PLEASE NOTE: Yesterday Elisabeth at The Optimistic Musings Of A Pessimist interviewed me for her ongoing series featuring bloggers. I was happy to participate. Go HERE to read the interview.
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I like November.
In my part of the midwest it’s the calm before the storm, the pause before the whirlwind of the holidays. It’s a delightful time to just BE.
Grateful for cool nights and sunny days.
Peaceful and introspective, even.
Consequently while many bloggers worldwide are participating in NaBloPoMo [National Blog Post Month] or NaNoWriMo [National Novel Writing Month], I’m feeling pleasantly detached from writing, inclined to relax into each moment without wordiness.
To wit, as a few of you may recall I used to do posts on this blog in which I shared photos of where I/we went for a walk. Recently I realized that I got away from doing that during the pandemic, shifting into writing more, photographing less.
However today in light of my mellow mood and my lack of verboseness, I’ll post the following photos I took last Friday afternoon when the sun was shining brightly.
We decided to see what was going on with a state project to replace a pedestrian bridge, on a former railroad bridge, that is part of a popular bike path. We wanted to see where the bridge used to be.
And who doesn’t like a post that includes a photo of what isn’t there anymore? 🤔
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This photo was taken while walking through Loveland OH on a beautiful autumn afternoon.
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Locally referred to as the Loveland Bike Trail, the official name of this path is the Little Miami State Park.
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On the bike trail, which is used by runners and walkers as often as cyclists, you can find this building, the Little Miami Conservancy.
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As you get closer to the closed portion of the path you now see this sign.
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And this sign, a free parking sign, that has been tossed casually onto the ground until it is needed again.
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The pedestrian bridge that you do not see here is being replaced by The Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
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This is a photo of the Little Miami River, part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It is the river over which the bridge that used to be was, and the river that will again have a pedestrian bridge over it once the new one is built.
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Really got hooked onto these trails! Checked your Loveland Trails really beautiful!
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ganga1996, many of the railroad tracks around here have been turned into pedestrian paths which makes for some lovely places to wander on or bike on.
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Same here in Pittsburgh and weekend we were in Rochester and saw the same. It is a great idea!
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I agree.
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Are you from Ohio? That’s where I Wass raised and went to college in Ohio. I remembering falling asleep with the sound of the trains. One thing I miss for sure.
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Belladonna, yes I’m in Ohio. The trains at night can be soothing as long as they don’t use their brakes to screech to a halt!
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Oh yes for sure! LOL
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😳
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Loved the interview – thanks for the introduction to Elisabeth and her blog…and the photo of ‘little Ally”. Adorable on top of adorable with a side order of adorable. 🥰 Thanks, too, for the lovely and scenic pics. The last one of the Little Miami is an ‘aah’ moment. Happy Tuesday, Ally Bean!
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Victoria, yes that photo of me is adorable, I admit it. Thanks for saying so. I agree that the last photo of our stroll, which was the last photo I took on Friday, is peaceful, considering how large that river is.
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Loved every bit. Thanks, Ally! 🥰☀️🥰
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😁
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It’s going be so nice when it’s complete. It looks like a lovely place to bike, hike, and walk.
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Deborah, when it’s finished the new bridge will be great and presumably sturdier than its predecessor. Until then, however, we’ll be walking in the opposite direction on our walks.
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I wish I loved November, but I can almost hear the wind moaning out Hitchcock-esque ominous music to…dun, dun, dun – snow and ice and cold and everything else I hate about winter. I love Christmas and cozy blankets and twinkle lights. But not enough to compensate for the fact I will be cold every day from now until May, give or take a few weeks.
I 100% see my husband and I leaving Eastern Canada from November – April when we retire. I loathe the cold so much.
October? October I can get behind. The crisp mornings, the warm afternoons, the beautiful leaves.
Thanks again for agreeing to be a guest poster. It was fun and your sweet picture may just break the interwebs ❤
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Elisabeth, if I lived where you do I’d not be so keen on November. Around here is the last gasp of autumn, like your October, only it goes on for weeks [most years]. I understand your dislike of your November. I know there are lots of Canadian snow birds who head to Florida for the winter for good reasons.
Your questions were great, thanks for asking me to answer them. The photo of little Ally Bean is a classic, so many kids back then had those Pixie photos taken. Mothers loved them.
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I enjoyed the pictures. Sorry for the winter hikers who are now between bridges, but it’s nice that they are replacing the bridge. We have an active railroad bridge that is scheduled to be replaced. We’re hoping that they will turn the old one into a pedestrian crossing. It already crosses a hiking trail on one side.
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Dan, it’s wonderful when old railroad tracks are turned into walking/biking paths and there is a whole system of them around here, BUT the old bridges are weak. It is an inconvenience to everyone, businesses too, while the bridges are being replaced. Hope yours goes as scheduled.
