Foggy Morning Web

The Old Farmer’s Almanac published a story this week that talked about folklore used to predict snow. A new one to me is that for every fog in August there will be a snowfall in winter.

Since I like both fog and snow, that sounds like a fair deal.

Incidentally, yesterday was foggy.

Here’s a look at the view from my front porch after it had started to move out. That old tree makes me happy.

And here’s one of several webs in a shrub near my bedroom window. Someone had been busy.

I suppose I’m an odd duck for paying attention to these things. Most people hate fog and wouldn’t dream of stopping to examine a spider web. But I think it’s fascinating to consider how our world changes when we aren’t looking. Light and darkness temporarily change the look of the world. Fog rolls in and softens the look of trees and roads. It dissipates and reveals the stunning handiwork of a tiny creature with eight legs. How do they make these things so beautiful anyway?

It’s all pretty wondrous if you stop and consider it.

Want to read that story? Here it is! Maybe you’ll learn something new as well!!

Beauty: Broadening the Definition

Writing about Mansfield this week caused me to revisit pictures of the Ohio State Reformatory where the movie Shawshank Redemption was filmed. I already shared some pictures and the story of this visit but have tons of photos from this day.

I have a broad definition of what is beautiful. Frequent flyers of this blog will see pretty sunrise pictures and images of flowers, buildings and trails that have a traditional appeal to most people. But they also know that I tend to see beauty in things that others would consider common eyesores. I love an old truck in a field. The chipped paint of a tractor or a church that’s seen better days  are common subject matter as well.

My cousin Walter paid me the nicest compliment a while back. He sent me a picture on Facebook of an old barn and it said “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” I love that he noticed and that he sees it too.

An old prison isn’t a traditional place to find beauty but here are some pictures that I find appealing and hope you will too.

Sometimes it’s just the light or the lack of light that I find appealing.

Sometimes it’s the color and texture. Look at those layers of paint, now chipping from the walls, and creating a unique kind of art work. Of course, it’s undoubtedly lead paint so try not to touch it!

Sometimes you can’t put your finger on the quality you like best. It’s just haunting and you know in your soul that it’s good for your eye to see.

Are you able to see beauty in the flawed or would you prefer to look the other way? There’s no correct answer to this question –  I won’t be offended if you don’t like this type of thing! It’s not for everyone and that’s ok. It doesn’t have to be.

Looks Like Fall

I snapped this with my phone in downtown Chillicothe after having dinner with a friend last week.

Something about the light and shadows that evening made me think of fall. It was actually cool all day, a welcome reminder that fall isn’t too far away.

Incidentally, does anyone know what kind of tree that is? Tell me in the comments if you know.