Springtime in the Suburbs

Today I took a walk after dinner...

It was just so nice outside. I couldn't resist!

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All day today, the wind was gusty and cool; but, the sun was warm and very spring-like.

My husband and I were planning on going fishing today, but the wind was just too gusty for us.

It would have made the fishing trip an uncomfortable experience.

No problem though. Spring is here. We'll go another day.

Being retired has its benefits. We can go fishing almost any day.

Of course we do have our chores to do....yard work, errands, bills to pay, phone calls to make.

The chores and responsibilities never end, even after retirement.

.....but now we have more time to get them done.

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Well, back to my walk. The sun was shinning perfectly on the new spring growth. My neighbor's weeping willow tree was all aglow with the setting sun. The geese were slowing walking along the pond.

The flowers were colorful, the sky a glowing red-yellow.

I do love living on Long Island, but I guess by now you know that.

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Where is Waldo??

I've been in somewhat of a slump with taking pictures.

It seems like it is always the beach, a park, boating.....not that there's anything bad about that.

Oh no; I love it!!

I'm just always looking for new subjects to photograph.

Well, one of my Flickr groups had a weekend project of "miniature" real life objects.

The goal is to creatively take a photo of something in miniature.

Here is one of mine....Where's Waldo....in my house plant!

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Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Oakdale

This is the estate house, an English Tutor in style, of the Cutting family.

For more information about the estate and the arboretum....click here.

Take time to visit the beautiful grounds here at the arboretum. Now that spring is here and the weather is warm, the arboretum is alive with fresh flowers and the blooms of the season.

Each week, or every few days actually, something new is in bloom.

There is a $6 parking fee, free if you have the Empire Pass.

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Spring Flowers at the Arboretum

Weeping Cherry Tree

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Star Magnolia Tree

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Pink Magnolia Tree

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Barrett Beach Sand Dunes

Late afternoon at Barrett Beach...

Barrett Beach on Fire Island

There has been much planning and discussion about a new ferry service to Barret Beach. If you don't know, Barrett is about half-way between the Pines and Davis Park.
The dock was built to ferry specifications, the concession building and restrooms were constructed, picnic tables and the buoys are ready, but nothing is happening.

Right now, there is no ferry service and it is not in the plan for this summer, 2007.

I'm not upset. In fact, I like it just the way it is. I get to go to a beautiful beach that is never over-crowded. The only access to the beach, is by private boat or by walking a mile or two on the beach from the communities that have ferry service, the Pines or Water Island and Davis Park.

The concession building is empty and there is no life-guard service. Swim at your own risk!

I don't know what will happen in the next year or two. When I do hear of more current information, I will keep you updated.

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Windswept Beach, Barrett on Fire Island

We went to the beach today, by boat. Barrett Beach.

We were there just the other day, Sunday, and saw lots of wood and debris from the nor'easter that hit Fire Island last week.

Wood and plastics were all over the sand on Sunday.

Today everything on the beach was covered with sand. It looked like the water had come up all the way to the dunes. The wood was still there, but covered.

The sand gave the beach a mystical look.

On a positive note...

It was a beautiful day, warm, calm and sunny. For April 24th it was like a summer day.

I couldn't swim though. The water was very, very cold.

Davis Park, April 2007

Another "after the storm" photo at Davis Park...

If you look closely, you can see the sand level markings on the pilings of before the storm...the nor'easter that hit Fire Island just a few weeks ago.

I hope to get to the beach again this week while the sun is shinning , but springtime brings lists of chores, including the never-ending, spring cleaning.

Erosion at Davis Park

We went to Davis Park today. The weather was beautiful!

The storm last weekend, the nor'easter, took away a good part of the beach.

Homes are hanging off the sand dunes that are left. Not good!

About two miles to the west, on Barrett Beach, the debris and damaged lumber covered the sand.

It looks like a big cleanup for the Fire Island community and the Federal Government.

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The summer renters have not yet arrived on Fire Island so the deer were very visible!

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No way to get to the front door here....

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These bricks are from a fireplace. You can see the missing fireplace on the side of the house.

I don't really know if the tires helped in this case.

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Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Oakdale

A beautiful estate, and of course beautiful grounds, take a trip and see the flowering trees this time of year.

The trees are beginning to bloom after the heavy rains.

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Something new, beginning today, each blog entry will have labels. They will help find entries under each of the labels. So for today, this entry has the only labels.

My Thursday Walk

New buds on the neighbors weeping willow tree...

I was able to take a nice long walk today. The sun finally showed itself through the clouds after a good week of rain. Ah, spring is here....

You may ask what I saw on my walk? What was new? What has changed in the last week?

Well, for one thing, the flora of my neighborhood has begun to bloom. Blossoms everywhere. Take a look!

Photos from my Thursday walk...

Crocus in bloom...

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A decorative fish hanging.....

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A Fleur-de-lis planter that is in the need of some summertime plants...

