Spruce Trees near a drainage ditch Appropriately named the “Stink Ditch” it once conducted waste water from the vegetable canneries to the North Fork  — and yes it did deserve its name At one time, the ditch ran as an open waterway half way through town to the waste water treatment plant.  Later, the section … Continue reading "August Challenge #9"

Two Horsechestnut trees Horsechestnut leaves Black Poplar Trees? Closer look at the bark Interesting how smoother bark grades into coarse bark toward the base Black Walnut Trees Silver Maple Banner year for maple seeds this spring, millions, if not billions, of them all over town They fly down in a spinning motion and have earned … Continue reading "August Challenge #8"

What’s a better pastime when you are supposed to be packing for your bicycle trip than to run around with your camera? I dislike packing so getting a picture of this wonderful tree was a welcome escape. Here’s the lowdown on the fagus sylvatica pendula, or weeping European beech, from Wikipedia: The weeping beech is … Continue reading "The Weeping European Beech"

  Catalpa Tree Looking at Dave’s post of the Indian Bean tree, the resemblance to this Catalpa is striking. And so it should be:  Probably not the exact same species but very closely related, From TreesDirect UK “Common Name: Indian Bean tree Latin Name: Catalpa bignoniodes Aurea”   Catalpa Seed Pods Magnolia Beautiful when they … Continue reading "August Challenge #7"

I’ve been loving everyone’s trees! So sorry that I haven’t been able to keep up with commenting. It’s a great topic and I do love trees, even if I don’t hug them. Here is one of my favorites, a European beech if I’m not mistaken. All the pictures are of the same tree, from different … Continue reading "Portrait of a European Beech"

Weeping Willow   Weeping Mulberry Small tree to the left is an Alberta Spruce Japanese Beetle riddled Linden to the right Some sort of Willow? Ride Photo Supplier of electricity to the rural areas Black Walnut Trees Husking them will stain you! (photo from the web) Tree in a truck revisited Deceased Spruce Photo from … Continue reading "August Challenge #6 / Ride"

Well July was quite a month, which I would rather forget. Alas my father finally lost the fight against dementia and stroke but had a long life and impacted so many people in a positive way. It’s great to see people on this site living life to the fullest, getting out on their bikes and … Continue reading "Monochrome Delayed"

Also known as the California redwood. Several grow in our yard. The Ogre snuggled up to one them this morning. From Wikipedia: Sequoia sempervirens is the sole living species of the genus Sequoia in the cypress family Cupressaceae (formerly treated in Taxodiaceae). Common names include coast redwood, coastal redwood and California redwood. It is an … Continue reading "Sequoia sempervirens"

White Birch Utility pole has a decided lean to it — probably a Southern Pine  — Western Red Cedars are used too (doubtful around here) as a pricier option but last longer River Birch At an entry to an A-Frame home along the North Fork at one point — prone to flooding, the house is … Continue reading "August Challenge #5"

Chinese  Siberian Elm A fast growing tree, these were planted by the thousands in the 1950’s when Dutch Elm disease ravaged the American Elms. Not a highly revered tree, but there are lots of them Relatively weak — note the scar where a limb has broken off From Wikipedia:  “Many nurserymen and foresters mistakenly refer … Continue reading "August Challenge #4"

Honey Locust Seed pods will turn dark brown and fall to the ground Ginkgo tree Said to be a living fossil — evidence of them 270 million years ago Round clusters of Ginkgo seed pods When ripe they fall to the ground and the odor (stench) from them is horrendous In the fall, a Ginkgo … Continue reading "August Challenge #3"

Hackberry view east Hackberry view west White (Silver) Poplar Not considered a good tree to plant Here is why — it is extremely invasive — dozens of sprouts surround the poplar stump as well as the living tree White Poplar showing bark and dark green upper side of leaves and silvery white underside Bald Cypress … Continue reading "August Challenge #2"

That is an ash tree which has been infected by the Emerald Ash Borer — among over 150+ trees counted all over town, and that’s just on city property The ash borer larvae live just under the bark and chew through the channels feeding the limbs of the tree causing them to die This tree … Continue reading "August Challenge"

Raleigh in front of garage door Gray siding Inspired by Nancy’s whitish/grayish I went in search of more on the Diamond Back DB in front of mountain of crushed stone at the Grant Township Garage It is a brilliant white, but appears gray Closer view Service Bay doors at Township garage (Oh, did that sign … Continue reading "July Challenge — Whitish/Grayish 2.0"

The weather was good. I was able to scrape myself out of bed. This combined for a great weekend. On our way home we got monochrome sky, silos and ground for the monthly challenge as seen above and below. Check out the rest of our ride (hallelujah!) here.