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I looked it up on the map and I think I drove through or very near your Loveland on our Epic Trip back in 83. We were driving to He-Man’s childhood home to see his parents and sister in Monessen, PA. We left from my cousin’s house in Louisville and went through Cincinnati, but didn’t stop there we stopped in Columbus for a White Castle fix. It had been many years since I’d had a White Castle burger(s). Just thought I’d share some of the memories that came flooding back after seeing the route on the map.
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You could have driven by the Loveland exit on your way from Cincinnati to Columbus. That makes sense. I haven’t had a White Castle burger in decades. I adore it when one of my posts prompts memories. Thanks for sharing.
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So I have to ask… why Little Miami when you’re in Ohio? I don’t see any gators or palm trees.
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Rivergirl, the word “miami” is from the Algonquian language and means “sweet water” or “mother” depending on which historian you reference. Good question.
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Fascinating. I didn’t know that… thank you.
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Ah that answered my first question.
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Bernie, it’s funny I never give a second thought to that word, having lived around here forever. But I understand how odd it may seem to other people.
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Two of my high school friends attended Miami University in Ohio for college. When I tell people about Miami University, I always have to explain. It’s not in Florida. 🤣
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I knew a few kids who went to Miami University, too. When I wrote this I forgot how confusing it can be when everyone knows about Miami FL, but few people know about the Ohio connection to that word. My bad 🙄
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I never knew that either! I love words & language, so I’m very happy to know the meaning of Miami!
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Yay! Michelle, I never knew this until I moved to this area.
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Always a fan of walks. Gorgeous blue sky in your photos. I’ve been promising to do NaNoWriMo for years, as soon as child is more independent and I have less volunteer commitments. This year was gonna be the year…until the water damage in the kitchen. Repairs, battles with insurance, and back and forth with the contractors has been dragging on for months. So…next year?
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AutumnAshbough, when it is pretty here, it is REALLY pretty, like A+. However the rest of the time it is more B- and kind of drab.
I understand your reason for not doing NaNoWriMo this year and it is a sound one. You have enough going on without adding it to your schedule. If nothing else these added 12 months will give you more time to plan.
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Well that is just lovely Ally Bean! Not the bridge being gone, but that trail in general with all the quaint, quintessential midwestern scenery that abounds 🙂
Living in small town PNW I am drawn to this place and also have the trains traveling through
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Deb, thank you. The trail is long so this is just one small piece of it, but the community around it is, like you said, quintessential midwestern. I’m glad the bridge is being replaced for safety reasons, but I worry about the small businesses and restaurants that depend on the pedestrian/bike traffic for their livelihoods.
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I can understand those worries. We had a major fire in our small downtown core that took out 4 or 5 businesses to some degree with 2 totally destroyed. People pulled together and found creative ways to keep this core area going and now all but one are fully back. I think the community in general will rally to help during the down time, if they are anything like my little town that is 🙂
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I like knowing that people still rally around small businesses to help them during difficult times. Let’s hope that holds true for Loveland. The thing is that when the trail is open and going gangbusters that downtown is hopping. It was odd to us to see it so deserted.
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I will hope that your group band together and find creative ways, especially now that they need the revenue from the holiday shopping crowds.
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That’s the crux of it. If these restaurants and shops do well in December they’ll make it through to next spring. 🤞🏻
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Good luck to Ohio with the voting today!
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Ellen D, yes this is a BIG day in Ohio. I’ll be voting later today.
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The first thing I thought of was Miami of Ohio. I had to look that one up. It is a university, which may explain why I’ve heard of it. The name probably was part of a sports report somewhere along the way. On the other hand, Loveland evoked Colorado: the only Loveland I’ve visited. I thought I remembered that Miami was originally the name of a native American tribe. Poking around, I found that Twightwees, an English name for the tribe, was derived from a Miami term meaning “cry of the crane.” That made me laugh. There may well be a different sort of crane in your bridge construction area.
These rail trails are marvelous. They seem to be more common in the northeast and midwest, which makes sense since the rail system there is denser. If I were a biker or runner, I’d love that trail, but I was most attracted by the last photo of the river. That’s where I’ll be if you need me!
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Linda, Miami University is well-known for its sports and for its academics. I know of Loveland CO but have never been there. I don’t know which Loveland came first, as if that matters. Twightwees is a word that is sometimes used for street names around here.
I like this path and we walk stretches of it every so often. It goes through a few small towns, into the forest, along farm fields, and through some city parks. It has a little something for everyone. Plus there is canoeing and kayaking on the river for those who do that.
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Parts of the Trans Canada Trail used to be rail lines. It is definitely a good use of those that are discontinued. Interesting the bridge was so far gone that it had to be replaced totally and not repaired.
As to the weather in November, I would solidly rate ours here as a D-. UGH. Again, rain, 110 % overcast, and gloomy. Thanks for the sunny pictures!! Needed that.
