Air and Space Museum

Having never been there (even though I lived in the area for a while) I finally made it to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center - National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution out near Dulles Airport. I was returning a rental car last week and had a few hours to spare. Looking at some of these aircraft, it is amazing what a man is willing to endure to fly.

Sound Barrier National Air and Space Museum

The Grip of Earth National Air and Space Museum

Discovery National Air and Space Museum

Golden Space Flower National Air and Space Museum

Prop National Air and Space Museum

The Silver Age of Flight National Air and Space Museum

Special Delivery National Air and Space Museum

Badge National Air and Space Museum

Hope National Air and Space Museum

Festival Of Lights, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is a great visit any time but only during the holiday season can you walk around and check out what they have come up with in the way of Christmas lights.

Fiona in Lights Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Festival of Lights 2018

Lights and Lake Reflections Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Festival of Lights 2018

Lights and Lake Reflections II Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Festival of Lights 2018

Flamingos Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Festival of Lights 2018

Apes Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Festival of Lights 2018

A Geico Commercial??? Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Festival of Lights 2018

Elephant Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Festival of Lights 2018

Valley View

Valley View is a great place to walk around, check out the birds, other wildlife etc. It is especially peaceful early, before the gunfire erupts at the Milford Gun Club right across the river. Here are more than a few photos from a recent walk through the valley.

Pileated Woodpecker - Milford, Ohio

Golden-crowned Kinglet - Milford, Ohio

Honey Locust Thorns - Milford, Ohio

Moss on Fallen Tree - Milford, Ohio

Chipping Sparrow - Milford, Ohio

Chipping Sparrow - Milford, Ohio

Blue Jay - Milford, Ohio

Leaf - Milford, Ohio

Reflection - Milford, Ohio

American Goldfinch - Milford, Ohio

Theme of the Day - Backlit

Late fall with the sun low in the sky, the great browns and beiges that almost glow...here are a few photos from Valley View today, including two of the thistle because I couldn't decide which I liked better.

Last Leaves of Oak - Milford, Ohio

Meadow - Milford, Ohio

Thistle - Milford, Ohio

Thistle - Milford, Ohio

In an Earlier Life

...a lifetime ago...

Guns...No Roses - Somewhere in Iraq

Union Cemetery

Finally stopped by Union Cemetery on Branch Hill Guinea Pike. I haven't really been able to find much about it, the display there says it was last used in the late 1800's. I've driven by it a lot and always think, "when the weather is just so it could be nice to photograph." This morning was clear, crisp and cold with the leaves still on the ground. It might also be a good subject in the spring, in fog or snow too. Here are the resulting photos....maybe a few too many for the blog, but oh well.

Union Cemetery - Clermont County, Ohio

Union Cemetery - Clermont County, Ohio

Union Cemetery - Clermont County, Ohio

Union Cemetery - Clermont County, Ohio

Union Cemetery - Clermont County, Ohio

Union Cemetery - Clermont County, Ohio

Union Cemetery - Clermont County, Ohio

Union Cemetery - Clermont County, Ohio

Union Cemetery - Clermont County, Ohio

Union Cemetery - Clermont County, Ohio

Union Cemetery - Clermont County, Ohio

Union Cemetery - Clermont County, Ohio

Leaves of Fall

Although I think the trees in general weren't as colorful this year, there certainly were some individual trees that had it going. Here are some from my walk around the area today.

Ginkgo - Milford, Ohio

Valley View - Milford, Ohio

Valley View - Milford, Ohio

Valley View - Milford, Ohio

Valley View, Oak - Milford, Ohio

Maple - Milford, Ohio

Old Jewish Cemeteries, Prague & Sarajevo

The Prague photos are from a bit more than 10 years ago and the Sarajevo photos a bit over 9 years ago. Apparently people need reminders :(. You can see the scars of the civil war in some of the Sarajevo stones.

Old Jewish Cemetery - Prague

Old Jewish Cemetery - Prague

Old Jewish Cemetery - Prague

Old Jewish Cemetery - Sarajevo

Old Jewish Cemetery - Sarajevo

Old Jewish Cemetery - Sarajevo