Upper Falls

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Upper Falls
 

Old Man's Cave is surrounded by the Lower Falls on the south and the Upper Falls on the north. This small stone bridge spans the top of the Upper Falls, which flow over the rocks under the bridge.

Moss on Cliff

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Moss on Cliff
 

These little clumps of moss were hanging onto one of the rock faces.

Stone Wall

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Stone Wall
 

This type of impressive stone wall was very common in the area around the cave.

Steps to Cave

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Steps to Cave
 

These shady steps led down into the gorge where the cave was.

Mouth of the Cave

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Mouth of the Cave
 

The mouth of the cave was surrounded by sand.

Rock Cliff

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Rock Cliff
 

These unusual rock formations were part of the cliff surrounding Old Man's Cave.

Wooden Bridge

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Wooden Bridge
 

This little wooden bridge above the treetops spanned the gorge between the upper and lower falls on either side of Old Man's Cave.

Old Man's Cave

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Old Man's Cave
 

This picture is from my family's recent trip to Hocking Hills in southeast Ohio. Old Man's Cave was one of the amazing rock formations we saw there. I took this shot looking out the mouth of the cave.

Primrose Rose

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Primrose Rose
 

The waxy look on this last rose is a little unusual. Most of these roses were dried up because of the heat, but I found this one in almost perfect condition.

Peach Rose

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Peach Rose
 

This peach-colored rose was another specimen at the Columbus Park of Roses. The yellowish center sets off the darker stamens in the center.

Light Pink Rose

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Light Pink Rose

Here's another pink rose.

Multicolored Rose

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Multicolored Rose

Here's another beautiful rose. It had an interesting pattern of white, yellow, and pink mixed together.

Dark Pink Rose

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Dark Pink Rose

Many of the roses at the park were a little wilted because of the lack of rain, but I found this pink one that wasn't suffering too much.

Striped Rose

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Striped Rose

The striking pattern on this flower showed up beautifully in the bright sunshine.

Yellow Rose

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Yellow Rose

A few weeks ago I visited the Park of Roses in Columbus. It was an amazing place, with more rose varieties than I could count in huge beds of colorful flowers. The park also included a water fountain and observation tower. This yellow flower was one of the more unusual varieties I found.

Yellow Flowers

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Yellow Flowers

I found these interesting yellow-green plants near the blue flowers I posted earlier. They grew intermingled with dark-leaved plants and a few prickly weeds.

Grass With Sky

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Grass With Sky

These grass seeds stand out clearly against the blue sky.

Pink Rose

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Pink Rose

This was another specimen from the rose garden. It seemed to be begging for a picture.

Blue Flowers

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Blue Flowers

I found these tiny flowers growing next to a grape arbor.

Wild Rose

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Wild Rose

The petals in this wild rose variety aren't as tightly packed as in the domestic breeds. It still made a good picture in the sunlight, although the sun kept briefly vanishing behind the blowing clouds.

Pink and Yellow Rose

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Pink and Yellow Rose

Although Inniswood has a few trails, a large part of the park is filled with various herb and flower gardens, making some excellent close-up photo opportunities. One area I especially enjoyed was the rose garden, where I found this beautiful multi-colored rose. The sun seemed to be shining just right to bring out the gorgeous pink and yellow in the flower and buds.

Sun Through Trees

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Sun Through Trees

I took this picture at Inniswood Metro Park in northeast Columbus. I've been trying to hike on every trail at all of the Metro Parks in Columbus, so on the day I went here I also visited Sharon Woods and Highbanks Metro Parks, walking over 8 miles altogether. The shady woods was refreshing on this hot day.

Yellow Streetcar

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Yellow Streetcar

This streetcar was a nice addition to the miniature village. In this shot it is passing the police and fire stations.

Train in Snow

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Train in Snow

This part of the museum looks a little colder than the last. The church, evergreens and red train seem to remind us of Christmas. The snow on the tree limbs makes the scene more realistic.

Purple Train

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Purple Train

This comical-looking train was one of the largest at the model railroad "station" that housed it, actually a model railroad museum. My family visited this fascinating place on our trip to Lake Erie. This engine stood out because of its size and unusual color. This picture shows the railroad crossing with a working gate and light post.

Keeper's House

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Keeper's House

Even the keeper's house was decked out for Christmas. I've never made it to the lighthouse during open hours to take the tour, but I hope to someday. Now I'll give you the rest of the history about the lighthouse.

A lifesaving station was built one-half mile west of the lighthouse in 1876 • Lucien Clemons, who with his two brothers saved two sailors from a shipwreck off the peninsula on May 1, 1875, was named the first commander • In 1880, the lighthouse keeper's household moved to a wooden frame home in a more convenient location, next to the lighthouse.

The turn of the century ushered in new technology as well as structural changes including the addition of another 15 feet to the tower's height • A clock-like mechanism was installed to rotate the lantern, creating the appearance of a brilliant flash of light every 10 seconds • This system required that the lighthouse keeper crank the weights every three hours through the night to keep the lantern turning • An improved Fresnel lens with prism surfaces created an even more brilliant beacon.

Modern conveniences came slowly to the timeless light tower • An electric light finally replaced the kerosene lantern in 1923, dramatically increasing the candlepower of the signal • During World War II, the lighthouse became strategically important for national defense • The last civilian lighthouse keeper resigned, and the United States Coast Guard assumed responsibility for the beacon in 1946.


The beacon was automated in 1958, making the Coast Guard's job easier • With its original finish tattered by time and harsh weather, the exterior of the lighthouse tower was given a fresh coat of new stucco the same year.


