Merry Christmas

 

“I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

Well decorated

I can't help but thinking of those serving in the military around the holidays. 

How lonely it must be for anyone not to be with the ones they love at such a special time. 

January fourth, Jackie, a friend of mine is being deployed for her fourth tour of duty.  

Special prayers for all those who put on a uniform with the aim of protecting and serving.

Where has the time gone!

Sorry about the long hiatus from blogging. I never realized how much time a photographer spends on his knees, or using his knees or just plan needed working knees.  

Last week I went for a walk along the beach. Actually, I should say I took a feeble attempt at walking on the beach. Even though the good doctor has said my recovery is "a head of where it should be," I'm still disappointed with progress on steps (down) and kneeling. Soon I guess.

Today's post is from last Thursday. This is a group of photographers that volunteered their time to make family portraits for the less fortunate . This happened through an organized effort Help-Portrait and a great team leader, Joanne Henig  (Standing second form left). 

Yes, that me, kneeling down on my good knee. I really needed this to feel the spirit of the holiday this year.  I recommend it to all of my blogging friends; with  and without cameras. There's so much that needs to get done the more help the better.

P.S. Photo credit belongs to Mr. Henig.

Evening drive home

First, it was the color of the sky that I wanted to photograph, but the power lines were in the way. Then I pulled up to the intersection and the light turned red. 

So I made the photo  and used 

the lights 

and 

lines and sky. 

Just fun.

Trains and Christmas

I had to photograph a toy train display at the Town of Babylon Museum. They expanded an exhibit for the holiday season. 

When my boys were younger, we always set-up a train at the base of our Christmas tree. 

We haven't set it up in a few years, space, time and the boys being older all take a little of what makes it special, away.

 I also had to photograph a USO dance at a senior center. Many of the seniors wore uniforms and brought memorabilia from the wars. It was awesome.

Fog

Alcotts Pond in the fog. 

The unseasonably warm weather gave us fog this evening.  As I passed Alcotts Pond I had to turn the car around to make this photo.

Jet fuel

I passed this carrier truck and had to slow up to grab the photo as he passed me. I was really wondering what the driver behind me was thinking. 

Well, there's no jet fuel for me, but a friend of mine tells me to eat my greens... it will speed up my recovery. So greens will be my jet fuel.

700

I'm finding it difficult to bend to make the kind of photographs I like to make. And with stitches in my left knee, there's no kneeling.  

I went back to work on Monday, and of course I would get a job for Thursday to tour the local waterways by boat. I went out to photograph canals that are in need for dredging, The ride wasn't too bad. The water was calm and the weather was mild. I tried to sit on as much of the ride as possible. Yesterday I had a tree lighting which was all on my feet. 

I'm feeling a little less ok than I was yesterday morning, so I decided to take it easy today. So with my leg up and iced, college football on the tube and a good book to read; I'm all set for the rest of the day.

I can't believe that today's post makes number 700.

Flying again

  My crutches have been put away. I'm still hobbling, but my hobble doesn't look so sad. 

I was able to get some reading done and finished, Woman Warrior, Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts by Maxine Hong Kingston. 

In the book Kingston writes, “ It's mirrors not aches and pains that turns a person old.” After this week of recovery, I can agree. I hurt, especially Monday night, but the aches and pains only slowed me down.

I had a photograph selected for the 

2011 Juried Photography Show at the Islip Arts Council.

It will hang at Seatuck in Islip for the month of December. 

So thanks for all the prayers and get well wishes. I do appreciate them all. 

I hope all my blogging friends had a great Thanksgiving. I spent mine healing and with family, both of which I am thankful for.

Red Horse

Went to the Bolton Theater in Bay Shore this past Friday to see Red House recording artists,  Red Horse.  The Bolton is a converted 200 seat movie theater and is somehow part of the YMCA. It's a great place to see a show, it is personal and has great sound.

John Gorka

We been to this theater four times. We've seen Lucy Kaplansky three times and this show. Singer songwriters are more likely to tell stories between songs and this small theater is perfect to hear.

 Lucy Kaplansky

There was plenty of stories and joking between the three performers who have a rich history of  recording with each other. For those that don't know, they are three independent artists that recorded a record together.

Eliza Gilkyson

The show was great. As expected they played the whole album plus some of their own material. They had a lot of fun on stage and I believe the audience had just as much fun. I linked a You-Tube video of each of the performers if you are interested in checking them out.

Pylon reflection

Two days of cold rain have kept me from going out. I made this photo at the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays. The color of the pylons, the water and the reflection were perfect one morning last week.

Shinnecock Fleet

Part of the fishing fleet at the 

Shinnecock boat basin.

Who knew those captains were so 

color coordinated?

I'm guessing it was blue, white, blue, white day or else I just got lucky.

Shell in the sand

I took a few moments today to walk along 

the ocean. 

The day was beautiful. 

All my tests came back and my doctor gave me clearance for my knee surgery. 

One week to go.

Plenty of pain these past few days. 

I still have mixed emotions.

 

Leaves in Beaverdam Pond

Oak leaves and Maple leaves 

in Beaverdam Pond. 

The shapes and colors 

against the dark water caught my eye.

More Fall Colors

More fall colors.

This photo is from the forest floor.

Looking down, you can find some gems.

The Red Maple

We have this little Red Maple in the backyard that really came out in color this fall. 

In the past, the leaves just shrivel up and died.

Sandpipers

I tried to photograph these Sandpipers as they feed from a puddle the incoming tide made on the beach. I was very warm yesterday and I took a few minutes to go to the ocean before a hard night.

It's gonna be a long one....

Today is Election Day here in the USA. 

In Suffolk County as with most of New York State, we have new voting machines. They have caused problems in the way we get information from them and so we've had a couple of contested races. Today we have a few heated races and it's already being said we might not know the results for a while. 

I made this photo about two weeks ago at Jones Beach. The beach seems to go on forever. I'm sure tonight will seem the same way.

First Frost

Well there it is, our first frost here on Long Island.

Reaching for the light

 

I always find fascination 

with how 

nature finds a way to adapt. 

Something more of us need to learn.

On November 21, I am having my Meniscus repaired by Orthopedic Surgery.

I'm concerned about the length of time it will take to heal.

My Doctor says all people heal differently...

I need to be like that vine and find a way to adapt.