Our Quick Trip to Clifton Mill's "Legendary Light Display"

Here's hoping you all had a pleasant Thanksgiving weekend.  Aside from the gloomy Ohio weather all but one day, we had a good time seeing lots of family and eating too much.  I started to decorate the henhouse, but that's as far as I've gotten.  As long as I can enjoy lights somewhere, I don't feel as inclined to put mine up LOL!   So...

Friday evening Mark, Audra, Taylor and I drove about an hour away to Young's Dairy Farm for dinner.  It's a good home-cookin' type restaurant and usually very busy.  As you might guess, they have great ice cream.  We split a buckeye sundae and it was delicious.  They bring out apple sauce, cole slaw and apple bread with every meal.  We cracked up because we were nearly the only ones in the parking lot that didn't have a tree strapped to the roof of the car.  If you are ever near Springfield, OH, or in the Dayton area,  I recommend you try it out.  Their website for more info is:  youngsdairy.com. 

Less than 10 minutes from Young's is the Clifton Mill, a 19th century gristmill.  Between Thanksgiving and New Year's they host a huge light display.  I read about it in "Midwest Living" magazine, so suggested we go there.  It isn't very big, but cute, especially for little folks.  Mark took some photos for you from his new phone...

They declare there are more than 3.6 million lights on display.  There is an hourly light show at the covered bridge, sychronized to Trans-Siberian Orchestra music.  Santa Claus works in his toy shop, but comes up the chimney to say "Hi" every few minutes.  An enormous miniature train track winds through several themed areas.  Next to that, the Ohio State Marching Band does "Script Ohio" in tiny figures in a little stadium.  They claim to have the nation's largest collection of Santa stuff.  Frankly, we thought some of that display was kinda creepy, sort of "Chuckie" Claus looking!  There was quite a line for it.

Here we are in front of the mill:

In case you haven't seen us...L to R Audra (19), me (very young), Taylor (16) and Mark (slightly younger than me)

Here comes Santa Claus!

There is permanent restaurant, gift shop and bakery on site, but we didn't eat anything after just pigging out at Young's.  They must do something right as the place was packed at $10 a head (if you were older than age six.)  Definately something to do once.  For more info: cliftonmill.com or 937-767-5501.

View from the other side...

See you next time!  I am planning to post a humor story (just in case you are missing them...)

Gale

The Bees Go Marching One By One...

Thought you might want to check out some un-bee-livable photos of swarming hives following their queen into a box (Mark finds the queen and puts her there.)  I have to say that this year, they "bee-haved" themselves very nicely and it was nearly an uneventful summer.   These photos are compliments of Mark:

This is how we find them...

Now, they're trooping down the tree...

"Hive Sweet Hive"

Hope to catch up with you again next week!
Until then,
Gale

Happy Thanksgiving! Thank You for Joining Me!

Wishing Everyone A Safe, Happy and Memorable Holiday!

Here at "The Creek" we will celebrate Thanksgiving twice.  Then I never want to see a turkey for another year!  I buy, lug home, peel and boil the potatoes for mashing every holiday dinner.  Mark adds the milk, butter and salt.  Everyone just raves about "Mark's Mashed Potatoes!"  

We are going to my mom's in Zanesville, OH on Thursday.  (Taking along "Mark's potatoes," yams with apricots and "homemade" cranberry sauce.)  I laugh about the cranberry sauce because my childhood memory of it is a canned gel, that was dumped from the can onto a plate and sliced where the can indentations were.  People love "my" version now.  All I do is whatever it says on the cranberry bag.  It's so easy it's silly to buy cranberry sauce.

This came off an email.  Looks like they wouldn't be too hard, so might try.  It says mycakeschool.com at the bottom for directions.

Saturday, we are having Mark's family for dinner (around 16 people.)  Fortunately, I don't have to make all the side dishes.  I think the turkey is the easy part.  It didn't use to be that way--I did battle with my first one and folks roared when at the table, out comes the paper bag of giblets LOL!  I use those oven bags for no mess and the bird stays juicy.  

I don't have many "separate" memories of Thanksgiving.  We pretty much do the same things and I think some folks take comfort in that.  We would watch the parades and wait for Grandma and Grandpa to come or go to their place.  Then stuff ourselves and take a nap.  Some things never change.

