Heart of December

 I haven't been here in a while. Busy at work, holiday stuff and lack of motivation on my part. We purchased some of these ornamental vegetables from the school class fundraiser to brighten up the winter yard, and they did just that.
Last night the students from our high school held a candlelight vigil at the park. The names of the children of Sandy Hook Elementary school were read and the choir sang Amazing Grace. Today, at the request of the Sandy Hook PTA,  these students are making snow flakes to decorate the halls of a building that will become the new school for Sandy Hook. No words, just lots of glitter and sparkle. They want the stark hallways transformed into a cheerful happy environment. Here's the address if you want to help:

Connecticut PTSA 

60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103

Hamden, CT 06514

Here's a link explaining it.

Autumn Montauk Daisy

Montauk Daisies spread like weeds. And mine all look very unruly. This one I moved last spring. It's the first time I've seen this magnificent autumn color. None of the rest of them looked this good.

Southampton Village Parade of Lights

Southampton Village goes all out to kick off the Christmas shopping season. It includes the local fire department's competing in a parade of lights, a tree lighting and of course, the big guy himself. That's village hall in the background.

Outside Stevenson's Toy Store a young boy window shops. People come early to the village to eat and shop before the parade.

Window shopping is not limited by age. My sister-in-law enjoying looking at some bracelets.

A Jazzy Saxophone fills the corner with carols.

The start of the parade.

My interpretation of the parade of lights.

These girls in white were the cutest. 

The tree all lit-up!

The Sunset Pigeon Choir

The Sunset Pigeon Choir performs 

Coo, Coo for You......

another photo inspired by

Leonard Cohen

Autumn Joy

Autumn Joy Sedum 

The warm brown tones

 are as pretty as the pink

and green it gives in

summer.

Autumn Leaves

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I spent mine with my wife's family. Adam was home from school and I am thankful to have had my sons home for Thanksgiving. I'm also thankful for the leftovers!
This photo a few weeks old. You know how much I love autumn, but the colors this year have been cut short by Superstore Sandy. Not many of the trees have any foliage left.

It's a dog's life!

I spent yesterday waiting for the oil burner guy and cleaning the house for Thanksgiving. Isabel stayed in the position you see here in this photo...well, except to eat. 
I didn't get everything done my wife wanted done and the oil burner guy needed a part and has to come back to clean the burner. 
Isabel had the right idea!

Abstract Autumn Joy

I've always had a hard time with abstract photography. 

Not viewing it, but making it. 

Recently I've seen interesting abstract photographs using camera motion and thought I'd give it a try. 

Tangled Reflection

Life...

                       sometimes.

The New Parrish Art Museum

We visited the new Parrish Art Museum this weekend. They opened this weekend for the locals with free admission and a heavy push for new members. Their new building has caused such a stir, seems that some people hate it. 
It's a long A frame with sort of a barn shape. I guess some people thought it should look  more like something else. 
I love it! It reminds me of Long Island, long and flat. Art mimics geography. 
But that's what art is all about, what we like or don't like, good reviews and bad reviews.  So, why not build a museum that stirs the pot a little?
The exhibits were...well some were awesome and others were a bit shy of awesome. I love the landscape work of William Merritt Chase, and they have a sizable collection of it on display. That was enough to make me happy.
The new digs will allow them to show more work than the smaller place they occupied in the village.  It's a bit further to get to, but more to see once you get there!

Three on a tire

Two cormorants and a turtle share a tire on a beautiful fall day. 

Nine Days

After nine days, the power has been partially restored. We have heat and light, but can't use the stove or cloths dryer. Small sacrifice. These photos were made November 1st on Venetian Boulevard in Lindenhurst.

That's a file cabinet in the foreground.

This car was twisted around by the power of the waves.

Don't give up the ship!

A  60 year resident of South Lindenhurst told his Congressman that after 364 good days, one bad day wouldn't change his mind about living on the water.

Many residents came back to find their homes condemned.

It looks like a pile of debris.

In some cases it's years of memories,

in others

it is everything they own.

If you  can help, here's the link for the American Red Cross.

Flying Point Road

A view of what I think is Burnett Creek in Southampton NY on Monday Nov. 29, 2012 about five hours before Sandy hit. 

