I just went back and read the blog I posted last January, when I was thrilled to have the opportunity to walk on the beach and search for sea glass in 17-below-zero-degree weather. Despite the fact that the sea glass was frozen to the beach and that I froze my ass off, I was able to dislodge a few pieces and had a great time doing it.

This year I experienced a completely different story, as I experienced near tropical weather for northeast Ohio, with a balmy 61-degree-high temperature on January 1, 2011. I took a long, leisurely stroll on the beach, enjoyed the intermittent sunshine, found a boatload of sea glass, and this time I didn’t need any special tools to wedge the frozen glass from the sand.

Check out my sea glass finds for the day—quite the haul compared to my 2010 New Year’s Day outing!

I know I was lucky to have such a beautiful day, so I savored every minute of it and again thought to myself, What a great way to start the year! I’m hoping that the freakishly warm weather we experienced was a sign that our winter will be short and sweet, and spring will be here before we know it (yeah, I’m delusional at times).

You can read more about my New Year’s Day experience at the Polar Plunge and my rainbow sighting over Lake Erie on The Daily Downward Dog.

Happy New Year!

I love the colors of the sunset, but I have to admit that this time of year, they have some fierce competition from the beautiful colors of the fall foliage. I live within walking distance to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, so it’s easy for me to take a break during my day to sneak out and take in the changing colors as they unfold. Like the sunset, there is a new episode every day as the canvas of colors and density of leaves drastically changes.

So, to mix things up today, instead of sunset pictures, I thought I would share some of the pictures I took last fall. Unfortunately, my camera cannot capture the crisp fall air, the smell in the air, and the sound of crunching leaves beneath my feet, but a few cows and a flowing river make up for it (sort of!).

These trees and horses hang out at Hale Farm & Village in Bath, Ohio.

These beauties were taken in Peninsula, along the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Check out the sun glistening through the trees and on the water.

This is my favorite fall foliage scenic view spot for sweeping panoramic views of the Cuyahoga Valley from the Ledges at Virginia Kendall Park.

And then the fat lady sings, and we’re forced to look at naked trees for the next six months. Ugh, this time of year really is bittersweet. It is so beautiful for a few weeks, and then we are robbed of all our green leaves, the green grass turns brown, and the skies in northeast Ohio turn gray! In this case it really isn’t a fat lady, but an obese, ugly, old man winter who is singing the blues. I can only wish for a few more Indian summer days to sustain me through the coming months.

Well, another sunset season is coming to an end for me, and I have to say that it makes me a little melancholy. From the months of April through October, the rotation of the Earth and the sun are perfectly aligned, so I get to see the sun drop into Lake Erie on a regular basis. It’s getting cooler, so I can’t sit outside in shorts and enjoy nature’s free light show anymore, but I’m still venturing out with a few extra layers and snapping up lots of pictures while I can.

It has been a great season of sunsets, and I took the time recently to click through all the pictures I took to pick out a few favorites. As I was doing so, I marveled at how different the script is every night, with the colors of the sky and the water all different shades from the rainbow and the sometimes not-so-subtle nuances of the clouds for added dimension. The soundtrack can vary too, with either wind, waves, or calm waters.

So, I thought I would share some of the rainbow colors of the summer 2010 sunset season.

This photo was taken on August 12. I love the hazy, lazy, fuzzy, pink sky and the shimmery silver-blue color of the water. It was hot this day, but the water looked very cool.

On June 28 the sky lit up in a deep orange and gold that was amazing.

This was the romantic purple haze and sultry pink sunset from July 8. I love the colors of the sun sparkling off the surface of the water. The cloud formation at the horizon added just the right amount of flair to the occasion.

On September 26 the sunset started out pretty tame.

And then the clouds put on a little fireworks show of their own.

The clouds really deserve a Best Supporting Actress award this year, as they provided lots of drama and, in this case, they were channeling rays of light from the heavens. This picture is from July 18.

When I heralded the beginning of sunset season this year, I thought it would be interesting to count the number of hours I logged watching the sunset. I totally forgot to do this, but I did count the number of pictures I took, and there were over 300. I’m going to savor these last few weeks of sunset season, but this winter when I’m cold and missing my sunset, I’ll have plenty of beautiful pictures to cheer me up. I’ll also be saving up to buy a new camera so I can take even better pictures next year.

If you want to see more of my Lake Erie 2010 Sunset Series photos search the Sunsets & Sea glass category on MariaMedia.

How did this happen? How did the world find out about my passion for sea glass? It seems like everyone is looking for the colorful frosted pieces of glass that wash up along the shores of the beach. On my local beaches I used to be the only one walking along the beach, head down, searching for the precious gems. Now, I see a stream of people walking down the beach, searching for these special pieces of art created by nature. It’s enough to make me want to get up before dawn just so I get the first stab at the beach.

I can’t blame them; I think looking for sea glass is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable hobbies I’ve ever had. Who doesn’t like to be outdoors, walking on a beach, hearing the sound of the surf, and finding hidden treasures…for free?

