...And Closer...

Around Ohio

...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

Around Ohio

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

Around Ohio

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

Around Ohio

Fancy Horses

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

Hand Plow

Around Ohio

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

Around Ohio

Two White Horses

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

Three Brown Mules

Around Ohio

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

Around Ohio

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.

Cloudy Day

Mud Valley Memories

Cloudy Day

I was intrigued by this shot. The fuzzy clouds reflected so nicely in the pond below, even though it was a very dark day.

Tree In Backyard

Mud Valley Memories

Tree In Backyard

This was one of my favorite trees in our backyard. You can see the calf barn beside it where our neighbors raised calves for the fair. Once the tree got hit by lightning and that was exciting.