Just a bit further down, Flying Point Road is starting to flood.
We still have no electric, but that's the worst of it for us. Schools here have been closed all week. Seventy percent of Suffolk County is without electric and more to our west in Nassau County. The past two days, I've been photographing in the hardest hit areas of Lindenhurst NY. I count my blessings and thank God every day. I have a hard time sleeping at night after meeting people that have lost everything they own. Yesterday, a very young mother with a toddler was on the verge of a nervous breakdown as she saw the place she lived for the first time since the storm. The little beach bungalow was no longer on its foundation and the waves had blown through the back of the house and right out the front taking all their belongings with it. She was screaming. It was very emotional.

Sandy- Town of Babylon NY

Drove around for a few hours with the Town of Babylon Supervisor assessing some of the damage in the town.
 The top photo is on South Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst. The water mark on the house shows the water was about a foot from the window of this house. A homeowner was sweeping water from the garage.
 We just left the police command center and drove an elderly lady to her home to get her medication. 
The second photo is Bergen Point in West Babylon. The debris along the golf course fence includes a dumpster, dock steps boat mooring poles and a few Rubbermade patio storage seats. I could go on and on....
There is massive damage and loss.
I am so grateful to have only lost electricity and a roof shingle in all of this. I am also grateful to have blog friends that were concerned about my family and I. Thank you.

Sandy 10.28.12

Hildreth's, our home-town department store, reused the plywood boards from Irene. Many of the stores in Southampton Village were just as frugal. MY son Evan and I were reading the names of everyone who signed the board.

The poetry and art is not of the same caliber this time around.

We made the ocean our last stop. This was around 5pm Sunday. May all those in harms way, stay safe, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Autumn on the Forge River

I was in awe when I saw this during my ride home yesterday. The Forge River, pictured here, is the most polluted river in Suffolk County. At one time duck farm activity was discovered to be the primary source of pollution. New studies suggest leaching from cesspools and the high ground water in the surrounding area have done in the river. 
We have really screwed-up so much of what God has made for us.

Morning, the beach and snow fence.

As the weather changes property owners 

along the ocean brace for mother nature.

Chicory

A Chicory flower against a field of golden grass.

Autumn on Geiger Lake

Today at Geiger Lake, Wyandanch NY.

Fall reflection

Autumn leaves on the Peconic River.

The end of a Wickapogue walk.

As I walked through the planted field at 

Wickapogue and Old Field, 

I came across some seed pods. 

They look like Milkweed only miniature. 

The pot of gold at the end of the walk.

A Wickapogue Walk part 2

I walked through the grass moist with dew 

and found a flower in denial of the season.

Fall has beauty all its own.

A Wickapogue Walk part 1

I took a walk through the planted field 

at Old Town and Wickapogue today.

Fall has been here and whisked away the colors.

The spent leaves and seed pods were drenched in the morning light.

Montauk Daisy

The fall rain brings a change in weather.

As the cold rain cascades off the pedels of the 

Montauk Daisy,

she smiles.

Boys will be boys

Showing off for the camera.

oh deer

This fawn has yet to learn not to get too close to cars. 
She walked right up to my window looking for a handout. They put up signs telling people not to feed the wildlife, but people find it so cute to have a deer eat from their hand.

A wet fall

The leaves seem larger this year

also, larger in number.

I sat in the garden yesterday

thinking about the garlic I planted.

They sprouted early....

as least I'll have a lot of leaves to mulch them with.

Buffalo

Friday, I went to Martha Clara Vineyard to photograph a BBQ. The vineyard has a large yard with a few buffalo. This guy was very close to the fence and I was trying to get him to look up.
He would have none of it.
 I went back to my car and geared up to go to work. As I closed the trunk of the car, he was looking right at me, he then lowered his head and went back to eating the grass. I guess he gets board with picture takers.

She rides the waves

I stopped at Ponquogue Beach to see what I could see. 

The grey foggy evening didn't stop eight or so surfers from their sport. There were two ladies surfers, one on the beach and one riding the waves. I couldn't stay to see the other tame the mighty ocean.

Time to fly....

I just wasn't quick enough! 

The Butterfly Bushes still have flowers  

and 

butterflies are still visiting. 

Queen Ann's Lace Fall

Lost and Found

Another photo of the Road K artist's work.