Sorry so late (work), but Bryan got his in this am:

and mine…

Lotsa “O’s” in this one!!! Extra points?

This was surprise #1, because I turned around from doing this and said “Hey!”

And this is practically in my backyard, and it was halfway through the week before I realized. Surprise.

Before I offer up the opportunity to pick next week’s challenge, I’d like to repeat the explanation of a future challenge:

I’d like to throw one out there that Lisa and I have been discussing for a while (she gets credit for finding this one). It’s called “Looking into the past.” You use a photograph (taken years ago) of something, and photograph the photo in the same place now. Yea, I know, I did that absolutely no justice at all. Just go here and see what I mean.

Ok, that being done, someone throw out a challenge for next Sunday!!!

Possibly inspired by a program that is working in Cleveland, it involves using decorative boards on vacant houses and buildings, so that it’s not obvious that there’s nobody home. Here’s hoping this is the start of a similar program here in Lorain.

More to come….

The original International Harvester tractor.

The new Case International Harvester tractor.

Bryan’s favorite scarlet dude!!

 A Second Place ribbon from the Lorain County Fair.

 And the following are mine:

My ’salsa’ tomatoes

Hey! The sign said “Red grapes.”

Impatiens from the flower box.

Hibiscus.

Yes, they tasted as good as they look. No, they didn’t last long.

I think it’s going to be my turn to pick the next challenge, unless Chuck or Ritchey want to get in on the action. However, I’d like to throw one out there that Lisa and I have been discussing for a while (she gets credit for finding this one).  It’s called “Looking into the past.” You use a photograph (taken years ago) of something, and photograph the photo in the same place now. Yea, I know, I did that absolutely no justice at all. Just go here and see what I mean.

Cool, right? So, dig out those old shots or find some and get to work. We’ll give everyone some time to do some archive diggin’ and then give advance notice when we’re ready to do this.

Loraine and Lisa have already done some writing about it, so please visit That Woman and Buster’s House, too, please.

From four years of college, and eleven years in every position a restaurant could have, I picked up quite a bit of knowledge, and am quite comfortable in the kitchen. My cheesecakes are quite popular at family gatherings, and my kids love the long breaks in my shift rotation because they know Dad’s gonna have time to cook. Sunday was busy, because right after I got up, I started baking cookies for St. Nick’s bingo Tuesday night. Four-plus dozen oatmeal raisin and oatmeal butterscotch cookies, and two dozen to keep home.

My neighbor brought over some Roma tomatoes that are overflowing their garden (Thanks Nicole!!). I took one look at them and thought “Salsa!!” So, after cleaning and de-stemming grapes, and slicing some strawberries, I busted out the food processor AND the camera, and tried my hand at a little food photography. While I’ll definitely need more practice with the camera, I’ve definitely nailed my recipe for on-the-fly salsa.

Roma tomatoes  PLUS

sweet onions PLUS

jalapeno pepper and

place it all in a food processor. Add garlic, cilantro and salt to flavor, and

mix.

Chill, then add tortilla chips, friends and copious amounts of margarita, salt on the rim is optional.

Enjoy!!

Beauty is defined by dictionary.com as “the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind.” All of these photos, with their various subjects, bring some sense of pleasure and/or deep satisfaction to me.

My daughter, Kristen, holding my niece, Elena. Seeing the two of them get along and the smiles that they elicit from each other makes me feel very happy inside.

I love older churches. This is Nativity BVM in Lorain,

…and this is St. Stanislaus, in Cleveland.

Sunsets bring a tremendous sense of awe to my soul.

An exquisite flower, birthed by Mother Nature, takes my breath away.

Watching my kids play ball, son Mike pictured here, brings a joy to my heart like nothing else can.

And please make sure you visit Lisa’s place, and see what she found that was beautiful.

Unlike Lorain, there are just a few vacant stores along the main street. And VERY unlike Broadway, not only does this vacant store look ready to move into, the interior is GORGEOUS.

Lorain has a Health Dept.- authorized flophouse, many stores that are used for storage, etc. Same as it’s been for the last 4? 5? 10 years?

Like what you see? Tell someone. Bitch to someone. Bitch to LOTS of people. Write your council-person. They can get the ball rolling. Lorain needs money? Income tax from operating downtown businesses would be a tremendous start. Increased property taxes from improved properties would help the schools with their financial situation. The City would have more money to improve the roads and streets.

All that JUST from getting downtown Lorain back on its feet and up and running again.

And I don’t even get paid to to this.

Guests first, Ritchey had a visitor in his backyard and was able to catch him.

Nicely done, Ritchey! You got a lot closer to this than I would’ve. I hate cicadas.

I forgot I have two shots I took when I was in North Carolina recently. On the beach, there were two ducks looking for something to eat. The first duck spooked a lot easier, and he took off. The black one was a lot bolder, and he eventually got fed mini Vanilla Wafers.

Unfortunately, he was a hog, too. He started getting too close to my wife, and my daughter and my almost-two-year-old nephew. So, drastic measures needed to be taken.

And from the archives, taken at Sandy Ridge.

And a shot of Chuck, though he might not be considered “wildlife” anymore.

I’ve emailed Loraine to see if we can get Ritchey to pick next Sunday’s challenge. Keep your fingers crossed!!