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Bernie, I don’t know how dangerous the old bridge was but it looked awful, rotten wood, warnings about crossing it. Supposedly the new bridge will have a few benches on it so you can sit and watch the people/river go by. Sounds swanky to me.
I understand how your part of the world could have D- weather for months on end. It gets gloomy and wet here, but not for as long as where you live. Hang in there.
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Once it gets cold, the cloud will lift. Looking forward to snow and -whatever it takes to bring the sun back.
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Good point. Our pretty snow days are few and far between, while you do have beautiful days with snow everywhere. “Here comes the sun, little darling…” 🎶
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Thanks for the new song to sing. I always sing “sun, sun, Mr
Golden sun”.
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I read your interview and couldn’t agree more about audio books. Not only do I wander, I wander off and fall asleep. Absolutely can’t do them while driving. Also, dream job – may I join? Mine too. 🙂 And lastly, I agree with your advice. Pragmatic and true. Cheers.
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Lynette, I could never listen to an audio book while driving because I’d get too distracted, perhaps drift off to sleep. You’re welcome to join me on my dream job. As a former perfectionist it took me years to acknowledge the truth of that advice, but now… I’m content.
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Love your post, Ally (and that was a wonderful interview, too). Those look like beautiful trails to promenade on.
Nothing wrong with not feeling like writing every day. I contemplated doing NaBlo Blah Blah but realised it would be impossible as my beau is coming up for a week and they ain’t no way Imma spend any of our time on the ‘puter. 😉
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Dale, you nailed it about writing every day. When I started blogging I did that, so I know how much work it is. And no matter how fun NaBloPoMo can be, I’m sure that the blogosphere can carry on without me around all the time. Enjoy your time with your beau.
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I lift my hat off to those who manage to do it daily. I just couldn’t keep up (and you (and I to a lesser extent) have a lot of comments and answer them all.) Forget about doing this daily! We’d do nothing else!
And I will, thank you 🙂
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THAT’S a great point. I insist on answering comments so to write daily and do that too… I’d go bonkers. We’d do nothing else! So true.
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Right? We’d be chained to our computers!!!
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Ugh.
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Which would leave us with no time to meander and photograph and think up subjects to post about!
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I like your no-fuss approach to writing nowadays. I did sign up for NaNoWriMo just to see what it’s like. However, I refuse to pressure myself to produce thousands of words. How about dozens or hundreds instead?
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Marian, thank you. A few dozen or hundreds of words sounds good to me. I’ve done NaBloPoMo which is more about showing up than NaNoWriMo which is about word count. Both demand more of me than I’m willing to give.
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And who doesn’t like a post that includes a photo of what isn’t there anymore? 🤔
You crack me up!
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Colleen, when I went back to see which photos I’d use in this post I realized that was exactly what I had. A photo of what isn’t. Gotta tell it like it is. 😁
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Three thumbs up 👍 👍 👍 that’d also be a great title for the post 🙃
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EW, you’re right. Now go right ahead and use that title for a post!
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Sadly, most of my photos end up being Shakey/fuzzy and generally unclear 🥀
But thank you, I may, one day get enough in-focus photos to merit that post! Until then, thank you for the Mrs. Sidhu recommendation!
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I take a lot of lousy photos, too. I just delete ’em. 🤷♀️
Glad you like Mrs Sidhu. I instantly loved that show. Hoping for another season.
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💕
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So . . . turns out you’re less tidy than one would imagine, but your philosophy is A-OK:
“A good enough something is better than a perfect nothing”
(akin to “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”).
And your tiny toddler picture = picture perfect!
What a cutie!
Enjoyed your photography and lack of verbosity as we wend our way into the holidays.
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Nancy, I want to be tidier… sometimes… but I am not. Although I do a great let’s make the house perfect for guests thing when necessary. My point is, I can appear to be tidy when necessary!
Thanks about the photo. It’s one of the few I have of myself and seemed like a good one to add to Elisabeth’s interview.
Yep, I’m getting tired of writing and refuse to force myself to do so. I suspect no one is going to be distraught about fewer words from me this month.
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Great interview – I read it on Elisabeth’s blog yesterday. The childhood photo was so sweet.
I enjoy photos of your local area. I particularly like the bike path that looks like it is running through a quaint little neighborhood. I wonder why it is called Miami State Park. In Ohio.
Coach and I drove to a state park in Illinois in Sunday. It was a gorgous day. Starved Rock is about an hour from us. It was beautiful. I thought we’d taken the kids there once, but once we were there we realized we’d never taken them there. I spent a half a minute feeling like we’d gypped. Then Coach and I were like YEAH, WE WENT TO GLACIER. YELLOWSTONE. ROCKY MOUNTAIN. etc, etc. I’ll have to share those pics soon.
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Ernie, the childhood photo is a keeper, one of the few I have. Thanks for reading the interview.
