Dam!

I've been posting pictures taken at several of our local MetroParks, and today is no exception.  I visited Huffman MetroPark, which is very close to the house.

One of the reasons we have some of the MetroParks goes back to March of 1913.  Next year will be the 100th anniversary of the Great Dayton Flood.  As a result of the damage and death toll related to the flood, NCR (National Cash Register, or "The Cash") spearheaded a campaign to raise funds to prevent future floods.

A great book to read for a better understanding of what people went through is Promises in the Attic by Elisabeth Hamilton Friermood.  But to put some numbers to it, the amount of water from the flood was nearly 4 trillion gallons (approximately the amount of water to flow over Niagara Falls in four days).  The damage caused was estimated at $190 million (in 1913; in today's economy it would be well over $2 billion).

The relief committee raised over $2 million (in 1913 dollars!), and Arthur E. Morgan was selected to oversee the flood control program.  Among the research they performed was a trip to Egypt where information regarding the Nile flooding had been preserved in writing for many more years than our own flood histories.  The better their understanding of floods, the better prepared they would be to create an effective plan.

It was 1914 before the Ohio General Assembly passed the Ohio Conservancy Act, permitting the creation of regional agencies to provide flood protection to communities within the state.  Shortly thereafter, leaders from the Miami Valley petitioned to form the Miami Conservancy District.  The district was formed in 1915 and is one of the oldest conservancy districts in the state.

A series of 5 dams were built between 1918 and 1922 under the direction of the Miami Conservancy District, and it was the world's largest public works project of its time.  The cost of the flood system?  More than $30 million.

Planning to the point of obsessiveness, careful financing, legislation, and implementation all working together enabled the most comprehensive flood protection in the nation.

Since completion in 1922, the dams have stored floodwater more than 1,700 times.  Dayton has not experienced another devastating flood since that of 1913.  PBS has run a special on the flood several times, as well as one on those who created the system of dams.  I remember more modern engineers being amazed at the thought behind the system and how the engineers were ahead of their time in planning for the future.

So, out of disaster, I am able to walk the paths of numerous MetroParks and visit lakes at the dams built to prevent the area from catastrophic flooding.  The natural growth, wildlife, and critters are all part of the wonderful package.

I can't begin to imagine what many people endured since the warnings regarding the flood came too late for the majority to evacuate.  Many people were forced to move to their attics to survive; once there I'm sure they realized what is important in life, and made many promises for after the flood. Whatever promises were made, I am very grateful they kept the one about not allowing another flood to destroy Dayton.


The beauty that is waiting to be captured at our MetroParks is a living testimonial to the endurance, determination, and spirit of the 1913 Daytonians.  

Sigh

What a day.  It's never fun when I have to be up and moving before 8 a.m.!  Today was Mom's colonoscopy, so not only was it early to start, it has been one LOOOOOOOOOOONG day.

Fortunately, since Mom had one of the first appointments, her doctor wasn't running behind schedule; the last time Mom was the last appointment, and I think the doctor was at least 2 hours late on starting her procedure.  Today, the procedure was finished about 15 minutes after it was scheduled to begin!  Woo-hoo.  I guess letting the scheduler know just how upsetting the previous procedure had been helped out.  Whew.

Everything was fine - Mom's colon was given a clean bill of health, and she didn't have any bad reactions to the anesthesia.  I did have the text of the day for my brother (due to autocorrect) though.  I was telling him that it was obvious to me that her clear liquid diet of the previous two days affected her ability to think logically or make decisions.  The text he received was:
"Amazing what lack of protein & carnal can do to you."  Still makes me giggle.

I got Mom back to Friendship Village around 12:30, but she was pretty cranky still.  She'd had a small bottle of Gatorade in the car on the way home, along w/ about 6 peanut butter crackers.  But she was determined to walk from the front door to her room (this was one of those things I really wanted to argue w/ her about, but knew it would just completely destroy her, so I bit my tongue).  She kept saying that she felt like she was drunk.  When we got back to her room, I waited until she was sitting down before I went back to move the car.  None of the specials from the dining room appealed to her, but she was hungry, so I warmed up some of the chicken broth that was left from the clear liquid diet prep.  Once she had that down, she started snoozing.  I stayed for about 2 hours before I tried to wake her up, but she was OUT.