I tend to remember what's funny and here are two stories that stand out:

For some reason my sister-in-law had a Kung Fu Fighting Hamster sitting out.  It had nunchuks that it swung around while singing "Kung Fu Fighting."  Audra couldn't hear it because of all the chatter in the room, so she put it up to her ear.  The next thing we know, she has the hamster and nunchuks all twisted in her hair!  ROFLOL!!!  For a minute, I thought we were going to have to cut it out!

The second one just happened last year.  We try to still all fit around one table when dinner is at our house.  Mark's brother was trying to settle my niece and nephew before the prayer.  All was silent and the prayer was starting when Josh blurted out, "Dad, I can't sit next to her because she picks her nose!"  

The most important thing we all must remember this Thanksgiving is to be thankful for our family, friends, health of loved ones and all we've been blessed with.  We should try to keep that "attitude of gratitude" all year long.  Thank you so much for your friendship and support!

Warmest regards,

Gale

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

I'm no Oprah, that's for sure.  Generally, I refuse to even discuss Christmas until after Thanksgiving is given its due.  But, since many of you are working on gift lists and will scurry to the stores "Black Friday" (not me, it will be "Nap Friday" here) I thought I would share some of my favorite finds.  Unfortunately, I'm not a paid spokesperson for anything...

Disclaimer:  Christmas isn't about the gifts.  I don't want you to think I'm materialistic (except in the fabric sense LOL.)  I try to make gifts when I can and I really cherish a quality handmade item.  I also try to get things from small businesses or charities.  My church sells great coffee from all over the world to support its mission ministry at discoverchristianchurch.org


My favorite things run in all "price points," so I am going to categorize by product type.  Thoughtful gifts don't have to cost a lot.   At the end, I will list some of my favorite stores and tell you why.  

"Girlie Stuff"


MAKE-UP:  

Lipstick:  "O" by Mac Cosmetics, $18ish.  This color is designed to look good on everyone.  Looks great day or night.  I have 20 or so lipsticks sitting in a drawer, but I nearly always turn to this one.  At Sephora and better dept. stores.

Blush:  NARS "Orgasm" and "Super Orgasm" powder,  $20ish.  "Super" is fairly recent and is the same color, but with added sparkle.  Just like above, it was designed for every skin color.  It's all I wear. At Sephora and better dept. stores.

Cover-Stick:  Yves St. Laurent "Touch e'clat" (several color choices),  Really pricey at $34, but I have tried dozens and keep coming back.  Really cool goldtone applicator too!  At Sephora and Saks.

Mascara:  Aquacils Black by Lancome, $24ish.  I have to have waterproof and this comes as close as any to staying on all day without smearing.  At Sephora and better dept. stores.

Eye Pencil:  Mac "Khaki" (a green/gold combo) they have other colors, some pretty wild.  $11.  I like it because it goes on smooth and doesn't break.  You have to have a sharpener $2.


Shampoo/Conditioner:  I have Fekkai, but find Pantene 2-in-1 for $3ish works great!  Several varieties, available everywhere and there are always coupons.

"Foodie Stuff"


No health food here, unless you count the nuts in some things...

Most of these are local companies, but have internet stores.

Candy:  I used to think Godiva was my favorite, though I can eat a Hershey's bar just the same.  Only a few minutes from here is Marie's Candies in West Liberty, OH.  I love the dark chocolate peppermint chews, but my kids go for the giant pretzels with carmel, dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with toffee.  I also like See's Candies and used to get it a lot when I lived in Los Angeles,  I saw it here in a mall the other day.  ''

Baked Goods:  I would be remiss if I didn't mention Just Pies in Columbus, OH.  They are the heaviest pies I've ever picked up.  A huge list of seasonal choices.  I believe this one was on Oprah's list.  I can't keep out of Cheryl's Cookies' chocolate peppermint cookies (do you see a pattern here?)  I love the citrus also.  Sugar Daddy's Sumptuous Sweeties has OMG brownies.  I never used to eat blonde brownies, but their "Nutty Blonde" is amazing!  Sweet and salty.

Not so much for taste, but for lovely designs, I like Eleni's Bakery in NYC.  Of course, Magnolia Cupcakes there is a perennial favorite and the line is always long.  I have the recipe somewhere, but you can google it for a pretty good at home copy.  They are moist and fabulous!


"Gadget-ie Stuff"


I'm really not a electronically-inclined person.  I still write things down in a pocket calendar.  But, I am trying to get more tech savvy.  I hate my cell phone with internet, can't see the darn screen and it's a waste of money.  Somehow I think I would love an iPad2, since our 5+ year old iMac is still really cool.

