Andy Wendt - The Things I See

Liberty Under A Bridge

2010-09-13T13:41:00.004-04:00

Liberty Under A Bridge, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

The day after the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 attack I was in Hudson, Ohio. Though not a fan of graffiti, it was comforting to see the word "Liberty" written on the this stone wall under a railroad bridge.

Where Liberty Meets Loyalty

2009-11-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

A poignant road sing at the Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio.

Not far from this intersection you will find a plaque on a large stone with these opening words from The Bivouac of the Dead by Theodore O'Hara:

The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
The soldier's last tattoo;
No more on Life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
On fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents to spread,
And glory guards, with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead.
Theodore O'Hara

Google Predicts Rising Sea Levels

2009-09-28T09:42:00.001-04:00

Does Google Know Something?, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Could this be Google trying to warn us of the risks of global warming? Or could Al Gore have hacked into the Google network in order to scare us all into buying his book? Or perhaps it's just a browser error.. Who knows?

Nathan Wendt - A Bath Wtih A Duck

2009-07-06T09:38:00.001-04:00

Nathan Wendt With A Rubber Duck, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Just a silly picture of my son that brings back lots of happy memories. This pic was taken when Nate was obviously an infant and in the tub. His mom and I put the duck on his head and I think Nate is telling us just exactly what he thinks about such obvious photo exploitation.

Trees and Sky - Houston Woods - March 2009

2009-03-07T19:35:00.001-05:00

Trees and Sky - Houston Woods - March 2009, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

One of the more colorful shots taken at Houston Woods State Park in Preble County, Ohio during the Maple Syrup Festival.

The festival had had hay rides and guided tours of the parks maple syrup "harvesting".

Houston Woods has been involved in maple syrup production since the 1790's when the land was given to the Houston family for their service during the Revolution and Indian wars.

The forest at the park is primarily composed of maple, birch, and poplar trees are still part of the original old growth forest that once covered all of Ohio.

Put-in-Bay July 2007

2009-02-15T14:28:00.001-05:00

Put-in-Bay July 2007, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Growing tired of winter I was looking for something colorful and sunny to brighten the day. This photo was taken from our trip to Put-in-Bay in the summer of 2007. Specifically this is a view of Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial as seen from the dock when you first arrive on the island. The memorial was finished in 1915 and was established to honor those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie, during the war of 1812.

If you have never been to Put-in-Bay it is on South Bass Island, which is the largest of the American Islands in the Great Lakes. The fastest way to the island is a ferry from Port Clinton, Ohio. Taking the Jet Express, a passenger ferry service operating a small fleet of hydrofoils, you can travel the 5 miles to the island in about 20 minutes.

The town of Put-in-Bay itself is full of shops, museums, and fun things to do for just about everyone. Hopefully we can go back again this summer.

Winter Sunset Over Burned Down Lone Star Lot

2009-01-15T22:29:00.001-05:00

Winter Sunset Over Burned Down Lone Star Lot, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

I think this picture, taken last week as I left the office around 6:15 P.M., really captures the winter colors in Ohio. If you ask yourself "what color?", then you understand exactly what I am saying.

Wind Farm on US Highway 52

2008-12-01T08:31:00.001-05:00

Wind Farm on US Highway 52, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

A newly constucted wind farm in Benton County, Indiana. Photo taken on Thanksgiving weekend 2008 while traveling north on US 52 toward Fowler.

I did hear some talk at the dinner table (sounds a bit hard to believe though) that said the electricity produced from the farm will be going to California as its cost will be much higher than the local residents of north west Indiana are currently paying. I don't know about that but I know these things are big!

Wow, I just found out there is a Wind Turbine Manufacturing Plant right here in Bulter County, Ohio where I live. Small world.

Toms Maze - October 2008 - Corn

2008-11-12T18:07:00.001-05:00

Toms Maze - October 2008 - Corn, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Another shot from our October Cub Scout trip to Toms Maze. With the onset of cold weather and the time change that is brining on shorter days I am already missing the great summer and the early fall when the fields were full of corn and the sun stayed up longer than my 7 year old.

