jonquil

The Town of Babylon

 plants bulbs of all types along public roads, town owned spaces and beautifications spots. 

It definitely adds to the overall appearance of the place especially after a drab winter. 

This Jonquil is part of a planting outside the highway yard. 

Pussy Willow Branch

The Pussy Willow's on the side of the house have opened, 

adding to the cornucopia of pastel colors that come with spring.

26) I am thankful for the

 explosions

 of color every spring and fall. 

Salix discolor (American Willow)

MACK-Thematic Photographic 189 - Branded

Carmi over at Written Inc. has a new prompt, branded. His post of a Hummer grill reminded me of one of the first photos I made and was proud of back in high school. It was the front grill of a Mack Truck.  I made the photo because it reminded me of my dad. Back then, he had a large, square face. He was a stocky, strong man and the front grill of the Mack just reminded me of him, smiling. Affectionately. 
As a young boy all semi's were Mack.  Oh, there were International, Freightliner and probably other trucks back then, but everything, to us were Macks. This isn't the high school photo, I made this yesterday. This doesn't look like dad, maybe it was an older model. 

Lake Agawam

One more from last Tuesday's fog. 

This is Lake Agawam in Southampton Village. 

A couple of you asked why they post 

Keep of the Dunes signs.

 To the best of my knowledge it's because of erosion, but it's also because of nesting birds. 

25) I am thankful for productive days.

The sentinel of the dunes

I have my eye on you.

I took a short walk yesterday between assignments.

Brentwood Water Tower

I saw this water tower while waiting for my son's lacrosse game to start this past Tuesday. The light and contrast against the gray clouds got me! I'm always amazed when I hear about, or see in movies, people climbing up to check out the view, or have a few beers. Remember Sweet Home Alabama? 

I guess it was more popular years ago, but some of the few water towers still standing around here have graffiti on them. So people still climb up those very tall ladders.

My comment posting problem seems to be only happening with the Firefox browser. I guess when I upgraded to the latest and greatest...it wasn't. For the past few days I've been commenting and posting with the Google Chrome browser...except today. Chrome kept on freezing when I tried to up load the water tower photo. So, I'll post something new here on Firefox, quit, and comment on Chrome. See how easy computers have made our lives! Computers can drive you crazy. 

24) I am grateful for my sense of humor, another gift from God.

Midnight Flower

Inferred photo of Dogwood Blossom. 

They say it might get as high at 80 today, did I miss spring...

23) I am grateful for the God's gifts that surround me.

Morning Mist

The fog was so beautiful this morning, as usual. I think God created fog to isolate things. 

It gives the viewer a different perspective,

 a view without the background. 

22) I am thankful for the gift of my senses. 

The Thicket

Greenbrier Thorns

We had nice day today, so I raked the backyard. It was nice to see green under the leaves. Hyacinth and tulips are both up. 

 The Sedum plants have all 

broken ground with green buds.

 The Pussy Willow is covered with buds. 

After the yard work, I went back to the little lake in the pine barrens, but the light was not right.

Maybe next time?

21) I am thankful for small things in nature.

quiet reflection

I went for a little walk through the pine barrens today and came to this little still lake. 

The overcast day and the repeating semi-circle shapes caught my eye. 

I'll have to go back with a longer lens one day.

20)  I am thankful for the quietness of the woods.

 

Inferred winter

Fooling around with the inferred camera.

I've been having Blogger problems.

I've been posting on some of your sites but they never appear. 

Do they fix these things automatically?

It was back in the 40's today, but that didn't stop me from taking a nice brisk walk. I had my camera with me, but there was nothing that caught my eye. There were plenty of birds singing in the Ceder trees.

19) I am thankful for the birds and their songs.

Winter Cemetery

Another photograph from the old cemetery on the North Fork. I don't know if the headstone is just cracked or if it was cemented back together. It looked as if it were two pieces at one time. To my right, and just outside of the frame, was a fallen stone. I did not want to get any closer for fear it might fall.

The bare trees and the lifeless lawn got me thinking about death and those forgotten. Is it the busyness of life, the generational separation of the years or some other reason a cemetery can end up looking so?

I am not innocent. I have not been diligent in visiting the brother I lost 46 years ago. I did not know Thomas, I was eight years old. He never was released from the hospital, he went straight home. 

My parents decided to take this as a sign that life is precious, everyone born into this life should have a good home. They fostered a teenage girl, Gina, and later, a toddler, Antonio.

After a number of years, Tony went back to his other family, he keeps in touch. Gina graduated high school, left and we never heard from her again. 

Thomas, I do think of you. I wonder who you would have looked like, what you would have been. You spent such a short time on earth, but you spread so much love.

 

In the Reeds

Today was the first day that felt like spring. 

It helped that there were visual signs as well. Highway crews were removing snow fence along the highway.  I passed a farmer working the earth. Now if that's not spring, the Robins on the lawn are a sure sign that spring is close by. 

I need a change of season.

18) I'm grateful to know my friend Jackie is well in Afghanistan. This is her forth tour of duty. I pray everyday for her safety.

Red Farm Truck

 

There's something about the color red and HDR.......

If you followed my posts, you know this is not the first red pick-up I've posted.

This is now my favorite red pick-up.

17) I am grateful to live in such a diverse area. 

A visit to the North Fork

I had a job on the North Fork this morning. 

It was such a beautiful day, I took the long way home. Someplace along Rt.24, maybe Mattituck, I came across this old cemetery with a grave for Benjamin Moore. I got excited thinking it was THE Benjamin Moore, but no, it just Benjamin Moore. 

Still, it was a perfect day for photography even HDR photography!

16) I am grateful for blue skies.

Made it through

Winter is almost over. 

Evan started Lacrosse practice this week. 

Today was in the mid fifties, and tomorrow is supposed to be warmer. 

It's been very windy. 

I thought this was sharper when I saw it on the back of the camera. 

Oh well, spring is almost here.

15) I am grateful for the four seasons.

  

Hearts on a tree

I took a short walk after a grueling meeting 

and a portrait session today. 

It was nice to come across these 

hearts 

carved into trees.

 A nice distraction for me, 

not so nice for the tree. 

14) I am grateful for short walks and tall trees.

Snow Fence II

Snow fence on a cloudy day.

13) I am grateful for imagination and creativity.

Corner Stop

I just love the red against the dark storm clouds and had to snap a photo.

Three textures and three colors.

11.) I am grateful for clouds moving in the sky.

Lost in the fog

This is how it looks around here for the past few days....gray. That and lack of inspiration has caused a me to " fall of the face of the net." This morning we had some fog and that was enough for me to go out looking. Funny.... looking in the fog.

All I have seen teaches me

to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

My wife has started a blog here on blogspot, she calls it Cel-g, if you have a minute stop in and say hello. 
Thank you

10. I am grateful for the fog and what it doesn't allow me to see.