Tag Archives: Apple iPhone 12 Pro

12MP digital camera with Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto options. Minimum aperture f/1.6 and 4x optical zoom.

Purchased in November 2023 as an upgrade from the iPhone 8.

hocking hills 2024 , Leave a comment

Hocking Hills: Cedar Falls and Conkle’s Hollow

When my mom suggested we go somewhere for a short trip this summer, the things most on her mind were 1.) a swimming pool and 2.) waterfalls. The waterfall requirement was the main reason that Cedar Falls was the first stop on our Hocking Hills nature adventure, despite me having already researched the local attractions and having decided that Conkle’s Hollow and Ash Cave would be our best bets for truly accessible hiking.

Pro tip: if your knees can’t tolerate stairs, hiking Cedar Falls may not be in your best interest.

  • Wide angle from the creek at Cedar Falls
  • King of the Falls
  • This Swallowtail landed on the stream bank and let several hikers photograph it close up
  • Grammy and Connor waited up on the trail for me to take pictures
  • View from the creek approaching Cedar Falls
  • All the tourists were photographing this turtle and the fish
  • Informational plaque at Cedar Falls
  • Family Selfie at Cedar Falls
  • Connor and Grammy at Cedar Falls
  • Now they tell us…
  • Grammy standing with her walking stick next to a wooden bridge. A sign next to her says "Accessible Trail" and shows icons of a hiker and the modern Wheelchair Symbol.
    Conkles Hollow looks much less strenuous
  • I didn’t use the selfie station as designed
  • The caves along the gorge are reminiscent of the ones farther north at Whipps Ledges back in Medina County
  • Sandstone cliffs of Conkles Hollow
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The Chalets in Hocking Hills

Rather than trying to find things to do around my Mom’s place this summer, she suggested that the three of us — she and Connor and myself — go on a trip and see some nature. I suggested Hocking Hills, since it’s only a few hours’ drive, and I decided to take a chance on romance and book an Airbnb for the first time. The Chalets in Hocking Hills were more expensive than a hotel would have been, but having an A-frame to ourselves was totally worth it.

  • Arrived at The Chalets in Hocking Hills
  • View of my mom from the loft
  • View of Connor in the loft
  • Connor on the bed in the loft
  • The kitchenette had everything we needed
  • Connor volunteered to load our cooler contents into the fridge
  • View from the comfy couch in the main living space
  • Grammy called this the paint-by-numbers deer
  • We didn’t spend as much time in the hot tub as we’d anticipated
  • Composition from the loft
  • Natural light streaming in through the window
  • The stairs up to the loft were very narrow
  • Connor enjoying some game time
  • Deer sighting from the car
  • The view from the balcony
  • Grammy thought I was just taking pictures of the trees
  • I see you!

We visited Cedar Falls and Conkle’s Hollow, enjoyed some local restaurants, and did a lot of driving. More photos to come, but for now I’ll sum up the trip by saying that we’ve already decided that this needs to be an annual tradition from now on.

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Ann Arbor Art Fairs 2024

Yesterday morning, we got out and about much earlier than usual for a Saturday. We hadn’t been to the Ann Arbor Art Fairs in years, and we were itching to get out of town and do something different — or, at least, Aaron and I were. Connor was just along for the ride.

Ready to embark
En route to State St.
Buy some art…
Future gift idea for a friend
Silliness at lunch
Boredom at lunch
Silly outtake from the bus

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Friendly Firefly

I found this little guy doing the backstroke in the birdbath when I went to fill it up this morning. When I gently splashed him out of the water, to my surprise, he started climbing up the side of the bowl.

I didn’t see him land here on my maple bonsai-in-progress, but I assume it’s the same firefly. He’s been hanging out on this leaf for some 15 minutes or so, presumably drying himself off.

We’re just chilling here together before the temps turn unseasonably warm later today.

Also? As I was writing this, tapping on my phone and sitting in the Adirondack chair with my big friend, a critter sauntered under my chair and into the plants behind me. Guess I’ve been chill enough that he didn’t even care that I’m here.