Silver isn’t considered a color as such because of its metallic luster Most sources agree silver is gray with a reflective surface that cant be duplicated by combining any of the primary, secondary, or tertiary colors of a color wheel. Chrome is white with a metallic luster M-3 tank from WW II (Thanks to Bill … Continue reading "July Challenge — Silver"

The only photo that qualifies for the Challenge Civic Center McFerren Park Additional photos most with Red in them  

The only known large black surfaces here are asphalt driveways

Fence, Tool Shed, and Western Flyer Neighbors garage door Mulch for new playground McFerren Park   Gazebo McFerren Park Now for the Misc part:  At Foster’s One Stop: Beer, Ice, Bread, Milk, Mini-Mart, and All Night Video Tape Rental (Just kidding, none of those are available there) (Some VHS tapes might be)   Flower potty … Continue reading "July Challenge — Brown + Misc"

I have not had the opportunity to ride on the new Ohio River Greenway (hike and bike) trail until today. Even without a map of the middle part, which was finished last, I figured I could find my way and I did. The sections of map I did have must have messed with my computer, … Continue reading "Rolling by the river…"

No videos yet with my GoPro action cam, but I have been experimenting with different points of view. This was after the rain. I actually intended to make a nice video today when we rode with the bicycle club. We were on lovely paths, what an excellent video that would have been. I had carefully … Continue reading "Just Another Monochrome"

I was not expecting the tires to reflect and scatter the camera flash like that. Monochrome? Black and white? Just plain weird? I leave it to the jury, but I can say I would probably do more night riding if I could be assured the Ogre would always light up like this.

The crushed stone appears gray in the photos — it is actually a brilliant white Possibly quarried at Kentland, Indiana at the site of a meteor impact crater (And yes, that is hard to believe — apparently its true) The Township re-surfaced several of the roads with the crushed limestone, and it is far superior … Continue reading "July Challenge — White"

The weather was warm – unseasonably so. It would have been a great weekend for a two-day ride. I would love to say I did an ovenight ride in mid-winter! So I tried to think of a way I could still manage that given I am quite unwell at the moment. But there was just … Continue reading "July Challenge – Some monochrome without a chromoly frame"

Lots of chlorophyll and photosynthesis going on here The Huffy boldly emerges from examining the process in a lilac bush Huffy concludes a similar process is going on in the maple tree leaves Huffy examines the integrity of the carrier for the voluminous notes it is taking Huffy finds the process going on in the … Continue reading "July Challenge — Green"

🙂

I was very pleased when I came across that place in the photo above.  I thought the many layers of green-ness were pretty cool.  Green grass, green weeds, green reeds, green bushes, green algae on the pond, and green leaves on various trees.  The view was almost all green–you could even say it was monochrome.  … Continue reading "A SUCCESSFUL DAY OF MONOCHROME-ING"

Blue Skies      

Old playground slide on the right (must be decades old) — new slides, behind Yogi, and behind the gazebo  

Well, it seemed to work fine last month posting the challenge a few days early so people can put their thinking caps on.  I didn’t see any early entries, so people apparently weren’t confused.  Congratulations, and don’t forget we’ve still got a few days left to squeeze in that perfect old/new photo. What may not … Continue reading "Challenge of the month: July 2019"

The inflation/sealer on the left dates from the 70’s or 80’s ?  The one on the right is the new version purchased from the big box store today. The instructions read pretty much the same for both — never had to occasion to use the older one, and I imagine the propellant is long gone.   … Continue reading "Old/New Tire Sealants + Cloud Photos"

(I ‘borrowed’ Suzanne’s title)  –  🙂 Older home has been there for a long long time — the home under construction is the first new home built here since ?????

Oldest bicycle in the fleet is a 1973 Huffy Express — single speed converted to 3 speed with a 1956 Sturmey Archer hub Newest bicycle in the fleet is a 1994 Diamond Back Crossover  — purchased after someone (whose mother probably resides under a front porch) stole my Schwinn Traveler Off Topic:   Beware of slimy … Continue reading "Old(est)/New(est)"

Two Surly Long Haul Truckers: The carcass of my old LHT, which I was riding when I was hit by a car in May 2014, and my new LHT, which replaced the one bent, mangled, and destroyed. I’ve salvaged a few useful parts off the old LHT over the years.

Looking at tires here The tire guarding the culvert has been there for over 40 years Ive watched it deteriorate over all that time Those are white nylon cords showing thru — bias ply The tires on the Huffy are nearly as old, and unbelievably show little signs of it Compare to the steel belted … Continue reading "Challenge of the Month"

Sock Monkey as found as Road Swag by the landfill Sock Monkey after considerable restoration work* — old then new?  Sorta? Sock Monkey gives a short seminar concerning old vs new patch kits Thats asbestos I can do for the challenge right now  🙂 *Thanks to neighbor Ellen, former Home Ec teacher supreme, for bringing … Continue reading "Asbestos"