Wonderful Saturday

It started this morning with a cup of coffee and some blogging and blog watching. You might want to catch The Zoe and Addy Show here. Or check out new posts of the French Grandchild here. Then it was off to the tennis courts for an appintment with Kayla and Kenna to sharpen our game.

It took a while to return to the form blog readers are used to seeing......and as for the sweats.....necessary for the cold windy conditions. Beth.....you'll just have to wait till summer for those shirtless shots!

.....the girls await the POWER serve......

.......Kayla, a Newark Wildcat tennis team stand out, shows the form that will one day have her competing at Wimbleton. After this I proceded to the YMCA for h head to head raquetball match with 48 year old former three sport athlete Kelly Walker. I'll leave the results to your imagination but suffice to say it netted me a delicious lunch at Ruby Tuesdays!

There is One Among Us Bloggers Who Has Taken This A Level Up!

Enjoying blogging and enjoying other's blogs as I do I have to give props to one among us who has taken his (their) blog to the next level and from whom we can all learn....IT IS THE GRAND CADPOOHBAH HIMSELF, Chris Lindner! That's him on the upper row left in this family photo taken this week on their spring break family getaway. I spent a while with him and his family this Saturday morning in South Carolina around a campfire, with he and his daughter, Jesse, taking pictures of the sunrise and squirrels and right here in this log cabin with his family..............ALL AT MY HOME COMPUTER!....and didn't spend a lot for gas!

I met Chris years ago when I spoke at a Church group in Fork, Maryland. He was about 16. We became close friends and have remained so these years. We talk a couple of times a week as we adventure life together.
Recently he started a blog called Ohio Hiker..A Journal Journey.

He has an amazing blog format with links to albums and maps of where his photos have been taken. I intend to enhance my/our blog using some of his ideas and techniques. You might wnat to check it out here. (I just had to do that Chris since you are the one who taught me how to link people to other sites!)

I also intend to join him and his family on more hikes. I know a bald eagle's nest they'd like to see and I know a place called Mohican State Park where Pat and I intend to invite he and other friend families to join our family around a campfire and drink coffee and tell stories and enjoy each other in a setting God created just for such things as that! Just know that you are ALL welcome dear friends!

Spring Morning Bald Eagle's Nest Visit

Pat and I took advantage of the 50 degree weather this morning to pay a visit to the eagle's nest near the #668 bridge. The last time I was here one of them was working hard to break branches and put them in the nest.

This morning the female was ON the nest. Here you can just see the white head peaking above the lip of the nest.

Pictures are from hundreds of yards away but if you blow this up you can see the profile 2/3 to the right side of the nest.

.......and here looking straight at me. We expect to make weekly visits to catch glimpses of our National Bird just down the road.

Sales Partners Event

I had the priviledge of helping the Green family and Scott Young put on an event at the Capital Theater in downtown Columbus yesterday. The sign above was on a giant electronic billboard that overlooks the Columbus State House square.

My job among other things was to put together the audio/visuals and coordinate the speakers, videos, powerpoints and sound for the evening. This shot was of the venue before things started.

Hanging Out With Buckeye Legends...

Craig Krenzel, OSU quarterback who took the buckeyes to an undefeated season and national championship in 2002 was a featured speaker...

............we listened to stories while he signed footballs for the event sponsors......

.......he brought a couple of buddies, Brandon Joe and Maurice Hall.....both former Buckeye greats.

..........and James Cotton.......former Buckeye and Chicago Bears defensive end.

It's great when some of us retired athletes can just hang out and share stories of our rich athletic pasts!

Preserving the Past...Looking to the Future...

We had 20 peopple attend Saturday's LV Heritage Society meeting. The group is moving along in cooperation with Licking Valley Schools to open a Heritage Learning Center in the next year. We are pursuing grants and making plans. Saturday's speaker was John Allee, local photographer, historian and ....as it turned out....humorist!

His topic: Life on Chickenville Hill! John and his wife Judith live in a house built in 1820 along what was then a main road from Zanesville to Newark. His house was a stage coach stop.

He did a wonderful job of mixing history and humor to bring it alive.

I found it interesting to walk out the door of a History meeting at Licking Valley Library to find this parked outside............

..........it too will be a historic artifact someday!

The 2008 Alumni Tournament

Mark McCullough with his 1987 form.........

.........Wes with a driving layup......

..........and foul shooting form.......

............and the "boys"....... a little confused about "V" for victory or #1 ...... reign victorious.

Pat and I Visit the 2008 Alumni Tournament

......on our way in we run into Kevin "HoHo" Montgomery.....

..........the class of 87 prepare for combat.........with Wes Miller at the helm.

.......spouse and daughter of one of the class of "87"

...........the class of "75" and earlier........all of whom I'd coached in days gone by.......the two in the middle in the 8th grade!

Water, Water Everywhere....

.......on Sleepy Hollow Road........

.......along the Licking River........

..........along Staddens Bridge........

.........................Up to the door of the Basket........(OK...maybe not to the door!)

.......BUT NOT A DROP IN OUR BASEMENT THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF MY SON WES AND MY YOUTH LEADER DAY FRIENDS......who helped me install perforated drain and gravel at the base of the North foundation of the house. THANKS GUYS!!

"The Big Hunt"

Saturday I helped conduct a community Egg Hunt at Real Life church in East Newark. So many kids......so many smiles.....so much activity..........SO MANY EGGS!

Two "egg hunters" I was especially happy to see on the scene were Avery, daughter of Casey and Autumn Williams.......

.........and Audrey, daughter of Shane and Beth (Anders) Adkins........ I share these particular shots so my own "kids" in far away places can see the kids of their friends!

................some eggs were just not that easy to find!!