Good question. It’s called Miami State Park in honor of the Algonquin word ‘miami’ that means either sweet water or mother depending on who you ask. Miami is a very popular word for streets or parks or townships or towns here in southern Ohio.
Funny about going to a park you thought you’d been to only to realize you hadn’t been there. Ain’t that a pip! Made me laugh out loud about that.
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I’m a big fan of safe and designated places to walk, run, or ride a bike. I can see how this will be a big draw for people who want to be outdoors but not too far off the beaten path.
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Pete, it’s a wonderful place to be outside because the whole length of it goes through small towns and farm fields and forested areas. This bridge closing in the middle of it will be annoying but make it better in the long run [no pun intended].
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I love photos of walks, especially with blue sky and sun. We haven’t been getting much of that lately! Although I sometimes post (too) frequently, I don’t like to commit to every day. I’ve always been a mood blogger; when I feel like writing, I do and when I don’t, I don’t have to force myself.
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Margaret, you’re a “mood blogger” which is a marvelous way to explain your approach to blogging. I’ve never heard anyone else say that! You’ve coined a new genre, congratulations. And yes, walks outside under blue skies are the best. When it’s pretty here it is really pretty.
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I love when other people use their local parks and walkways. It’s just a lovely part of where I live. I can’t imagine living someplace that didn’t prioritize green space.
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NGS, I agree with you. One of the reasons we live in suburbia is because of the green spaces. Once it gets more urban it’s small parks wedged in, but out here we have space to roam.
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Lovely autumn photos. Where does the ‘Little Miami’ name stem from?
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Donna, ‘miami’ is an Algonquin word meaning sweet water or mother depending on who you listen to. The word is used everywhere around here, often as a street name or a city name or a park name. It’s ubiquitous.
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Area names are always so interesting to me. Thank you for sharing this, Ally!
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I know what you mean. They’re often a glimpse into regional history, as is the reality in this case.
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I like the phrase, pleasantly detached from writing. It also describes my current state. Great interview and pics. It is always nice to learn more about a person’s thoughts and environment. Especially one you enjoy reading.
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Jenn, you’re too sweet. Thanks for reading the interview and for understanding my current mindset. I like to write, but when I get mellow like this I don’t have the pep to do so. So I’ll embrace my slacker-ness and just be.
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Heyyy…once, on a meandering cross-country trip, we stayed near Loveland, OH, and ran on the Little Miami Trail. It was lovely! One of my favorite things about traveling long distances by car is finding a nice restaurant (doesn’t have to be fancy) and a good place to run in each new town we come to.
I am not a huge fan of November (too gray and cold for me) but I do concede that it does have its share of excellent walking days.
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Laurie, how fun that you ran on the Little Miami Trail. It’s a wonderful draw for living in this area and goes on forever now. When we moved here it was open in bits and pieces but now it all connects… unless a bridge is being replaced.
Our December will be like your November, but right now it is lovely outside and I want to drink it in.
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Your photos remind me of our Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I love how so many communities are establishing bike paths along old railroad tracks. And who doesn’t love a pedestrian bridge? There’s something romantic about them.
Off to read your interview!
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Bijoux, your Cuyahoga Valley National Park is stunningly beautiful, while this path is very nice indeed. Not on the scale of what you experience. Thanks for taking a look at the interview. It was fun to do.
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I love your photos. They remind me of where I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. It must be the small town feel and green trees!
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E.A. Wickham, a couple other people have mentioned how the look of this small town reminds them of where they grew up. It is very Americana if you grew up around deciduous trees and four seasons.
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We had more evergreens, but also lots of deciduous trees in a small town north of Seattle. We had four seasons, too although three were rainy!
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Ha! Kind of the same sort of weather, definitely the same sort of color scheme– green, blue, and gray.
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Exactly!
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Isn’t it beautiful this time of year in the Midwest? I love the beginning of November. In terms of the fall season, it is truly underrated. I’m enjoying reading the extra blog posts as well, but I’m not participating as you said. I enjoy the transition from autumn to winter. Everything, including myself, is slowing down. 🖤
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Kari, you said it. This time of year between Halloween and Thanksgiving is underrated. I adore it and this year it has been exceptionally pretty here. I feel like with so many bloggers writing soooo much on their blogs this month I can stand down! Do less, just be.
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Amen.
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It was fun taking a stroll with you on this lovely November day, Ally. It will be nice when the bridge is completed — it looks like a beautiful part of the country for walking and taking in the scenery.
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Barbara, the bike path, as I call it, is wonderful in all that it brings together and makes accessible to people [& dogs]. We don’t use it with any plan, just stop at points on it and walk to see what we can see.
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I am especially peeved to be feeling unwell just at the point when the leaves are putting on their best display, so thank you for taking me with you on a virtual walk around your neighbourhood.
I feel like I’m tipping rather quickly into the festive season and have to remind myself that it’s only just the start of November and that I have lots of decluttering and sorting out to do before I trash our little apartment with festive foolery.
