Taking advantage of a cold but sunny Sunday afternoon, we made a quick trip to the shore of Lake Erie. The shoreline was piled with snow-covered ice, in wave-shaped mounds parallel to the coast. Ice that formed on a guard rail made glistening caramel-colored curtains, even walls, joining the steel tubes of the framework to each other and to the ground. And a stream flowed beneath a bright, snowy ice layer, visible sometimes, down a rocky fall and, under cover ice once again, to the lake. Nice to see the lake again.
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We paid a mid-winter visit to Lorain Metro Parks’ wonderful Sandy Ridge Reservation on Saturday, February 6. Usually, when we visit the wetland area, we are treated to an abundance of waterfowl and other birds. Indeed, we saw plenty of Canada Geese, Mallard Ducks, and even a rather clumsy Red Tail Hawk (more on this one soon).
The only resident mammals we generally see at Sandy Ridge are Gray Squirrels and assorted Chipmunks, though we certainly have seen some signs of Beaver activity! This day was different. We stopped on the path out of courtesy to a fellow photographer who was staring at the grass at the edge of the path. We watched to see what he was looking for and suddenly there was a stirring in the brush.
Out popped a long, dark brown, very wet critter who quickly loped on to and across the sandy path, then into the grass on the opposite side! It was carrying something … a fish! And that was it. Gathering some groceries was a Mink, I think!
Driving back from a car service appointment, I paused for a while to enjoy the quiet beauty of the Cleveland Metroparks’ Hinckley Reservation. The only camera I had with me was in my little iPhone 5s but I got a couple of nice shots out of it; this is my favorite.
February started off cloudy and gray, as many days have been of late. During an errand to Medina, Ohio some blue sky and sunshine appeared through gaps in the rolling clouds; we headed to the Medina Woods Park and its Chippewa Inlet Trailhead. Strolling along the trail encircling a major wetland restoration area. Weather has been cold enough to maintain a thin layer of ice on areas of open water. Geese, ducks, and a pair of Trumpeter Swans stood on the ice, eyeing us warily.
Patches of sunlight shifted across the scenery, now and then illuminating an ancient barn on the property and bringing out colors in pond ice.
As we headed back to the parking lot, gaps in the cloud cover closed and overcast saw us off. Changeable skies, indeed.
Spending a cold and cloudy Saturday trying to declutter, I came across a couple of antique photographs I’d nearly forgotten about. Lost in stacks of documents, the two pictures represent points of history, my family’s history (apparently), in Ohio and in Arkansas! On the back of the mounted “Mother Guilford” photo is the handwritten inscription: “this is Mother Guilford’s bro. John + wife at their home in War Eagle. Ark. Benton Co.” I didn’t know I had relatives in Arkansas but it looks like quite a family in this picture, filling the front porch!
The second image, labeled “Big Locust Farm” was taken April 15, 1903, according to a handwritten note. The printed label reads, “Big Locust Farm, Capt. J.J. Waffle, R.F.D., No. 3 / Delta, O. / Phone — Via Wauseon 5 rings on Winameg line.” I don’t know if Capt. Waffle was any relation to me nor do I know if he was the subject of the photo (with two other folks) or the photographer! Capt. Waffle would be a good name for a kids’ sweetened breakfast food.
So far these are the most valuable artifacts I’ve uncovered in my efforts this day. Mostly, I uncovered dust.
Now available: my Sights Seen: 2016 wall calendars featuring some of my best photographs from the past year. The calendars measure 11″ X 17″ open, and are printed on thick, coated stock for best reproduction. Copies are available at $10 plus postage.
I don’t have an effective e-commerce presence for this item so can accept checks and money orders only, no credit cards. Email me via the “comment” form to be found on this page for purchase particulars (total cost including postage): guilfordpix.com/about/
My photo was selected as a Finalist in the Annual Spring Photography Contest staged by Photographer’s Forum Magazine. In the great scheme of things, it’s really not that big a deal: out of about 10,000 entries (if I remember correctly) my photograph was chosen as one of 1,500 finalists. My entry didn’t get beyond that level in the judging process but will get published in the magazine’s Best of Photography 2015 book and today I received a nifty certificate proclaiming my achievement. If they’re publishing 1,000 pictures in their book, I expect mine will be pretty small, so it’s unlikely I’ll purchase a copy but they are making tear sheets available and I’ll be ordering a couple copies. I rarely enter contests so to have gotten this far, well, I’m pretty pleased. Here’s my entry (below) “Under the Shelf”, which looks far better on a big screen!
















