The Month of August

Okay, it is August 6th and I just realized I haven't posted anything this month yet, so here is my first one.
AUGUST - 8th Month Of The Year
August is a good month, summer is winding down and the cooler temperatures of fall will soon be upon us, but there is still some time for seasonal outdoor activities. Maybe camping, canoeing, cycling or horseback riding, a backyard barbecue or roasting marshmallows by a campfire. Or how about a hike in one of your favorite city parks. In Cleveland, OHIO we are blessed with a beautiful System of Metroparks also known as The Emerald Necklace for the way they drape around the greater Cleveland area in the shape of a necklace, each one a gem with many things to see and discover. Hiking Trail Locations They are my favorite places to go for a quick nature fix. If you haven't been to one lately, here is a reminder to do so! Of course you can go any time of the year!
I'm rediscovering how much fun it is to take a child to the park. I used to take my daughter when she was little, now I have the opportunity to take my grandson Bobby. He loves the park and all the creepy crawlers that you can find there. Here is a pic of him from our most recent trip earlier in the summer. He is hamming it up in front of the frog sculpture at The Rocky River Reservation Interpretive Center.

The Last Day of July!

Fireworks, fireflies, blueberry pies, a fresh fruit salad, barbecues, a cold brew, ice cream cones, lemonade, graduation parties, or Christmas in July, whatever images or memories the month of July conjures up, I hope you had a good one this year!
These fireworks are some of my memories!

Sunflowers

I can't believe that July is almost over. It seems like time is speeding up! Anyway, I'm pondering what kind of flowers are growing at this time of the year and thought about sunflowers. These have got to be some of the coolest flowers, they are so tall and seem to almost have a 'personality'. Well of course I have several of these in my archives. This is one that I liked a lot and have revisited and added some texture to it.

Art and Accounting....what's this?

Today's What The Duck Comic Strip.
Anyone who is an Artist will appreciate this one! If you aren't viewing this on the original post date go back to archives and look for #527 for July 24, 2008.
Art and Accounting are like Oil and Vinegar, they don't mix!
Besides, it is more fun creating art than crunching numbers.
Here is a shot I took at Lorain County Metroparks, Sandy Ridge Reservation, shortly before sunset. I got frustrated working on my bookkeeping, so I went out and took pictures instead...LOL! Yes, that is the moon rising. I seem to be lucky and capture a lot of moonrises. I have to make up for not getting any sunrises. What's a sunrise?.....another LOL!

Moonrise at Monument Valley, Arizona

There are some places on this planet that no matter how they are described by words or pictures, their true essence can not truly be known unless you experience them directly in person. Monument Valley is one of those places, especially at moonrise. With that being said, I am still going to try to find some words that will at least come close. Sublime, timeless, eternal, grand, magnificent, wow! You just have to be there and absorb it all. If you have an opportunity to visit, I would highly recommend along with several other places in the great state of Arizona, like The Grand Canyon and Sedona.

Buds and Bloom

Beautiful, pink, lovely, sublime! No matter what words you choose to describe it, a rose is a 'poem' of nature that speaks to the soul!

Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron is one of my favorite birds. They are so majestic and really neat to watch. This one was taken at Put in Bay while we were waiting for the boat to take us over to Gibralter Island. It was sitting on the dock and I was able to get within six feet of him. He wasn't afraid and sat there and posed for me. It was awesome because I've been waiting to get a picture like this for over 30 years. I got several good ones. It was hard to choose.