles

Pictures From Spring Valley

Icicles

We have had a cold spell the past couple days, meaning temperatures have dropped to the mid-80s. A good reason to think of how quickly winter is approaching, as school starts up again and the days begin to shorten. Each season truly holds a beauty of its own.

49 Radishes

Favorite Pastimes

49 Radishes

Last year I was very excited about gardening, and I wanted to start as soon as possible in the spring. So I put lots of radish seeds into the cold, wet ground. To my delight, I soon had more radishes than I knew what to do with. As you can see, I especially liked arranging them to take their picture. It looks like one of them is smiling in this picture.

Model Train

Favorite Pastimes

Model Train

Recently I took some pictures of my model train. My layout is three feet by five feet. It has three turnouts and two loops. I bought flexible track and then glued it to long strips of cardboard. In this picture you can see the railroad bridge emerging from a hillside tunnel. I wonder what the passengers in this tiny engine think of the view.