Piano In The Home

Piano

I didn’t get a chance to post this one last night, but here’s the photo for Jan. 20.  We got this piano a while ago.  My wife wanted a piano in the home for the sound of the music. I find the sound of the piano to be very relaxing.  She and I both took lessons when we were kids, but haven’t played much since.  Our children both played instruments in the High School Marching band and did a lot of practicing sitting at this piano.  My sister also plays (and plays really well) so sometimes she plays when she comes over (though not often).

I’ve read that you can keep the onset of Alzheimer’s and Dementia by learning a new language or learning to play a musical instrument.  Maybe it’s time to start practicing again.  It does need a good tune up and some of the keys are sticking, but that can be fixed.

Scioto Mile

View of Downtown Columbus, Ohio from the Scioto Mile

Today’s image comes from the Scioto Mile, a new park area in downtown Columbus, Ohio. I’ve taken a photo of this scene a few years ago, but didn’t like how it turned out, so I went back today to try to get a better shot. I think this one came out best. The color version is really good, but I love black and white images and I love how this one turned out. There is a lot of construction going on in downtown Columbus. The third of three bridges across the Scioto River is nearly complete and the view when complete will be very pretty. The central park area of the Scioto Mile is also really well done. There’s a band shell and green space to listen to outdoor concerts, a water play area for children with some really cool metal sculptures, and the Milestone 229 Restaurant. I didn’t go in, but there were lots of people there getting brunch. Note to self: must try brunch there sometime!

Nathan and Zoe

Fall portraits for my niece and nephew

My sister asked me to take some new portraits of her children. They are a couple of really great kids, charming, precocious, and fun to be around.  Nathan is 8 and at that stage where he’s really starting to develop into a fine young man.  Zoe is 5 and loves to tell stories and live in her imagination.  Watching them grow up has been fun as well.  My sister is 17 years younger than me. I was a junior in High School when she was born, so I really only spent a little time with her growing up as I headed off to The Ohio State University and spent most of my time away from home.  As an adult, she and her husband live in the same area that I do, so we get a chance to spend time together.

My Mom and Dad were down for the weekend watching the grandchildren while my sister and her husband had a weekend away together.  The kids, my parents, and I took the day to head off to Slate Run Metro Park to get some fall portraits.  We didn’t get to go to the farm itself, a living historical farm based on life in the 1830’s, but we did get to spend a beautiful fall day out in the trees.  Slate Run also has a covered bridge (that I used in this image).  The kids are naturals at posing and took direction very well.  I hope to keep making portraits of them as they grow and mature.

I did provide most of the images as color images to my sister, but there is nothing quite like a black and white image.