Muttontown Preserve

Muttontown Preserve, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

This was my first visit to the Muttontown Preserve.

We went to the Preserve today to take photos of wildflowers and were disappointed.

The drought has the meadow very brown and dry and almost void of flowers.

Also, I was surprised at the maintenance at the Nassau County Muttontown Preserve.

The trails were not groomed and we had to walk through high grass with poison ivy.

I guess it is kept as natural as possible, after all, it is a "preserve" and as wild as you would expect of undeveloped Long Island land.

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Skimmers at Nickerson Beach

skimmers, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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I went over to Nickerson Beach yesterday, Nassau County.....yes, I left my zip code!

Just kidding, of course!

I've been wanting to go there to see these beautiful nesting birds but waited until after Labor Day. During the summer, parking there is pretty expensive for non-residents, and it's not like I was staying all day. (The gas to get there was cost enough!)

I just wanted to see the birds.

*Nickerson Beach*

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If you had told me 30 years ago that I would be traveling to see birds, I would not have believed you. After all, I was a "Brooklyn girl" and the only birds I ever saw were pigeons and sparrows.

There are birds in the city of course, but I just never noticed I guess.

It wasn't until I moved to Long Island, and became an adult, that I realized the variety of birds that we have.

I always enjoyed nature, but I was young and too involved in my own world to realize the pleasure that birding can bring. My parents enjoyed nature also, and would take the family to parks and rivers. We would pick wild berries in the country and clams and mussels on the beach.

So, I knew from very young that I enjoyed being outdoors.

I now have a "life list" of birds that I've seen. I buy bird ID books and use binoculars to see the differences in the coloring and beaks to help with identification.

Yep, I never would have thought........

Our lives take different turns, and the journey is often unpredictable.

That's a good thing.

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Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury Gardens, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The Thatched Cottage

Temple of Love

Temple of Love, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Temple of Love at the

 Old Westbury Gardens, Old Westbury.

This is one of the best times of year to visit the Gardens.

Flowers and flowers and more flowers on this beautiful estate!

Old Bethpage Village, Long Island

The Powell Farm

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Village Bell

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Colonial American Details

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In the heart of the hamlet of Old Bethpage is Old Bethpage Village Restoration. 

Old Bethpage, and the neighboring town of Bethpage, are in the town of Oyster Bay, in Nassau County. 

The Village Restoration is just one reason for people of Old Bethpage to be proud of the community in which they live.
Old Bethpage Village recreates the times of pre-Civil War Long Island and shows the agricultural and commercial, as well as the domestic lifestyle of the era. 

It illustrates the crafts and skills of the time. The homes are filled with antiques and there are gardens and fields.

 The general store sells old fashioned root-beer and pretzels. 

There are live demonstrations of hat making, spinning, weaving and blacksmith crafts. 

There is always something new; the village is in a constant state of restoration.

There are more than 55 historic buildings on 200 acres, all original structures. 

It gives the town of Bethpage a sense of history and makes people proud to live here. 

Buildings were saved from demolition, from all over Long Island, and moved to this site. 

Shops are set up and there is a school house with working fireplace and a period costumed teacher. In fact, all of the volunteer and working town’s people are dressed in period costume. 

The Powell Farm is original to the site and is complete with pigs, cows and turkey. 

This entire area was originally part of the Powell Farm and historical records tell us that Thomas Powell, a devout Quaker, bought the land in 1695 from the Massapequa, Secatog and Matinecock people.
The Old Bethpage Village Restoration is the center of community activity. 

Special events are planned each month. There is sheep shearing in May and Autumn Harvest-time in October and there are various other activities throughout the year.
It is a wonderful historic destination and can be part of family life for those living near the village especially if the family interests involve historical America. 

Old Bethpage Village also runs school group tours to enrich the culture of Long Island.
This is just one reason to drive out and visit Old Bethpage!
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Directions from the Southern State Parkway:
Southern State Parkway to Exit 28A Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway (NY135) North. Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway to Old Country Road East exit 10. Right turn onto Old Country Road Eastbound to Round Swamp Road. Right onto Round Swamp Road and village entrance will be on your left.

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Official website:
Bethpage Community  http://www.bethpagecommunity.com/
Old Bethpage Village   http://www.oldbethpage.org/

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