Spring is Coming!

We arrived in Florida in time to see these flowers in full bloom in the backyard.  Three days later there was a hard frost and they disappeared.  Thankfully I took the picture when I did.  I do love spring and am so looking forward to its arrival in Michigan.

Downtown Bike Week

Downtown Deland during bike week.  This looks much more organized.  It was fun looking at all of the cyclists.  Older and younger.  They all did their own thing...each one was unique. 

Chaos!!!!

Bike week.....downtown Deland....a lot to look at.  Lots of noise.

Down By the Sea

We thought we might as well enjoy some of the sun after moving Mom to her new home.  A long walk on the beach is a good way to relax the mind and soul. 

Under the Board Walk - Down by the Sea

Old Time RR Station

We found this mural on the side of a brick wall in a little country town this past weekend.  I thought the brick added a great texture to the mural.

R.F.D.

This guy is very patiently waiting for the mail to arrive.  He has a lot of courage.  The snow plow keeps knocking our mailbox off the post. 

Welcome to Michigan in the Winter

 Grey sky, cold wind, snow, mud, rain, that's Michigan for you.  Doesn't seem to be bothering this guy.

Chain Saw Art

Caught this buffalo along the side of the road in the middle of a snow storm.  What a wonderful peace of chain saw art.  I am glad there are so many talented people out there who will share their creations.  Thanks for stopping by.

Marble head Lighthouse Sky Watch

Marble Head Lighthouse on Lake Erie all decked out in Christmas colors.
For more SkyWatch photos click here.

Lake Erie on the Rocks

Cold, windy, and rainy on the shore of Lake Erie.  The rocks were slippery, so I let Greg take this photo.  I am still afraid of slipping and falling - but I did get a new pair of hiking boots for Christmas that have better traction in bad conditions.  Maybe I'll try them out next week.   

Happy New Year

I thought this would be a good image to start the new year.  We don't know what is ahead, but we'll forge onward anyway.  Here's wishing for a happy new year for everybody!  This is a railroad bridge over the Maumee River in central Ohio.

Someone Cares

I thought this photo would be a good way to end the year.  On Christmas Day we drive to downtown Detroit to help the Cass United Methodist Church give homeless families a special Christmas meal.  Afterwards we like to go exploring.  We came upon this wonderful mural on the side of an abandoned building.  I don't know it's history.  I only know that we had to stop and read the message.  It gave us pause to reflect. 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all.  Remember the reason for the season.  

Roadside Rest Stop

In the early 1920's little country stores like this one started appearing along the dusty dirt roads.  Cars were becoming available to more people.  Travel to distant locations became more common.  Back then it was a big event to travel on dirt roads for 20-30 miles to visit "distant relatives."   These little convenience stores were strategically located so that you could get gasoline and a refreshing soda pop along the way.  Although the gas pumps have disappeared from this abandoned building, there were stacks of old egg cartons on the shelf.  This particular store was a place of social networking for the local inhabitants probably up into the 1970s.