I managed to make it out of the parking lot before Mom called me on my cell.  From the way she was sawing logs, I'd figured she'd be out for a couple more hours, so I had asked the nurse to check in and make sure she knew when it was dinner time.  I don't know what woke her up, but she called me to find out if I'd decided we weren't going to the surprise retirement party for one of her former students who was later a co-worker.  

So, shortly thereafter, it was back to Friendship Village, then off to meet everyone at O'Charleys.  I'm glad we went - it was great for Mom to see a lot of the teachers she used to work with.  Some of them she hadn't seen in quite a while; others she had seen within the last few weeks.

We were saying our goodbyes when one of the other retired teachers asked Mom if she liked it at Friendship Village.  She paused for a minute, then said "No, not really."  This was just about 15 minutes after she asked the retiring teacher when she was going to come visit Mom at Friendship Village for lunch.  Mom was not fishing for an invite to "escape" or eat elsewhere; she enjoys having people join her for meals there.

All of this when I didn't get enough sleep, had a sinus headache, and wanted to be home curled up with my beastie boys and reading.

So, now that I'm home, I picked some flowery shots to post to brighten up my day.  No, it wasn't a bad day, but I needed a little boost.  I do feel a bit more optimistic now and am ready to take another of my sinus cocktails.

Most of the flowers are from my trip to Woodland Cemetery yesterday.  The first three are from my yard - primrose and yucca.  The yucca is a plant Mom transplanted from her dad's yard, and it's pretty for a very short time.  I think again this year I'll be cutting those huge stalks back once the blooms are gone.

I loved the orange of the lilies planted among the red/pink of the roses.  The sun was so bright that the normally red roses looked pink.  There's no mistaking the orange of the lilies though.

Once again, I am deeply thankful for a creator that provides so much beauty to uplift me when I need it.

This is personal . . .

Today is the day after Memorial Day, and I finally made it to the local cemetery that has a Memorial Day Observation, Woodland Cemetery.  My best intentions to attend the ceremony yesterday were thwarted, and in some ways, I found the complete quiet and lack of people today led to a deeper and very meaningful experience.

I couldn't pass up taking a picture of this "tip of the hat" (pun intended) to Orville and Wilbur Wright.  The invention of the airplane certainly changed the way war is waged.  I doubt they foresaw the use of their invention in such a deadly manner.

There were quite a few graves like the ones above and below, of individual plots with flags and flowers commemorating service members.

The larger group I was pulled toward was dedicated to those who had served in the Civil War.  Many of the headstones had names and dates that were no longer legible.  Yet each headstone was adorned with a flag (yeah for good record keeping!).  It wasn't a huge area, but as my eye scanned the area, I got a huge lump in my throat.

Every flag I saw was in recognition of someone who experienced the sacrifice of military service.  They put their life on the line so others would live.

I'm not talking about the same quantity of flags as those at Arlington, or any other veteran's cemetery.  But each of those headstones represents a son, husband, brother, cousin, nephew, grandson, uncle, grandfather, or friend.  

Men who may have seen a relative on the other side of the front lines; who wanted nothing more than to return home to their families.  Yet, here they lie, in a peaceful setting, at rest, under the American flag of the union they died to save.

Each soldier who has ever worn the military uniform has done so for me.  The sacrifices each of them made, especially those who died in battle, were made for me.  I am able to live a life of freedom and ease because others continue to be willing to take on those sacrifices.

In memory of the soldiers and sailors of the War of 1861-65

Interwoven is the love of Liberty with every ligament of the heart.

One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation evermore.

Today I thought of the grief the families of these men were left to deal with.  That hasn't changed regardless of the number of wars or where they are fought.

The American Revolution, The War of 1812, The Mexican American War, The Civil War, World War I, The Spanish American War, World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, The Persian Gulf War, the Invasion of Afghanistan, and the Invasion of Iraq.


Regardless of how we feel about the validity of the wars or invasions, we need to honor those who died in service to our country, as well as those who return home.


Let's return to making Memorial Day about honoring those who died in service, and less about grilling out or opening the pool.  

Honor:  high respect for, as for worth, merit or rank.  


I will not let another Memorial Day go by without actively participating in honoring the men and women who have given their lives for my freedom.  This IS personal.


