The annual New Years Eve ball in South Charleston, Ohio is a fantastically lovely way to start the year. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.
having a ball
Woollies
The cold has already begun. Last weekend, we had sleet. The sudden onset chill has me wishing that I had the hide of a sheep. This much I know: having wool on my head would be better than my big bald spot. Oh how I dream of having a bad hair day.
a portrait of John Dunn
Blue silo, purple sky
winter farms
The weather has been horrendous here in Ohio. This is the winter that just won’t quit. We’ve long been into record breaking cold and snow territories. Grey skies are the norm and those of us that suffer from the winter blues have been struggling.
Fotununately, this past Saturday was one of the rare clear days. The blue skies were gorgeous. The sun made the freezing temperatures feel bearable, if just for a single day.
I couldn’t resist the temptation to go for a nice long drive deep into the farm country. Mile after mile of snow covered fields were punctuated with the occasional barn or farm house. With every passing minute, I could feel my own grey mood lifting and by the end of the long drive, I felt recharged. I’m good for a few more weeks of winter.
schoolhouse rock
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| Schoolhouse on the Ohio back roads. |
This early one room schoolhouse was found one Saturday morning as I desperately searched for a break in the clouds. I really wanted to capture a farmscape. However, I’m very happy I found the school instead. We have a lot of these schools here in Ohio. Usually they’ve been converted into a small home, are being used as a storage building, or are just falling down. This is the first example that I have seen withe the belfry still in place. It might be crooked, but it’s still there.
No windows, it must have been dark and oppressive inside. Still, I am certain that many thousands of children received a solid, no frills, education while attending here.
Have a great Saturday.
dale chihuly
When it comes to non-photographic art, I generally find myself drawn to watercolors and, dutch masters, and the impressionists. I can name only a handful of current artists beyond the few that I am personally acquainted with. Dale Chihuly is among those few well known artists whose work is instantly recognizable to me.
His name comes so easily to mind because of the beautiful glass medium that he works within and the organic shapes that he creates. His peaces are easily recognizable.
Franklin Park Conservatory, located just east of downtown Columbus, Ohio has a large permanent collection of Chihuly glass sculptures that warrant a visit if you are ever in the area. Installed within the indoor gardens, the sculptures mingle with the gorgeous plants and flowers and can be visited year round without needing to worry about the weather. As an added bonus, many of the pieces are located within the tropical butterfly house.
Lovely art, beautiful flowers, and butterflies. How can you go wrong with a combination like that?
tim mcmurdo 