It is pretty rare that I post more than once in a day, so you know when I do, it has to be something good. In this case, it manifests as the latest challenge/contest from 
I am not going to bore you with all of the specifics and rules. If you want to participate or review all of the logistics, you can view the original post here.
If you are looking for the TLDR, you basically post some photos from the last year and write a paragraph about each one. Easy right? So let's get to it.
The opening photo comes to you from the great state of Ohio. That is difficult for me to say since I live in Michigan, but due to some of my inlaws living in Ohio, I have grow to have a fondness for the state. I am sure 
This pedestrian bridge is just short walk from where my inlaws live outside of Columbus, OH. It crosses the Sicoto River and if you had been to this area even three years ago you wouldn't have been able to walk across it. This area has grown immensely in the past five years. The buildings you see across the river are brand new, and the bridge was just completed a short time ago.
Mainly, I am sharing this photo because I think artistically it is one of the best I took all year. The other photos I am going to share will have less technical and more personal merit.
Ask 
This is a bottle of Blanton's. It is typically considered a unicorn bottle. Sometimes because it is hard to find, other times because you can find it, but it horrendously over-priced due to the scarcity. It is one of the most unique bottles of liquor I own and I am trying to make it last as long as possible.
I share this because of the fact that I was actually able to get my hands on two bottles for the relatively low price of $70. This was back earlier in 2021 and there is a good chance I will never find it or purchase it for that cheap again.
I share this photo because, well... just look at her. Next to my wife 
Speaking of camping, I am going to hit you with a two-fer here.
In the Summer, this is what we do.
We even camp into the Fall as a matter of fact. This year it was much later into Fall than usual... Our home state of Michigan has some fantastic state parks. In the past couple of years our nephew has started coming camping with us.
That is him above with our friend's son who camps with us as well. They are like two old men who have been friends for years when they get together. It is an absolute joy watching them ride around and play in the campgrounds like we did when we were kids.
The first picture is
So if camping is what we do in the Summer...
Then this is the perfect example of why we do it. Taken from the same vantage point where you see
I share this photo because even outside of the Summer, my wife and I do a lot of grilling. Charcoal grilling to be exact, none of that suburbia yuppie gas stuff, or the more recent lazy Traeger trend. I joke of course, but I was raised on charcoal grilling, so it is just as much a part of me as anything else.
I feel there is a real art to it and that is part of what draws me to it. It takes more time and care, plus there is an uncertainty that makes it more of a challenge. I typically stock up around the Memorial and Labor day weekends. The local Ace Hardware had a really good price on the 16 pound bags, so I decided to grab ten of them. These are almost all gone now...
Due to Covid-19, travel for Spring Break was pretty much out of the question this past year. The cool thing about Michigan is you don't necessarily need to take a flight or drive for days to get views like this.
It is a beautiful little town. As you might be able to tell, it was a bit windy (and chilly) given it was late March. I just like how my wife and I look in this selfie. Despite everything going on in the world, we carve out special moments like this to embrace our happiness.
It's with a bit of a heavy heart that I share this photo. In fact because I have a heavy heart about it, that is why I choose to share it... This tree used to stand proudly in our back yard. This past year we had it cut down. This is probably the last photo I have of it before it was removed.
It was a long hard decision for me to have this tree cut down. Ultimately, I knew I had no other choice. It had already lost a limb last year that destroyed a good portion of our deck and all of the furniture on it. In fact, Jovi narrowly escaped the limb fall as she had just been outside before it came down.
I had the "tree people" look at it to see if they could trim it to make it safer, but there wasn't much they could do. Ultimately, we decided to have it removed for the safety of our house and the neighbors next door. Any further limb falls could have hit either house and proven fatal.
I miss the shade that this tree used to provide, but in the end, I know we made the right choice. It won't make me any less sad each time I come across this photo though.
Another two-fer for you
Heading back to Ohio...
My wife and I took a trip with her family down to the Hocking Hills area of Ohio this past Summer. It is a truly beautiful area and a stark contrast to the normally flat lands that you expect from Ohio. Tucked just about an hour South East of Columbus, the Hocking Hills area is full of "caves", gorges, hiking trails, waterfalls, and all manner of nature.
It is absolutely stunning. I am so glad that we made the trip down here. We rented a large house that could accommodate all sixteen of us and spent the good part of a week exploring and enjoying each other's company.
Hocking Hills left such an impression on us that my wife and I hope to visit again in the near future. Next time we plan on taking our travel trailer and camping at one of the many campgrounds in the area.
With all of the camping and other travel to Ohio, it is pretty rare that
We bought this propane (don't worry, I don't cook on it) fire pit to replace the one that got destroyed by the fallen limb I mentioned above. It puts off a good deal of heat and it sets the mood really well. We have woods directly beyond our property so the views in the Summer are quite nice. In the Fall/Winter not so much since someone just bought the property and built a house a little ways into the woods to the left of the picture above. Now that the leaves are off the trees, you can just make out the house and at night their porchlight.
Finally, I am going to leave you with this. Besides camping, my wife and I love going to concerts to watch different bands. With all the stuff happening due to Covid the past couple of years, attending concerts have been out of the question. In fact, many of the shows we were scheduled to attend have been pushed into 2022.
This was an Alice Cooper concert I attended with my friend David, and it was the first show I have been to since the whole Covid thing started.
I felt it only right that I should share this. Mostly because for me, heading back to concerts triggers a return to normalcy for me. Of course with Omicron who knows what is going to happen, but I will still look back at these photos with fondness because as I said... It's almost like we are back to normal. Finally.
So there you go!
Those are just a handful of my favorite photos from the past year. With the advent of smartphones it is so easy to capture so many of the moments that make our lives truly unique. It's a great time to be alive! Savor it!
