Hale Farm Civil War Re-enactment

Damned hot day for it. They had to get an ambulance to take one man away, don't know if it was heat stroke, but wouldn't be surprised.

The Civil War was bloody, gruesome, septic and awful. But watching the re-enactors, I wondered why - mechanically why, not politically why. Reloading takes forever, the accuracy of the muzzle-loaders and cannon aren't that good, especially in the heat of battle, and yet thousands of men were killed outright or died of their injuries. And horses.

Probably pointless. In the end, the industrial juggernaut of the North would have mowed down the South, or more likely assimilated it, with the same result, and many fewer young men slaughtered and much less bitterness.

Anyway, the photos:

Hot day, but a good one.

A Tough Month

It's been a really tough month. Working on this year-long photography project is a lifeline to normal, or maybe just the illusion of normal, good enough for now. Maybe it will help to keep the grieving at bay until pleasant memories return.

This is the Haserot Angel at Lakeview Cemetery. Despite the long hair, it's a male figure, notable for the weathered tear stains on the face and neck. No one seems to know it the artist foresaw them.

Favorite earring on a favorite background, my Dad's childhood desk. My brothers also used used it, as much for a work bench as for a desk. When I refinished it, I left the battle scars.

Yup, coming up on Easter. A bunny I made a million years ago.

There's always a redwing blackbird on the topmost branch of the tallest spruce in my backyard, reminding all comers that this is his territory and they better stay the heck out. Added a Kim Klassen texture to a very dull sky.

And yes, after surviving the winter undiseased, it got me. Triple-soothing? Nuh-uh.

Bye for now.

Tenaya Lake, Yosemite National Park

Taking a break from P365. I went with a group of photographers to Yosemite in May. We did some of the normal tourista stuff, but also got off the beaten path a bit. The photos below are of Tenaya Lake on the Tioga Pass road. The week after these were shot, the road was closed again because of snow. It's beautiful, wild and remote. Having grown up in northeastern Ohio, I'm used to lakes have sandy or mud bottoms. Tenaya has a granite bottom, with little drifts of granite pebbles and very little vegetation. It's lovely. If you go to Yosemite take the time - and the hair-raising drive - to visit the high country.

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.