Toms Maze - October Color - Gourds

2008-10-20T11:32:00.001-04:00

Toms Maze - October Color - Gourds, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Nathans Cub Scout Pack had an outing this month at Toms Maze in Germanton, Ohio. The eight acre maze took about 30 minutes to complete. I am sure it would have taken a lot longer had it been dark, or if Nate’s mom and I were short. After the maze we went back to a campsite the pack had reserved and had marshmallows, hot dogs and hot chocolate. All cooked on a nice warm campfire. Also worth a mention is the pumpkin gun they fire off ever hour. It’s actually a converted fire truck with what I describe as a 8 inch, 16 foot compressed air cannon mounted on top. The pumpkin gun can fire a medium sized pumpkin about half a mile.

Ohio Wind Storm 2008 - My Front Yard - Middletown

2008-09-16T15:44:00.001-04:00

Ohio Wind Storm 2008 - My Front Yard, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

The remnants of hurricane Ike hit the Ohio Valley Sunday September 14 at approx 1:30 pm. The gusts in my area, Middletown Ohio, were officially clocked at 69 mph with sustained winds around 40mph. With the storm causing damage in 84 of Ohio’s 88 counties and over 1.5 million without power the Governor declared a state of emergency for the first time since 1978.

Here at my house on Creekivew Drive we were without power from Sunday at 2:00 until Tuesday at 2:00 and I feel very fortunate that things were not worse.

Here at my office, as I type this with the help of a single candlelight and a Honda generator, we are hoping the power will come back before we have to spend another night here fueling the generators every hour.

Yellow Shop in Nashville, Indiana.

2008-07-29T14:27:00.001-04:00

Yellow Shop in Nashville, Indiana., originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

I spent a good part of my trip to Nashville Indian sitting out here. As my wife Nancy and step-daughter Leanna went through the larger shop just out of sight to the left of this shot. So you don't get the wrong idea, I went in the shop, looked at everything in about two minutes and decided to go outside and sit down.

Glad it was such a nice spot because this shop sold some sort of bag full of rocks, and you could take it over to their little trough with running water and "pan" for minerals. This took another 30 minutes but it made the girls very happy, though I still hold to my origional theory that just taking a match to a ten dollar bill would have been just as fun.

New-Stripe-Wall-For-Banana

2008-07-07T10:37:00.001-04:00

New-Stripe-Wall-For-Banana, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Leanna standing in front of her newly painted bedroom wall which was our July 4, 2008 weekend project.

It was actually easier than I imagined. We simply gave the entire wall a white base coat, then every six inches we use used a two inch painters tape to frame the larger stripes. Then of course we alternated colors on the large strpes and removed the tape to get the little white stripe.

And..Ok. I was wrong. The white stripes look good and I can tell they are not that other color.

Cincinnati Granite Installer - Photos

2008-07-03T17:57:00.001-04:00

Kitchen-Island-By-Tropical-Granite-Works, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Cincinnati Granite Installer August Acosta is scheduled to be up from.. well.. Cincinnati tomorrow, yes on the 4th of July even, to finish our install of the grante countertops in the kicthen. The granite you see in this photo from this morning is called Golden Thunder and for my wife and I it was love at first sight. Love at first sight for the granite that is. Hopefully tomorrow will be the end of this kitchen remodel project and so far we could not be happier with August or Tropical Granite Works of Cincinnati.

Once this amazing Golden Thunder granite is on the rest of the kitchen countertops you can bet I will post some more pictures.

Cincinnati-Gas-And-Electric-Bill-1959

2008-06-10T15:05:00.001-04:00

Cincinnati-Gas-And-Electric-Bill-1959, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

The good old days are preserved in this 1959 Gas and Electric bill. This bill was lost under our kitchen cabinets for 49 years before it was ever seen again. The last name of the previous home owner was removed though I am uncertain if he is still living.

Memorial Day 2008 - Middletown WW2 Graves

2008-05-26T20:22:00.001-04:00

Memorial Day 2008 - Middletown WW2 Graves, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

I was very sad when my son Nathan was not interested in going with me to the cemetary this Memorial Day. Nathan, now 6, claimed he was afraid of the cemetary.

My friend Mike Pitts called around 5:00 p.m. and asked if I had been yet. I was glad he called as even I find it sad to go alone.

This picture is of World War Two graves. These were all residents of Middletown who died in the armed services during the war.

