A kyack quietly glides through the reeds on the Connetquot River in the Bayard Cutting Arboretum.

Busy, busy....

I haven't posted in a few days due to the fact that I've been very busy.

There is always so much to do, sometimes necessary activities and not always pleasant, unfortunately.

So today I'm stopping everything to "smell the roses."

Yes, I often enjoy my surroundings, but now this is serious.

Take some time today to rest and appreciate what you have. Enjoy your family and friends.

Don't wait until it is too late!

___________________________________

Well, one positive "chore" I've been working on is selling photos to "stock photo" companies. Check out my site on IStockPhoto.com and Fotolia.com.

They pay "peanuts" for each shot but over time, if you have the right photos, the money can add up. Also, each photo can be used by more than one person for web sites as well as prints.

Now, let me get back to getting some photos together......and please wish me luck with this new project!

...and be sure that I will stop today and appreciate my life and good health.

Sunken Forest, Fire Island

Sunken Forest, looking west...

The sand dunes are huge and make it appear that the forest is below sea level...It isn't.

The Sunken Forest is just one of the east coast maritime forests, this one along Fire Island. There are trees twisted from the ocean wind and salt air.

As you walk through the forest and sand dunes, it feels like another world...nature at its best...

At this time of year it is just majestic...no crowds, just beautiful nature.

This is the Atlantic Ocean, on Fire Island. We took a boat ride to Sailors' Haven and walked thorugh the Sunken Forest. It was beautiful and peaceful.

Sunken Forest, Fire Island

A pathway through the sand dunes on Fire Island's National Seashore.

This walkway goes through the Sunken Forest.

You would never think this area is basically a sandy area.

The trees are huge and there is plenty of vegetation!

It was a great day for walking on the beach and through the forest!

Another Monarch Butterfly....There are so many on Long Island right now, passing through on their migration to the Yucatan Pennisula!

Sunday's night sunset. I set the camera on a tripod and put on the interval timer. It took one shot every three minutes, while I had dinner. Isn't technology amazing? I was sorry I didn't set it for every one minute because this young boy was making circles in the canal and then left. This was the only shot I got of him. Beautiful evening!

East end of Long Island, North Fork....the farmhouses are taken down to make room for big homes that just look Victorian. I like the upstairs windows on this one...

Bayard Cutting Arboretum

The Bayard Cutting Arboretum, a New York State Park, was donated to the Long Island State Park Region by Mrs. William Bayard Cuttingand her daughter, Mrs. Olivia James,in memory of William Bayard Cutting,
Info for the arboretum, click here.

Back to Fire Island

Ah, back to Long Island.

We just returned home from our road trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was a wonderful trip, filled with history and beautiful countryside. It's nice to go on vacation but it is always nice to return home, safe and sound.

Yesterday, we took a boat ride to Fire Island since the weather was so perfect for October.

The sun was warm and the beach was empty and beautiful!

There were Monach butterflies everywhere!

We read, relaxed and enjoyed the sun. Being retired definitely has it's advantages!

I was happy to be home on Long Island, and happy to be at the beach!

Lincoln at the National Cemetery at Gettysburg

Gettysburg Battlefield, Day One of the battle. It all began here.

In memory of the New York Infantry who died at Gettysburg.

Cannon at the National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, site of the American Civil War, July 1863.

General Major Warren viewed the battle from this spot...the top of Little Round Top during the American Civil War in July of 1863.

One of the many cannons on display at Gettysburg. There are monuments all around the city to remember the men who died...over 50,000 in three days!

Road trip......to the Gettysburg area of Pennsylvania. Today, we stopped at the apple orchards. I have other photos to post but will have to wait since time is limited...stay tuned for the Gettysburg photos!

Captain Jack Combs, wood carver, bayman

This is Jack Combs.

He is a fourth generation wood carver/ bayman of Long Island.

His family has been on Long Island since the 1600s.

There is this little work-shack on the Hallockville Farm where he does his wood carving.

Stop by if you get a chance.

He loves to talk and tell you about his family. This building was moved from Greenport and Jack is still making wood decoys.

Check it out, really!

One of the last days at the beach. It is definitely getting too cool now to just sit there. Perfect weather for a nice walk and a search for shells or beach glass!

Blue claw crabs....We caught over two dozen just the other day. Cut and cleaned them, and then put them into a pot of tomato sauce. It was the sweetest pot of crabs ever! Right Mary?

My husband Chris, an early morning boat ride to watch the sunrise. Yes, that is the New York Times and his cereal.

river on a calm morning

The monarch butterflies are migrating through and over Long Island at this time every year.

Whites Bait Shop, Greenport, Long Island, NY

Whites Bait Shop, Greenport, Long Island, NY....My husband and I went into this shop and had a very unpleasant experience....

As we entered the bait store, no one was behind the counter.

We stood there for what seemed like a long time.

There was a man, no young teenager, sitting inside the shop, near the door, talking on his cell phone. He did not look at us or speak to us. As we were waiting for the shop owner to come out, I decided to take some photos of the fishing gear hanging from the ceiling.

With the snap of my camera this man jumped up and in an angry, nasty manner said, “Stop that! Usually people ask me before taking photos in here!”

I was surprised that he was working there.
I said to him, “Oh, you are the owner? Well I wouldn’t have known because you sat there and didn’t acknowledge us, didn’t greet us, didn’t even look at us. I usually would ask if I thought you were the owner!”

We then asked for some bait, paid for it, all while he was still on the cell phone.

