AND THE SIGN SAYS...

I'm guessing this particular real estate investment didn't pay off.

*About the oddly painted door...  This trompe l'oeil type painting is common through the Over The Rhine neighborhood.  You see buildings in ruins with the boarded up doors and windows painted in this style.  An attempt at urban renewal I suppose and a hope that brightening the surroundings will brighten the future.

EIGHT

Fresh from the chickens on my sister's farm.

CAR PARTS

My father was quite the mechanic in his day, specializing in classic imports. He's always kept a few in his garage, trading and selling as opportunity arose. This little gem had become a favorite with no one ever quite making the deal sweet enough for him to let her go.
I knew something was up when he told middle granddaughter he was giving her a cat for a wedding present.

Jaguar S-Type circa 1966.

VIVID

His eyes are a strikingly vivid blue.  I converted the photo to black and white then restored just the color in his eyes to highlight them.

YELLOW

"STUFFED" ANIMALS

As we walked into a garden area where one of the weddings will be held next summer, the deer were happily gorging themselves on the landscaping.  You can see snow on the muzzle of the one on the far left where it had been digging through the snow to the perennial beds below. They looked very well fed thus the play on the stuffed animals theme.

**And Julie is correct in the comments below. We do have one daughter getting married twice in one day next summer.  A Hindu ceremony in the morning, then a late afternoon Catholic ceremony to honor our family's faith tradition. Both on the same estate grounds but in different gardens.**

VALENTINE'S DAY

A Valentine's Day gift I gave to our daughter and her fiance'.  We were visiting the estate where they'll be married next summer and I caught a shot of them having a quiet moment while walking the grounds.

AND THE SIGN SAYS...

One of my favorite signs.
These signs paper Over the Rhine, an inner Cincinnati neighborhood. They're on the side walls of the grocery store, neighborhood mission churches, boarded up buildings. All over.  
I think someone should tack up a few out in suburbia. 
Used the economy lens combo again.  Not that a giant poster announcing the arrival of syphilis needs much extra effect.

ROUND

A round moon rising just above the treeline earlier this evening.

ARCHITECTURE

The design of the Islamic Center of Toledo caught my eye on a recent trip through northern Ohio.

SYMMETRICAL

Here's the symmetry in this shot. Notice the small out building on the far left of the picture?  See how the roof has caved in at the mid point with either end symmetrically intact?  I thought it was interesting.

WHAT IS THAT

Sculpture on the property where middle Miss Lorri will be getting married this summer.  We don't know what the artist intended to portray but I've taken to calling it "Hangman's Ridge" while casting a look upon the future son-in-law. I like a nervous bridegroom.

AND THE SIGN SAYS...

I've decided that Sunday evenings will bring a weekly post dedicated to what the sign says. I'm encountering too many great signs to let them go uncelebrated.

And, Joe & Gertie, if you read this post, I just want you to know that you made my day.

SCATTERED

The scattered remains of Frosty as a welcome thaw arrives.

MOUTH WATERING

Goetta, a.k.a. Cincinnati Caviar, is a mouth watering delight to some people. I'm not a fan but I often steer guests toward trying it if they want a local flavor.  It's a close relative to Scrapple. Ground pork, seasonings and pin oats, sliced and pan fried.

LENS COMBO INFORMATION

A couple of folks asked about the lens combo I've been playing with in recent photos.  It's an eBay bargain of under $30 with shipping for a 3 piece set of screw on lenses.  A 2.2 teleconverter that I haven't had much luck with in the playing around period but haven't really spent much time exploring.  The fun set has been a screw on macro lens combined with a .43x wide angle which creates an effect similar to the Lensbaby.  I've been using them with an 18-105 Nikkor VR lens.  They will work with the camera on Auto but work better doing things manually.  The focus really does need to be done manually though. They don't seem to work successfully with my 300 but I haven't given them much time with it either. They're Japanese made by Neewer and a fun exploration for not much money.

DEPTH OF FIELD

Still playing with the lens combination. Minimal success with getting the focus where I want it even though I did like the end result of the rails pulling my eye through the picture.  We'll pretend I wasn't intending to get a tight focus on the old brick street around the rails.

FRONT DOORS

Used a wide angle/macro screw on lens combination to see downtown Cincinnati from a slightly different perspective. This may be the same way many future customers will see the graduates of this academic institution.

UNFORGETTABLE

 The look on her face when she found her wedding gown. Unforgettable.

RURAL

Added a little texture to enhance the rural feel of this shot.

WEATHERED

The martin house is a bit weathered with time.

HOUSE OR HOME

CRITTERS

Wild turkeys meandering through a field.