Head in the Clouds

Yeah, I'm cheatin'.  I'm using the pics I took yesterday while watering the plants for today's post.  When it's still 100 at 8 p.m. in SW Ohio, that's way too hot for me to be out doin' anything.

But, last night's pictures were so completely serendipitous, surprising, and fun that I have to share them with y'all.  The clouds were amazing enough, but then, the added surprises in the back yard practically had me singing one of the talented Billy Joel's songs (I Go To Extremes).

Not that I have to be at one extreme or another, but I do tend to find it happening a lot.

Last night is a great example.  I hadn't planned to take any pictures, but as I watered the plants and looked up, I saw the beautiful cloud formations and colors.

Of course I went inside and grabbed the camera to try to capture some of the texture and colors I was seeing.

I took several shots, then had to go back and check on the plants I'd left the hose on, only to look down and see this little guy.  Maybe he's not that big of a deal to you, but this is the first time I've snapped a grasshopper!  And gee, let's see . . . I went from looking at the expanse of the multi-colored clouds in the sky down to the little green grasshopper resting on green leaves.

Of course, I had to look back up, just to see what the clouds looked like "now."  Oh, so very glad I did.

That pink hue was pretty out in the front yard . . .

And a different kind of pretty in another direction in the back yard.  Yes, I was facing opposite directions when taking two of the previous shots.  I didn't realize that until now (hadn't thought about it until now, either!).

Then it was back to the plants, and checking on the mandevilla I'd just put in the ground last week. It seems to be doing very well, even with the extreme heat.  Once again though, I went from looking up, to looking down.

If you haven't noticed, I couldn't keep myself from looking up at the clouds every few minutes!  They were mesmerizing me with the light/shadow and changing colors.

 But neither could I help looking down at the plants (it's hard NOT to look at them when you're watering them).  I'd noticed these clematis bloom remains a couple of days ago, and thought they were interesting to look at.  Now I'm having a hard time deciding whether I like the bloom with the petals or without the petals better!

Not only was it an evening with my head in the clouds (at least watching them), but I think I was suffering from a case of temporary Adult Attention Deficit Disorder . . .  but then again, if I got pictures like these, was it really suffering, or being blessed with the opportunity to see a variety of subjects and take advantage of it?  I'm going with the blessing - there's enough suffering in the world that I can't do anything about.  I can accept this blessing and be thankful for it though!

Old and New

What a great day for photography!  Actually, it was a great day for anything, except being stuck in a hospital.  Feeling so bad for my favorite pre-15 year old niece and still not knowing what the heck is going on.  They thought earlier today that they might be taking out her gall bladder, but decided later the gall bladder isn't the problem.  I wish they would get their act together, NOW.


I was trying to be somewhat economical with my time and gas, and since I had to be out picking up some graduation and confirmation cards, I had the perfect excuse to go back out to Carriage Hill, but this time to the farm side.


I was taking my stuff out to the car to leave when I saw one of my red headed woodpecker friends at the suet feeder.  Since the camera was already in the trunk of my car, had to get it and hope he didn't fly off before I snuck back around the corner.

Whew.  He stuck around for a while, until he got this morsel, and let me take a bunch of shots.  I wasn't THAT close, but thank goodness for zoom lenses, and the ability to crop on the computer.


Got the nasty job of shopping (on the day before Mother's Day, no less.  People were CRAZY) out of the way and headed over to Carriage Hill.  Limited myself to about 45 minutes (that's a REALLY short visit for me), and am thrilled with the shots I got.

Just one of the several barns on the property.  I liked how it was kind of hidden away.

I like how the fences are really just stacked pieces of wood (yes, shape is important!), but what caught my eye was the juxtaposition of the old construction method of the fence with the much more modern red fire hydrant.

I have no idea what this is, but it caught my eye, and was tough to get focused.

I hope these are wildflowers, not weeds.  Regardless, they were very cheery.

One of the houses on the property; the fence brings Tom Sawyer and whitewashing the fence to mind . . . 

I liked this little brown donkey . . . he was just grazing away, on his own, not bothering anyone.

The sheep were grazing along, but always clumped tightly together, usually at least 3 at a time in one small spot, often with one's head under another's neck.  Love the eyelash detail I got on the sheep on the right!

This is the ear of another donkey I saw . . . it just BEGGED me to take it's picture.  This was taken from BEHIND the donkey - he "swiveled" his ears that far.

The rest of the donkey then begged for it's turn.

One of the blacksmiths at work; with his left hand, he was turning a crank that increased the strength of the flame (forcing air to the coals).

Beautiful "wild" roses in several colors.  I'm a sucker for yellow roses.

Second favorite are the pink roses; the ones I could get decent shots of weren't open yet.  Sigh.

And, the ever popular red rose.  

Some of the farm equipment from back in the day.

No, this isn't a barn, it's a restroom facility.  Love how they "hid" the function with a building that fits with the rest of the buildings.


I found, after visiting this example of times past, that I appreciate the people who worked SO much harder than we think of working on our most physical days.  We can just hop into the car and run to the store to buy clothes; we don't have to shear the sheep, spin the wool, weave the cloth, or sew the material to put clothes on our back.  


I also appreciate the blessings we have of electricity, cars, computers, and washing machines!  It seems somehow kind of odd today to be posting photos of tools and methods no longer in day to day use, while listening to the TV, with the washer and dryer running in the background.  And those photos were taken with a computerized, digital camera, not even a film camera.  Talk about the juxtaposition of past and present!


And yet, one thing is constant in all of the changes everywhere throughout all of time - Jesus Christ.  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  Hebrews 13:8