I borrowed a neighbor’s ladder from the backyard yesterday and as I was coming back up the hill, I couldn’t help but notice the absolutely gorgeous transition. I retrieved my phone from the house and went back into the yard to snap a few photos.
Wanted to share.
Anyone that personally knows me understands what a blessing this is. My neighbors took it over and literally made miracles happen.
This morning, despite my slight hangover, I went for a long walk with Rebecca. I noticed the minute I turned onto her street that the trees were still fully covered in colorful leaves. I started taking photos of the variety as we hustled down Madison Ave toward Eden Park.
Was doing my best to appreciate them, knowing time is limited and soon it will be a bit harder to find natural beauty in the chilly, bare branched, grey skied winter months ahead.
Rebecca was noticing my admiration for the colorful trees and suggested we go to Presidential Grove. I had never heard of it. She said she discovered it about 4 years ago.
Nothing like catching up with friends from the past. I finally met up with Ann Newton who is from my hometown of Findlay, Ohio. We have been saying we will get together literally for years, but finally made it happen on a social distanced hiking trail! Covid has brought about some beautiful things!
Ann discovered this trail last week so we decided to meet there. It’s literally right across the Ohio River. Yet again, I am amazed at all the hiking trails near me that I never knew about before.
This cemetery is a must see in Cincinnati for its history and landscaping. It’s located near my old stomping grounds. I used to work right next door and would come over to meditate during my lunch breaks, literally just to find some peace to make it through the rest of my chaotic work days without killing someone.
I texted my friends Beth and Linda, knowing it was supposed to be a beautiful sunny day this Halloween, to see if they would be up for a walk. A cemetery on Halloween with friends and gorgeous fall foliage- what could be better?
I couldn’t narrow down the many photos I took during our walk. There were just so many, each one unique, so I apologize in advance for the long blog recording. But I do hope you enjoy seeing it, as much as I did while walking through it.
Just doing my best to get out in the world, seeking the beauty of nature around me. It’s all new when you look with fresh eyes. And maybe once it does get old, I shall move on to view other pastures that this great Mother Earth has to offer. Until then……thanks for reading along.
It was a gorgeous Sunday and I wanted to walk around my neighborhood in a different direction to check out what was up and coming. We walked along the same roads where I passed the new Pub-coffee shop, ‘The Fix’. When driving sometimes it’s tough to see all there is to see, so walking gave me a fresh perspective of the Walnut Hills area.
What stood out most to me was the new street art vs old churches. The art pictures I posted on my Instagram where I love to show all the street art I find wherever I adventure.
The churches have really been empty since Covid and many in my neighborhood have also been taken over for other businesses and/or taken down completely. I find it interesting that within just a 2 mile radius, the below were built to accommodate the past diversity of the communities. Dating back to the 1800s.
OUR FAITH TRADITION
Echo is an autonomous, non-denominational church, affiliated with the Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ. Our tribe can be traced back to the beginning of the United States, birthed out of the Second Great Awakening. Known as the Restoration Movement, ours was the first non-denomination movement in America, a call to faith based on biblical authority. While people prefer to impose certain labels on churches, we aim to be a simple church of Christians focused on living out the message of Jesus in our community.
I like their message I found on the website. Maybe I will check it out online one of these days.
The congregation was organized in 1849, and its first building was dedicated on November 3, 1850. The parish patron is Saint Francis de Sales. The cornerstone was laid June 30, 1878, by Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, in the presence of nearly 10,000 persons.
I had a lunch date Friday with Jeff, who used to work with me at my old job, SKL. I haven’t had much contact with my past coworkers since Covid is running rampant, but one by one, it’s nice to finally catch up!
I drove up to Loveland to check out his beautiful home there. It had views of the woods and was peacefully secluded. Yet right around the corner is the quaint Main street of Loveland.
We decided to eat at The Works, which is an old firehouse that has been charmingly transformed into a restaurant/pub.
Loved the vintage feel and cleverness of the place. Fried pickles were great! I missed those.