Oh & the cutest ever little Ally pic 🙂
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Deb, well that’s a bummer, you not feeling well when it’s pretty outside. I am peeved along with you.
I like to relish this time of year putting off any thoughts or decorations about anything in December. I can understand how you’re heading in that direction though. Christmas is showing up everywhere I shop, as if I’ll forget about it if it doesn’t pipe up now.
Thanks about the photo.
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I’m feel I’m tipping into it against my will. I’ve always waited until mid-December before I indulge the festive decorating me, due to family birthdays which I won’t spoil by merging them. I don’t know what is pushing me over other than this has been a weird few months.
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Well I get that. I’ve had a few weird months lately, too. Sometimes focusing on something positive way ahead in my future keeps me going forward in the now. Perhaps the same with you?
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The photos are gorgeous and I enjoyed very much accompanying you on a stroll. However, I am really blown away by the concept of a photo of something that is no longer there. The idea that you are capturing not only a thing that is there, but the absence of the thing it replaced has me feeling a little gobsmacked. I have never thought of it that way. And yet in many ways, most photos are capturing an absence. Hmmm.
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Suzanne, I didn’t realize I was going to share a photo of what isn’t there anymore until I sorted through my photos of our walk. I wrote the copy first, then when I looked at the photos to plop into the post I realized it was the absence of the bridge that made a mundane photo interesting. Kind of trippy, yep, yep!
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Looks like a great place for a walk. You’ve expressed exactly why I like fall–it’s a time of year that is very conducive to just being. Gardening is done and holidays are few. Plus, it’s frickin’ beautiful out. Great time for walking.
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Rita, as I’ve gotten older I find that once November arrives I’m more inclined to drop all the things I think I *should* be doing and just do what I want to do. Other times of the year I’m inclined to work hard, but there’s something about this time between Halloween and Thanksgiving that slows me down to a dribble. And this year I’m embracing it.
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Isn’t it funny how different people respond differently to the same things? I feel the way you do in October. I always kinda hate to see Halloween come, as that signals the beginning of the turn toward Thanksgiving/Christmas. I’m going to try harder to hang onto that this year. Gonna channel my inner Ally. 🙂
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There is such a push to jump directly into Christmas the day after Halloween so I understand your inclination. I’m being ornery, I guess, by refusing to bite until after Thanksgiving. Of course part of that is because we no longer have a large annual holiday house party for Z-D’s work. We used to throw one on the first Friday of December, so everything we did in November was geared toward that. Now I can kick back and just enjoy November. 😊
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Love that uncharacteristically bright blue sky. Not a usual sight for Ohio in November.
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Nance, I know you have more gray days than we do. I used to live farther north. But down here we sometimes get days with beautiful blue skies in November, not every year, but often enough that I look forward to November. This year has been spectacular with colorful leaves still on the trees and warm temps during the day.
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I loved your verbal gymnastics about the bridge that used to be.
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Anne, THANK YOU! Writing this post was a mind game in which I had to say things about what wasn’t there in order to talk about what will be there. I reworded sentences many times. Still not sure it totally makes sense… but oh well! 🤔
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It was fun reading.
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🤓
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My favorite photo is the one with the railroad crossing sign because of how you captured the trees: on the right, bare branched-tree, on the left, a full, green tree. It is a cross way! Great eye to find the angle to capture that!
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EW, thank you. I try to snap interesting photos because every picture tells a story [don’t it?]. I enjoy messing around with images and colors and angles and light. It’s a fun harmless way to goof off, especially with digital cameras. And while I’ve gotten away from photography here, it is a creative outlet like writing.
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That’s right, you’re in Ohio. I’m thinking Dayton… I spent a summer at the Mound Research Facility in Miamisburg, not allowed to touch anything, accompanied to the restroom so I couldn’t steal any nuclear secrets, presided over by Marines in fatigues carrying sidearms… I understand they’ve removed the reactor and security practically nonexistent… Ah, the good old days…
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John, I know of the Mound in Miamisburg but didn’t know all the security involved there at one time. I don’t know anyone who has worked there, but from the sound of it, it was quite a place. And aren’t you lucky to have been there!
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I had no idea NaBloPoMo was a thing. I was actually searching for an excuse to post every day this month, but the closest I found was NoJoMo (National Journaling Month), which occurs four times a year but…spoiler alert…NOT in November. Missed opportunity, I guess.
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Mark, how could you have missed knowing about NaBloPoMo considering it’s been going on since 2006?!! I did it two times and that was enough for me. I like my Novembers to be less wordy than most people I guess. Next year you can do NaBloPoMo. Something to look forward to!
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I did it twice myself, but I was calling it something different, I guess!
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Oh, well that makes sense. It’s work to write every day, reply to comments, then go read + comment on other bloggers’ posts. I’ve evolved into a blogging free spirit now, glad I did it then, glad to not do it now.