This is one of my favorite parts of Woodside Cemetary. There are 8 rows of 20 graves here. Including a sailor who died during the final days of the war on the USS Indianapolis.

Blue Flowers In Bloom

2008-05-22T10:00:00.001-04:00

IMG_0727, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

It’s nice to see that each spring, despite our total neglect of all things green, that we are still blessed with such pretty sights as these unknown tall blue flowers. This shot is from the front walk at our house on Creekview Drive in Middletown, Ohio in the spring of 2008.

The First Game - Nathan Wendt Spring 2008

2008-05-16T22:59:00.001-04:00

Nathan Wendt - First Bat

2008-05-16T19:31:00.001-04:00

Nate First Ball Game 006, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Nate at the plate in his first T-Ball game ever. Spring of 2008 on the Maddison School field.

Middletown Ohio - Big Snow March 2008

2008-05-08T21:42:00.001-04:00

Middletown Ohio - Big Snow March 2008, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

The biggest winter storm of 2008 did not come in until late March. The storm bought with it 24 hours of non stop snow. This picture was taken from my front pourch on Creekview Drive. The two steps below are totally covered with what was by this time about 10 inches of snow with drifts going several feet high.

In 2009 Middletown Ohio had it's first big snow storm in January.
Below you will find two links to photos I took on my drive to work on Jan 27 & 28, 2009.

Pictures from my drive to work in the snow: Middletown, Ohio on January 27, 2009
Pictures from my drive to work in the snow: Middletown, Ohio on January 28, 2009

The dogwood trees in bloom. Late April 2008

2008-05-02T11:09:00.001-04:00

The dogwood trees in bloom. Late April 2008, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Mr. Ledford’s dogwood trees blooming on Creekview Drive in Middletown Ohio in late April of 2008. Though there is a dogwood tree in my yard this shot looked a lot better as if you notice there is another dogwood tree in the background. So two pretty trees in one shot!

There is another tree about to bloom in my yard. It’s looking purple so far. I’ll try to figure out what that is and get a picture of that one next.

Dad and Marilyn March 2008

2008-03-31T21:41:00.001-04:00

Dad and Marilyn March 2008, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Except for the constant rain on the way back we had a perfect trip. This time, for the first time, my sister Betsy Reeve and her family, as well as my son Natahn, were able to get down and visit Dad and Marilyn at their home in Hardin Kentucky. Thanks again for the great food and weekend, and great timing on the coffee maker. It did a good job this morning and it sure was hot. See you soon!

Nathan Wendt and His Great Grandfathers Guitar

2008-03-25T23:04:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my friend Rodrigo Lupi in Brazil for keeping a copy of this video all these years. Without his love for his adopted nephew this clip would have been forever lost.

Hocking Hills May 29 2006

2008-03-20T20:20:00.001-04:00

Hocking Hills May 29 06 105, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

My wife Nancy and I on a trail in Hocking Hills. May 2006. Another auto / timer shot with the old cannon digital camera. Sure wish it would tell us to slide to the right when we are standing so far off center. lol But I can't blame the camera for putting Nancy in the dead center. Just glad it was not smart enough to zoom in and cut me out alltogether.

Nathan VS The Wall - Remodel @ 4513 Creekview

2008-03-15T21:02:00.000-04:00

Nathan Wendt and Nancy Wendt starting to take out the hall wall in Feb. 2008. A month later we are still perhaps a month away from having everything done. Thanks Nanc for all your hard work!

Nathan Wendt - 1st Ohio Light Artillery

2008-03-15T20:41:00.001-04:00

Nathan Wendt - 1st Ohio Light Artillery, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Of all the things we saw during the 2007 Gathering at Aukerman Creek Nathan was most interested in the Artillery. Every bit of shyness left my 5 year old that day and he asked question after question of the very kind commander of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery Battery C.

Yorkies Love Snow

2008-01-02T13:24:00.001-05:00

Yorkies-Love-Snow, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Our one year old Yorkie, Maddie, playing in the snow. January 2, 2008.

Ice Cube Tail

2007-12-21T22:59:00.000-05:00

Alex gave Maddie (the Yorkie) an ice cube. The next thing we know Bob (the Poodle) is walking around with the ice cube stuck to his tail.

