Merry Christmas!

To all my friends, near and far. May your holidays be graced with the warmth of dear friends and family. May your new year be filled with rich delights and surprises. May your days be occupied with gratifying work, deep play, and inspiring new projects, and may your nights bring you comfort and kindness.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Decay

The week before Christmas, I should have beautiful pictures of snow for you, right? No, here in Central Ohio it's balmy as a gentle September day. I hope you're having a wonderful week, and you're finding the time to spend with the people you care about.

B&W

So, I haven't just been looking at mushrooms for the past month. I've been watching Autumn very reluctantly loosen it's grip. It has yet to really allow Winter to enter the stage. They say we're due for a cold, snowy winter. I have to admit, I'd rather enjoy a truly debilitating storm that forces us to stock up on food and movies. I might enjoy being a bit stranded. Wouldn't you?

Mushrooms, Lichen and Fungi

Hi, friends. Have you been well? I hope so. I know it's been a while and I finally have a few things to share. I've picked up a new interest. I've decided to learn my mushrooms, lichens, moss and fungi. This is actually turning out to be a little tougher than it first appeared. Did you know that not all fungi are mushrooms? It's true. To that, add that there are counterfeits. For example, the top picture is of a Turkey Tail mushroom, not to be confused with the False Turkey Tail which looks an awful like the one above. It isn't as easy as marked bins at the grocery store. Nature doesn't come with tags, which I'm somewhat glad about. And then there are seasons and ranges, and some like rotting oak better than living pine. It's a bit complicated. But stay tuned and I hope to show you a few things in the coming months.

Brandi Carlile - Cannonball

I just love this voice, don't you?

I'll be taking a break from Phthalo, a week or a month, I'm not sure, to work on a few projects that have been calling to me. Don't go too far away, okay?

Have a lovely weekend!

Route 40 Decay

Most people, when they want to get out of the city for a Sunday drive, don't visit places like this, I realize. But there are stories here. While they are seemingly abandoned now, these places once thrived, people lived there, or sold useful things. There were conversations, and little dramas, laughter and tears. Don't you want to know more?

All This And Heaven Too

I'm hardly alone in my admiration of Saturdays, when I roll up my sleeves and put everything back in order that the week seems to have put into chaos. But I always try to squeeze some fun in too. And oops. It seems I forgot to give you some music to listen to yesterday. Let me make it up to you? Here.

Random

Just a few more random shots from the weekend. I hope you're having a lovely week!

More from Route 40

A few more shots from my weekend outing ... I kind of love how Autumn offers a limited palette, such weathered grays, drawing your attention lines and textures. These buildings are noble in their persistence, aren't they?

Random

I'm kind of crazy about some of the textures, colors and patterns I captured over the weekend. Route 40 is littered with these relics from the past. I'm embarking on a project, recording some of these relics, small parts of Ohio and, by default, American history. Some of these places seem rather anonymous, but I'm looking forward to discovering, and sharing, these places and in doing so, breathing a little life into the past.

Florence came out with her new release, Ceremonials, this week and this song is already etched itself onto my brain. Go ahead, give it a listen. And have a lovely weekend!

Route 40

Have you ever found a structure that made you stop and wonder about its history? Was it once a home? A general store? What was it, and what had it become? Why is it being used to store industrial machinery? What would these walls say if they could talk?

Trick or Treat?

I had a few visitors tonight. Construction workers, short and thuggish football players, a rooster sucking on a lollipop. A dragon, and a young man painted blue. A brave little fireman. What does one do with such a strange collection of short people demanding candy? Why, give it to them.

Jagadamba - First Aid Kit

It's been a busy week on my end, good but busy. I haven't taken many pictures even, but hope to fix that very soon. And I've got my First Aid Kit to help me out.

Have a lovely weekend!

Through the Floor - Crystal Stilts

My friend Alessandro turned me onto these guys. Really good stuff, huh?
Happy weeknd, my friends!

Autumn Colour Week (Gray)

Silver. Graphite. Slate. Gray matter. Gray area. Gray Gardens. Scarlet and gray. Gainsboro. Platinum. Oyster. Pantone 18-1210. Need I say more?