Biking in the Ohio Countryside

Hello everyone,
I got a new bicycle about a week ago! I hadn't even been on a bike for many years, but had been thinking about it for a while, so finally started looking for one. I wanted just a regular, old-fashioned bike...nothing fancy...just one speed...the kind of bike I rode as a child. Well, I found exactly what I wanted at Wal Mart! I love the aqua and white color, which looks very "retro" to me. The wicker basket didn't come with it - I bought that on ebay.

The weather was perfect yesterday, so I took a long ride. It's so much fun (although my back and thighs are sore today from riding too far!) It's a good thing it's very "flat" where I live, as I don't think I'd make it up any steep hills!

The open road

A sign at the rest stop along the trail

See the Beauty!

Until next time,

Cindy

Linking to Outdoor Wednesday on A Southern Daydreamer



Abandoned Houses

I love old, abandoned houses. When I went to my 12 year-old grandnephew's baseball game last week in a nieghboring village, this house was just behind the ball field. Notice the gazebo in the back! I have no idea how old this house is, but I like to picture women in long dresses, sipping tea in the gazebo, surrounded by a garden filled with antique roses.

This log house is on the same plot, across from the house in the picture above. There were a few other buildings on the land, too, in much worse shape than these. My niece's husband knows the owner and said they all used to be part of what was called "Valentine Village." Interesting...

I can picture a swing hanging from that big branch of this huge, old tree! What stories do the walls of these old places hold? These homes are quite a contrast to the pretty cottages in my previous post - but I love them all!

Until next time,

Cindy

Linking to Outdoor Wednesday on The Southern Daydreamer

A Walk in the Woods ~

These photos were taken yesterday at the Collier-Howard State Nature Preserve in Northwest Ohio. One of my favorite things in the world to do is hike in the woods. It was so peaceful and quiet - when I stood still, I could actually hear the leaves falling from the trees. Magical!

This preserve contains beech trees, oaks, sycamore, ash, tulip and cottonwoods. As you can see, there is still quite a lot of green on the trees. They're changing rapidly, day by day, however.

 

Mushrooms and moss on a log.

Stairs are built into some of the hillsides. I think they've done a very good job of doing it in a way as to not distract from the natural beauty of the area.

Until next time, wishing everyone a wonderful week!

Linking this to Outdoor Wednesday on A Southern Daydreamer!

Change of Seasons

The look and feel of autumn is in the air! Mild sunny days and crisp, cold nights. Time for sweaters, scarves and putting an extra blanket on the bed at night.  My sister, niece and I took a leisurely drive on Saturday and stopped at a country farm market/pumpkin patch. I love the colors of fall! 

Here's more of what we found. Don't you just love these rusty old wagons and farm equipment filled with flowers and pumpkins?

Some of the more creative displays and even a fort made out of hay bales!

 Rimelspach Farm Market is located at the intersection of State Route 12 and State Route 53 in Fremont, Ohio. Until next time, wishing everyone a happy week!

I'm linking this post to Outdoor Wednesday on A Southern Daydreamer