One of the photos that I posted in the first few days of this project was the bridge in the flats/ Although I liked the photo, I thought I could have taken a better picture.
While on my photo taking adventures this weekend, I had the opportunity to do just that. I think this photo came out much better and the great blue sky behind the bridge doesn't hurt either.
On the East Bank of the Cuyahoga River, there is a 12-foot high stone Celtic cross. It is tucked away under a bridge, but it serves as a memorial to the Great Irish Famine. It serves as a reminder of a grim period of time in Irish history when the population of Ireland was reduced by 20 to 25 percent.
The famine led to the exile of the Irish as emigrants to America or criminals transported to Australia. For Cleveland, it meant the foundation of Irish immigrants who moved to this area and lived on the banks of the Cuyahoga. The area became known as Irish Bend.
Yesterday, I posted some photos of the Monroe Cemetery Gate in Ohio City. Although the weather was turning a big cold, I decided to explore the cemetery. There are a lot of beautiful graves, but I felt a bit morbid about photographing them.
I did notice this sign on the main building that stated the hours for the cemetery office. I love the simplicity of the sign and the weather beaten look of it. Personally, I don't think anyone probably is there for entire office hours, but I would love to believe someone is looking out for the residents of the cemetery.
The weather today was cold, but sunny. I thought this was a nice picture of the skyline.
It was just an added treat to be able to shoot the photo with some sunshine and a lovely blue sky.
This spring I was looking for houses in Tremont and Ohio City. While doing a series of drive by viewings of listed homes, I had passed the Monroe Street Cemetery. It is a grave yard founded in 1819. The thing that intrigued me was the gate of the cemetery.
Although there are a lot of older cemeteries in the city, this one still has its original gate.
Since I took this picture in the winter, the gate seems even more bleak because of the dead trees and the fallen leaves on the entrance road.
Today, my friend Lara and I met up for the first time in over a year. Before we headed to lunch we had to go to the Pittsburgh airport to get her luggage that didn't make it from Atlanta the previous day.
As we were waiting for the luggage, I had noticed a group of soldiers picking up their bags from the carousel. As we walked out of the airport, his family met him and was walking in front of us.
He reached down and grabbed his son's hand. I was overwhelmed by a sense of pride and joy. Proud of a man who defends this nation's freedom and joy that he was home in time to be with his family for Christmas.
As much as I wanted to stop him and thank him for all that he had done and his service to the United States, I thought it was more important for him to enjoy seeing his son. I snapped a quick picture with my phone to remember the moment - and what the holiday is about - rejoicing in being with the ones you love and that know you best.
Merry Christmas!
I have started to feel the buzz in the air. I feel like Christmas has finally arrived. The Christmas trees and the lights.
Now all the little kids are waiting for the big man to arrive.
A few weekends ago one our Wine tour, Santa made a quick stop and Jess was able to get a quick picture before Santa snuck out the door.
This snowman represents a family tradition. I had rescued him from disposal at the hands of my mother. I dug him out of the attic one year and put him out on the porch. (there might have been a few cocktails involved in that adventure.)
Now the Snowman is greeting everyone in Tremont. I have inherited the snowman from my parents, and he has taken a place of honor on my porch. It is almost like it isn't Christmas if he isn't greeting me at the door.
NOTE: My father sent me an email reminded me that he is an AWARD-winning. Yes, it is true. The snowman pulled in a blue ribbon on more than one occasion.
I had an early start to my day today and had to meet a co-worker in Shaker Square at 7am. I had taken the RTA there, and when I got off, I was greeted by the holiday lights that were on in Shaker Square.
Luckily, I had my camera and was able to shoot a picture that showed off of the lights since it was still dark out at 7am.
This weekend, I headed to Lake County to cut down a Christmas tree. Since I have a bad history of my trees falling over when they are decorated, I have a process now where I stand up the tree and leave it for a day.
If the tree is still standing the next evening, I weight the stand and then put on the lights and decorations.
This year, I put on only about two thirds of the ornaments I usually put on the tree. I am hoping the tree makes it through the holiday season without taking a dive onto the floor. You might want to follow my on twitter to see how it goes.
During COSE's annual party, the Higbee Building was transformed into a place where you could do some holiday shopping, get a malted and see Mr. Jingeling.
Mr. Jingeling, the official "Keeper of the Keys" as appointed by Santa Claus himself is celebrating over 50 years of bringing holiday magic to Cleveland. It definitely helped get me in the Christmas spirir.
Since COSE and the Greater Cleveland Partnership have moved into the Higbee building, the group has started decorating the building and lobby for the holidays. I was at a meeting there on Wednesday and loved the decorations.
It might be office space now, but I could still feel the charm of the old department store that was a Cleveland holiday tradition for decades. Looking out the windows onto a lit public square definitely put me in the holiday spirit.
The wine tour on Saturday stopped at South River Vineyard. The tasting rooms are located in an old church. There is something really cool about sitting inside drinking a few glasses of wine.
With the incredible snow, the building looked so picturesque. You can see the group I was with starting to assemble outside of the door to take a group photo.
While I was on a wine tour in Madison, OH, we visited Laurello Winery. We had the good fortune to meet Larry Laurello, the owner of the vineyard. He took us on a tour of his bus that he uses to tailgate at Cleveland Browns games.
Tom was tring out the setup inside the bus. Notice the floor - it looks like a football field. It was unbelievable.
Ok - this photo is horrible. However, it is hard to take a cell phone picture when you are driving at night on an interstate. Yes, that was stupid, but I had to get a picture of this guy.
The site of a mattress bent in half and virtually flying off of a car is hysterical. When you notice it because they guy is passing you in the right lane, it is a wild mixture of humor and fear.
Needless to say, this probably wasn't the best thought out way to move a set of twin mattresses. I am just thankful he wasn't moving a queen bed.
If you have been following my blog, you might ask yourself - Does Young Adam do anything other than try to get into my blog?
Well, he does work, but I think he might work harder to get into my blog. It is hard to not to include his antics because they make for good photos.
This photo was taken at the Web Association Holiday Party. One of the local vendors was handing out these lime green stress balls, and Adam definitely made the most of them.
In order to make the most of the holiday season, some friends and I decided to get together to watch a Christmas movie and drink some Great Lakes Christmas Ale.
Yes, the movie was good, but the Christmas Ale totally rocked. Nothing makes me get more into the holiday season then having a good time and hiding out from the cold Cleveland weather.
I took this photo with just the ambient light in the room and no flash. Of course Young Adam moved a little bit and is out of focus, but he tried his best to stay still.
As I was driving to work this morning, I noticed a massive amount of birds flying over the Cuyahoga River. I pulled the car over and grabbed my camera. The birds were following one of the barges that transports materials up and down the Cuyahoga.
You might need to click on the picture to see the detail.
I didn't think the picture did it justice because you can't see much because of the distance, so I did a 12 second TV video of it (see below).
It is that time of year. Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas holiday season is offically started for me. Regardless of what Walmart does in October, I don't decorate for the Christmas until the Turkey day is over.
It was nice to come into the office and see the decorations. That means I have to get my decorations out for my desk and the snowman out on the front porch!
