Dusting + Cars = Miserable

Unfortunately, I could not stay home or walk to work today, but had to drive to a morning meeting. What a miserable mess:
 

Deepest Winter

 

The dark and cold of January is most difficult at the mornings and evenings. When dusk comes at late afternoon. At our house we have a recurring, never fruitful discussion about possibly going south for a vacation in January.

There is a good book, Frederick, by Leo Lionni, in which a lazy mouse, instead of gathering food, gathers summer memories. Then in the depth of winter he releases these memories to warm his friends. For some reason kids especially enjoy winter themed books.

I find that memories of hot summers don't do much for me this time of year, except increase the longing for winter to end. Better to accept the pleasures of winter: beautiful quiet snow, hot cocoa, soup and warm bread, clothes warm out of the dryer, candle light, reading books under covers or finding camaraderie in a warm watering hole:
 

Rat Tracks in Fresh Snow

 

I found out yesterday that Blogger aka Google does not allow totally unlimited amount of blog photos to be posted. After several years of posting photos and sometimes videos, I apparently reached their 1 gigabyte limit for free Blogger photos. So I made the plunge and paid $5/year for up to 20 gigabyte of photo storage. This blog now officially costs me money to run. Not sure how I feel about this. If I quit paying the $5, which photos will disappear?

Does Anything Beat Sled Riding?

Igloo in Over the Rhine

 

A 12 foot wide sidewalk is sometimes big enough for a playground.

Snowy Walk to Krogers

Son and I had fun walk to get butter and sugar this morning:

Heading to the Hills Again

 

 

 

Hot Cocoa, Coffee and Air: 

UPDATE: A couple from today. Bright sun, blue sky and about as warm as it can be when sledding:

 

 

Snow People

Pirate snow boy:
 

princess snow girl:
 

The Snowy Hillsides

 

 

trail to Art Museum 

city from mt adams 

mt adams 

Out Sledding

 

gone sledding 2 

Snow Play

Last year I posted some great kids playing in the snow photos. So far this year I haven't taken many because I've been at work a lot while they play. Here are a couple from yesterday. The snow is so beautiful in the city, and I love how quiet everything is when it is falling hard. It is always surprising how nearly all the streets of OTR are untreated. Vine Street is a snow emergency street and it is kept pretty clean, but beyond that, expect good sledding conditions ...in the middle of the street!

Ice and Ducks at Eden Park

At Eden Park yesterday, people had shoveled part of the reflecting pool smooth, and were playing hockey. We went to the other ponds and played soccer with chunks of ice, and fed the cold, cold ducks:

 

BTW: Obama is now president. I wish him all the best in his efforts to unite this country for progressive change. Yes We Can... yes we will.

Dreaming of Baseball

I was just agreeing with Westender that by the time Christmas is over, I am done with winter. I'm pretty warm-blooded, so the cold doesn't bother me too much, but the high heating bills are a real drag.

There just isn't enough sunshine this time of year. So here's to spring time and opening day:

 

Ice Skating

We will be ice-skating on Fountain Square this weekend. Anyone want to join us? We'll probably be there early Saturday and maybe sometime Sunday...

 

Photo found same place as this one.

More Park Photos

This time at dusk:

Music Hall with Pool:

 

Snow on St Nick Day

There's nothing like waking up to snow to get the kids in a good mood. We're trying to decide if we should sled, skate or just play in it. Have fun today everyone!

Snow Play in Street

Once the storm died-down Saturday, we took the sled out for a walk-around:

 

Pulling sled in Washington Park:

 

Sledding on Pleasant Street:

 

Old neighborhood garden, soon to be replaced with new townhouses:

 

A big fat guy, named Walt, used to run a corner store here. It was a bad hang out for a while, now pieces are falling off the building:

 

1500 block of Elm, looking north:

 

West 15th Street looking toward Vine:

 

Looking south on Elm Street:

 

I did NOT put this sticker on the canon in the park:

 

Gazebo:

 

View over pool to Pleasant Street:

 

Snow on rear of new Elm (Correction 1100 block of Race) Street condos:

 

1300 block of Vine:

 

West 13th Street:

 

Sun comes out right before setting:

 

First English Lutheran: