Ohio Art

One thing that put Bryan, Ohio on the map is a famous toy that's been around for generations made by The Ohio Art Company. It was even in the "Toy Story" movies. Can you guess what it is? (No fair guessing if you live or are from Williams County!)

Big Indian

Okay, so I grew up in a small town. It has only two or three traffic lights a few small stores, banks, and such--but it's well known for the two-story tall Indian standing in the middle of town. I've met people who aren't very familiar with Indiana, but when I mention this guy they stick their hand in the air and say, "Oh, yeah! I know that place!" What I can't figure is where they got him. Did someone commission him to be made or did they just find an irresistable sale at a flea market one day? I'm thinkin' that this would make for a memorable ebay sale.

What's your hometown famous for?

Abandoned Barn

Found this quaint barn with an abandoned house while out and about a couple weeks ago.

Broken Doorway

I discovered this doorway last weekend while taking the kids to a park in a town nearby. Makes me think about passages I've had to go through in life.

Bzzzzzzzzz

There's yet another exotic flower in our back yard that I don't know the name of. Fragrant white flowers hang upside down clustered over a tall stalk. The bees sure love it.

Horsin' Around

One of the horses from our carriage ride (from the previous post). Never been on a carriage ride through the city before. Would have been quite romantic if there weren't nine of us piled in the carriage, plus the driver.

Club Soda

Snapped this while out on a horse and carriage ride in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Cool vintage sign.

Jurassic Bark

We drive by this tree a lot and it always looks to me like a dinosaur waiting to crush the next car that comes over the hill. Do you see it? I'm sure the guys from the electric company who trimmed the tree weren't intending to sculpt a piece of public art, but it certainly amuses me.

Crowder

Scored second row seats to the David Crowder band tonight (for free!) thanks to friends in high places. Great concert!

Day Dreamin'

Cameron and Zack looking off the foot bridge into the water at the park.

Turn Up the Heat

Gauge on the gas grill in our backyard.

Four White Boxes

No news is good news, I guess. Taken at Lakeside, Michigan.

Dew Drop

Dew on a leaf in our back yard. Someday when we have our own house and I have nothing else to do, I think I'll take up gardening and putter about in the yard. There's a lot gardening teaches about life: patience in waiting for change, the need to nurture people for them to grow, the frailty and temporary-ness of things, how we're all connected and need each other.

Hexagonal Barn

With this camera constantly with me, I've started thinking of myself as a tourist in my own hometown. It's funny how we don't appreciate the beautiful things around us just because we've become used to them--whether landmarks or the people we love. This hexagon barn is a familiar landmark just south of Bryan, Ohio on highway 15.

Cotton Candy

The kids got a thrill tonight when we surprised them by taking them to the Jubilee--our town's week-long carnival complete with rides and all the junk food. Even let them have COTTON CANDY, which earned us the status of Best Parents in the World for the evening. Sometimes it's worth it just to see the look of pure happiness on their faces. Oh, to be like a child, so full of wonder and delight.

Kisses for Sister

The moments that melt a parent's heart. They all actually love each other.

Lion's Head Fountain

Fountain at the Lakeside Park and Rose Garden. (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

Rose Garden Courtyard

Reflecting pool and courtyard of Lakeside Park and Rose Garden. (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

Here Comes the Bride

Found an outdoor wedding at Lakeside Park and Rose Garden in Fort Wayne, IN while taking photos this past weekend. The water and flowers made it picture perfect. Couldn't help but snap a few during the bride's processional.

Flower Collage

Found a great photo op in Fort Wayne, Indiana yesterday at Lakeside Park and Rose Garden. As much as I enjoy taking photos, even I get tired of looking at flower pictures pretty quickly--so I thought I'd get it over with and put them all in a collage. Enjoy!

Spinning Swing

My favorite maple tree recently received the addition of a kiddie swing. Of course, with boys it's not enough to just swing--I have to wind them up and spin them until they end up so dizzy and that they can't walk. Then they beg to do it again. (That's Zack taking his turn in the swing.)

Macro Lens Fun

Had a little science experiment with the boys the other day. Took the macro lenses from my camera--which are essentially just magnifying lenses--and showed them how to focus the sun's rays to burn holes in leaves and make ants scurry pretty fast. It was a fond pasttime of my childhood. I was a very bored child. (The image above is the shadow of my hand holding a macro lens. Note how it casts an upside down image of the tree with the sun peeking through the leaves.)

Batter Up!

Cameron (5) just started T-Ball this week, so we've been out in the yard practicing every night. Zack (3)--who always wants to do whatever his big brother is doing--has been begging to play too. Here he is ready to smack the ball right to the moon. The kid actually has some athletic ability--couldn't have come from my side of the family. I was absent the day they taught eye-hand coordination.

Gate

Picket fence and gate close by the lighthouse at Marblehead, Ohio. There's a lot of photos I just snap thinking that they won't turn out to be much--but then I'm surpised how much I like them later. This is one of those.

Blue Heron

I was out on the pier in Lakeside, Ohio thinking I could snap a few photos of boats and got something much better. As I was happily snapping away, a large heron swooped and landed fairly close to me. I stalked him slowly for about 10 minutes to get close enough for this shot. As soon as I turned my back, I missed him diving for a fish. For a landlubber like me, it was pretty cool.

Lighthouse Stairs

Marblehead Lighthouse (Marblehead, Ohio)

Lighthouse Top

Marblehead Lighthouse (Marblehead, Ohio)

Lighthouse Window

Window on the Marblehead Lighthouse built in 1821. It is the oldest Great Lakes lighthouse still in operation. (Marblehead, Ohio).