Halloween

 Playing a little ketsup...it's only after Christmas and I'm getting to Halloween.

 Spent it with an old friend Bruce, and Jessica, who apparently was not as photographed. I think she stepped out of the way often!

 Bruce with white trash.

Recent Works

 This is sweet. She's drawing and writing how she helps around the house. She gives the cat treats (yes we have a cat I will get to that later. I am still catching up!) and she helps put away her clothes.

 She is learning to write to 50. She draws her numbers backwards sometimes.

Can we go to the Powerhouse (restaurant to get udon?)!

I love this one. It so reveals her character. She is comfy cozy :).

Hocking Hills

After flying to Chicago, then driving to Dayton, we drove to Hocking Hills!

This is Ash Cave, one of my favorite places on Earth.  Hocking Hills is spectacularly Beautiful! The waterfall was once a rushing massive flow of water, and it carved out this ginormous rock overhang, complete with a sandy beach!

We stayed at a cabin with Aunt Donna.

Abby and my parents enjoyed the hot tub!

Abby enjoyed Sullivan (and vice versa)!

 

We made pie (as 3 generations of champion pie makers together). 

I got to go on a hike.

I got to hear a rock fall. A large rock must have fallen, like, really large. I have never heard a sound like that. It was such a low frequency.  It was new to my ears. The ground shook too.It must have been a couple miles away down the canyon.

It's very difficult to capture Hocking Hills. There are deep gorges and it's hard if not impossible to photograph the entire thing. Not in it, or out on top of the rim, because they are so vast.  Kind of like the Grand Canyon.

I think as a photographer it is easy to get caught up in the expansive majesty. You want to somehow fit in the entire feature because it is so utterly impressive.

I like the cute county historic houses. This one on the train tracks.

This is the style of house I always wanted.

Nutcracker

I'll have to get back to our trip to see Grandmum and Granddad, I have some catching up to do..

 Like Abby being a precious reindeer in the Nutcracker!

 It was a busy week and she was sick, but still attended every rehersal for a week! Her coordination and general ability to dance has definitely improved over the last year.  She really is beginning to enjoy dance. She sat and watched the entire performance during one rehearsal.

Dayton part one

 Abby hearts Sullivan!

 We were there for a few days and made the most of it. We saw War Horse. This is the Schuster Center designed by Cesar Pelli. This structure replaces what I know as "Rikes", a department store with large display windows.  The western building was the Miami Hotel, a lovely red brick with terracotta  decorations. When Rikes was torn down, my mom, Abby's godmother, and I went and rescued pieces of the building. They lived in my parents backyard for a decade or so and now they are decoration for Hawthorn school.  (Photos later).

 The horse's expressions were amazing. 

 Ever wonder about that first flight? Well, this is about how long it was...

 Downtown

 Oregon District

 South Park - where I grew up.

The boulevard, inspired by designs by Frederick Law Olmstead.

The gazebo where my parents were married.

I can't remember quite what she said, but she wanted me to take her photo, so I did, and she said she was the most beautiful woman on earth, because she was made in God's image.

My first place of employment. 

Woodland cemetary and arboretum.

Woodland. I can visit some of my friends. 

and admire a lovely setting. Great place to go walking. Very peaceful.

When my friend was buried here over twenty years ago, this tree was shorter than I.

My dream house! Small living quarters upstairs, large porch...

We enjoyed the best the city has to offer.

Went and ate where I ate as a kid - in a trolley!

With friends.

Measuring who is taller.

Hodapp, where Morgan grew up.