  

In Flanders Fields

Today, I have just a few photos I've downloaded from friends' posts on facebook that have been exceptionally moving or meaningful to me.  There is little I can add of any consequence or greater meaning to all that has been written before.  Thank you is an insignificant, although deeply heartfelt, response to those who have willing served our country and/or given their lives in service.  That they would put their lives on the line for me is humbling and heart-wrenching. 

For a history of Memorial Day, visit http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html.  Please also click the link http://www.usmemorialday.org/act.html to see what we can do to help bring back the true observance these men, women, and military working dogs earned.

Make good art

To say this day has been an emotional roller coaster is a gross understatement!

But, I'm trying NOT to dwell on that, and get myself off onto a good mood.  It's a hot and humid day in SW Ohio, but I was determined to get out and get some new pictures.  Imagine my surprise when I walked out the back door to find this guy on the kitchen window screen.  It was in the shade, so I'm guessing he needed to cool off, too!

After a couple of minor errands, I was off to Charleston Falls again.  This time I took a path I hadn't taken in a while, and almost wished I had taken my usual route as it had a lot more shade!  But, the jaunt was worth it in the long run!

I had barely gotten started on my little trek when I saw a snake slither across the path in front of me.  I am proud to say I did not scream like a school girl when I saw it!  I waited for it to stop so I could get a shot of it, but there were some noisy people coming along, and it never stopped.  Bummer, sort of.

Saw this little bunny after I rounded a corner.  He ran off when I tried to get closer.  I hate those gravel paths 'cause they just make way too much noise.

I liked how this tree had no growth, except for the vine going up the main "artery" of it.  

Fortunately I was in the shade waiting to catch this guy with his wings open.  It took what seemed like forever, but it was probably less than a minute.

I thought this tree trunk had some interesting shape to it, plus it almost looked like someone tagged it with graffiti.

I made it as far as Cedar Pond, where I got a LOT of pictures before turning around and heading back to the car.  I had my water with me (it was half filled with ice, but in less than 15 minutes, all of the ice was GONE), but there was no shade there, and it was HOT!


Regardless, got some good shots and a couple of great shots of the insects, frogs, and birds.  I might wait a while to go back, or at least go on a cooler day!

When I looked up and saw how this bird was "perched," I almost laughed out loud.  I'm glad I didn't or she would have flown away.  I'm pretty sure this is a female Red Winged Blackbird (there's a pic of a male coming up, and there were several of them all around the pond).

Yup, the sign really is upside down!  Now, if there wasn't so much algae on the pond surface, I might have gotten it reflected in the pond so it looked right side up . . . sometime to attempt on another visit!

One of the male Red Winged Blackbirds.  

Pretty sure this is another female Red Winged Blackbird.

This looked like a sea of cattails!  Everywhere you looked, there was another bunch of them.

I heard a lot of frogs, including some of the loud bullfrogs and the ones that made the clicking noise (just like I'd heard yesterday at Brukner's).  This was the only frog I actually saw though.  Another teeny little thing.

I feel SO blessed to have captured this shot.  From the sparkles in the background off the water, to the detail of the wings, to the color of the dragonfly's body, I am very, very happy with it!

One of nature's ninjas??

A moth feeding on some clover . . . 

Loved the contrast of the colors, as well as the sharp lines contrasting with the curve of the vine.

I loved the contrast of the outer edges with the inner section of the trunk.

Another moth feeding on clover.  There were a couple of these that seemed to be fighting over the flowers!

I liked the bright, sunny yellow against all of the green.  

Well, after viewing these photos again, I'm doing MUCH better.  It also helps that when I just clicked over to facebook, I found this quote had been posted:  ‎"When things get tough, make good art.  Sometimes life is hard. Things go wrong — and in life, and in love, and in business, and in friendship, and in health, and in all the other ways in which life can go wrong. And when things get tough, this is what you should do: Make good art. I’m serious. Husband runs off with a politician? Make good art. Leg crushed and then eaten by a mutated boa constrictor? Make good art. IRS on your trail? Make good art. Cat exploded? Make good art. Someone on the internet thinks what you’re doing is stupid, or evil, or it’s all been done before? Make good art. Go and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. Make. Good. Art." ----Neil Gaiman

I think my photographic efforts (at least a few of them) constitute good art.  That's a rather serendipitous thing as I hadn't read the quote before I took the pictures.  And, quite often, taking pictures is an effort for me to unwind or to change my outlook on life.

Tomorrow?  I'm looking forward to the interesting, amazing, glorious and fantastic mistakes to make!