Red Cardinal

One of the joys of owning a home, is to have a bird feeder near the windows.

What better way to see the visiting birds?

Here on Long Island, we get a variety of species. There are the Long Island regulars, like this female red cardinal and then there are the migratory birds too.

They are not always easy to photograph, but this female is getting used to the camera.

Doesn't she look like she's checking me out?

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Coney Island Mermaid Parade, 2008

Coney Island Mermaid Parade 2008

Slide-show click here!

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Mermaid Parade, Coney Island

A group called, "Marine Antoinette" (their spelling) was one of the most popular...

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No Mermaid Parade is complete without a "Marilyn"....

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Make-up for the Mermaid Parade, Coney Island

A young boy is painted by his father...

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High drama and bright colors with make-up...

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Very attractive and one of the best body paintings in the parade...

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Mermaid Parade, Coney Island

blue on stilts, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

We went to the Mermaid Parade today in Coney Island.

 It was a fun day and lots of interesting characters to photograph. 

I'll be posting some more photos soon!

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For a slideshow of photos, click here!

mauve macro

mauve, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos

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I've been taking lots of macro flower shots the last few days.

The garden is beautiful, with color and lush green foliage.

It is always best this time of year, before the dry heat of July and August.

Macro photography lets the details be shown, more than you are usually aware.

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Gate B for Baseball

Gate B, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

I went to the Mets Game today, at Shea Stadium.

The Mets lost.  :-(

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Did you know that this is the last season for Shea? 

The stadium will be torn down and a new stadium, Citi Park, is already under construction.

The last time I was at Shea, was in 1965 when I saw the Beatles.

Okay, I'm showing my age. I can't help it.

It seems like yesterday. I don't feel any older, but a great deal has happened in those years in-between.

Today was a wonderful reminder of all the good things.

I had a large Nathan's hot dog, with sauerkraut and mustard.

The sun was hot, but the crowd was enthusiastic anyway. I'm glad I got to see the stadium and take photos before it is gone.

Then my husband and I walked over to Flushing Meadow Park.

The unisphere is still there, the site of the 1964-65 World's Fair.

Lots of memories, some good, some not, but it's okay.

Sometimes you have to look back and remember, so you can move forward.

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Heat Wave

seagulls over the bay, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The temperatures have been high but there is usually a breeze by the water.

Everyone keeps asking, "Aren't you dying of the heat?"

No. I sit by the water and enjoy the cooler breezes and warm sunlight.

This is so much better than January.

I do wear sunscreen and sit under an umbrella.

But, it's not unbearably hot!

It could be worse. It could always be worse.

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Slide Show

baymen

baymen, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The Great South Bay on a "gray" kind of day. I thought this photos was worth posting because these are "baymen" the last of the few surviving men who work the bay. These guys are collecting conch, but for years this bay was known for its oysters and clams. You heard of the "Blue Point" oysters? This is the area. 

We spoke to these men as they moved from marker to marker to collect the conch from their traps. In the 1970s, the bay was filled with boats like this.

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the stroll

the stroll, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Artwork by William King, on Penns Landing in South Philadelphia.

We helped my son move to South Philly this past weekend.

It's difficult to see them go. We packed up his belongings, some items that were his from when he was just 3-4 years old. Ugh!

It wasn't easy.

South Philly was very active and colorful. 

South Street was filled with people walking, shopping, eating. 

It seems to have had a rebirth, something similiar to the rebirth of Brooklyn. 

We walked along South Street, ate a Philly Cheese Steak and checked out Penns Landing.

Not a bad day, but it was difficult to leave my "baby" in another city.

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