Lilies in the rain

Sugar Snap Peas

The garden has been very productive this year...so far! The cool spring has been a blessing for my lettuce and snap peas.

Sip N' Soda

I made this image back in 2002 at the luncheonette in the village. The repetition of the stools and the man's legs interested me. I also liked the northern light filtering in the big windows. It is a selenium toned print. Memorial day was a busy one this year, six parades, two that we marched in and four that we stopped at to pay our respects to our veterans. I'll put together a slideshow in the next day or two for the town.

ABC Gum

This is the second time I've come across gum 

used as street art. 

This was in Patchogue.

Hidden jewels

One does not have to travel far to find God's beauty.

If you have a moment, check out the slide show, not so much my photos but the Albany Avenue Chorus.

Summer Leaves

a walk 

into the unknown

a forest

step slowly

summer leaves

abound

Orange, not the fruit

orange repetition

Goldfinch at the feeder

A few weeks ago, during my visit to Seatuck Environmental I saw a birdfeeder  with five or six Goldfinches enjoying breakfast.  My wife expressed a desire for a birdfeeder for Mother's Day. So, I got her and early gift of a Njier seed feeder and a bag of seed. Well it took almost two weeks before the first Goldfinch appeared, but they seem to be fairly regular now. 

Barre, Vermont

A view of the mountains from the parking lot of the Hilltop Motel. Really the motel name comes from the lumpy bed and hard pillow. Traveling home today with our new graduate.
A happy and blessed mother's day to all!

The State House, Vermont

We're up in central Vermont for Adam's graduation.

Love

I've been painting the ceiling in the kitchen, dining and living room. The ceiling paint doesn't spread the same brand wall paint I used for the walls. I was so impressed with the smoothness of the paint, how well it covered.
I saw this tree in Lindenhurst the other night. I thought about love... it should spread... maybe like the paint.

NDD

I was listening to our local radio station, WPPB.FM Southampton, dj Bonnie Grice was talking about getting out doors and experiencing nature. She believes there's a direct connection between  Attention Deficit Disorder and NDD...Nature Deficit Disorder.
I don't know about that, but I will agree once you get out into nature you will most definitely increase your attention.  

Spring Morning

After seeing the tags the class left in the nature sanctuary, Davis asked me what would I write....

Love your fellow man and mother earth

and thank God daily.

A walk in the woods

This Thursday was the end of the annual Islip Arts Council's "Long Island Color" show held at the Seatuck Environmental Education center. The center is on a great property with all sorts of wildlife it is on the Great South Bay in Islip.
I've walked these trails before, it's a very calming walk. The property was once owned by someone who loved Rhododendron, there are hundreds, many be thousands of plants on the property. Unfortunately,  most of the leaves are turning brown and dying.  I thought it was from the Superstorm Sandy's tide surges of salt water. But one of the environmentalists said they believe it's from the higher salt water tables getting to the roots and the deer eating the saplings. 
It's eerie enough to walk among the towering Rhododendrons, but as I turned along a path, I was shocked to see what looked to be strips of papers hanging from the bush.

As I got closer I noticed each were tags made by school children. Things like stick-figure people with a giant flower, one said "The World is Good" and other notes to mother nature.

I felt good to see that someone took their class into the trails to see the peace and tranquility there. It was awesome to read what the children had to say.

A couple of visitors

I think they are Downey Woodpeckers, but I'm not sure. 
I photographed them through the dirty glass window as they pecked at my insect infested yard. This is the first time I've had woodpeckers in the yard. Hope they come back!

black river, inferred

Another view of the black river looking north. 

I like this photo better.

inferred black river

An un-named river here on Long Island that I affectionately have called the Black River. It seems darker that most rivers, and looks almost black in most of my photographs. This inferred photo it is black.

Revisited

I tend to photograph the same things year after year. 

Back in March of 2012 

I photographed the American Willow up-close. 

I'm just drawn to certain things and places I guess.  

Love the color

Saw these glasses at a bar at an event I worked last night. 

I was early and just started to roam around and shoot. When I stare at this long enough the glass bottoms start to look like jar tops..... and I didn't even have a drink.

Yes, I can still see you

Killing time, waiting for my appointment with the accountant, I see a few deer eating at someone's bushes.

 I park my car, open my trunk, get my camera and walk on over. All of them run across the street, except one. This one wanted to make it a little interesting. 

Up the down staircase?

Sorry, I just had to.....

Reflected sky

Quite water reflects the morning sky.

Shadow and light 1

Spring colors on bars and bricks.

Pussy Wilow

A sign of Summer

I spent most of the morning at town beach facilities photographing the progress of storm repairs. 

Baked clams sounded great,

 just have to wait till they open.

God's Promise

A message on the wall of a church.

An old Roadside Stand

back door

front door

inside window

old and weathered 

with many a tale to tell

Skulls at dusk

Along the Connetquot River at Dowling College. 

Connetquot River Sunset

Just south of where I grew up. 

Louie Figurito and I would go exploring in the Sportsman Club in the summer and swim in the river.

This part of the river is in Idle Hour, a section of Oakdale.

At Home

We returned fron Florida yesterday for my fathers services. It was not an was trip for me at all.
We celebrated his life with their friends from St Joseph's in Lakeland, my uncle, his older brother. form California, and my brothers and sister.
I found this flower in the back of their unit where he would ride his scooter to the pool or to the dog park. He appreciated plants and had a bit of a green thumb, something all his sons inherited. 

North Rd

About a half mile from where I live is the section of town that was once booming with roadside motels and cabins that rented to summer vacationers. Now, all but a hand full are low cost rentals that families live in year round.  This scenic was made right next to one of those places. The families that live here, are the gardeners and maids for the summer folk that come to the Hamptons. They are the laborers the contractors hire on the corner, or in the 7-11 parking lot. 
In winter, you can see this beautiful little lake next to the motel. What an awesome hideaway they have all to themselves.

MPH

Our town has a new tradition of meeting our winning sports teams at the edge of town with an escort of sirens wailing and lights flashing. We live on the main road into Southampton. The first time it happened was this time last year when our Girls Varsity Basketball became County Champs in the small school division. At about 10pm, we heard all the commotion and didn't know what to make of it. (We can't see the road from out house.) 
We found out the Lady Mariners were escorted from the edge of town to the high school by both the police and fire departments. We now are alerted in advance of any escort so we can park at the edge of the driveway and flash the lights and sound the horn for our local heros. 
Last night The girls played their final game before heading for the New York State Championship game. 
Sitting there, I made this photo of the dashboard.  It's a good feeling to cheer them on and cause a little ruckus in their honor.

Pears

 For you dad.

 You didn't understand my passion for photography.

Yet after my first show, you knew that a professional matt cutter would help me. 

You were never very patient with me.

But, I know and felt your love.

Rest in Peace

Long Island Blizzard

The gas station across from the end of our driveway looks desolate, even with the few people in the parking lot.  The rain turned to snow earlier this evening and now it turned to icy rain. All we can do is sit tight and hope we don't loose power.
I'm a bit upset with them naming this storm Nemo. Didn't they see the movie? Nemo was a cute little fish for pete's sake!

The culprit

What remains of the bird food bell

 and the cute culprit who's responsible for the

shape it's in.

Rain Drops

Rain Drops and Greenbrier thorns. 

 I made this photo nine days ago, 

much different temperature and weather back then.

 What was a mild winter has turned into a fridge week. 

First Snow

Sorry for the long hiatus. I've been lacking motivation and a muse to catch my attention. Nothing like winter's first snow to get me moving.