A Boy And His Dad...(in-law) Watch Newark Win

.......the boy (Newark Class of 63).....

........and his Father-in-law (Newark Class of 38) spent our time together this evening in front of Dad's TV watching the Newark Wildcats trying to win their first State Championship in 65 years! Instead of going to Columbus as I have for the last three tournament games I pulled up a seat with Pat's dad in his living room. The game was HUGE and totally exciteing. We clapped and talked and phoned friends at the Shott where the game was being played................ AND THE RESULTS.........

............Greg Avery scored a career high 33 points and the cats went on to win 65 to 52! But I got so much more than the satisfaction of watching an amazing performance. I found out that Dad was present at the 1936 and 1938 State Championship games played at the Columbus Fairground Coliseum and won by Newark......HE PLAYED TRUMPET IN THE NEWARK BAND!! He described the star player, Jabbo Giles, who's ability to jump coupled with the fact that in those days you had a jump ball after every made basket....... accounted for the Cat's rise to win the State Championship. How the game has changed! He missed the 1943 State Championship because he was undergoing pilot training during WWII.

SO WHAT STUFF REALLY MATTERS IN THIS LIFE??? I realized tonight afresh how important family is.....and being together is.....and enjoying life is........ and enjoying life together with family is!!

Go Wildcats....GO!

Bird Shots I Have To Share

I've been waiting for one of my favorite winter birds the Cardinal to land in one of my favorite trees, our Nootka Pine. Finally I got my opportunity.

......we got this shot of another bird we love because of its unique slate, brown and white coloration....a Eastern Towhee.

.....and then to see them together........ Hope you enjoy their beauty as we do.

With This Exclamation Point Newark Moves On To The State Final Four

As a former Newark Wildcat class of 63 it's been fun watching the basketball team win the last three games by last second heroics. Having trailed Westerville South the whole first half last night, the cats came down to the last opportunityof the game. Taking a long lob inbound pass on the dead run, Greg Avery sealed the victory with this STUFF shot at the buzzer! Needless to say it set the fans (myself included) into a frenzy as the Cats move on to play in the State Semifinals this coming Friday.

GO WILDCATS GO!

The "Blizzard of 08" Descended Upon Us Over Friday and Saturday.....

As Storm Team Meteorologist Ben Gelber said Central Ohio was in the "Sweet Spot" of this winter storm.........

............and of course Bill and Pat had to adventure out to enjoy the 14 inches of white stuff.......

Although We Enclose The Back Porch In Plastic....

...........the "Blizzard" penetrates the screen door.......

........covers decorations waiting for spring redeployment......

................even manages to cover my hiking boots......

...............and leave a foot of snow blown against the door......

The Things You Notice Walking Together In the Snow...

.......and the "Lil Pine" lives on through the winter.....

Sights Along The Way....

.....and so life continues on Pleasant Chapel....

............the snow grader cleans the road...................

.............leaving the already needy mailbox.......listing left..........I do need to replace it in the spring..........

BUT WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY...............

............to create a snow angel!

So I Enjoyed A Walk To Seth and Heathers

......and caught some shots.........

............including this one of their storm cellar......

While Sitting In Our Living Room.......

............I realized the beauty that lies right ourside our windows that look out on Pleasant Chapel. I picked up the camera and went window to window to photograph and share these views.......

The View From Around Our Dining Room Table

Pat's touch makes this a beautiful setting..........

.............the windows serve as a place for otherwise outside plants to catch enough rays to make it through the winter while providing natural beauty to our surrounds......

As We Eat At The Dining Room Table....

Out the Kitchen Window.....

While On Our Trip To California Pat And I Reflected On How Little Time We've Had To Be With Our "Newark" Granddaughters.......SOOOO...

.......today Adele mentioned that her teacher who is doing a unit on transportation in Ohio suggeseted that her Grandpa might take her out to do research on the history of Route 40.....The National Road......at least this is an approximate version of Addy's interpretation of what her teacher said......SSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOO......... seizing the opportunity to spend time with Addy..........Out we did go with binoculars and notebook to find historic remnants of this historic road......and maybe find some beauty out around Dawes.

..........Here Addy spots the first of a series of road signs that used to tell conestoga wagon drivers and later..... model T drivers...........

.........how far they were from Cumberland Gap, Maryland, and how far it was to either Columbus going West or Wheeling and Zanesville going East...........

..........this trip was not without the challenge of cold blowing weather conditions I might add (for the sake of Mrs. Fee who will be seeing and reading this blog which will stand as the proof of the effort we put forth to carry out her directive!!

..........and on we pressed.........together..........

Out Of The Car Window......

..........another discovery in our quest to research the history of the first "Highway" across the United States.......

....................this gigantic granit boulder monument.............on which is etched............

........."Eagle Nest".......then a picture of an old car....."NATIONAL ROAD"........and then information about when it was built and the name of the Governor of the state of Ohio at the time.........

...............and Addy proceeded to write down the inscription to share with Mrs. Fee, her teacher, and fellow classmates..........

........and our quest for knowledge and beauty continued..........

Arriving At Dawes Addy Enjoyed Using The Camera To......

.............take this picture of me when I wasn't watching her............

......and capture these shots....... which are indications to me that she too........

.......can see the beauty in the creation.........

.......that has come to be known as Dawes Arboretum ...........

And Finally I Enjoyed........

..............just being in this special moment.........at the place where 46 years ago I saw such beauty.............. both in the surroundings....... and in Pat..... the girl I loved............

............and asked her here to marry me........

........and I look now at Addy................and these surroundings..................and can't help but wonder if someday.............someone will look at this beauty..........and..........say....................

I LOVE YOU ADDY....