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I wish I had known about the ‘blog every day for a month’ challenge. I’ve actually done the National Novel Writing Month a couple of times and really loved it. I’m going to put NaBloPoMo on my calendar for next year. You find all the good stuff.
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Jean, it’s a challenge that’s been going on for quite a while and it’s a good one. Lots of friendly people take part in it. I’ll look forward to you doing NaBloPoMo next year.
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This is so fun, what a charming bike trail that is! I loved seeing all these photos, Ally! I like November too. It has its own kind of charm. It’s not all showy like some months but is more of a subtle kind of beauty.
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Nicole, you understand my love of November and described it better than I did. While some years it is gray and cold, most years it’s pretty outside and I feel no stress about anything. November asks so little of a person!
And yes, the bike trail is cool and fun and will be better once the pedestrian bridge is replaced. Looking forward to next June.
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Your bike trail looks like a road! Our bike trails don’t have dividing lines 😦
This was fun, Ally. I do enjoy seeing photos of where people like to walk (or ride or whatever). And not feeling verbose can be a good feeling. Although I’m still writing every day, I’m starting to feel like the well might run dry. Oh, well. Somehow I think the sun will still rise in the morning whether I have words or not 😉
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Marie, around here the bike trails that are on former railroad tracks are paved and lined and relatively flat. They’re great for getting outside in a safe and easy way.
I know everyone is doing great writing every day this November, but I just feel kind of quiet. I like your take on things, though. Do what you can, ‘ya know?
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I’ve often thought of November as a quiet month, a time to store up energy to spend later on the upcoming holidays. When I did NaNo for a few years, it was mainly a great distraction from my job and, as we didn’t have any family near us, I didn’t need to store energy for the holidays. Now I am starting to struggle a bit with the whole writing every day habit, but here I am … writing. In my world, every word counts 😉
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Marie, I’m with you about trying to store up energy now for the holiday madness to come. November is my downtime. I know you’re writing daily and more power to you. You go girl!
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🙂
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Love your blog title. 🙂 Seems like a lovely little walk. I miss Ohio sometimes. Once your winter hits, however, I’ll be glad I’m out here in CA!
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Betsy, you’re right about the winter and the gloom and the cold wetness that permeates your body and soul. I don’t like that, but in the fall it can be beautiful here.
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Yes, the fall, and those crisp yet sunny walks along a nature trail…
And I meant I liked your blog POST title. Obviously your blog title isn’t new to me. 😛
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I’m a big fan of Rails to Trails as well as good bike/walking paths. Illinois had a lot of them. I’m also a fan of November where in Arizona, temperatures finally drop to what might be called cool and where in the Midwest I used to love going out in the cold to walk. Cheers to November (although it does remind me how quickly the year has flown by.)
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Janet, the rails to trails concept is sound. I know that this bike path, as I call it, is well maintained keeping it in great condition which makes it popular. I only hope that the bridge is repaired on schedule.
You’re right that this year has gone by quickly. I know in my brain that it is almost over, but I feel like 2023 is just beginning. The passage of time is trippy.
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I love autumn (and spring) for the cool, crisp mornings and the warm afternoons. Summer and winter are more flawed.
I love your walk, it’s lovely. I was wondering why they didn’t build the new bridge first, then tear down the old one, especially since there is water involved, but then I realized that duh, the new bridge is going in exactly where the old one was.
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J, I think you’re right about summer and winter, I like them but they don’t resonate with me like fall and spring.
Yes the new bridge needs to go where the old one was so that people on the path can move along in a straight line. It’s so odd to see where a bridge used to be knowing that without it everything has come to a halt. Until next spring, if all goes to plan.
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these photos give me a nostalgic feeling about the trail I used to run near my house in Virginia. So beautiful!
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Coco, the trails around here are as popular with runners as with cyclists which I think is cool. I’m happy to know these photos brought back some good memories.
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Ooh, I’m going to head on over and read your interview.
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The Travel Architect, thanks. Elizabeth is an interesting blogger, and I’m not just saying that because she interviewed me!
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My mom, the wife of a builder, was always extremely interested in any changes around town–new buildings, a road widening, trees planted or cut down. All changes big and small. I guess we all are interested, some more than others, though.
The Burke-Gillman Trail, the Seattle area’s longest trail, is now 27 miles long. As much as possible, it runs through wooded areas. It runs along Lake Washington for quite a distance. We used to enjoy walking along portions of it. But it has so many cyclists these days that I’m a little afraid to walk on it now. It’s great, though, for people who ride their bikes to work or school. Many young people use it instead of buying a car.
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Nicki, I’m with your mother about noticing changes in towns, not always reading about them but seeing that something has changed when I pass through the town. Curiosity drives me, but not enough to be a nosy nellie about every little thing.
