Today I’m joining Thursday Doors, hosted by Norm Frampton, so I can share door photos + a bit more.
I took these photos when we decided to stop at Miami Whitewater Forest, a Hamilton County Ohio park. The park is in southwest Ohio, close to the Indiana and Kentucky borders.
It covers over 4,000 hilly acres, features an 85-acre lake, and is named for a Shaker community that used to thrive in this area.
On the sunny day we visited the park we went for a look-see, moseying around, not intending to do anything in particular. Here are a few photos of what we saw.
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DOOR into ranger station office.
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Lake with docks as seen while sitting on bench on nearby hill.
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A small brown leaf… or is it?
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A butterfly that appeared where the brown leaf was!
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A deer doing its thing while standing in the scummy part of the lake.
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My pale scrawny Birkenstock-encased tootsies as seen by me whilst sitting quietly and watching deer doing its thing.
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DOOR, in the sense that a trash can flap is door-like, as seen on a trash can with a lovely lake scene behind it.
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THE SPECTACLED BEAN 
The best outings are when you can just poke around, you never know what you might find.
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Jackie, I agree. We were just looking for something to fill the time before something else and this park didn’t disappoint.
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Just lovely.
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It was, wasn’t it?
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What a beautiful park, ABean. The weather looks picture perfect, too. I cracked up at your feet! Your toes look a lot like my own. My sister used to tease me saying I could play the piano with mine! 🙂
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Jill, are you making fun of my toes?! I’ve never thought to try to play the piano with them, but considering how I can’t play the piano with my fingers why not try toes? 😉
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Gorgeous pictures, as usual. You have great perspective. So many beautiful places to visit. And nice toes! I would never post a picture of mine. They are terrible! Love that you are back.
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Beth, thank you– about the pics and the toes! On a clear day in a huge park like this one I doubt anyone could snap a bad photo. I’m happy to be back to blogging, too. It’s something good to do with my time, ‘ya know?
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I can feel the relaxed vibe through these pics. Looks like a wonderful place to spend a nice day just poking around.
Thanks for joining us this week 🙂
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Norm, this park was extremely relaxed. There were lots of people doing things, but somehow the overall feel of the place was mellow. And I got one legit door photo out of it, so what’s not to love!
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You had me confused with a Miami park in Ohio, but it included a deer and so all is good 🙂
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Joanne, the Miami Indians were from this region so lots of places are named for them. After you live here awhile you forget that there’s a more famous Miami down in FL.
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Looks like it was a gorgeous day! Love the pics.
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Kate, it was a perfect day. One of the last summer-y ones, to be sure.
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Yeah, it’s pouring here right now and tomorrow will be much cooler.
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It’s gray here with rain in the forecast. I’m expecting tomorrow to be the first “real” day of Autumn. Adios Summer.
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Me too. Adios to the worst summer I can remember! And I like it hot!
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I agree. This has been an awful summer in which [get this] I killed a pot of mint. NO ONE KILLS MINT, that’s the whole gripe against it that once is starts growing it never goes away. But I killed it.
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I planted a row of lavender once along the sunny side of the house. They like hot and dry. I watered because you do that so they get a good start. Killed the whole row. However, you win. No one kills mint.
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I KNOW! I understand how our geraniums and zinnia died because of too much rain this summer, but mint? 🤷♀️
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It has been wretched. Never-ending plants did.
Finally a bright sunny brisk fall day this morning – low 80’s. hasn’t been this nice since early April.
Catching that butterfly was amazing luck. The monarchs are passing through here now and I feel bad for them as there are fewer flowers than usual due to all the rain and heat.
HA! you threw me at first with Miami -but then I remembered the tribes. Names of areas have so much history in them.
Beautiful pictures. Hope the rest of fall is mellow and bright, too
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philmouse, I cannot remember a worse summer for plants and outdoor activities. Nothing went right, that’s for sure. I was surprised by the leaf that turned into a butterfly. Nature is one clever dude– or dudette.
In the future I must remember that historical names around here have become so commonplace to me that I forget that to an outsider the name might seem peculiar. Clear communication is tricky.
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Love the blue ranger station door and the pic just below it of the lake. I thought the leaf was a bird. Neat trick, butterfly! Fun post. Good times. It’s a swinging door on that trash can. It qualifies.
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Elen, thank you for your support regarding the door-ness of the flap on the trash can. Norm has seen this post and not called me out on it, so I think I’m good to go here. The butterfly surprised me. I had no idea they disguised themselves like that.
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Sitting by a lake = the perfect place to admire camouflaged butterflies, foraging deer, and 10 little Indians wrapped in sandals. 😀
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nancy, well said. It was late afternoon and there was a lot going on around that lake, in a low-key way.
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I love your creative interpretation of doors, Ally. Awesome Autumn post!
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Donna, thank you! Doors be doors as far as I’m concerned. Glad you liked the pics.
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Thanks for sharing the pictures. And yes, that flap is a door. We are running out of days to see sights like this up here in New England. Also running out of days to wear sandals.
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Dan, I thought I might be stretching things with that trash can flap, but from these comments I can see that I’m among kindred spirits here. Today the weather is finally turning cool, so no more sandals for me.
