Put-in-Bay July 2007

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.