Shot this earlier this year. Looks like one of our prehistoric friends has come back to visit and landed in Centennial Lake.
Category Archives: Howard County Maryland
Oh Yeah, Happy Halloween
I was bringing my mother in-law back from the hospital from visiting with her husband and we got to talking about Halloween. She started to tell points of her memories with her children, dressing up, going out and coming back and dumping their bags in the living room. Trading candy back and forth, talking about who gave what and did you see that costume. And I’m sitting there having the same memories of my children and how I miss that so now because they are grown.
Thankfully they (my children) still have the spirit and dress for work and parties. My son borrowed a few items of mine for his costume and my daughter texted me photos of her costume today, so I’m still loving the celebration.
But I digress. Keep an eye out for youngsters tonight. Slow the hell down, if you’re in a vehicle. Complement their costumes, give them candy, smile or act scared and think about when times were simple and you didn’t have the worries you do today even about something as simple as Halloween. And enjoy the evening.
Halloween
Photo by Mike Hartley
Howard County Maryland – Weather
In Contrast to today’s Wonderful Skies, I found ones that weren’t so beautiful one summer here in Howard County.
Some weather shots up by the Howard County fairgrounds. Put these in sequence. I’ve got to do more storm photos. Nature is so impressive. Sorry about the slight shake on the 7th photo down. That boomer was very close and the shock wave got me. Should have had a tripod set up. Live and learn.
Waves of could’s
Photo by Mike Hartley
Waves cresting
Photo by Mike Hartley
What is that opening?
Photo by Mike Hartley
Powerful lightning stroke.
Photo by Mike Hartley
Seems like the waves are back and what is that opening up in the right corner?
Photo by Mike Hartley
Yeah, that looks like clearing, maybe it moving away.
Photo by Mike Hartley
Wow now that was impressive. Almost like the sky opened up for that stroke.
Photo by Mike Hartley
Oh, back to the ominous look.
Photo by Mike Hartley
Time to flee before another strike on my head. Plus, I’m getting wet.
Photo by Mike Hartley
Howard County Maryland
Thought I’d stop and snap a few along Folly Quarter Road on the way home last night. I’ve driven this road and enjoyed the views for many decades. I remember speeding down it on my way home from work after my wife called me and said she was in labor with out Son. I remember driving down it after I left the Times Newspapers after 21 years. I remember driving home on it and seeing a wonderful sunrise that morning, a few hours after my Mom passed. To me this is a therapeutic road.
Sunset along Folly Quarter Road
Photo by Mike Hartley
Looking north along Folly Quarter Road
Photo by Mike Hartley
Howard County Maryland
Sorry about the absence. Sometimes life throws some hard punches. But on with some updates of Howard County. As we approach our coming ice, sleet and snow this evening, I will share some photos from the last event.
More than one way to get around in this weather
I met this nice woman skiing up to the Post office. I believe she said she lived in Waverly. She was very nice and I’m sorry I didn’t get her name. But she was dressed and prepared for the weather.
These guys are going to be putting in some OT the next 48 hours.
As this weather approaches may I remind all those white collar workers (yes I’m one of them) to take it easy with the snow removal. Even if you have the snowblower, it’s going to be very cold, windy and heavy. And then again, it could just rain.
That will soon be covered again.
What’s the old adage? Nor rain, nor sleet, nor snow will delay us from our duty. Well this one might just do that. I can’t see these little trucks making it through a foot of snow.
snow covered hey roll
This just finished melting down the last few days. Now were going to cover it again.
Howard County Maryland
As I ventured out this morning just before sunrise I thought about the history and changes I’ve had the pleasure and pain of witnessing in this county over a span of 53 years. We moved here when I was 4 years old so now you also know my age if you can add.
Beginning of sunrise on 2/1/2014
One of the things I love about where I live now in the county is that when I pull out on Woodstock road I see farmland. What I used to believe was Browns Farm and now is the Howard County Conservancy. I grew up seeing farmland and woods and wildlife. For a long time before Columbia came along, that was about it to see.
Turf Valley Shopping Center
As I pulled out onto Rt 99 I said let’s go have a look at Turf Valley at Sunrise. I believe in 1992 The Turf Valley golf course opened. Not that I’ve ever played there. Today we have the new Turf Valley Towne Square. Even though the sun is coming up over it in this picture, only time will tell. I can tell you its a nicely designed strip shopping area. It has a few good restaurants and the anchor store of Harris Teeter. And while it doesn’t look that busy now wait till all those homes are built and occupied in Turf Valley.