I didn’t know about Seattle’s trail, but it makes sense. I’m sorry it is so bike-y to the point that it keeps you from walking on it. It sounds like a lovely way to get from point A to point B. Wooded areas are endlessly interesting to me.
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I enjoyed your interview!
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Venus, thanks. Elisabeth asks good questions.
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The first rail trail I rode on was on the Montana/Idaho border and was spectacular. Unfortunately, in my little corner of the country, we don’t have many (any?) unused rails so it isn’t a thing here. Lucky you!
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Janis, we are lucky to have this path running through the region. I’m sure that riding through Montana/Idaho would be spectacularly beautiful. Turning old train routes into pedestrian paths is a good use of resources.
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Brilliant blog post Ally and beautiful photos of the Autumn there. Have a great day and month of November🙏💯💯
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Mthobisi Magagula, thanks. I plan to do exactly what you suggest!
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Please do Ally😁🙏
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What a fun field trip! I enjoyed seeing what is no longer there anymore!
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Mona, thank you. It was an odd post to write because I was focused on what we did which was intentionally going to see what wasn’t. Made my brain hurt editing this one. 🤔
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I enjoyed your stroll to see the bridge that wasn’t there. I certainly won’t object if you choose to do more of these posts!
I have a lovely photo of a bridge that is no longer there, taken by a friend of mine. The beautiful old railroad bridge over the Missouri river, connecting Missouri to Kansas at Atchison, KS (yes, the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe) was replaced with a much less beautiful new bridge. I hope your new pedestrian bridge will be pretty as well as practical.
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Zazzy, thanks for coming along on our walk. I drifted away from this sort of post, but need to remember to do them now… again.
Your photo sounds lovely and now, of course, I have a certain old song running in a loop in my brain. The sketches of the new bridge show a few benches on it, so if that happens it’ll be a good place to sit and watch people + the river.
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Oh, how fun to go on a stroll with you. I haven’t seen one of these types of posts from you so I’m glad you did it again! Happy November, Ally! You’re right – a great month to BE and to walk around to see what no longer is but will be again!
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Wynne, I used to make it a point to write a post about our walks every few months, but drifted away from it. Glad you liked this one and understand my approach to November. Here’s to BE-ing!
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Nothing quite like a good cycle/walk trail to blow away a few cobwebs. Great to see they are becoming more popular around the world.
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Suzanne, I am happy about that, too. This path has evolved over the years, connecting all the bits and pieces into one long trail now.
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This was delightful, Ally. Thanks for a lovely stroll.
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Jennie, you’re welcome!
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🙂
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Fun interview, Ms Bean! As for that missing bridge – I wonder how long it’s expected to take to redo?
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Laura, thanks for reading the interview. It was a delight to answer Elisabeth’s questions. SUPPOSEDLY the bridge will be completed by Memorial Day Weekend, a way to kick off the summer. This we will see.
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Thanks for taking us along on your walk, Ally. I feel much the way you do about November. Enjoy!
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Christie, I’m happy to find another person who likes the low-key aspect of November. The month is often overlooked in the rush to get to December.
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It’s so lovely where you live Ally. This is part of what I love about blogging, it’s great to get snapshots of what it’s like in other parts of the world, thanks. I can see why you love November in your state. We have cycle tracks where old railway lines used to be near us too. They run past a landfill site, (bit whiffy), but there’s a small fishing lake a bit further on so it’s still worth the ride.
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Rae Cod, I agree. I enjoy seeing photos of where people live and blogging has opened up the whole world to me. While November can be cold and gray here it rarely is. Just a quiet little month, you know.
I like the sound of your rails to trails even with the unpleasant smells along the way. As long as there is a goal, all is doable.
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A beautiful, bright and sunny Fall day is to be savored then remembered during those brutally cold, never-ending wintry days ahead. This is a walk I would enjoy going on. I liked the interview Ally and was surprised to find you were not a neatnik. So we have that in common, but I have some serious decluttering to do to bring some semblance of order in my life and that is a fact I am not proud of.
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Linda, you’re right about savoring the light and beauty while it lasts. Winter is what it is, so focusing on fall now seems sensible. The thing is I can be neat when I have to be, but it doesn’t come naturally to me– although more so now that I’m older than it did when I was younger and on the go all the time.
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I am the opposite. I once was organized to a “T” and have fallen into such disorganization I am unhappy with myself these days. When I retire and have more time I will once again have a proper place for everything.
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Thank you for taking us along on your walk, Ally 🙂
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San, I don’t usually go to see where something isn’t, but when I do I make a blog post of it. 🙄
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The photos are beautiful and you really let us capture the mood of the construction (sign on the ground says a lot) and the mood of the season and weather – leaves on the ground and seemed to be pleasant out.
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Yvette, I adored that sign on the ground. This little community is tidy to the nth degree so to see that sign tossed aside made me smile. Thanks for stopping by to take a gander to see what wasn’t there!