The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has maintained the property surrounding the lighthouse since 1972 and proudly accepted ownership of the Marblehead Lighthouse tower in May 1998 • The U.S. Coast Guard continues to operate and maintain the lighthouse beacon • Today's 300 mm lens projects a green signal that flashes every six seconds and is visible for eleven nautical miles • The distinctive green distinguishes the lighthouse signal from white lights coming from air beacons.

Marblehead Lighthouse

Marblehead Lighthouse

Marblehead Lighthouse

I like my shot of the lighthouse at Christmastime.

Marblehead Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes, has guided sailors safely along the rocky shores of Marblehead Peninsula since 1822.

In 1819, the fifteenth U. S. Congress recognized the need for navigational aides along the Great Lakes, and set aside $5,000 for construction of a light tower at the entrance to Sandusky Bay • Contractor William Kelly built the 50-foot tower of native limestone on the tip of the Marblehead Peninsula • The base of the tower is 25 feet in diameter, with walls five feet thick. It narrows to twelve feet at the top with two-foot thick walls.

Through history, fifteen lighthouse keepers, two of whom were women, have tended the beacon • The first keeper was Benajah Wolcott, a Revolutionary War veteran and one of the first settlers on the peninsula • He and his family lived in a small stone home on the SanduskyWolcott's death in 1832, his wife, Rachel, took over these duties.

Ice In Lake

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Ice In Lake

This is my favorite picture of the lake from that day. How many sea gulls can you see?

Lake Erie Shoreline

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Lake Erie Shoreline

The sun came out for a while. I liked how the snow looked along the shore. It was very windy and very cold.

Lake Erie

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Lake Erie

When I was ten years old, my family spent Thanksgiving at Lake Erie. There weren't a lot of other people around. I guess it was a little chilly. But the colors were beautiful.

Goat In Tree

Mud Valley Memories

 Goat In Tree

"Doctor. doctor, I feel like a goat."

"How long have you felt like that?"

"Since I was a kid."


What do you call a goat's beard?

A Goatee!

Two Goats

Mud Valley Memories

Two Goats

I like goats almost as much as I like horses. We used to see these friendly goats when we walked along the dairy lane. We called it the dairy lane because it went back to a dairy farm. You can see the dairy farm here and the dairy lane here.

One Goat

Mud Valley Memories

One Goat

This is a very mild-looking goat.

Why is it hard to carry on a conversation with a goat?

Because it's always butting in!

Side Plow Horses

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Side Plow Horses

These horses look pretty proud of their day's work. I like the markings on the brown ones.

Side Plow From Front

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Side Plow From Front

Now we see these three beauties from the front. They have almost gotten their whole furrow plowed.

Side Plow Turning

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Side Plow Turning

This man had to get up from his plow in order to do the turn. You can buy a horse-drawn plow for around $500. There's also a book out that you can buy to tell you how to drive your new plow. You can also buy a horse-drawn lawn mower.

Side Plow From Back

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Side Plow From Back

I was intrigued by this plow. It seems to be very simple yet effective.

,,,And Really Close

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...And Really Close

Now you can see the complicated harness on these mules. I really enjoyed taking this picture.

...And Closer...

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...And Closer...

Anyone who has tried to hand dig a garden knows how hard it is to break this kind of sod. I admire these mules for their strength and determination. I wish I had a few of them myself.

Two White Mules Closer

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Two White Mules Closer

A man and a mule could walk up to 30 miles a day on hard ground in the early days of farming. When working new ground, mules were used to pull out stumps. Only an acre of land could be cleared each winter using this method. Most of the cotton fields in the south were cleared this way.

Two White Mules

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Two White Mules

You can see these mules are holding their own with the bigger horses. I had fun snapping their picture as they came down the field.

Fancy Horses

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Fancy Horses

Now it looks as if these horses are pausing for a photo op. Meanwhile, the plowman is checking his work.

Hand Plow

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Hand Plow

Now the horses have made quite an impression on the field. Each team will be scored on how well it plows the field. These horses have an eye-catching harness.

Two White Horses

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Two White Horses

I really liked these white horses. They look so patient and gentle.

Three Brown Mules

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Three Brown Mules

Some of the men used mules to pull their plows. I liked the little contraption this man was riding on. Do you think it was a lawn mower once?

Four Draft Horses

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Four Draft Horses

Carriage Hill Farm is a living 19th-century farm just north of Dayton. Every year, a draft horse contest is held there. Horses from all over the country come to compete in plowing the heavy clay soil at the farm. I went several years ago and here are some of my pictures.

Snowy Field

Mud Valley Memories

Snowy Field

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

—Langston Hughes

Stream In The Grass

Mud Valley Memories

Stream In The Grass

We have had a lot more rain than snow this winter. It's interesting to see where the rain goes in the grass.

Water Closer

O, the wind howls over the hills tonight
And wide is the lonely sky
These are our hills when the snows drift deep
When roaring freshets flow
When under the summer moon they sleep
And when the red leaves blow
And where'er we go and whatever we do
Memories will remain.

These are our hills when the snows drift deep
When roaring freshets flow
When under the summer moon they sleep
And when the red leaves blow
And where'er we go and whatever we do
Memories will remain
Of the winds that blew on the trails we knew
In snow and sun and rain.

—From Mt. Moosilauke (1924) - Winter Poem by  H.P. Haile

Fish Pond With Farm

Mud Valley Memories

Fish Pond With Farm

I took a lot of pictures of these fish ponds. I guess you could call me Monet.