West Bank of the Flats, 1/22/11

The January CVPS Photowalk typically features temperatures of no more than 10 degrees F. This year, the day started at zero and rocketed up to a balmy 8. It wasn't too bad out of the wind, but miserable in it. The walk began on the West bank of the Flats. The group I was with rambled around by the Flats Oxbow Association, which is where the shots below were taken.

I like the contrast between the chain link and rusted bridge and the whiteness of the bridge, condos and the Terminal Tower.

Someone left his poor Suzuki motorcycle to freeze in the Cleveland snow.

Great bridge - looks like it's been rusted in place for a thousand years.

I liked the sun streaking through the bridge and across the ice.

Rehabbed warehouse - each condo has it's own unique ironwork balcony.

More photos to come from the West Side Market.

Baklava, West Side Market 1/22/11

Mmmmm, baklava! I brought two pieces home for dessert. The CVPS photo walk was the Flats and the market. It was DAMNED cold - 3 degree when I left home. Rocketed up to 8 by the time we got to the market. It's fabulous - all kinds of breads, brilliantly colored fruits and vegetables piled high, great mix of people. More to follow. It's been a busy week with not much time to mess with my photos.

January 16, 2011: Icicles, Dams, and Falls, Cuyahoga River

Spent a pleasant, if cold, afternoon shooting along the Cuyahoga River gorge in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. I started at Highbridge Glen Park, shooting upriver toward the Sheraton. Beginning with the Broad Blvd. dam, there’s a dramatic series of falls tumbling through the gorge – the view from the restored bridge is breathtaking. Ranging from blue, to sparkling white, to iron orange, icicles drape the gorge wall south of the bridge. Even though the temperature was in the low 20’s, enough sun hit the icicles to cause them to melt and crash into the river. Scared the heck out of me the first time I heard it.

The city built a switchback walkway into to gorge, so it’s easy to get down to a good level to shoot the wall. I met a guy who grew up in the Falls while I was out there – he said they used to rappel down the walls on a rope tie to a tree. So I’m thinking the walkway was just a bit safer for me and my camera.

After the Gorge, I drove to the amphitheatre north of Falls River Square. The pylons covered with snow and the brick wall of the old powerhouse nicely framed the dam and the start of the river rapids. There’s a picturesque old bridge piling above the amphitheatre, looks a little like part of Stonehenge.

My last shots were the sails shaping the Falls River Square concert stage. A dramatic sight with the darker clouds behind them.

A Short, Happy Story

In case the text isn't readable, here's the story:

"Sherry called at 8:49 am, she and Dick were ready to go, so I moved Larry to a new barn this morning, Brassline at Sahbra Farm. It’s not even 15 minutes from my house. Huge stall, huge grass turnout, plenty of food for him. I hope he puts on some weight, he needs it.

When I got to the new barn, I heard someone calling my name - turned out to be Carrie Walter. Almost didn’t recognize her. Short red hair instead of long blond. Same great person though, and she still has Hero. Then, someone in a Suburban was talking to Dick. Turned out to be Jane and Robert Shumate. They have Larry’s best buddy Charlie at Brassline, and Larry and Charlie will be turned out together again. Sweet start to the new year!"

Sherry and Dick are friends who offered to trailer Larry to Sahbra. We met at Promise Land when they had their horses there. They moved a year or so ago. Nice people!!

Credits: 11 14 10 Color Challenge digital papers and Letterbox Photomasks No. 16, Katie Pertiet, Designer Digitals. Fonts are Jane Austen and Georgia.

Moving On

Larry moved to a new barn on January 1st. Long overdue, too many issues at the old place. I'll miss it, though. We rode a lot of miles through the woods and fields, and I met a lot of nice people there. Ten years....

He's better off at Sahbra - huge stall, plenty of good hay and feed and turnout on grass. He seems to like it so far. I'm hoping to see him fat and shiny again before Spring.