Playin' Possum

When my brother and I were growing up (way back in the dark ages; the days before remote controls came with anything) our dad, was the KING of Playin' Possum, or at least that's what he wanted us to believe.  He could be asleep in his recliner, snoring so loudly he couldn't hear the TV, but if we changed the channel, he would calmly say, "Turn it back.  I was watching that."  Thirty seconds later the snoring would resume, and his eyes never opened.

We knew even then he wasn't really Playin' Possum, but it did turn into a bit of a game.  We did our own little experiments.  Was it easier to get away with if we turned that dial really fast, or was it better to go so slowly you almost didn't hear the clicks?  Did a certain amount of time have to pass with Dad's eyes closed before it was safe to try?  Was the snoring a definite sign of being asleep?  Nothing ever worked.  We ALWAYS had to turn the channel and either keep watching golf or find something else to do.  Yeah, we found something else to do.

Today, I thought of Dad because I visited Possum Creek MetroPark.  I'd never been there before, and I only saw a brief part of it (it was kind of hot and humid).  I do want to go back to hike some of the trails, and to check out the farm.

There were a lot of nice views of the ponds, and several different ponds and lakes to visit.  I only went to three of them today.  There were quite a few people out fishing, but I tried to be quiet and let them fish in peace.

I like how the bench is almost over-run with foliage - I'm guessing that's not a popular side for fishing from.  I think I'd like it, mostly for the shade!

The board that says "Possum Creek" is actually part of the back of a bench (like the one almost hidden above).  I wanted to get more of the bench in the shot, but it was too close to the path for that to happen (and I'm too short).  Bummer.

I happened to look up and catch this guy suddenly; you can't really tell (another wonderfully sunny day), but this is a red winged blackbird.

All kinds of buggy things were buzzin' around.  I got this shot on a wing and a prayer.  Don't know how, but glad of it.

THIS guy was very patient with me - I was hoping to catch that right upper wing glow/iridescence. Glad I took several shots to have a better chance at it!

My weird imagination at work again.  To me, it looked like these Canada Geese were using the water as a mirror while they were preening . . .

I think the goose on the right was most concerned with his appearance . . .

I'm guessing this is a type of thistle, but I don't really know.  I liked the color.

Now you've seen what I did today, playing at Possum Creek.  You never know what I'll find to take pictures of next time, so keep checking back . . . maybe you'll catch me Playin' Possum.

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!

See ya later . . . Oh, hello . . .

I was afraid that by starting the day off saying goodbye to a wonderful lady, that it would be kind of a blah or moody day.  I am very glad to say that wasn't the case.

Marva Lee was a fun, retired school teacher who moved into Friendship Village and became a friend of Mom's.  The two of them would get together and talk, talk, talk.  Marva was as good for Mom as Mom was for Marva.  Unfortunately, Marva had a lot of health problems and spent much of the last 6 months going back and forth between the hospital and the health center, in addition to maintaining her dialysis schedule.  She was a feisty little lady and was determined to give every effort to overcome each setback.  But, eventually, the number of health problems took its toll on her and she wasn't able to overcome the last setback.

We said "See ya later" to Miss Marva today, celebrating the unique person she was and sharing how she touched our lives.  I know I'll be missing her smile and her excitement at seeing friends and family.  I also know that eventually I'll join Miss Marva and all of my other friends in heaven, and we will spend our time in awe and wonder of being in God's presence.  I'm kind of jealous of those already there.

After saying "see ya later" to Miss Marva, I found a brand new nature center to give a big "Hello!"  Brukner Nature Center is in Miami County, and although I didn't spend much time there today, I definitely will go back (and to a few other parks/nature centers in Miami County).

These large tree trunks were at what I'm assuming is the main building for the facility.  The way they've aged fascinates me.

Not more than maybe a hundred yards from the parking lot is a nice pond surrounded by plenty of vegetation.  There is also seating (simple concrete block construction) if you want to soak in the atmosphere and sounds.  The frogs were in FULL concert today.  The turtles were soaking up some of the sun, but eventually took a dip into the water.

I kept feeling like I was being watched, and then noticed this ET face looking up at me from the water!  This had to have been a pretty good sized turtle, but I never did get a look at more of him than this.  Maybe next visit.

I was very surprised at how little this guy was - he was making a HUGE noise.  Of course, once I spotted him, he went quiet.  Temperamental frog diva!

The damsels & dragonflies were plentiful, but hard to photograph.  This one was nice enough to take a rest on the "boardwalk" just in front of me.  I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity!

This was another pond I could see from the trail, but not get very close to.  Another visit I hope to find a way to get closer to it.  Yes, I believe that's algae all over the top of it.

There were a couple of fish in the pond, but this is about the best shot I could get of one.

This picture turned out about a gazillion times better than I anticipated!  Yet another picture of foliage reflected in the water (the reflection ONLY).

I kept hearing a clicking sound close by, and it took me quite a while to find this little critter.  He was TINY.  From where I was standing, I would estimate the size he is in the photo is pretty close to actual size.  He was another loud one, but not the deep sounds from the larger, first frog I saw.

As I left the pond behind to head back to the car, as I got to the top of the trail, I spotted this beauty - a Scarlet Tanager.  Yup, another birding first.  Hello, gorgeous!


Loving being able to spend the time in parks and reserves to see so many beautiful sights, and to capture them on "film."  The more I see, the more I'm amazed at the beauty God created  for us to enjoy.

Turtles

Yesterday was, weather wise, a pretty depressing day.  I had hoped to make it to another metro park for photos, but before I could get to one, we had tornado watches, thunderstorm watches, and a whole lot-o rain. Bummer.


Today is making up for that nasty weather quite nicely though.  80 degree temps (it was still 85 when I mowed the front lawn at 6 p.m.!) and a lot of sun and beautiful skies.  All of that topped off what I think was a good job interview and a haircut (wait . . . I KNOW I had a haircut, I think the interview went well; punctuation does matter!).  So, feeling all spunky and a little full of myself with the shorter "do," I decided to head out to Carriage Hill Metro Park for a quick photo session.  Y'all are gettin' off light with only 8 pics today!

Loved the look of the algae and the reflection and thought the "hole" in the middle looks like a heart.

Spring in Ohio around bodies of water mean turtles will be out sunning themselves.  I took a LOT more than I'm sharing, but for some reason, I love to watch them out on the logs.

It's hard to tell from this photo, but this turtle was pretty small.  I zoomed in as close as I could get, and then I copped the photo twice once I uploaded it.  He was barely visible from where I was standing.

I'm fascinated by the fungi that grows on trees.  Don't know why, but I think it's really cool looking.

Two of the shots I waited around for about 20 minutes, hoping to catch (above and below).  I'd seen quite a few dragonflies buzzing around, but never slowing down or lighting on a branch or anything.  So, I finally just leaned against the rail of the boardwalk and waited, and waited, and waited.  It was SO worth it.

Even as I pat myself on the back for the dragonfly pictures, I keep thinking back to those turtles.  I never had one as a pet (at least not that I remember), and yet I believe I too often act like one of these guys.  I get worked up over something and the next thing I know I've put up that hard defensive shell and pulled into it so nobody can get at me.  If they continue to poke and prod, I just might stick my head out and snap at them (I might do that anyway).  And the longer they poke and prod, the longer I pull into the shell and turn that hard side toward them.  Can't say that's behavior I'm always proud to exhibit.  I'm thinking it would be better to be more like turtles in soaking up the Son . . .