Child of a Frosty Morning: Musings of a Well-Traveled Southerner

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Sunday at Lake Erie, 8/31/14

We took a long weekend getaway up to Lake Erie!

Calm morning on Lake Erie, near Port Clinton

The Jet Express, stark contrast to the sailboats

Love these sails!

We went for a nature hike along the Magee Marsh Boardwalk, near Oak Harbor

Beautiful flowers...

Loved the gnarliness!

Little bird, giving me what for

A nearby island, visible from Crane Creek State Park, attached to Magee Marsh

More flowers blooming...I wondered if they were an invasive weed

Accidental bird butt sighting!

At the vistor's center...yes, this is real and wild!

They have a nesting pair nearby

Here's a juvenile!

Ah, back to East Harbor State Park, near Marblehead Peninsula, for lunch and relaxation

This gull's just chillin'

The Perry Monument at Put-In-Bay, a symbol of enduring peace between US and Canada

As usual, there were too many speedboats and jet skis, but this looked fun!

I would rather watch gulls

Taking off from the water

Flying slow overhead

And Great Blue Herons!

Of course we stopped by our old favorite, Marblehead Lighthouse!

The new keeper's house (the older one is a stone house located about 1/2 mile away)

The grounds are well maintained

Now this boat I like!

In my happy place!

Back to our room...the neighbors seem to have a gull problem

Catching a nap on the buoy

Sailing into the sunset

Sunset...sigh...we head for home on Monday

The fleet is coming in for the evening

And the moon is rising, waxing toward September

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Aging Star
(for Vincent, Robin, and me)

I pour out my heart’s fire

Like water in the bird bath,

Sustenance for each of you.

I serve up cracked corn,

Simple seeds of wisdom,

Nutty, crunchy knowledge.

My spilled blood nurtures,

Fertile seed beds flourish,

Sprouts rise, buds bloom.

Some birds take flight, soar;

A tidy garden grows, thrives,

But my light wanes, steadily.

You shine, my young friends,

My spirit flows through you,

But my soul is growing dim.

If a wick, I, me would trim,

Shed the excess, diminish,

Lose light, gain longevity.

But I am not a wick—

Enjoy my light, bask,

It will not last for long.

This is a Magpie Tale. For more Magpies or to add your own, click here!

Sunday, August 17, 2014

University Day at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium!

Our new new partner/parent university...the one that bailed us out last Spring when it looked like we might go under, hosted a day at the zoo for faculty, staff, and families! When I say hosted, I mean we got a parking pass, a zoo ticket, and a great lunch, cook-out style with hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, pasta salad, cookies, fountain drinks...the works. I have to say it was the nicest single outing I've ever had on an employer's tab. If you are not familiar with it, Columbus Zoo is big for a walking zoo. We were unable to cover all of it, even though we walked five miles, according to The Bug's workout calculator. Here are some of the pics I took. I chose to use the pocket Nikon instead of my DSLR, but they cleaned up pretty good.

HEART OF AFRICA