He got our order and took our money all with one hand!
With that, we walked out.

I was angry with myself for making the purchase.

We should have walked out without buying anything because he certainly didn’t deserve our business!

East end of Long Island, where there is still a large area of agriculture...farms and vineyards....very scenic and classic, with lots of history.

Another fly-fishing shot of Chris. It was a wonderful morning, Tuesday, and we were flyfishing in the Connetquot River State Park and Preserve.

farm truck and barn...Just took a ride out east to see and enjoy the agricultural areas that are still there on the East End of Long Island.

The pumpkin farm. Soon the "pumpkin people" (tourists who invade the east end of Long Island) will be heading out east to see the farms and buy some pumpkins.

Just some practice with black and white work in Photoshop. This is our friend, Dan.

Autumn has begun! The garden center has it's display of pumpkins and mums. Better than the department stores, who are already showing Christmas items!

Fire Island Lighthouse. Everyone seems to love lighthouse photos, so I just take them for fun. I like the red roof on the house against the black and white lighthouse.

Early morning, and the temperatures were still cool.

Another photo of fly- fishing on the Connetquot River.

Fly-fishing on Long Island

We went fly fishing in the early morning, before sunrise.

This is the Connetquot River State Park.

It is so quiet deep inside the park, the only sounds are the fish splashing and the birds chirping and moving about....maybe a chipmunk or squirrel.

It was a good day for fishing. The weather was a perfect temperature for being in the water.

I used a "beetle" as my "fly" since it was recommended by some of the more experienced fisherman we met that morning.

It worked! I caught so many fish, I stopped counting. Of course, I released all but two.

The best part for me was being outdoors and connecting with nature.

Did I say it was very quiet on the river? I did, I know, but it needs to be repeated.

It was serene and peaceful and quiet and I was very happy.

Oh, one more thing....I kept my camera on the banks of the river and kept running back for it as the light changed throughout the morning.

I enjoy fishing, but I also enjoy taking photos.

Connetquot River State Park

This is me, Alida, flyfishing. The photo was taken by my husband, on the Connetquot River in the Connetquot River State Park.

It was a beautiful day and I caught more than ten fish.

Most of them were small so I let them go. It is a "catch and release" area, although you can keep two fish per person.

The best part of the morning is the feeling of being in another world.

It is another world...quiet and absoutely beautiful.

Captain Rod returning from the ocean after a day of fishing. This is just one of many fishing boats that are docked at Captree State Park.

This tug boat was hauling heavy equipment through the Fire Island Inlet from the ocean. It was amazing to watch.

Gull flies off the buoy, Great South Bay.

Our friend Bonne on Fire Island. It was a cloudy, overcast day but she wanted to go to the beach. It was her first day of retirement! Congratulations Bonne!! Look at that smile.....

The Great South Bay....sometimes the clouds just take my breath away.

Slideshow of Long Island Photos.

Can you see this slideshow? It is from my PBase galleries...

Click here.

You can select the number 1 for one second to see the photos at a quicker pace.

Thank you and hope you enjoy the gallery!

Fire Island Lighthouse, Fire Island, as seen from the Great South Bay....We were returning from fishing, so it was late in the day and the sun was casting a warm glow on the land.

9/11...In memory of those who didn't make it.

Pamela, WTC survivor
Pam made it. She will never be the same.

In memory of those who didn't make it.

My husband and I met Pam in Italy last March.

On September 11, 2001, she was on the 40th floor of the WTC. When the first plane hit, she grabbed her shoes and handbag and ran for her life, down the steps, and to the Hudson River.

She saw the second plane coming. She didn't stop running.

She survived.

I'm glad we met her.
She came to visit for the weekend and we took her to the beach and celebrated life.

Sometimes you just have to do that.

Tug Boat in the Great South Bay

Tug and the pleasure boat.....

It was a beautiful day on the ocean...calm and sunny and warm.

As we were returning home from a day of fishing, we saw this large tug.

It was pulling heavy work equipment, five large barges, that went out to sea.

It was amazing to see the tug in contrast to the small pleasure and fishing boats passing it by.

Tug boats always interest me.

They are so strong and powerful and yet they are smaller than the load they are moving.

How do they do that, I wonder?

It's things like this that make me appreciate being alive and interested in the world around me.

Who designed the tug? When did they have their beginnings?

I know I can research that, and probably will.

Yes, I'm happy to be here.

Robert Moses Bridge

We were fishing again, yesterday. This is the Robert Moses Bridge that connects Captree Island to Fire Island. It is a great place to fish and you can often see the fishing charters in the area.

To see this area on the map, click here.

Ferry returns to Sayville from Fire Island.

Yes another seagull.....The beach will be ours after tomorrow. The kids go back to school and the regular routines begin again. Yes, the beach will be ours...........

Ernesto arrives on Long Island...

Ernesto's rain and wind arrived and the Great South Bay was violent.

It was so windy that I thought the wind would just sweep me off the dock....really!
I had all to do just to hold the camera.
Sometimes a photograph doesn't show the true experience. Maybe if I were a better photographer I could catch the power of such a wind.
Check out my older photos of the Great South Bay for a photo of the calmer days on the Bay. Labor Day is here and the summer is coming to an end.
We just wish it would stop raining for the next two days, don't we?

World Trade Center from the Hudson RIver. As September begins and the air cools and the school year begins again, we remember the attack on September 11th, 2001.

Terra cotta window treatment in the Washington Square Park area of Manhattan.

World Trade Center from the Hudson River