Nook E-Reader:  I bought a factory-refurbished black & white one from Barnes & Noble last Spring for around $100, but the prices have fallen.  I think you can get a new color one now for just a little more.  They hold thousands of books, you can buy the books for a little less than paper copies (online and instantly download), you can borrow books from friends or public libraries and they have wi-fi for internet access (not the best for surfing though!)  I got the Nook because at the time Amazon's Kindle didn't work with libraries or anything not Kindle.

The black & white versions of these are glare-less because they look like paper and aren't heavily backlit.  The color versions are just like reading a computer screen.  Both let you change the type size so you don't have to wear glasses!  The battery lasts a long time.

"Clothes Stuff"

UGGs:  These are shoes and boots mostly lined in sheepskin.  They keep your feet warm without sweating all day.  I have had a pair of black boots several years (worn daily all Winter) and have only replaced the insoles for $11 on Zappos.com.  They are available in better stores in many different styles at different price points.  Mine were $165 and worth every cent.

180 Below Ear Warmers:  Ear muffs that really work!  You wear the strap behind your head so you don't look as dorky.  A must for me when I have car or playground duty at the elementary schools!  Under $20.

Harley Davidson Leather Goods:  The gloves and jackets keep you really warm.  The jacket is pretty heavy though.

Spanx:  For when you have to suck it up!  Not recommended for a gift unless you want slapped boys!  Most of the pieces work well, but I especially love the hose and knee-hi socks that don't cut off your circulation.

Everyone should carry a Tide-To-Go!

"Jewelry Stuff"

I don't wear a lot of jewelry because I am too lazy to take it on and off all the time.  I have my pearls, a couple really good watches, a few regular watches (gotta know what time it is at school!), my wedding/engagement rings and my cocktail ring.  Used to wear a pair of gold hoops to death, but I lost one.  Since I love the idea of "real" (but can't afford big honking diamond stud earrings) I am planning to get some white emerald ones.  They are certainly real and not nearly as expensive!  A good friend of mine (and fellow blogger) Sue Miller makes lovely silver, glass and crystal jewelry at  Sunny Hawk Lane.  Another good friend, actually Sue and I's mutual friend Sheree makes all kinds of neat art and gifts.  I don't think she has a site, but google Sheree Green and see what you get.  LMK if you need more info on either of the gals.

"Stores I Like"

If you have a Von Maur's nearby, please go check it out.  It is above a Macy's and just below at Saks or Nordstroms.  They also have an online store of course.  Aside from the very helpful staff, the live piano music and free gift wrap... they offer free shipping and their credit card is INTEREST FREE!  They have good sales at the end of seasons (but never have I seen coupons.)  This family-owned store is always neat and not like some where it looks like a bomb when off in the clearance aisle.  There is a gift section and gourmet food area.  They carry lots of high end shoes and handbags.


I do go to Macy's a lot because I have a card there and the savings passes are very useful.  I try to never pay full price there.

Trader Joe's is a grocery store with loads of cool things.  They are less expensive than Whole Foods, but not quite the selection.  Really good for ethnic items.

I love browsing local quilt and yarn shops.  The big box stores don't carry the better and/or natural products or the high quality fabrics/yarns.  Though Jo-Ann's has started carrying a little wool yarn, generally big box stores do acrylics, etc.  You also get great personal attention and instruction.  Good luck with that at the big stores (or even finding a clerk!)  I do use Michaels and JoAnn coupons on stuff that is available everywhere, like most of the Martha Stewart Craft line.
Well, I hope this helps jump start your gift list ideas!  I would LOVE to hear yours!  Please post as a comment and the bottom so everyone can enjoy your favorites!

Until next time!

Gale

So goes the "Days of Our Hives"...

I can honestly say we have thousands of pets.  Even hundreds of thousands.  You've read about some of our "normal" pets (dogs, chickens), but we also have an ancient Amazon parrot, a pair of lovebirds and last, but certainly not least... in fact most, are honey bees.

My hubby Mark has always been fascinated by bees.   He has friends who were professional beekeepers and many years ago, they asked Mark to design and manufacture "queen bee artificial inseminators"  at our machine shop.  It looks a little like a microscope, but with a tiny needle.  Frankly, it looks painful to me!  It worked great, but there isn't a huge market for such things.  This was for someone who needed specific bees bred instead of letting the queen run amock.

