Posts Tagged ‘#nature’

I wanted to give you another glimpse of Red River Gorge just as Fall starts to show. Not far south from my home in Ohio, the valley makes things a bit cooler and the trees are starting to turn there. I took these pictures and videos a few days ago while on a quick mid-week-get-a-way with my wife. Usually we can only visit off season due to her work schedule. This time we took a spontaneous short break and the weather was perfect.

The next video you can hear me breathing in the background. It was an effort to get to this perch for an old man but the view was worth every step. And then some.

I have a bunch more and like pictures of your kids, they are all beautiful.

Enjoy, MIDIMike

Angels Windows, Red River Gorge, KY

My wife and I were lucky to take a quick two night stay near Natural Bridge in Kentucky. We have been there a few times and I always post pictures that interest me. For those considering a trip, I have pictures of beautiful areas that are very close to the road or parking lots. While the paths can be rugged and hilly, these photos were less than a mile from the road.

My wife does not hike, so we pick areas that are close to the road so I can take a quick hike, grab some beautiful memories and rush back to the car so she doesn’t have to wait long. I am 68 years old, so if you are healthy you can reach these monuments of rock formations. It is difficult to view these places close up and not realize how easily early peoples thought of these lands as sacred grounds. Pictures are not enough.

I will post more later, but here is a sample of the pictures from my recent trip. We had beautiful weather and Fall was just starting to turn the hillsides into dazzling colors.

I was really fortunate the other day. I had just gotten in my car and saw a hawk fly right over my head and land close to me. I wished I had my camera but got out my phone in the hopes he/she would stay long enough for me to get a picture or two. After I managed to do that the hawk remained there and kept looking up. I started shooting a video that I posted on YouTube and want to share with you.

I was curious what the hawk was doing just sitting there. Not too long had passed and something made the hawk jump a bit. I kept filming and noticed that other hawks were taking turns and ‘dive-bombing’ the hawk on the ground. Even in the video with the background music you can hear the other hawks screeching as they approach the ‘target’ on the ground. I realized there are three sibling hawks being trained by the adult (I think this is the female as they are larger than the males).

Soon the adult leaves quickly lands in a nearby tree where it almost immediately gets bumped by one of the siblings. I look around and finally see a cat on the ground, trying to make a meal of their training games. Soon the adult flew off and the three babies followed to another practice ground.

I just thought this was cool to see and hope you do as well. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8GU7NjHUrc&t=21s

I have not had the chance to get out and take pictures – or a bunch of other things – but here are a few pictures using my cell phone from around my house.

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I agree, pictures do brighten up a post!

More pictures from my recent adventure to a local city park.

Ault Park Cincinnati, Ohio MSK – 201
Ault Park Cincinnati, Ohio MSK – 202
Ault Park Cincinnati, Ohio MSK – 203
Ault Park Cincinnati, Ohio MSK – 205
Ault Park Cincinnati, Ohio MSK – 208
Ault Park Cincinnati, Ohio MSK – 215
Ault Park Cincinnati, Ohio MSK – 223

Enjoying a little more late summer before it is gone!

My wife and I have always subscribed to the pay-it-forward plan. We do a lot of things for others without payment or promise. We have always been that way. As a result, we enjoy things others do for us – either to repay our past efforts or to pay-it-forward on their plan, so to speak.

Last week as a result of a repay, we got to go to a cabin in the Red River Gorge area in Kentucky. We were a bit early in the season as neither of us likes big crowds and our schedules keep us tied down during normal ‘peak’ times for traveling events. You can see blooming trees just starting to take off. Once on the peaks we could look down on the tree-tops for an eagle’s view of early Spring.

Many of you liked my earlier pictures of Spring near my home. I wanted to share a few more pictures knowing spring does not happen on a single date everywhere. Some of you are still looking forward to green and blooms and others are looking to summer already.

Usually in Southern Ohio we get Spring-like weather fairly early. Too early, in fact, for most of the flowers and flowering trees. Once the trees and flowers start to bloom we usually get hit by a cold blast and all the blooms freeze. The flowers wilt over and lay on the ground in frozen colors to die. The branches of fruit or flowering trees turn dead and brown.

This year was perfect. The late winter cold blasts did not last long and were not cold enough to do real damage. I would like to share some of the pictures I took yesterday in a favorite local park in my area but every highway and street in thee city is just bursting with color and shouting “SPRING”!

My camera at home, I took out my phone (like everybody else!) and took these pictures of the day. I hope you enjoy a few of these.

As many of you know I am not a professional photographer. I describe myself as a guy who likes to take pictures. Yesterday my wife and I were walking in our yard as it was getting close to sun-set. We heard some birds just chattering away and saw a pair of woodpeckers and very close by but much further up in the trees there was a hawk perched on a limb. He just sat there watching us and everything around him.

I am not good with names so I do not know what specific birds these are, but for the last few years the hawks have made this their home. Before then I don’t remember seeing or hearing them around where we live. I have always had a love for birds and I have a special fascination with larger birds of prey. Amazed we did not scare him/her away, I went into the house to get my Nikon camera and 70-300 mm lens. My wife stayed watching the birds because it is highly unlikely I would make it back with the camera before they flew away.

Here are a few shots I managed to get when I returned. I hope you enjoy starting the day in flight.

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First To Fall                                (C) MSK 9-24-2016

We are the first to fall

Silent signal to you all.

Summer is over; winter comes

Beauty of spring is now undone.

 

We are the first to fall

Those who listened for the call.

The song continues; season strums

Cycles end as they’ve begun.

 

We are the first to fall

Summon our young and let’s withdrawl

Leaves change colors; turn to crumbs

Stories told for years to come.

 

 

 

 

 

Below you will see what are probably my favorite pictures that I have ever taken.  For complete disclosure, you will want to know the subjects of the picture are my eldest daughter, Teneca, and her eldest daughter, Mary Jane, so I am admittedly and undeniably influenced.  These pictures were taken a few years ago in a local wooded area that leads to a small and well-hidden city park.  During our walk, they stopped to look at the amazing beauty of nature.  Teaching, sharing, and appreciating the fall paradise.  These wonderful times are available for those willing to look and listening to sounds of creatures all but hidden in plain site.

Seeing the smile, the simple fascination and pleasure of life all around, mixed with love and the comfort of family makes me feel young; glad to be a part of a continuing story.  To have played my part earlier and to watch it played out again.  Nothing but awesome.  I believe we can influence the future of our children’s lives in positive ways when we take the time at an early age.  You just can’t accomplish this in schools or on-line.