Driving To Harrah's in Metropolis IL

2007-11-16T12:32:00.000-05:00

That's it: The Harrah's Riverboat on the Ohio River in Metropolis IL. Thanks Dad and Marylyn for the trip. Perhaps our bingo luck will carry over to the riverboat next time.

Nathan Wendt Age 2 Profile

2007-09-28T19:15:00.001-04:00

Nathan Wendt Age 2 Profile, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

An odd looking picture from 2003 when Nathan walked past the front door and created this silhouette.

Nate Army Uniform Sep 2007 011

2007-09-28T18:59:00.001-04:00

Nate Army Uniform Sep 2007 011, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Nathan Wendt - Stands at attention with doughnut crumbs still on his face. Uniform sent from PFC Dillon Bomar in gratitude for care packages sent to US troops in Iraq.

Nathan Wendt - What Women Want

2007-08-31T13:35:00.001-04:00

Nathan Wendt - What Women Want, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Nathan Wendt 2002 - What Women Want DVD Sticker On His Head

Nathan Wendt First Day Of Kindergarten

2007-08-31T08:31:00.001-04:00

Nathan Wendt First Day Of Kindergarten, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Nathan waves as the Madison school bus at it pulls up on his first day of kindergarten. Nathans we very excited about going to school and was so looking forward to riding the bus that he started to tear up when we told him that we may have to drive him as the bus was running quite late

Elk Creek - The Kids - 2006

2007-08-27T21:55:00.001-04:00

Elk Creek - The Kids - 2006, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Elk Creek was their favorite place to play last summer. This summer we made it out once or twice early in the season but with the drought and the heat this year was not as nice. Next year who knows.

A Bonaparte is Born

2007-08-17T14:09:00.001-04:00

What-Kids-Did-Before-Computers, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Having been a history buff my whole life, a trait I attribute to my cousin James Hanges, I was of course counting the years until my son Nathan would be old enough to take an interest. That interest sparked in Nathan at the age of 5 when for the first time I showed him my collection of hand painted 15mm Napoleonic Miniatures. Since then it is a weekly request to “have a battle”. More pics of soldiers are sure to follow : )

Destin Florida 2007 - Man Catching Bait Fish

2007-08-16T12:17:00.001-04:00

Destin Florida 2007 - Man Catching Bait Fish, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Our trip to Florida was a quick one this year. We only had two nights in Destin before it was time for a 6 hour drive to Louisiana to meet some family. From there it was up to Tennessee to have breakfast with my father the next day. Then back to Ohio later that day and back to work the next. P.S. The man with the net is no one I know.

Nathan-Spring-2002-With-Dad

2007-08-10T21:41:00.001-04:00

Nathan-Spring-2002-With-Dad, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

One more Picture to round out the spring of 2002. Nathan still 6 months old is out back at my parent’s house and is being held by his Grandfather (my dad).

Thought it may not be visible in this shout I don't think the grass has been that green since that Spring. As my Dad soon after moved to Kentucky and I quickly learned that no one can take care of a yard like a proud Grandfather.

Nathan Wendt 6 Months Easter 2002 - Andy

2007-08-10T21:19:00.001-04:00

Nathan Wendt 6 Months Easter 2002 - Andy, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Still Easter of 2002 but now some one else finally has the camera and Nate and I are in the picture together.

I bet I will say this more than anyone cares to read but I sure wish they could stay this size forever.

Nathan Wendt 6 Months Easter 2002 - Betsy

2007-08-10T21:09:00.001-04:00

Nathan Wendt 6 Months Easter 2002 - Betsy, originally uploaded by Andy Wendt.

Welcome to the first post in my new Blog. The goal of this Blog is quite simple and should be obvious by reading its title. It’s simply dedicated to the things I see in my life.

In October 2001 we were blessed with a son Nathan Andrew Wendt. Like many new parents shortly after having Nathan we purchased a digital camera. For the next 5 years I took literally thousands of pictures a year. Of Nathan, of places we visited, and of the other important people in my life.

Though slightly out of order this first picture is of Nathan at the age of 6 months. He is dressed for Church on Easter Sunday 2001 and is being held by my sister Betsy Reeve.

As they grow up so fast every such occasion is a great excuse to dress them up and take lots of pictures, which is exactly what we did.

Welcome !

2007-08-10T08:30:00.000-04:00

This will be a picture blog. Pics to follow!