Mark letting loose some newbies (ummm... new bees!) a few years ago.  He wanted Taylor to be his assistant, but that didn't last.  Note Mark isn't wearing the bonnet or gloves.  He really isn't afraid of them, even though he has been stung many times.

Several years ago Mark decided to plant an orchard on our 5ish acres.  The trees that survived (at least awhile, they tend to be annuals at our place) weren't producing fruit.   He "needed" bees.  (Since then, the bees have done a good job pollinating, but most of the trees have problems or we get a late frost, so still not much fruit.)   Soon we had 15ish towers in our yard, with several more parked on friends' properties.  He started breeding queens and "nucs" (starter hives) selling some, which was great.  I read somewhere a by-product of beekeeping is honey.  I guess we have 1,500 pounds of it, but I've never seen it as he keeps giving it back to them.  No matter, I don't even like honey.  I would like beeswax to make candles and things, but Mark doesn't want to wear the poor little critters out making comb.  (I at least get eggs everyday from my girls, so there!  Who has the most practical pets???)

"Nuc" hives 

Living with bees has taken some getting used to.  We have had several run-ins with them and we always lose.  Taylor wasn't even mowing near a hive and got stung on the forehead between his eyes.  He looked like an Avatar or something from "Star Wars."  Mark finally did away the queen of the hive that "guarded" the entrance to the workshop.  I got stung walking in or out and I was going ballistic.    (The queen sets the tone of the hive, so you kill it and replace it with one that has a better personality.  This also goes for a lazy hive.)

Here are some critters hanging out "on their porch" on a hot summer day.

Most of what I knew about bees came from the "Bee Movie."  Here are the "TOP TEN" things I have learned since then (often the hard way!)


1.  DON'T DRINK AND HIVE.  A couple women stopped by to ask Mark some bee questions.  Apparently they'd had a beer or two.  I looked out the window and saw them dancing in the driveway with Mark trying to shoo the bees away.  LOL!  Only funny, cuz I wasn't out there.  Apparently, the smell of beer (basically fermented bee food) makes them crazy!  Though tempting, you never want to run or slap wildly at them as that just makes them madder.

2.  IT AIN'T EASY BEING QUEEN.  Sure, you get fed the royal jelly, but all you do is lay eggs all day long, then a young'un comes along and kills you or runs you out of Dodge.  Your lifespan at best is two years, mostly shorter.

3.  MALES ARE DISPOSABLE. (I am so tempted to comment further but...)  If a hive runs low on food, the drones are shoved outside and left to die.  Anyone who breeds the queen also dies.  Speaking of dying, any honey bee will try to avoid stinging you because it rips open their abdomen and kills them.     I try to warn them of that when I go by.

4. BEES AREN'T PORTABLE.  If you move their hive more than a foot, you have to move it 5 miles.  This is really a pain as I want some of the hives moved and they would have to be taken off the property, then brought back in a few weeks.  Obviously, that ain't happening.

5. GET USED TO WEEDS ON YOUR LAWN.  My normally well kept lawn has clover and millions of dandelions in the spring (my neighbor's yard as none... he must hate it when I mow and seed his golf course yard!)  I have to wait until I can't stand it to mow and I can't mow until after 5 p.m. (these are union bees and always return to the hive between 5-5:30 like clockwork.)  Otherwise, I would chop up a bunch of Mark's pets.  I have actually stopped when I see a bee and waited for it to leave.  That gets old though and I figured he won't miss one or two...

6. DON'T FEED THE BEES ANYTHING BUT THE BEST.  When starting up a hive, you have to feed it what I call "Bee Soup."  It's just boiled sugar water (a weak simple syrup), but you have to use Domino's or another high end kind because there is a difference.   Quality sugar is better for you and the bees because it's made of "pure cane."  If that isn't on the label front and center, you are actually getting sugar made from beets.  It is worth the few extra cents to get the real stuff.  Unfortunately, Mark was filling our car with 5 pound bags every week.  High fructose corn syrup is horrible for bees also (and us as well.)

7. BEES CAN HAVE "VIBRATION ANXIETY."  Who cares you ask?  Anyone that mows!  I once mowed next to a hive of "bad hombres" who also had this problem  and they came at me with a vengeance.  I have a huge mower to turn around and in my hurry to get away I wound up bumping the hive and really ticked them off.  I jumped off the mower and started undressing as I ran to the house to get help.  They went up my shorts, in my shirt and got "trapped" in my hair.  I lost count at 50 stings.  My hands were swollen like paws.  I was miserable for a week and wanted to murder all of them.  This of course happened when Mark was working out of town, as is my luck.  The first words out of his mouth were, "What did you do?"  I came unglued.

