What Do You See?

I snapped this interesting cloud on the drive home from Ohio. Justin thinks it looks like a jellyfish. I think it looks like a crooked finger, like someone is saying "come here." I guess clouds are kind of what you make of them :)

Vintage Wallpaper and a Fond Farewell

I hope all had a nice, safe time this last Thanksgiving week. We are doing fine, although of course the deer is not. While the car had a great run (its 18 years old!), this straw has broken the camel's back, and it will be traded in this weekend for a new model. It's not even my car, but its really grown on me. I'm going to miss it!

In other news, I had one of those "So THAT's what that button does" moments, and figured out how to make collages with Picasa :)

We went to the Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP while we were visiting Justin's parents. I was very impressed with the Visitor's Center located next to the Wright Brothers' Cycle Shop. The exhibits were interactive and really attention-getting. You could push a button to make an engine run, and a life-sized propeller spin. Plus there was a recreation of a corner grocery store, with mannequins that talked to you. The upstairs was done up as rooms of a house, and each room had ornate wallpaper in what I assume are vintage patterns. Even the ceilings were papered. Needless to say, I was fascinated.

Forget the Turkey ...

We got a deer!

Justin is officially a Pennsylvanian now that he's had a run-in with a deer. This happened Wednesday night, on our way to his parents in Ohio. We were only a couple of miles from the McConnellsburg exit, which is close to where my parents live. Fortunately, his car is big and sturdy - we hit the deer on the Turnpike in holiday traffic, and it easily could have been far worse. He's out some headlights, and the quarter panel is pushed back just enough that the passenger door cannot open. So I get funny looks for crawling out the driver's side :)

I've had enough adventure. I'm planning on having a nice relaxing rest of the week!

Turkey Travel Time

It's still a little early yet, but I wish everyone who celebrates it a Happy Thanksgiving, and for all those who travel, be safe. We'll be leaving this evening for Ohio, and I most likely won't be able to post or catch up on blogs till Sunday. I'll miss you all!

I thought a leafy trail in its fall glory would be nice for all those who are travelling somewhere this holiday weekend (although hopefully no one has to go too far by foot!).

Picture taken two weekends ago in Susquehannock State Park, in Lancaster County.

Hocking Hills

Since it was a rainy weekend, and we are getting our stuff together to head to Ohio for turkey time, I though I'd post two pictures from a rainy day in Ohio. These were taken in Hocking Hills State Park, back in the summer of 2006. It was just barely raining, and very misty.

We'll be going to the opposite side of Ohio this coming week, but we'll make it back to Hocking Hills sooner or later. Before I started dating an Ohio boy, I never really pictured scenes like this when I thought of "Ohio." I thought it was all flat as a board.

In fact, I've learned all kinds of interesting stuff about Ohio in the past few years. If you're interested in Native American mound building, use the label "OH" on the right to get to a long-ago post with a picture of the Serpent Mound. It's at the very bottom, after some posts on flowers, barns, and covered bridges.

Get Your Ducks in a Row

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement on my anniversary post! I really do appreciate it, and I really enjoy keeping up with my blogging friends. Can't believe its been over a year already! Now, for all my blogging friends, here are some of my ducky friends:

These mallards stop by our detention basin pretty much every time it rains enough for them to get their feet wet. On this day, they would paddle along, get tired of swimming, put their feet down, and start walking (the water was only a few inches deep). There were actually quite a few of them out there. Once they saw me, they'd start to move in the opposite direction. Twenty-some ducks tramping around and quacking are loud!

Stone Soldier

From Gettysburg, last year, on Veteran's Day.

Teasel Time = Party Time!

I've missed some opportunities to toot my own horn lately. Back in September I reached the one year anniversary of my first post, and four posts ago (the b & w barn), I reached my 100th post. Didn't know I passed either milestone at the time. So now that I'm aware, its party time!



I usually find hobbies, become infatuated, and then lose that loving feeling pretty quickly. I'm proud of myself for sticking with blogging. I find it very entertaining, and you all certainly make it more than worthwhile!

I chose this picture because recently several blogger friends posted beautiful and educational pictures and comments about teasel. I think its a good example of how inspiration can pass from blog to blog, photo to photo.

I took this back on Fulton Fall Folk Festival weekend. Mom had whipped her little car into the driveway of a home with a garage sale. Fortuitously, a field full of teasel was right behind where she parked and I grabbed this shot.

Kickoff to Cold Weather

Because its finally getting cold here, and because I haven't had much time to shoot lately, I rooted out a frosty shot from November two years ago. This is the same gorgeous icy morning in the Great Smokies that I posted about back in August. It remains what is probably the most beautiful morning I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing.


These deer are all alertly watching my father, the PA Wildlife Photographer, as he made his way through the field towards some larger bucks. I didn't have the lens to pull the bucks in, so I went for the arrangement of distracted does. I imagine I'll probably be posting more photos from this particular morning as we descend into winter here in Pennsylvania.

I haven't been able to visit you all as much as I would like to this last week or so. I'll be coming around soon, though :)

Election Day (Tell Me How You Really Feel)

Tomorrow, at least in this part of the world, is Election Day. I am a big fan, because it is a day off work, and that's always a reason to celebrate.

Usually, plenty of stronger emotions and a good deal of humor are wrapped up in the election of government officials. This year there are a couple of big issues that has everyone all worked up, but I haven't seen any really clever or outrageous campaign signs. So, in honor of Election Day, here are a few of my finds through the years:

From when I lived in East Tennessee

From vacation in Las Vegas, Nevada

Now with a name like Cotton in a state like Tennesee, you just have to take advantage. I made a special effort to get a picture of that sign. The second one I took from the car while waiting at a stoplight. Whoever posted these had no problem telling us how they really felt. I wanted to be able to blow the picture up to read the fine print, because the large print seemed bad enough! The sign says, among other things, "'Family friendly' assemblywoman will crush any child in her path"! Wonder how that election turned out ...

The Beautiful Boards

My friend Sandy has been to the "the barn" several times over the years, and has posted several of her favorite pictures here. Please check it out!


I decided to post a far less creepy picture of the barn, taken on the same day as the previous post. With those warm-colored boards, there's nothing scary at all :)

A Shadow of What You Once Were

I planned to post this for Halloween, because I thought it looked eerie. However, I got distracted by flowers and dropped the ball on that one :) This scene intrigued me because the shadow of the tree on the barn brought two types of wood into the picture, living and dead. Although dead seems like the wrong word for such beautiful knotty boards, and its only a shadow of the living tree.

My Cousin Chad gave me very good advice on cropping and editing this photo (big thank you!). His latest post tells about his experience with the barn.