Sunday, April 26, 2015

Cherry Blossoms at Brookside Reservation (4/26/2015)

Sunday, April 26, 2015
Today we took our own Cherry Blossom Stroll through the Brookside Reservation, part of the Cleveland Metroparks system.
John Nagy Boulevard is lined with cherry trees
The Japanese Association of Northeast Ohio (JANO) generously donated over 100 Yoshino cherry trees; the first were planted in the 1990s and others were added over time.
Donation marker in the Cherry Grove
JANO also plants trees in other locations in Northeast Ohio, as part of their "Sakura for the Earth" project, not only to foster friendship with their neighbors, but also to improve the environment as the trees absorb carbon dioxide and provide oxygen.
Cherry blossoms
Yoshino cherry blossoms
When the blossom of a cherry tree has reached its full bloom it lets go completely and cleanly from the tree.  The samurai of Japan used the cherry blossom as a metaphor for the idea of embracing not only life but death.  They were ready to die if need be, while appreciating life as a precious, though ephemeral, gift.  Therefore the falling rain of cherry blossoms as they let go of life holds a poignant beauty. (Judy MacKeigan, Cleveland Metroparks Historian)
We continued along the trail that slowly climbed a ridge, and found ponds at the higher elevation.
Typha sp/Cat Tails with burst seed pods
Looking down off the ridge (on athletic fields)
We climbed down from the ridge next to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and crossed a stream to more athletic fields.
Big Creek
Several flag football games were in progress
We returned to the car near the Cherry Grove.
A little political "dig"
Japanese-Americans enjoy a picnic in the Cherry Grove
We drove to Ohio City for lunch, but the restaurant we intended to visit was booked, so we headed home.
Carnegie West Library (1910)
designed by Edward Tilton in modified Renaissance style
Balcony with Ohio City flag
in the Jennings Building (1914)

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Chagrin Falls, OH (4/18/2015)

Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Our first spring flower.
Chionodoxa sp/Glory of the Snow
We seem to have a fairy ring of flowers around the maple tree
Saturday, April 18, 2015
As long as we were going to Chagrin Falls, we decided to try the award-winning Sirna's Pizzeria, located at 11782 E Washington Street. We started at single digits on E Washington Street in Chagrin Falls, and soon entered another county! When we reached Bainbridge, we became concerned, but the GPS told us to keep going! Ten miles from Chagrin Falls, we reached the pizzeria that is actually located in Auburn Corners. The owner said something about the postal address being one thing and the actual location another. The extra drive was worth it, however, and the White Garden pizza was scrumptious.
We returned to Chagrin Falls to admire mostly 19th-century architecture.
120 E Washington Street (1875)
Note wrought-iron arch
Village Hall at 21 W Washington Street
Golden Gate Masonic Lodge No. 245 (1923, in Neoclassical Revival style)
at 11 W Washington Street
4 E Washington Street
4 E Washington Street clock tower and weathervane
52 S Franklin Street (1880, in Queen Anne style)
60 S Franklin Street (1860, in Italianate style)
William J Scott-George Hurlburt House
(1873 foundation, 1901 Gabled Ell) at 23 Maple Street
Looks like an old school playground swingset
31 Walnut Street (1925, Craftsman Bungalow)
24 Walnut Street (1860 Victorian)
24 Walnut Street detail 
Old Post Office (1939, by WPA) at 34 W Washington Street
Wrought-iron sign of new tenant at the Old Post Office
Weatherworn bird house
Chagrin Falls
Chagrin River dam
Bell Street Park fountain base (KSS) 
James Hicks-Charles Hern House
(ca. 1857/1859, Upright and Wing) at 291 Bell Street
The Upright and Wing style is classic Western Reserve architecture.
Cyrus Ely-James Clark House (1872, Upright and Wing) at 349 Bell Street
The above house was likely constructed by brick mason and Englishman William "Boss" Hutchings.
Mary Braund House (1911, American Foursquare) at 465 Bell Street
Alice B Robens House (ca. 1891, in Queen Anne style) at 468 Bell Street
The above house was originally built at 498 E Washington Street, and was moved here in 1949.
Forsythia
This Buteo lineatus/Red-shouldered Hawk kind of stood out
429 E Washington Street (1923, Craftsman)
401 E Washington Street (1925, interesting rounded roof edges)
Chagrin Falls memorials to fallen military residents
236 E Washington Street (1895) detail
223 E Washington Street (1860) with gingerbread trim woodwork

Saturday, April 11, 2015

90th Birthday Party (4/11/2015)

Saturday, April 11, 2015
Tamiko makes tissue paper flowers (KSS)
We're having a grand celebration for Mom/Grandma/Great-grandma who has reached the major milestone of her 90th birthday!
90 tissue paper flowers
The Azalea Trace auditorium was decorated.
Spring pastels and flowers theme (Photo by Ryan)
Pastel M&Ms
Tissue paper hats for the Stumpe ladies (Photo by Ryan)

Tamiko, "Hammy," and Maddy (Photo by Ryan)
Erich & Carrie
Katrina & Kyle
Trista and Delaney
A couple great-grandkids attend.
Jackson and Delaney (Photo by Ryan)
And here's Great-grandma ("Gigi")! (Photo by Ryan)
Delaney models her name tag (Photo by Ryan)
Delaney with Great-grandpa (Photo by Ryan)
Delaney (Photo by Ryan)
Time to sing "Happy Birthday!"
The birthday cake
"Hammy"
Blowing out the candles
Quite a crowd attended.
(Note the slide show in the background!) (Photo by Ryan)
The "parking lot"
There was cake and ice cream, fruit, and cheese and crackers.
Being served a slice of cake (Photo by Ryan)
Kyle approves of the cake (Photo by Ryan)
There was also punch and coffee.
The punch urn
"Hammy" mingles with her many friends.
(Photo by Ryan)
(Photo by Ryan)
"Hammy" and Irene C (Photo by Ryan)
"Hammy" and Bert with a guest (Photo by Ryan)
"Hammy" makes a point (Photo by Ryan)
(Photo by Ryan)
(Photo by Ryan)
'9' and '0' balloons (Photo by Ryan)
Delaney, Jackson, and Lance, who tries on a hat (Photo by Ryan)
Grandma with Kyle
A walking pile of hats
Oh, it's Delaney! (Photo by Ryan)
(Photo by Ryan)
Maddy and Delaney with Grandma/Great-grandma (Photo by Ryan)
After the party, we moved upstairs to the S apartment.
Lance and Jackson (Photo by Ryan)
Delaney with Great-grandpa (Photo by Ryan)
Erich transports the goodies (Photo by Ryan)
Trista took Jackson, who had an M&M tummy ache, back to the hotel.
Delaney helped open all the cards and gifts.
A shawl hand-knit by Trista
Delaney shows off the card she made
Opening the big gift (an iPad Air)
Mmmm, sausages!
 We headed to dinner in the Azalea Trace dining room.
Lance      
Bert, Carrie, Erich
"Hammy," Katrina
Lance and Delaney had to leave right after dinner, as they have a long drive tomorrow.
The rest of the gang.
Katrina, Kyle, Carrie, Erich, Tamiko, Kent, Maddy, Ryan
Bert and "Hammy"