New home construction in Turf Valley
It seems sometime every time you turn your head you see development going on and in no small way at all. It worries me that we are losing our balance in this county and its rapidly becoming a small city in itself. And if traffic is any indication we are already there. But right after I saw this new scar on the land, I looked up and here was the sun peaking over the trees as I headed out of Turf Valley.
Over old course at Turf Valley
Top of hill at Turf Valley
I then took a ride down to Main Street in Ellicott City. It was still a brisk (low 20’s) this morning and there was a slight mist rising in the sunrise. There was a couple with a photographer taking what looked to be engagement photos. But for a Saturday morning this place was quiet. I’ve worked on this street for a few years (6) of my life. I’m pretty familiar with its ups and downs. It seems like it’s in a bit of a down swing at this time. While there has always been transition, renovation, rebuilding, restoring and change. There have been improvements from the local government. It does have a lot of nice restaurants. It does still have some very nice shops and businesses. But it also has its share of empty space and areas in need of repair.
Main Street Ellicott City
That is when I ran into this guy at the bottom of the hill, All he was concerned about was that the water was getting warmer, the ice was melting and sunshine was on its way. So that is it for the morning shoot. I hope to venture out later today to capture some more of Howard County Maryland.
Duck in Patapsco
Coming in February
Starting on Feb 1st you can see daily images of our wonderful county (Howard County Maryland) here. I was going to start this from the first of the year but hey, I’m in charge so it starts a month late. I’ve been plenty busy and the nice thing about being the boss of a sole proprietorship with no customers yet, is that nobody gives me crap.
Actually there were two things that happened in January 2014 in this area that gave pause. First of course has been the weather. Talk about in your face. I have a hard time with winter when it’s in the 30s and we get a few dusting’s of snow for the whole winter. This has kept me inside as much as possible. The next one was the mall shooting. I thought about going out and shooting that event but I didn’t want to start with that type of tone. Even though it might bear a lot of discussion and is certainly a contrast to this quiet (for the most part) county.
I hope to detail this county from side to side and top to bottom and as well as I can of all points in between. I have lived in this county almost all my life and one might think I’d be bored with it. Yes I’ll shoot and share a lot of things but I believe a real beauty is here and its right under my nose and I haven’t taken the time to appreciate it all and share it all. I might litter a few photos of long time ago when shooting some areas for comparison but will mark the date as close as possible.
This has been a wonderful place to grow up, work in and hopefully grow old in. I think it contains a lot of wonderful people and of course some great towns and neighborhoods and farms and parks and businesses. So let us transition from the frozen tundra to the warm fields of late winter.
Farm off Rt 144 near Lisbon
Photo by Mike Hartley 1/13/2014
Frozen driveway and windblown snow in Woodstock
Photo by Mike Hartley 1/3/2014
It’s Alive
Welcome to Threw Mikes Eyez. It’s certainly been a long time coming. Both the idea and desire to start my own company has been with me for decades. Actually this will be my second venture into a small business. The first was a partnership with some wonderful long time friends that was both a pleasure and a success. But that was just an extension of what I had been doing for a career for over 2 decades already. Starting a newspaper from scratch, while no easy task was still something we had a good base in. And 2 decades after that venture, I’m still a Newspaper Lifer at the Washington Post, with this being the first baby step towards my career after Newspapers.
This is entirely different. I have no partners. It’s not a Newspaper. And I’ll expose my creative talent or lack there of for the world to see and either admire or laugh at. I don’t really care if it’s the later. For the images and video I take and share, the words I’ll string together in my books and my artwork will be first to make me happy. Second it if brings joy or thought or reflection or emotion from someone then I’ve shared something special. I hope to make enough to sustain it and keep creating. If I’m lucky enough to have profits, I’m going to take 20% and donate them to charity.
Actually I’ve been working on this process a few months now. I started a blog on tumblr just to get familiar with the blog environment and in the practice of posting regularly and professionally. That small blog called My New Office which has been a history of starting to go into business on my own. I think I’ll keep that going to reflect on what it took to be successful again. Who know’s, maybe another book title.
Please visit often and comment as you will. I can take it, like I said, I worked at a newspaper for over 4 decades. Then again an electronic death threat would be new. Usually they just called or left notes. But times be changing.