If you collect sea glass, you know that it gets in your blood. You have to do it and live to do it whenever you can. In the summer I’ve been known to go out and comb the beach several times per day. I even went out in search of some gems on the shores of Lake Erie in January, when it was a few degrees above zero and the few shards of glass I did find were frozen to the beach. I think I might be obsessed.

Today I went to an art show and met another collector who was selling sea glass jewelry. I could have talked to this person for hours (well, I sort of did) about the best beaches to find it, what our best finds were, what online groups he belongs to, and how to find black sea glass on the beach.

We both talked about the fact that each year it seems like the amount of glass we find is starting to dwindle. This can be attributed to the fact that more plastic bottles are being produced and more people are out their hunting for it.

Even though it pains me to encourage others to pick up the passion, I have to share the love.If you are interested in picking up my hobby, here are a few great books I would recommend.

Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature’s Vanishing Gems by Richard LaMotte

Sea Glass Hunter’s Handbook by C.S. Lambert. This woman has written a few books on the topic and is very passionate about her hobby.

Want to read a really great novel that has sea glass as the central theme? I would highly recommend Anita Shreve’s Sea Glass.

Can’t get to the beach this winter? When you are having withdrawal, I suggest you get this calendar so you can dream about your next sea glass hunt.

Sea Glass 2011 Calendar

You can also join the legion of people around the world that already know the secret on this online forum for Sea Glass Lovers.

Love the frosty stuff? Please let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

Summer is not over, summer is not over… That is the mantra I keep repeating! If you are a northeast Ohioan desperate to latch on to outdoor activities before we get locked up inside for the winter months, I’ve got a great way to get outdoors, listen to music, try a tasty mojito, and catch the sunset over Lake Erie.

The Third Thursday Music, Flowers & a Sunset event in historic downtown Vermilion, Ohio, has become extremely popular, and the last one of the year is coming up on September 16, from 6:30 p.m. until sunset. Where else can you roam the streets and hear a Goth punk band on one corner, walk a little farther down the street and hear an alternative rock band, and proceed to the downtown square to see G-Force an all-girl pop-rock band singing their hearts out? These gals can rock!

As you stroll around the beautiful sites of downtown Vermilion, the Vermilion River, and Lake Erie, you’ll enjoy a musical mash-up of over 12 different musical groups and solo artists from just about every musical genre and it’s absolutely FREE.

I love the fact that Vermilion has provided a venue for so many young artists to show off their talents.

If you are thirsty, you can turn the evening into a mini pub crawl by popping into Touché at Chez Francois for one of their Thursday-night lime-drink specials—can you say margaritas and mojitos?—or stop into Rudy’s Bar and Grill for a cold draft beer.

Not in the mood to imbibe? The downtown Vermilion restaurants are all open and ready to serve you anything from pizza to perch. Everyone who attends Third Thursday in Vermilion is required to eat at least one ice cream cone, and a great place to get a cone and your very own caricature is at Granny Joe’s Ice Creamatorium.

There is a really cool vibe behind Woodstock, a pizza shop located right downtown. Be sure to walk around back for a band playing Grateful Dead-type music, hula hoop artists, and last month there was a gathering of vintage VW vans.

While you are roaming the streets, you can also shop for chocolate, candles, and surfboards, check out the Great Lakes Maritime Museum (it’s open from 5 to 8 p.m. and is free on Third Thursday), and an art show at the Main Street building. If you have not picked up on this yet, get there early so you don’t miss out on anything. If you look around in the shops, there are schedules and a map to let you know where all the activities are planned.

The grand finale of the evening is the sunset, so be sure to walk down to the Main Street Beach to catch one of my favorite daily outdoor art shows—the sun setting over Lake Erie. It’s even more beautiful to watch while being serenaded by a band playing on the boardwalk at the beach!

Sunset in Vermilion, Ohio

“The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire.” —Pamela Hansford Johnson, The Unspeakable Skipton (1981)

It’s been a beautiful summer so far, and I’ve been lucky to see so many amazing Lake Erie sunsets. I love the fact that there is a new episode every night.  Take a look at a few egg creations I’ve seen over the past few weeks and enjoy these Lake Erie sunset pictures.

August 2, The Egg Has Cracked and is Slipping Behind the Clouds

July 18, Before

July 18, After—Check Out Those Colors!

July 30, Enjoying My Order of Open-Egg Sunset, With a Side of Fiery Water

I hope you can take some time this week to look to the west and watch the colors explode in the sky as the sun sets. If you have a great sunset picture, please provide a link to it.

The Code Cherry girls are back and appearing live this weekend at the Anchor Inn on Put-In-Bay!

We’re deep into summer, and if you’re hankering for a summer trip to the Lake Erie islands but just can’t get there, then Episode 5 of No Songs for Men will bring the island fun right to you.

In Episode 5 you’ll find out what makes Sara smile, the meaning behind a Code Purple, how to spot a manwhore, and everything you need to know about rebound relationships. We also serve up a great version of the Hall and Oates classic “Sara Smile” song from Joan Osborne.

So, grab your flip-flops, an ice-cold Red Stripe, and your Mardi Gras beads, and enjoy the ferry ride to Put-in-Bay for some island time.