8. THEY BEE-LONG OUTSIDE!  Mark matter of factly informed me that he had just picked up new queens (who come with ladies in waiting), but it was too cold to put them in the hives that day.  He had opened the box for air and sat it on the counter of the half bath with instructions to stay out, or grab what you need with the light off.  My son with selective hearing didn't get the memo.  He goes in turns the light on and when he leaves (as usual) left the light on.  At least he shut the door.  The next thing I know, I open the door and there are bees everywhere, crapping everywhere.  The walls, sink, floor, a mess.  I shut the door (and the light off) because I sure wasn't catching them.  They eventually went back into the box because it was dark.  Why do Mark's "pets" often become my "pests?"

9. BEE-WARE OF "CLEANSING FLIGHTS."  In Ohio, our Winters can be long, but often there will be a "nice" day or two here and there.  Bees don't poop in their hives, so after a few weeks (OMG) they can't hold it anymore.  During these "nice" days, you will see bees everywhere.  Mark will sometimes open a hive to see how it's doing on those days.  He always remembers to wear a hat because he will get pelted with poo!  Another Winter note is they keep warm by flapping their wings.  When the bees nearest the hive opening get cold, they move into the middle and the others rotate outward.  In summer, they sit at the door and flap air into the hive to cool it.

10.  WHEN YOU SEE A SWARM,  DON'T CALL ME!  If things have gone well, hives will divide and swarm to avoid overcrowding.  The workers surround the queen and will often take to a tree.  When this happens, I usually call the out-of-town Mark.  He tells me to go get a box and shake them in, that they will be nice.  Well, I put the box out, but I don't do any shaking.  He has photos of them marching into boxes like soldiers once the queen is in.  I don't hang around to watch.

Just found some photos of the queen bee inseminator in case you were curious...

Well now I've made public my "secret life with bees!"    I hope you laughed and learned a thing or two!

Until next time,
Gale

The Top Five Reasons I Don't Get Anything Done

I don't know about you guys, but I have trouble getting to all of my "projects," craft or otherwise.  I figured out why yesterday and wanted to share with you.  I unsuccessfully tried to start a poll.  Big learning curve for me on blogging technology!

Do you agree or disagree?  Why?  LMK!
Thanks! 

Have a great day!

Gale

Just a Note about Technical Issues on Blogger

A few folks have reported they can't post a comment or follow my blog and are getting different error messages.  Let me know if you are having this problem as I have requested technical help from the site owner.  The usual error message says "you haven't signed in."  Well, you shouldn't have to sign in anything or have a google account.  Folks that have blogs don't seem to have a problem leaving comments on mine though.

It makes me sad to think of comments and advice I've been missing:(

I plan to have another humor post by the end of the week about our pet bees.  Trust me, it is an adventure and one I would have passed on... but you know Mark is always in to something!

Talk soon and take care,
Gale

Gale's Gallery: Art Anyone Can Create

I can't paint, draw, sew or throw a pot on a wheel.  I have zero understanding of most museum art (just like I hate figuring out the meaning of different types of poetry.)  I supposed that makes me a bit "simple."  Oh well, simple doesn't actually mean dumb, just uncomplicated!  Why clutter my mind with all that useless information????  However, I do like making things and always have.  My very first "project" was likely one of those "loomed" pot holders or a very simple embroidered piece.  I remember "painting" a candy tray (that resembled an ash tray) with a holly on it during a Brownie meeting.  I learned to crochet in 3rd grade, but it took me until 2007 to learn to knit.  It just looked too complicated!

So, I plan to periodically share what I think are interesting techniques, new tools (we all know I'm a bit of a supply hoarder) and books, as well as photos of any kind of thing one can make by hand.  I promise you if I can make it, so can you!

I will mention places that have the cool supplies reasonably priced when I can.  Often it will not be a craft store:)  For my current project I actually had to walk into a tatoo parlor a couple days ago.  I was mortified someone would see me and I parked my Jeep behind the store LOL.  I really needed tiny o-rings.  Of course, they had no clue.  

I love variety and I hate mass producing, so I rotate between mediums (the craft kind, not ethereal!) so I don't get bored.  You won't be interested in every post, but follow because you will surely like something.  It helps to study projects that you don't plan to do because often there is a technique or a tool that will apply to something you do like...