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I think Norm fosters a fairly loose interpretation of what a door is.
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I think you’re right and for that I am thankful.
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I loved your photos and fun comments.
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Thank you, Anne. Doing these door posts is always fun.
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I love the blue door and the nature photos are just beautiful. You didn’t scare that butterfly away! I love that your toenails are not painted. Painted toenails give me the creeps for some reason. Thanks for taking us on your walk!
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Janet, the blue door was stunning in real life. It was immediately visible, but blended into the building, too. I sometimes paint my toenails, but you got a non-creepy look at them here. Just for you, of course. 😉
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That lakes looks lovely…. your pale toes? Not so much. Get some sun on those things while you still can!!
😉
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rivergirl1211, I hesitated about showing my pale feet to the world, but you know sometimes in blogging you have to live life on the edge! Go beyond your comfort zone…
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looks like a great place to visit and enjoy nature
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teacherturnedmommy, it was unexpectedly calm there despite lots of people around. And then to find a door I could use for this challenge… win, win.
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Love the butterfly.
Someone once told me I could knit sweaters with my toes. They are too long for Vibrams, I think. And forget toe socks too.
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Deb, the butterfly photo makes me happy. Knitting with your toes? That would not make me happy. What is it with people wanting our toes to do more than just be toes?
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Toe envy. I can’t think of another explanation.
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You are so right. That explains it perfectly.
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What a beautiful area! How fun the butterfly appeared to your fancy (haha – they must be “sensitive”). It’s not your feet, but the Birkenstock – these are one of the most elegant I’ve seen. I can imagine these are more popular than in California’s fashionista minded-ness.
Jesh
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Junieper/Jesh, I was intrigued by the butterfly and am pleased that I got a pic of it. I’m a fan of Birkenstocks and I agree this particular pair is more stylish than other ones. What do my feet have to do with door photos– well, not a thing but who am I to let a good photo go to waste. 😉
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Near Cincinnati, then? Dad’s from there.
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John, yes this park is to the west of Cincinnati, almost in Indiana. It’s beautiful to visit, but you have to want to find it.
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Even deer know that there can occasionally be good things found in the scummy side of the lake. I consider myself the scummy side of the internet. But I have cute squirrels…
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evil, you’re the scummy side of the internet, eh? Duly noted. Everybody needs a spot.
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I definitely think trashcan flaps qualify as doors (Norm seems pretty flexible about these things… I have yet to be fined for my liberal interpretations of the word, anyway). That looks like a great park… a perfect place to stroll.
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Janis, I like how you think. The little bit that we saw of the park was pretty and inviting. I hope to go back and see some of the other areas, maybe see some trees doing their autumn color thing.
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Sounds like a lovely park. And day!
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Jan, it was. I like going to parks with no itinerary to follow. Just be.
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A butterfly! There’s a message in there somewhere. 🙂 I love the colors: the greens and the blues. What a lovely day!
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Margaret, I hadn’t thought of the meaning behind the butterfly, but that’s kind of what they’re known for, isn’t it? New beginnings and all that. The colors at the park were unusually intense on the day we went there. Me likey.
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Cute. Like that blue door. Love the butterfly where the leaf used to be. Hardeharhar. Cute birks. And I can’t help but feel sorry for the trash can that it’s stuck with it’s back to the lovely lake behind it. You shoulda turned it around so it could enjoy the view. Also, WHY is it facing that way. Seems people would be walking on the path, and it would make more sense to face the walkers.
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Betsy, I thought the blue door, while unexpected, was a perfect shade of blue that made the office door visible, but not ugly. I don’t know why that trash can was positioned like it was. I agree, it makes no sense, but there it was right in the middle of my photo op so I took the pic anyway. Go figure about that trash can, its life and its purpose.
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Wondering about the lives of trash cans: their wants, needs, desires, loves, is what keeps me up at night.
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You are a good person to concern yourself with such things. Someone has to worry on behalf of trash cans.
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I’m thinking of forming a support group.
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Please do. There’s a real need for it! 😊
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I know, right?
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Cool post! That butterfly surprised me, for sure. I have that same protective coloration. People see me and think, “Dumpy middle-aged hick.” After they know me, they think, “Dumpy middle-aged hick WITH ATTITUDE.” Thanks for the beautiful nature pictures. They were delightful.
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marian, I adore your personal take on the butterfly. It made me smile at your self awareness– and your attitude, of course. Gotta enjoy nature and the what it brings to mind. Thanks for stopping by to comment.
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Oh Ally, I love to mosey 🙂 I’m so glad you and your toesies went on a mosey! What a great day! Love the deer in the green muck. I feel like I went with you, if only for a moment. Thanks for sharing this.
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joey, it was a great park to visit, and someday I’d like to go back with more of a plan. Maybe walk the long trail, take a lunch. Still just hanging by the lake was cool beans.
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Nice photos! I grew up in Fairfield, Ohio (near Cincinnati). =)
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Brenda, then you know the terrain around this park. It’s not too far away from Fairfield. How fun that you found this post!
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