Rural Ohio

On our recent visit to south/central Ohio for Catherine's graduation, we had opportunities to drive around a bit and "see the country." This part of Ohio, east and slightly north of Columbus is right out of a picture book, and one published in the 19th century at that. Yes, Columbus and its citizens, looking for elbow room and a little slice of heaven, are encroaching, but taking just a few turns off the main roads brings you face to face with our rural past. Dirt roads, horse-drawn plows and buggies (one of, if not the, largest Amish communities anywhere - yes, even Penssylvania)and farms--some large, well laid out, and apparently prosperous and others scraping a living and a life from hilly, rocky terrain. From a photographer's viewpoint - they are all lovely, but I am not so romantic as to think that it is easy. Perhaps that is what makes them beautiful?