Mostly I will show projects I've done myself, but I plan to ask some experts to "guest blog" when I see something cool that they do.

So follow me to the craft room... in my case the "craft pit" in our basement.  

I would like to start with something that uses scrap fabric, is portable and only requires one tool, some cotton string and the same canvas some of us hooked rugs on as kids.  It's called "Locker Rug Hooking."  There are several books and if you google it you will find complete instructions.  (I modified them of course.  I decided not to sew my strips together, but instead knot them by splicing them and looping one through the hole.  That works better when you aren't sure which color you will use next.)  

I always make my own patterns.  Just find something you like that isn't full of "round" objects and draw it on the canvas.  Beware that these projects use quite a bit of fabric if you have to buy it.  A 1/4 yard will get you maybe 8 square inches.  I like to use vat dyed fabric because the front and back are the same color and if it gets twisted it isn't a big deal.

Although the technique is simple, just pulling up fabric from the back and hooking it with the string to secure, I usually spend several weeks to a couple months working on one project.  A large project is kind of difficult to manage as I like to hold it by the edge to steady it.

My Locker Rug Projects:

"Country Church"

This is actually not a church, but my neighbor Kim's house.  It's a view from my bedroom window, embellished a bit.   I added a wheat field with golden fur yarn for texture.  The stained glass window has several Swarovski crystals.  There is a button for the door handle.  If you look closely (and this photo doesn't do it justice) I change greens for the grass and evergreens as well as the direction I hooked for vertical movement.  The fabric for the roof is a gradient gray to black.  It took about $80 in fabric for this one, so you might want to start smaller.  The size is roughly 3 ft X 2 ft.

"My Monet Impression"

This was my first project.  This is a path (with buttons for rocks) winding through a field of flowers and going into the woods.  I added more fiber to make the trees have texture and crystals in the the pond for reflection (you can maybe see one next to the yellow water lily on the right edge.  The idea was to learn to combine light and shadow for added realism.  Not sure I hit it right there though.  Size is about 18" x 36."

"Patrick"

This was my 2nd project and a Christmas gift for my friend Barb.  We co-bred Patrick and he became a Champion Yorkshire Terrier.  Again, I used horizontal looping for the background and vertical to show how the coat would hang.  I used buttons for his eyes and an authentic show bow.    Since a yorkie is a shaded color breed, I mixed several fabrics to try to show this.  Notice I border all of my projects in black.  You don't have to do that, it's just my thing!  Size is about 3' x 2.'

"Wild Flowers!"

This was my last project.  I used sky fabric (and lots of it) which saved a lot of time.  The table is looped horizontally and the pattern of the fabric looked better to me done vertically.  There are several shapes and sizes of yo-yos all adorned with different button centers.  The fabric for the vase was nasty and shredded easily.  You can't see it, but about half of the flowers are wired and pop out of the wall hanging.    I hand-dyed a doily just for fun.  

I hope you enjoyed this mini art lesson!  I plan to do one once a month until I run out of ideas!

Take care!

Gale

"Scenes From My 'Hood" 2

I thought I would give you a pictorial update of things here at the Creek:  Fall fell flat here in Ohio and I feel kinda cheated.  But I still have some cute shots.  Did you have a good Halloween?  I enjoyed giving out some tricks with my treats LOL!  Several folks got a decorative container of "Payday Mix" (candy corn and peanuts) with a lovely plastic roach hidden in it.  I'm not looking forward to the paybacks...

Here is Taylor with Ivy.  Taylor just turned 16 and Ivy will be 16 in a couple weeks.  Taylor carved the pumpkins using clay tools.  We learned about that on the Martha Stewart show a couple weeks ago.

My little pumpkins, Truly and Carrie

All Grown Up:  Scenes from the Coop

Gloria the Cuckoo Maran (lays chocolate brown eggs!)

Sylvia (Silver-Laced Polish) and Martha (Black and White Polish)

Two views from my front porch of an odd sky a couple minutes apart...

Here is the 9th bridge on the Covered Bridge Tour that goes all around my neighborhood.  This is the only non-covered bridge in Ohio on the Historic Bridges Register.  Built in 1914 it has all its original parts according to the flyer:

Here's a bigger version of the Darby Creek bridge I use for my blog photo...

Well that does it for today's tour.  Hope you enjoyed it.  Go out and get some fresh air before we start to freeze...I am so dreading Winter weather!

Take care,

Gale