The Parks Are Quickly Thawing Out

My friend, Steve and my wife went to one of the state parks, Saturday and had a nice time. The temperature, for the first time in over two months, began closing in on 50 degrees (F). It felt so good not to be shivering for once and to be able to travel from our place without driving on ice or snow-covered roads. We joked around and had a wonderful time.

Instead of our park lake in the back of our place being totally encased in ice, everything was melting to the point where you could see the gazebo and the lake.

Don't ask me what this is supposed to be. We found this "snow creature" off to the side of the road inside the state park. My friend thought it resembled a fox. I thought maybe they, whoever they were, were trying to build a elephant that could walk on two legs or a wombat. Whatever it was, they gave it a walking stick, leafs for eyes and a green thing on it's head.

After leaving the park, we enjoyed the rest of the day, telling stories, sharing jokes and listening to Pink Floyd and The Who in the CD player. It seemed the improving weather had improved our spirits. Funny how that is.

The Deer In Our Backyard

There are so many deer in our area these days, that they can be seen almost anywhere and anytime. I took these shots in the back of our place. They're still skittish, somewhat, of humans and other animals but not as much as they were prone to being, in the past.


They were a family of four, from what I could see. There might have been more members of their family in the woods nearby.

These animals are very pretty to look at but not when you're running into them with your vehicle- which has happened twice to us in the last two years. Others in this area have had frequent deer collisions, as well.

Still, when you see them up close and personal like this, they instill a sense of indescribable calm within you.

The deer stuck around for a good fifteen to twenty minutes until two stray cats happened by them, unsuspecting. The cats were spooked by the big strange animals, let out a big MEOW and scared the deer off, back into the woods.

Night Time Holiday Shots and A Freezing Lake

Walking Along The Ohio River and Lesko Park

We spent part of our day walking along the Ohio River in Lesko Park. It was still snowing. It was cold. And it was fun.

We had our first substantial snowfall late this year. I was going to say the first substantial snowfall of the Winter season and then I realized it's not officially winter yet. Around my neck of the woods, however, if you have entered into the month of December, it's unofficially winter here due to the cold, snowy weather we get in this area, normally.

I would say we got around three to four inches of snow. Ordinarily, people panic when it first snows around here. Not today. Everyone seemed to enjoy it- which was nice.

For a hundred years, more or less, you could take a ferry across the river to the other side- which would be the state of Kentucky. About a decade or so ago, the ferry stopped it's run. I have fond memories of those river rides.

Uh-Oh... Looks like there be a monster lurking about in the waters today, Matey.

My wife, doing her best turtle impersonation. She was agreeable... and crazy enough to go for a frigid afternoon walk along the river with me today. She'll later kill me for taking this picture of her and posting it on this blog. So... so long, folks! See ya on the other side!

Each lamppost has a little sign, hanging off to the side, saying who contributed money to put toward the creation of the park and it's future improvements.

Some people come down here to fish during the spring and summer months.

I welcome all of you to come jump in the river for a swim. It's a "balmy" 0 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Fahrenheit outside today.

Don't worry about your safety. I'll be there to take a few choice pics of you while you enjoy your swim. Tee hee.

Facts you may not know about the Ohio River: The Ohio River is 981 miles (1582 km) long, starting at the confluence of the Allegheny and the Monongahela Rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and ending in Cairo, Illinois, where it flows into the Mississippi River.

The Ohio River flows through or borders six states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Ohio River is a source of drinking water for more than three million people.

Approximately 150 species of fish have been collected from the Ohio River.

For more facts about the Ohio River look here.