I have heard people say they won't vote for Barack Obama because he went to a Muslim school, and others say they wouldn't vote for Mitt Romney because he is a Mormon. I don't know who I am going to vote for, but those won't be my reasons for withholding my vote. Religious beliefs do, and should, influence how leaders govern. However, not everyone within a particular faith interprets those beliefs into action in the same way. It was not okay to withhold a vote for John Kennedy because he was Catholic, or Joe Leiberman because he's Jewish. Nor is it okay to vote for them for that reason only. It might be easier to use blanket criteria to judge - but it doesn't get us the best candidate. And, it is not the American way. Everyone has a right to aspire to any position in this country. We have a responsibility to listen to what they say, see how they act and try to discern who will be the best for the job. It may be that we decide we don't like the way they interpret their beliefs, but the mere fact they belong to a particular faith is not good enough.

Playing Hooky

I played hooky from work this afternoon and went to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park for a hike. There are 125 miles of hiking trails there ranging from 0.5 miles to 19 miles long and from easy to hard. The 19 mile one is actually an easy one - along the Ohio & Erie Canal. I took the Ledges trail & the Octogon Loop for about 2 1/2 miles. I think you can see from the pictures why it is call the Ledges trail. This is a beautiful park nestled between Akron and Cleveland (closer to Akron). You would never know you are so close to two cities. I got some really great photos and will share more of them with you in future postings. In case you can't tell, Fall is my favorite time of year and I just don't think you can find it much prettier than in Ohio.

These steps were made by the Civilian Conservation Corp.





This is a root/tree trunk that grew down, or up and then back again.

Harvest Time

I was intrigued by the way these peppers looked drying on the bench, so I decided to share them with you.

October

"The harvest moon hangs round and high

it dodges clouds high in the sky,

The stars wink down thier love and mirth

The Autumn season is giving birth.

Oh, it must be October

The leaves of red bright gold and brown,

To Mother Earth come tumbling down,

The breezy nights the ghostly sights,

The eeire spooky far off sounds

Are signs that it's October.

The pumpkins yellow, big and round

Are carried by costumed clumsy clowns

It's Halloween - let's celebrate."

- Pearl N. Sorrels

Fall Mornings

I love fog. I feel transported to a different time and place. Everything so still..

Mogadore Reservoir

October

I took Molly for a walk today at Mogadore Reservoir to enjoy (?) the unseasonably hot weather. The leaves are just beginning to turn. Hopefully we will have a colorful fall. Last year just wasn't that pretty around here. As the leaves started changing, they fell. At least the reservoir is pretty, no matter what color the leaves are.

I can pass this everyday on my way to work.