April, April - Where Did You Go?

He looks so innocent, doesn't he?

Having a grumbly moment, cut off from caffeine due to migraines. Didn't work, either.

Little purple ink lines, defying gravity.

Someone else having a grumbly moment, due to indignities suffered at the hands of the vet.

Chionodoxa in the garden, looking lit from within. They're tiny things, about an inch across.

April passed so quickly - lots of catching up to do!

A Good Start to April

This is a Painted Pony zebra. You don't have to look too closely to see all the zebras in his coat.

Chuck, scratching Sootie's cheek. Shot with the iPhone, hence all the noise.

Out with the old, in with the new. The black purse has a hole in it, so I bought something lighter for spring and summer (it is spring, isn't it?).

If there are crocuses, it must be spring.

Peony snouts, definitely spring. The little yellow spheres are Osmocote fertilizer. Peonies don't need much care, but after this past winter, maybe a little help is needed.

A good start to April.

March to the End

I'll never understand the fascination with selfies. Don't like taking them, editing them, or posting them. No telling what possessed me to shot this one. Gaussian blur is my friend.

Another new house - the second one this year. The economy is definitely picking up.

Tax day. Got the federal and Ohio taxes done in record time. RITA on the other hand was a hot mess. Their website was crashing right and left, but in the end, I wrestled a printed receipt from it. Whether they got my tax return or not is their problem now.

The Cake Mix Doctor is my best friend and Death by Chocolate is the best chocolate cake ever. This is the beginning. Add some oil, eggs, sour cream and a splash of vanilla...

And you have birthday cake fit for a brother.

 Went waterfowling at Mogadore reservoir. Every single duck, goose, swan, and heron was out of range of my 400mm. So I settled for a garden-variety ring billed and took the Subaru offroading on the south side of the reservoir. Plenty of mud and no problems getting out of it.

River birch in my front yard. Love the peeling bark. The inner layers feel almost like very soft skin.

And with that, we close out the bipolar month of March, 2014.

A Motley Collection

Headstone at Mater Dolorosa, the little cemetery next to Happy Days Conference Center. Wonder if the builders intended that irony.  Read up on memento mori today, brought to mind because of the plant closing. Yep, all flesh is grass, but does thinking about make it any less frightening?

 

Let's think about deer instead. You may have heard that cars make good blinds, animals just ignore you as long as you're in the car. Nope. They scatter the second they see a camera and all you get is a pixelated blur. Next time, you white-tailed devils - next time!

Little park at the end of 306 in Mentor. The lake was still jammed up with ice, but plenty of people stopped to take a look, no doubt hoping for Spring. Picture this with blue skies, dappled shade and picnics.

The herons are pairing up. Apparently, the sticks met mama's standards. Kind of breezy, swirling up their topknots and neck feathers.

Battered. I've lost count of how many times I've made this cake. Lots of apples and cinnamon, perfect for cold weather.

 

A motley collection, mid-way through March.

Home Stuff

Chuck's Big BIG Birthday cake. He's not really older than dirt, although you would know if from the gag gifts his friends gave him. And meat - Mike, Paul and Keith gave him a couple of pounds of bacon, beef sticks, jerky, and a big honkin' steak, mmmm-MMMmm for my honey the carnivore!

 

 

March 16 and the crocuses are peeking out.

 

The Thanksgiving book for my family - I probably should print out the pictures before next Thanksgiving.

I have a bunch of toys horses given to me over the years - this one came from a friend at work.

Cinnamon Crunch bagel from Panera - yummy, but probably not a nutritionally sound dinner.

Middle of March and Mother Nature can't decide whether it's Spring or Winter still.

A Good Week

Finally, home for a while. Took a peaceful walk in the neighborhood, just around sunset. The economy must be picking up - there are houses for sale and sold, and new houses being built.

 

Chuck's birthday cake. We went out to dinner and just had a nice evening together.

Summer hat, wishful thinking right now.

This saucy little fellow is a house finch. Mama looks similar, but doesn't have the rosy highlights.

Getting ready for Chuck's Big BIG Birthday Party - twice baked potatoes. I made two sheet cake pans full, and there wasn't a one left. The recipe is really easy, too, and can be made a day ahead.

 

So glad to be home, and to have something to celebrate.

A Week Ending in Herons

One day at home in a week of travel. Chuck took me to dinner at a quirky Kent restaurant called Wild Goats. They serve brinner, breakfast for dinner. This is his favorite hot sauce, which he liberally applies to his breakfast burrito.

 

Then off to "sunny" Florida: day one, monsoon; day two, 55 degrees, exactly one degree warmer than home; day three (Saturday), lovely and we headed for the airport at 11 am, of course! The view from my hotel room.

Love this dolphin statue - so exuberant!

Ah, Chipotle. Decent food, no resort prices.

After all the travel craziness, I needed some time outside. So we (me and my 80 - 400 mm lens, roughly the size of a small cow) went to the Bath Road heronry to shoot some herons. Look at this handsome devil - decorating for his lady-love.

And with that, I will say goodnight.