cloudy

saturday morning in cincinnati was really cloudy.  the serpentine wall on the right is partially covered with the ohio river.  

it's really high and muddy with all the rain.

last wednesday evening it was raining, and i went to run with my group wearing a trash bag.  crazy.  but it's always a good day to get outside.  (this weekend i bought a jacket.)

tomorrow i'll share the rainforest part of the conservatory.  how's the weather where you are?

krohn conservatory 1

 it's january and

 gray outside.

 but here at krohn conservatory,

 there's lots of color.

 it smells of tulips, because 

spring comes early here.  tomorrow you'll see how it looked outside this weekend.  how's the weather where you are?

monday color

 desert color, courtesy of krohn conservatory.  we visited the spring show sunday, and enjoyed the sight and smell of flowers not yet growing here.  the desert room has a beauty of its own.  

imperishable beauty

i love the sentiment on this sign in ault park.  then i think about the dear ones i know who have died, who also deserve to be imperishable in our memories.  so while we appreciate levi ault, let's also remember our loved ones and the wonderful gifts they gave us.  

joy and blessings to you.

ault park 2

so happy i took these, because it's raining now.  the ice is gone for the moment.  it is romantic.  joy to you!

jellyfish

newport aquarium - has jellyfish art.  we ate one in class a few years ago when studying invertebrates.  they taste like soggy noodles.  a very simple animal, but beautifully displayed with classical music in the background.  

ault park 1

a beautiful place in any weather.  joy to you.

monday color

when the weather outside is gray (and icy), we have to "make our own weather".  

it's easier with flowers.  a peaceful new week to you and yours.

sun on river

ohio river.  couldn't look - was driving.  had an idea it was gorgeous, though.  now i know for sure.  joy and blessings to you this weekend.  

bengal stadium

the will-call windows are lit up - in the morning.  it's not football season, right?

i've not been inside, but it's really interesting on the outside!  any football fans?

post-run treat

there is a window of time after a hard workout during which your body uses sugar differently.  don't ask me how, but it's good for you then.  so!  reason to run #2 (sanity-saver = #1) is the chocolate shake with peppermint stick chocolate chip ice cream.  no kidding.  (the sugar's fine, the unhealthy fat - oh well!)

saturday morning

 at 7 a.m. it was 21 degrees f.

 i run and walk, so taking pictures is easy.

 the dark streets of downtown were deserted.

 the sky was spectacular.  moody.

  puddles in the gravel area that we saw on our wednesday run were ice.

 we saw the sun rise,  

 and then ran back over the bridge into kentucky.  

 a barge was going down the river.

i used to call my running group "crazies" until a guy said, "we're not crazy, we're dedicated!"  but sometimes it feels crazy.  happy crazy.

piano

 pianos are beautiful and mysterious to me.  complex and historical.  this piano is my friend's, and i love how it shows its age.  joy to you.

shelter

i want to provide my students, friends, and family a safe place.  safe and peaceful.  when emotions run high, and vitamin d low, i want to create a refuge.  a place of clear thought, and a place to be heard and accepted.  loved.  my job with a capital J.  you too?  

top 5

top 5 things to love about a wednesday night run from newport on the levee in kentucky. 

5.  running over the purple people bridge and being surprised by the lights in the buildings of downtown cincinnati - colorful and reflecting in the ohio river.  

4.  passing the great american ballpark and seeing the statue of johnny bench and remembering how we went to the game when it was dedicated and johnny bench was there.  some of the big red machine players, too.  (johnny is on the screen.)

3.  seeing the wall of baseballs showing pete rose's hits - but from the dark outside the building.  it's very bright and goes up the wall for three stories.

2.  running past the bengals' stadium and seeing the blank will-call signs over the empty stalls, glowing neon, waiting for next football season. 

1.  seeing the roebling bridge in the distance, lights reflecting off the black water, then running over it.  

the bad news?  i forgot my camera.  the good news?  i had these pictures on my computer already.  it was an amazing, warm winter night.  running with a group is the way to go.  i'd never go downtown on a school night otherwise!  

happy weekend!