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Times Square

Another city shot...New York's finast, the NYPD in Times Square

One of the greatest advantages to living on Long Island is that New York City is not far away.

I love to visit for a show, or for its wonderful restaurants, or just to take photos and enjoy the sights.A messenger, making a delivery...

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A shopper, looking at the goods of an outdoor street merchant...

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Two ladies, maybe tourists, walking along Broadway...

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The storm has passed and it is time for spring to come into full swing.

Let's enjoy the arrival of warm weather and the new growth that the rain has encouraged!

~~~~~~ West Lake in Patchogue, early morning...

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The Bayard Cutting Arboretum estate home, Oakdale...

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Click on the photos for a larger version with more details! Enjoy!

Geese are here to stay...

I took this photo in Bayport, Long Island. The geese are here to stay.

They make a big mess and no longer migrate.

This one little pond can have 20 to 30 geese on a given day. What makes it worse, is that the owners of the pond, feed the geese. It's not a good idea.

If it were a public pond, the Health Department has laws against feeding ducks and geese, so it wouldn't be done, but this is different.

It is a privately owned pond and the owners don't seem to care about the health risks, for the geese or the people in the neighborhood.

They've been told. They don't care.

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Crocus, a sign of spring...

Reports say that the weather tomorrow will be rainy and windy. Actually we are in the path of a terrible storm. I thought I would take a photo of this poor little crocus because after tomorrow it most likely will be gone.

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Same for this pretty little daffodil..... :-(

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Fire Island and the Lighthouse

Robert Moses Bridge and Causeway...

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The Fire Island Lighthouse from a different angle...

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the lighthouse staircase...

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Movie made for Linda...

After my mother died in 2004, my siblings and I went through her photos and separated them to share. I took most of them to scan and burned a CD for each family member.
I then attempted to make a movie for each person. I set the movies to a song that I felt, at the time, fit their personality.

Well, as life happens, I didn't get passed the first two or three movies, (too time consuming) and put the CDs away with all the other photos.

Well, fast forward to 2007....We now have YouTube and movies can be posted.
I have a YouTube account.

Here is, not a movie, but a slideshow I made for my sister. I would have done this differently if I made it today, but this was 2004. It is photos of Linda's life and my family.
Hope you enjoy!

Fly-fishing on Long Island

Small lakes in many Long Island communities are stocked with fish, as of April 1st. It was cold today, but we went fishing. Thermals, sweat-pants, and sweaters under the waders and you would think it was summer! Yeah, right!

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Walking through the tall grass...

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This is West Lake in Patchoque...Private home and the water tower do give a different take on fishing. It's not as quiet or picturesque as Connetquot State Park, but pretty, just the same... We got the rods wet and checked our equipment for this type of fishing.

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An osprey at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum.

We watched this guy for a long time and saw him meet his nesting partner in the large chimney of the estate. We'll be going back often to catch the arrival of the new chicks. So close to people, this is going to be a show I don't want to miss!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Preserve your beach....stay off the dunes!

Preserve your beach....stay off the dunes!

Talisman Beach...Fire Island

Talisman Beach...

You've seen this shot before, here, taken by me, but this one is different. What do you see here?

A ramp?...in the sand? Covered in sand, actually.

Well, in the summer the ramp is free of sand. In fact, wagons or wheelchairs or carriages can get onto the beach without being carried down the steps.

This is how it looks before the summer season. Sand moves...and it moves over the sand dunes. It's the beach grass and weeds that hold the sand dunes together.

So, don't walk on the dunes. Don't let your children walk on the dunes.

There is a fine line between having a secure barrier beach to protect the mainland and having an eroded beach where the water is out of control.

Talisman, Fire Island

The pathway, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great South Bay, through the trees and over the sand dunes....

Notice the sand that has blown onto the walkway. With cutbacks in the spending for the National Seashore, workers will have a difficult time getting the beach ready for summer.

There are rarely ever crowds in this area, since the only way here is by private boat or by the ferries that travel from Davis Park or the Pines.

If you take the ferry, it's a long walk on the beach or through the dunes to get to Talisman.

I guess that's why I like it so much. No crowds!

Last weekend in March, 2007

Cold and windy, the vehicles ride along the ocean. There are no paved roads on Fire Island, not even for utility workers!
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My nephew running along the shore. I guess no one told him it was cold and windy.

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A diptych, two photos as one, of my sister. She is spontaneous and always make me laugh!

It's great to have a sister.

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Click on the photo to see the larger version.

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My nephew jumping for joy....Click on the photo to see him smile.

Happy boy to be visiting his Aunt Alida on Long Island....and he got to go to the beach. How many kids from Pennsylvania can say that on a cold weekend in March?

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My sister who is living in Pennsylvania now, with her husband and son, came to visit us this weekend. We took them to Fire Island to see what has happened over the winter. The beach has held up very well. It was wide and in good condition, not much erosion.

In some areas, I read, there are barricades to keep people away from the plover nesting areas.

I didn't see anything where we were. It was just a fun day, at the beach.