Basil and Lou

 We adopted a cat. Lucky and Venus passed on years ago, and I had no desire for a pet.  We dog sit Lou and that's a great way to have a pet! Have him for a week, and give 'em back!

 Lou has unfortunately moved away. We miss him bunches!  We had him at least a week every month for about a year and a half. He was an excitable Brittany Spaniel, but he loved me sooo much!  He would bury his head under me if I laid on the couch, and try to practically crawl inside me! How close could he snuggle?!

He ran so fast and jumped so high. He is true to his breed, lovin' the birds.  He would run away, often, go down to the harbor and roll in fish something. Oh he stank!  One time he ran in 30 minutes from downtown to Safeway. When I would take him walks he ran 1/4 mile loops around me, lookin' at me like I am a sloth, and he a hummingbird.

Basil is awesome - a cat with NO bad habits!!!?? No scratching, shedding (despite havinglong hair. My aunts say she is probably Maine Coon), random peeing, or excessive meowing. 

She is our constant companion. 

6

 Abby turned six months ago!  Angry Bird cake. 

Don't ask me what Angry Bird's is! An iPad game I guess.

 Her and her BFF Marcus love Angry Birds, and here they are smelling the scented markers they are using to color the Angry Birds jumbo coloring pad.

She had her party at the swimming pool. Swim and cake!

Near Is.

Near Is. hikes from late 2013. Over Christmas break I got to hike during the day!  I am very grateful, especially as I have now hurt my ankle and won't be hiking for awhile.

 When things were still a bit green....It's all brown and dry now!

Although it doesn't look it here, the trail was super icy. Some of it so sheer that I slid in my ice cleats.

Home

 This is the Victorian schoolhouse where my parents live. I also had an apartment here many years ago -  Second floor, arched windows. They size may be deceiving. Those arched windows are like ten feet tall.

My parents keep it cozy, even in the hallway!

 It's funny to see pieces of my pottery and pieces of Rike's we salvaged scattered around.

 

Where the Schuster Center is once was Rike's - a department store with large display windows like in "A Christmas Story."  After they imploded the buildings, my mom, Abby's fairy godmother, and I slavaged some of the terracotta pieces.  

Abby's drawings on the slate chalkboard.

Fancy tin ceiling. You can, and I have, stared at it for awhile.

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.