Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

Last weekend Nicki and I visited the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Erie near Toledo. They were having an event where you were allowed to drive into the refuge on trails normally not allowed for vehicles. Saw a lot of the usual ducks and geese. But also photoed at least one eagle perched in a tree (total spotted during the day 6-8). Most unusual sighting was when Nicki got out of the car to take photos of a colorful duck and she almost stepped into a clutch of 3 birds that exploded away. While we were quickly taking pictures we thought they were large hawks - until we got home and took a closer look at the photos and found we had disturbed three short-eared owls. At least one of them circled us while turning its head to watch us. A little later we found a box turtle in the middle of the road so we helped it to a safer location near the water. Of course, when we returned home we took some shots of the full moon (even though there was a bit of haze in the air).

PS - Our eastern screech owl has returned to the tree in our backyard. Must have kicked the squirrels out.

Snowstorm - February 25, 2011

We had a bit of snow early this morning. Schools were closed but not the college of course.

Detroit Trip

Nicki and I did a quick trip to Detroit last weekend. Met Bob and Barb Friday afternoon. Main event was the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum. Toured the "Fakes, Fogeries, and Mysteries" exhibit as well as much of the rest of the museum, had a supper in the cafeteria, and then crepes on the very short but severely cold windy walk back to The Inn on Ferry Street where we stayed that night in the Raymond C. Smith Carriage House suite. Breakfast Saturday morning in the Inn's main house, a quick stop at the GM Renaissance Center, and then back toward Oberlin with lunch at Ohio's Maumee State Park Lodge. A nice get-away from home (and we beat the bad weather that hit Monday).

Florida Trip - January 2011

A long weekend trip to Florida. Staying with Bob & Barb in their vacation home in Hudson. Mild mostly sunny weather - quite a difference from wintry Ohio. First day was spent mostly at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park - manatees, alligators, and various Floridian wild birds. On the trip back to Hudson there was a stop on the Gulf shore at the Pine Island Beach/Rock Island Bay where we watched flocks of mostly sea gulls. Sunset at the Robert K. Rees Memorial Park near New Port Richey. The next day was a long rural drive on Rt. 19 to Tallahassee to visit family friend Patty. The final day was a short sunny walk along the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks before the flight back to the frozen North. Thanks to the Akron/Canton, Detriot, Tampa, and Atlanta airports.

Owl Updates

Our Eastern Screech Owl has continued habitation of our backyard tree. He'll (she'll?) usually pop out of inside of the hole to perch and watch as Oliver runs around the tree. Yesterday he napped on the hole's edge and gradually gained a coating of snow. Visitors have stopped by - small birds, squirrels (of course), and a red-shouldered hawk. Nicki and I have been adding and updating photos to our collection which can be found in a previous blog entry below.

Winter around our house - January 12, 2011.

Three videos of Zahira playing and talking and kicking and finally getting fussy. Best viewed on my Picasa site - get to it by clicking on the image above and then either selecting each video separately or clicking on "Slideshow" and seeing all three together. If you are looking at a video individually you can see it full-screen by clicking on the four arrows in the bottom right corner of the video. Sorry about the first two being a little sideways but it has taken me a while to figure out video on my Nano.

Zahira & Christmas in Oberlin

Zahira and Sarah have arrived. Nicki continues reading. Oliver meets the baby and he shares his toys.

Memmott Sled

This is a sled that I believe was designed and built by my father. He constructed the box and mounted it to a traditional Flexible Flyer style sled. The sled was painted a deep black and the box was white with red trim and a red “M” on the back panel. I changed the black to hunter green and lost the "M" under several coats of paint. I needed to replace the bottom of the box as it was rotted and plywood was peeling. I also replaced most of the hardware - either the metal pieces were rusted and brittle or were oddly mis-matched (big screws to connect the sides when trim nails would have worked better). The pull rope was very deteriorated of course. Lots of sanding and tweaking and painting. The intent is to bundle-up Zahira and she will become the first next-generation rider. I'm sure she will be much cuter than the occupant in the scene above. Photos to be added later.

First Snow

Winter has arrived.  Oliver doesn't mind playing in the snow at all.