This weekend I needed to get out of the house. My daughter had planned a 21st birthday party for a good friend of hers and my being present would definitely kill their mojo. I asked my friend Rebecca if I could stay over at her lakehouse, hoping it was not in use during the fall months.
She agreed and we drove to Elk Lake together on Friday. This road trip extended an extra hour due to a detour, bad GPS and some dead end country roads. It was eye opening. Pigs, chickens, cows, horses, and trucks lining the hillsides. At times it was fun, like being caught on a movie set and then other times the movie “Deliverance” came to mind and made me want to change out my Ohio plates.
My iphone could not possible capture the depths of the fall landscape that surrounded us on this detour. I wondered if those that live there with the view in their own backyards actually appreciate it, or if their concern is just surviving the day to day rat race of farming and raising the kids.
That night we hunkered down with a bottle of wine and some munchies and caught up on each others weeks. We laughed our asses off and watched the lightning storm light up the lake. She left the next morning and I had the day to myself to reflect in silence.
As I was driving back from my friend’s lake house this Sunday afternoon, I was stopped in a small town by a train passing through. I haven’t been stopped by a train in literally years. Maybe I am not in the countryside enough and am spoiled by the luxuries of overpasses. It felt like I traveled back in time.
I put the car in park and started reaching for my phone to entertain myself but then I started seeing graffiti. I loved it. I was anxiously awaiting the ‘what’s next’ that would quickly pass me by. Appreciating the colors and voices desiring to be seen/heard. It wasn’t until an expressive fully covered train car passed, that I realized -I really should be documenting. It was something that brought me joy and wonder.
After all this is an artform taken over by urban creatives which represents a multi level subculture and freedom of youth. I found this quote which helped me to understand the art a little better. “When you get people painting in a calm legal space for the public, you end up with clean art – without any of the hardcore soul you get when you’re painting in the pitch black with an eye over your shoulder.”
I imagine the thrill of the illegal aspect of putting your tag on a train, along with the speed in which you need to complete the job is what makes the look of it so unique.
Grant it, none of these are exceptional, but I enjoyed seeing the different personalities of each style. The color choices. The use of black shadows and cartoon- like figures. I challenge you next time you are stopped by a train, to watch for graffiti and enjoy “benching” with me.
Are you sick of me yet? I will say I am getting a tad worn out, but cannot get enough of the landscape here this fall season! I’m getting out as much as possible before the depressing winter season hits. I know it will take more effort to see beauty in those grey times. (Speaking of winter, my niece taught me what it means to be called a snowflake ❄️ )
Today’s adventure took me an hour north of Cincinnati, into a farm community. This is where Zvezda first lived in Ohio, and she was excited about showing me the lake she had so many great memories of.
I am always amazed at the variety each trail I’ve been on offers. My uncle was making fun of me for hiking so much, saying it’s just a dirt path and sticks. But honestly every place I’ve been has always shown me something new that I find joy in. Cowan Lake was no different.
Zvezda really wanted to find this restaurant in a house that she explained was like a country museum. It was truly middle America at its finest. I think being from Bulgaria, she loves the culture shown here. It was a very quaint locally run place. For me it felt like my hometown.
We got there early enough where I didn’t feel Covid worry. But by the time we finished (5pm ish) the country crowds were coming in. Pick -up trucks complete with Trump and Confederate flags waving. I felt the need to get out as soon as possible.
Debbie and I set out this am to hike a new trail in the hometown we both grew up in, Findlay, Ohio. Neither of us had been to Riverbend before. Amazing how you can spend years in a city and not know what it really has to offer.
I’m so happy that I found the AllTrails app. It is getting me out in this world which I newly appreciate since living in Thailand.
When we arrived we noticed a disc golf tournament was going on. I later found out, while driving out of town, that my nephew Andy was participating. Just missed a visit! I would have loved to have seen him throw. He finally broke the 1000-rated mark and is a professional player. 🥏So cool, and such a shame I missed him.
After we finished our 3.5 mile hike. We decided to check out the Findlay Reservoir. I put in some leg exercise jogging up this staircase to take a look.
Tonya Takes Thailand 