It’s The Runaways meets Sex and the City. No Songs for Men is an interactive online musical picture book for women!  We follow the music, friendship, and liaisons of the five incredible women who make up the alternative rock band sensation Code Cherry as they compose the reasons why there really are no songs for men. Flip through the pages, enjoy the pictures, and be sure to click on all the interactive links for music, related stories, and great products from our sponsors.

The Web series will be brought to you every few weeks, so check back often for the latest episode. Sign up for our newsletter, and you’ll receive notifications when each episode is live!

We had a lot of fun creating this one, so please let us know what you think, and if you like it, please share the love and send the link along to another friend.

If you’re just getting started, visit the official No Songs for Men page to get the links to all five episodes and the Introduction issue.

Last week I took a Sea-Doo (Jet Ski) ride on Lake Erie to Margaritaville, a local watering hole with an awesome deck that overlooks Cold Creek in Sandusky, Ohio. On weekends in the summer, the place packs in plenty of bikers and party lovers for cold brews, great margaritas, live bands, and tasty Mexican food. It’s a fun place to pull up and dock the Sea-Doo for a little island-time refreshment.

As I looked around the crowd (I love to people watch) I noticed all of the biker babes and thought to myself, Hey, I got here on a motorized vehicle too, I must be a Sea-Doo babe! I love biker babes, but got to thinking about it and came to this conclusion—I think it might just be a little better to be a Sea-Doo babe than a biker babe and here’s why:

1) Biker babes always wear jeans and a lot of clothes to protect against the elements. Sea-Doo babes wear as little clothing as possible. The more clothes we shed, the better.

2) Biker babes cover their skin with tattoos. Sea-Doo babes cover their skin with sunscreen.

3) Sea Doo babes get to learn cool stuff, like how to tie nautical knots.

4) It can get awfully hot on a motorcycle when riding in the summer. On the Sea-Doo we get splashed with water all the time, keeping Sea-Doo babes cool in the summer heat.

5) Biker babes have to wear shoes while riding.

6) Biker babes have to wear helmets. Sea-Doo babes have to wear life jackets, but at least those don’t mess up our hair.

7) Sea-Doo babes are more naut-y that biker babes (sorry, had to throw that one out there).

I think the only drawback to being a Sea-Doo babe is that the Doo has to be docked at dusk, whereas the biker babes get to ride all night! Whether your a biker babe or a sea-doo babe, enjoy the summer and ride safe!

Photo: Peter Ong

Hope you had a wonderful and long holiday weekend! Mine was a blast and, as I predicted, I am sunburned, a tad bit bloated, and very happy. It is going to take me a day or two to get back into the groove after spending all weekend by the water, on the water, in the water, and drinking lots of water…and other adult beverages.

I realized that I have not posted a “Beaches and Beer” photo series installment since back in February, and that is just a sin, so I promise to make up for it with several new installments over the next few months.

This shot was taken at Jimmy Buckkett’s, a tropical tiki bar that you’ll find if you happen to float down the Fremont River. You can pull your boat or Jet Ski right up to the dock, lounge on the man-made beach, enjoy cold beverages and barbecue, and listen to great music (most summer weekends they have live bands).

I was enjoying a Mike’s Hard Margarita…not a beer, but a member of the malt beverage family, so that’s close enough. It’s actually a pretty good-tasting margarita and has a smooth, faintly salty, lightly sweetened taste. The label says it is flavored partly with agave nectar, which, in my book, is a pretty cool way to sweeten a beverage! When served cold this is a refreshing, fruity, lime drink with the added bonus of being 5.5% alcohol by volume. On a hot July afternoon, it tasted amazing.

One last picture because I couldn’t resist. You gotta love a red plastic palm tree with blue coconuts in northeast Ohio.

Is it Friday yet?!

I absolutely love living close to Lake Erie. The waves that roll into the beach remind me of being at the ocean, and one of my favorite things to do is take long walks on the beach, looking for seaglass. Back in May (yeah, I’ve been a bit remiss on getting my beach photos up) I visited Sheldon Marsh for a beach walk and thought you would enjoy seeing some of the things I found washed up on the shore.

Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve is in Huron, Ohio, and along the trail you’ll find birds, extremely friendly squirrels, a beautiful marsh, a gorgeous golf fairway (Sawmill Creek is its neighbor), and my favorite part—it spills right onto a long stretch of beautiful Lake Erie shoreline that you can hike for miles. Seriously, if you live in northeast Ohio and are hankering for a walk on the beach, visit Sheldon Marsh (when the waves are kicking up, I swear the rolling surf will make you feel like you are at the ocean).

I had to take a picture of this piece of driftwood. It was so suggestive just laying there on the beach, and I have to admit, it highly amused me.

Spread Eagle on the Beach!

Then I came upon a pair of retro pink aviator sunglasses sans lenses. The eyeglass merchandiser in my past came out, and I quickly constructed this shot of the eyewear on the beach. Pearle Vision, eat your heart out.

I Think I Had A Pair Like This in the 80s

And yet more suggestive wood. What is up with the wood drifting up on this beach? Is it just me or was nature calling out to me in a twisted way that day?

Nature can be naughty and nice