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I’m so happy you are enjoying your November, before the storm. 😉
The walking/biking paths look so nice. I do love it when towns/cities give the residents many choices to ‘get out there’ and do their thing.
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Suz, the bike path is a wonderful resource and goes on for miles both south and north of Loveland so that you can go small town to small town on it, or go out into the woods, then farm fields. Something for everyone.
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I love bike paths and especially long ones so you can just go forever if you want. Also paths with fall colors are really nice too! I think that the little Miami may be part of the Transamerica bike trail which goes all the way across the US but I am not 100% sure.
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Kyria, I agree. I like to walk on this path and just lose my worries as I go along, walking forever it seems. I’ve never heard of the Transamerica Bike Trail so I looked it up. It is farther south than this path and looks like an amazing adventure in and of itself. Wowsa, so long!
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Ally, I was taken aback for a minute and then I remembered that your Miami River came first. Nice walk.
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Suzanne, when I wrote this I didn’t think about the confusion the word ‘Miami’ was going to cause. I’m so accustomed to hearing it around here that I forget that most people immediately think of FL. My bad for not explaining further. 😐
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I think most people got it right away. After all, you do live in Ohio. It’s just always been weird for me to hear Miami and Miami River outside the context of Florida.
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Oh I understand that. Makes sense you’d think of the city, not a river in the midwest unless you lived here. Place names are endlessly fascinating.
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Yet another comment.
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Hello Anonymous! Thanks for trying to comment in every way possible to see IF you could comment. The answer is… sometimes, but not without lots of difficulty. How the hell did WordPress break the commenting system?
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Let’s see if I can comment on my own post using Reader.
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And I can, but can other people? THAT IS THE QUESTION.
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Thank you for the nice walk, Ally. I enjoyed reading Elisabeth’s interview, too. I hope you share a photo after the new pedestrian bridge is built.
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Natalie, thanks for reading the interview. Elisabeth asks good questions. I plan of taking a photo of the finished pedestrian bridge when it’s build. Supposedly there are going to be benches on it so you’ll be able to sit and watch people go by, see the river. Sounds swanky to me!
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Lovely to see part of your environment in pictures, Ally. I will have a look at the interview posted on the blog link.
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Amanda, it can be pretty around here, very midwestern scenery. I like this bike path for walking and hope the bridge is finished as planned so that we can go farther on it.
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Well Ally, you made sense out of change – nice journey!
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Awakening Wonder, thanks. It was a lovely day to be outside. Yay Fall!
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1. NaBloPoMo. Never heard of it. NaNoWriMo. I had a friend encouraging me, and I politely declined.
2. I like November two. I have two anniversaries this month. I married him twice.
3. Thanks for the intro to Elisabeth. She’s good.
4. ❤️
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Crystal, the blog one has been around since the mid-2000s but I think the novel one has been around longer. I did NaBlPoMo couple of times and it was work, never tried NaNoWriMo.
You married him twice! I love that and in the same month. Well done. Yay November.
Elisabeth is very good. She is smart and kind and quietly funny and lives in a fascinating part of the Canada.
💕 right back at you.
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Oops! “I like November two.” Silly me. I tried that April blog challenge a couple of times. A ton of work. I’m not about that right now, another anniversary to celebrate and a Thanksgiving. On that note, Ally, I appreciate you for your blog, humor, and kindness. 💖
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I did the April alphabet challenge once and while I enjoy writing on a theme, it was so structured that I felt like I was back in school. Too much for me. I appreciate your kind words. I could say the same thing about you and your blog. 🥰
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Awe, the calm before the storm, I’m feeling it and resting in it too. Love the images and simplicity of a wandering stroll. Hugs, C
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cheryloregalia, I know that not everyone grooves on this time of year like I do, but this interim time between Halloween and Thanksgiving in the US relaxes me. Plus going out for a stroll on a pretty day adds to the mellow. Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.
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I’m circling back to see if I could comment now, and YES, it appears so. I can’t see the likes on the post though, I remember liking the post before when I couldn’t comment. WP is wonky sometimes. Anyhoo. . .I enjoyed seeing the area you walked and the area where the bridge will connect people to quaint places. I smiled at the photos of interesting objects you took. I also enjoyed the interview, I read that and commented there. It was fun to get another glimpse into the Ally we all adore!
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Shelley, thanks for trying to comment again. I don’t know why anyone’s ability to comment comes and goes here, but it happens every so often. I’m looking forward to next summer when the bridge is finished because it is fun to wander along the path into the woods, into little towns, back into the woods.
Elisabeth asks interesting questions when she interviews people. I enjoyed working with her and was happy to be chosen.
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You’re welcome. I’m with you in wondering why our ability to comment comes and goes.
I hope your findings next summer find their way here to your blog for us to admire as well.
Yes, she does and she chose well with you!
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Thanks! ☺️
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