Driverless carriage

 "How do those horseys know what to do?"

I rode 32 miles on this section of the Ohio to Erie 

Rail-Trail, but I had to drive 24 miles to get onto it.

It is just a continuation of the 45 miles of trail that I

have easy access to, however there is an eight mile break

in the Rail-Trail that is very hilly and curvey highway.  I am

not about to ride on it, so I had to drive to get on to 

this part.  

It is the longest section of shared horse and buggy trail.

The Amish do not ever want their pictures taken, and

I respect their wishes. So I took the photo after it went

past me.  However, I should have taken it from the front.

The Amish have a long ride from one end of the trail

to get to the town with a Walmart. So they start out

early and then take a nap. Yes, the driver was sound

asleep at the reins. 

I'm not sure how it works out, if the person wakes up 

when the horse stops or if the horse stops only if the person

wakes up.  No matter which, there are road intersections

that must be crossed.

This is a train depot in the town with the Walmart. It is probably a little city

the size of mine. And under the new roof and siding, this is the original

depot built in 1853..

I still find it remarkable that I ride on the same rail that my father-in-law

road as a brakeman and conductor from late 1940's until 1980.

"Ya know, Lynn, your stories put me to sleep

faster'n a buggy ride."

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It is much appreciated.

Now you see me, now you don't

 "I'm looking out at you Lynn. But I'll soon disappear."

She's looking out thru the patio door as I am watering

the patio flowers and filling the bird baths. 

Precious is a good supervisor. As all supervisors,

she gives the orders and over sees the work but does 

not lift a paw to help. So why do supervisors get paid more?

By the time I get away from the door, it can be difficult

for me to even see if she is still there.  If it were not for

her eyes on this particular day, she'd be literally "out of sight".

From Precious' viewing point, this Red Shoulder Hawk is taking a bath

in the small herd animal water trough. These hawks live here year

round and are our 2nd largest.  The Red Tail Hawk is the largest.

I keep this larger watering spot out for the hawk and the deer.

However, the plastic dishes I use for song birds are hit hard during

hot weather by the deer.  I find them licked dry and used for frisbees

when they get frustrated.

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It is appreciated.

Handy work

 "So, is this angel baby as sweet as me, Lynn? After all

aren't I your sweetie-pie honey-bunch snookems?"

That you definitely are, Precious.

However this angel baby was just one of the projects

I brought home this Spring from the volunteer sewing store.

I took a close up picture of the price tag of what I paid, $1.50.

But I wanted to show that when this complete kit was put on the

shelf somewhere, around 1992 according to the fine print on

the package, it was priced at $6.00.

 I can honestly say in 1992, I would never have spent $6 on this

fun but simple kit.  Back then my hourly wage might have been

as much as $6 an hour before tax.  And basically I am a 

penny pincher in every aspect.

I had her finished before the "great visit" took place. 

Now to go through my stash and decide the next project.

"How about just time for me only, Lynn. You know I want 

my hair brushed."

You're next, Precious, after I show off one of our 

freshly hatched Black Swallowtail butterflies.  So called

for the tails on the lower wings.  We have 1/2 dozen different

species in Ohio, and most are predominantly black, but

one is more yellow, and one is more white.

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It is appreciated.

Always with the new bag

 "Look what came home! A crinkly bag! I love it, Lynn."

Precious loves a new large and crisp sounding plastic bag.

Why else go shopping?  I certainly wouldn't want to shop

for myself if I couldn't get the bag. And why did I waste

the money on a pretty velveteen crinkle bag from the pet

store a year ago?  Precious never even investigated it. But

this thing, we play frog on it in the evening.

 And now  while I drink my tea trying

to look out into the yard for wildlife, Precious loves to lay

on the bag. I have a laser beam to use to get her playing, 

but honestly, she prefers I wad up bits of paper and throw

them onto the bag for her to bat about and chase, momentarily.

Of course, when play time is over as it brightens up outside, I

then have to collect the paper wads and off she goes to sleep

off all that play time.

I always put the bag away at night and when I am going

to leave the house. I would never trust her with it alone.

Plastic is dangerous for her to get inside without my

supervision. And she does open it and go in and then

it is licky-licky-licky and chewy crunch-chewy crunch

on the bag. 

"Thanks, Lynn, you knew I'd love it. The bag is

the cat's meow."

By the way, I have removed all other of her bags

off the floor for now. She has way too many to 

keep her interest.

Her new bed is now just a large toy box.  We will

see what winter brings.

This is Butterfly Weed. An Ohio native plant in the milkweed

family.  The Monarch butterflies eat this to the ground, but thankfully,

the 4 or 5 I have come back every year. I've only recently seen

the arriving Monarchs back in the yard.

"I'm glad too, Lynn.  I love watching out front for the 

butterflies in the sunshine."

Not sure when we can expect the trees across the road to be clear cut.

The owner found me working in my garden last week and introduced

himself.  He said the builder can start in 2 months if the lot is cleared

by then.  The builder suggests a "clean slate" to work with. In my

opinion, that makes it easier for him to store his equipment and building

supplies.  The owner said he'd like to keep a few trees.  So for now,

Precious and I enjoy having windows open but listen for the sound

of heavy equipment constantly.

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It is much appreciated.

One big sand box

 "Lynn, is that a giant cat box, for private kitty stuff?"

I ride by this sand quarry on 90% of my bike rides.

The family owned business has been here for 30 years,

digging up sand and river gravel. 

The picture does not do justice for the size of the dredge.

When I first started riding here 15 years ago, the pit and lake

it created, were 1/2 mile away.  In the past 5 years, they

have moved into a farm field and  the corn and soy have

been replaced by water from the underground aquifer. 

And the mountains of sand are growing by leaps and bounds.

This had been 1,000 acre crop field.  But I know that

the sand and gravel is needed and used for all types

of construction.  

It can be very dusty when I bike past. As the large earth

moving trucks run the private road next to the Rail-Trail

right of way, the cloud of sandy dust is really bad.

"See why I prefer to stay home and get my sunshine

without the yuck of getting dirty?  By the way,

have you cleaned my potty box?"

And lastly, this yard ornament was waiting for me when I

returned from my bike ride, at my garage.  It is a yearling

and they do have a bit of a stressful time now, as their mothers

are now nursing the new fawns. So these girls and boys feel

left out.  As soon as the does bring out the new fawns, they all

finally spend time together. However, the yearlings have not

forgotten how good mother's milk is and try to get a sip occasionally.

Mom takes care of them in a way that would put me in the hospital

with cracked ribs or skull.  But the young take it well and are

soon obedient.

These lilies grow where my sweet Seney has now

rested for 8 1/2 years. Never ever forgotten.

Her last day with me.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit and a comment.

It is appreciated.