Stairway to the Top

of the grain bin

Owens family farm - Jeffersonville, Ohio

Old Workhorse

The Farmall model 706 tractor was manufactured from 1963 to 1967 and cost $6,100 in 1967.

Owens family farm - Jeffersonville, Ohio

Windmill at Dusk

Windmills used to pump water were prevalent on many farms prior to the Rural Electrification Act.
At the dawn of the 21st century we now have wind farms with a collection of wind turbines generating electricity.

Owens family farm - Jeffersonville, Ohio

Pastoral

Owens family farm - Jeffersonville, Ohio

Ohio Sunset

Owens family farm - Jeffersonville, Ohio

Farm Cats

Owens family farm - Jeffersonville, Ohio

Autumn Reflections

Migrating to Warmer Water

Sailboat heading south on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Beach House

Spanish Moss

Spanish moss in a Bald Cypress along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Bloom on the Rosemary

Morning Meeting of Mallards

Meeting Adjourned

Under a Bridge

Highway 544 bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway

Full of Blooms

Sasanqua Camellia

Morning at Atalaya

Sunlight on the red brick floor

Windows of Atalaya

Atalaya Inner Courtyard

Covered walkway through inner courtyard

Atalaya

Atalaya, Spanish for "watch tower", is a 30 room Moorish style castle built by philanthropist Archer Huntington. Construction began in 1931 and was completed in 1933 using local labor which provided work for a community hard hit by the depression. The Huntingtons used Atalaya for their winter home until 1947. Atalaya is now part of the Huntington Beach State Park.

Mexican Bush Sage

Velvety spires of the Mexican Bush Sage, a member of the Salvia family.

Winged Reflections

Huntington Beach State Park

Blowing in the Wind

Freshwater Lagoon

Huntington Beach State Park

Great Blue Heron

Saltwater Marsh

Birdwatchers at Huntington Beach State Park armed with the binoculars and Peterson's Field Guide to Birds.
The diversity of habitat at the park provides for a wide variety of birds. A full day of bird watching can yield 100 or more species.

During low tide in the marsh several Clapper Rails were observed.

Color in the Sand Dunes

A bright yellow flower among the sea oats.

Huntington Beach State Park

Nature Trail

Huntington Beach State Park

If trees could talk, I wonder what stories this one would tell.

Three's Company

A third Cormorant lands to join two others.

Huntington Beach State Park

Cormorants do not possess the waterproofing oil of other seabirds and so must spend much time with their wings out stretched to dry.

Huntington Beach State Park

Yesterday morning I spent three hours at Huntington Beach State Park. The weather was great, the summer crowds were gone and it was a great day to explore salt marshes, nature trails, wildlife and the historic Spanish-style Atalaya Castle. There were photo opportunities galore which will provide blog material for quite a few days.

Butterflies in November

The hummingbirds have left but a few hardy butterflies remain.

Pearl Crescent

Long-tailed Skipper