Walking the Boardwalk, Sunken Meadow

We went for a walk today on the Sunken Meadow boardwalk. 

It was really pleasant and not too cool. 

I thought it was too cold today for a beach walk but I think the North Shore was protected from the wind. 

It was a wonderful walk and a wonderful sunny day.

 Can spring be close behind?

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Wishing for Spring to Arrive

We took a ride to the farm-stand today. We saw that the pansies have arrived and couldn't wait to buy some for the front porch!

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Our friendly Sayville farm-stand lady was waiting for some customers. Not much like spring with warm gloves and few things to sell, she was still as pleasant as always.

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Ahh, tulips, not yet opened, but having some color and the promise of spring!

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Bayport, Long Island, NY

Bayport Beach

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Bayport Aerodrome

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The town of Bayport, in Islip Township, is located on the south shore of Long Island, along the Great South Bay, between Sayville and Blue Point. A sleepy little hamlet with a rich past, it is filled with grand historical Victorian homes and updated bungalows as well as the contemporary homes from the 1950s through present time.

The school district is unique in that it is in partnership with Blue Point of Brookhaven Township. For information, visit http://www.b-bp.k12.ny.us/

The original inhabitants of Bayport were the Secatoque Indians. They fished, dug clams and sailed the bay and small streams and rivers. The land was fertile and the sea gave them the food they needed to survive. The European settlers also found that the bay would provide a good economy with fishing and oyster/clam digging. Wealthy New Yorkers came for the summer breezes.

On the western border, Bayport begins at Brown’s River where you can see Meadow Croft, the summer estate of John E. Roosevelt. Although it is technically located in Sayville, The Bayport Heritage Association gives tours of the main house on Sundays at 1:00 pm and 3:00. It has been recently restored with furniture of the period, about 1910. Some of the household items and furniture are original from the Roosevelt Family. You can find out more about it by calling (631) 472-4625. As you travel east along Middle Road you can see other historical homes which are kept to the décor of the day.

Montauk Highway is the business section with stores and small shopping centers. It has a post office and very popular fish store just east of Bayport Ave. The Bayport Flower House is well known for its floral arrangements, home decor and springtime nursery and garden center.

Unique to Bayport is the aerodrome with vintage airplanes. It is a gravel and grass runway modeled after the aerodromes of the early 1900's. For a fee, you can be a passenger and see Long Island from the air. For more information visit: http://www.bayportaerodrome.org/

Plan on taking a trip to visit Bayport. It no longer has a train stop on the Long Island Railroad, but it is exit 50 off Sunrise Highway. Just drive south to the Great South Bay.
See you there!
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Baby Oliver, 11 weeks old

Just 11 weeks old and he already has the family wrapped around his finger.

Such a cutie!

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The Amazing Caribbean

I just wanted to post a few photos from this last trip to Bonaire.

 I have been there nine times in the last 11 years and have not gotten tired of this wonderful island yet.

It's warm, above and below the water; the people are friendly and wonderful; there are great restaurants and shops; and the reef is one of the healthiest in the Caribbean!

What more can you ask for?

A warning: there is little to do there if you don't dive or snorkel.

Well, I shouldn't say that since you can drive into the National Park, bird watch and/or sit by a pool or sea and read.

The island has Dutch influence and will become part of Holland as of January 2009.

Because of this, the construction is sky-rocketing! There is new construction everywhere as people realize the benefits of buying something now...getting a small piece of paradise!

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Shopping in the Caribbean

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Caribbean Nights

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Yes, it's really a fish....a Frog Fish!

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Scuba Diving, new camera

It will take a few weeks to process all my photos from the Bonaire trip.

This vacation, I took underwater photos too, using our new Canon PowerShot G9.

I wanted this camera because it shoots "raw" files, which contain more detail than jpg.

It does come with it's problems though, since it is a fairly new camera, all the other software is not up to the latest versions to process this Canon 'raw' files.

I can still use Photoshop but that's because I have the newest version of CS3.

Anyone who has an older version, or Windows Vista, will have to use the Canon Raw edit which came with the camera, and is not as good, in my opinion.

Feel free to email me for clarification or questions!

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I love scuba diving, but when you take underwater photos, the diving has a different 'focus.'

I have to see things differently and dive differently: more concentrated on the details.

I take photos while diving, but I don't dive to take photos, if you know what I mean.

My underwater photos will never make the magazines or be praised for their quality.

But that's okay. I love to dive and love to take photos, and now I can combine the two.

It does help with fish identification and I can also take short videos.

Check out my You Tube site for the short video of a swimming octopus!

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caribbean sunlight

caribbean sunlight, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

This photo was taken in Bonaire, where all we needed to sleep was a sheet for cover and curtains to block the light. Wake to the sound of birds and a vision of palm trees and sunlight.

I love being on vacation but there is something so comforting to the return home. It feels good to sleep in your own bed. I may need two blankets and a comforter to keep warm, but it's home!

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watching the night dive

watching the night dive, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Last chance for a night dive. We return home tomorrow to cold and snowy weather....well, it is winter!
The New York area got 10 inches of snow while we were swimming with the fish in Bonaire.

Bon Bini

Bon Bini, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

This means welcome in "Papiamentu," the native language of the people of Bonaire.

Back in Bonaire

fishing boat, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

We've returned to the island we love, the Caribbean island, Bonaire.
The temperatures are about 80 degrees F. above and below the water. The sun is shinning and the fish are waiting.......

Adam

Adam, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

I saw Adam this past weekend....He seems to be happy, but then, does your child ever tell you everything?

As a parent, you want the best for them, always...and you want them to be safe, healthy and happy.

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Greenport, Long Island

Marine Supplies at Prestons

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Greenport,  is an historical, seaside town on the North Fork, at the east end of Long Island, in Suffolk County.  It is in the town of Southold  and located just north of Shelter Island. 

The Greenport harbor area recently went through major renovations complete with an addition of the antique Greenport Carousel and the addition of a park with views of Shelter Island. The village is abundant with eateries, dockside restaurants, unique antique shops, and the historical area. Historically, Greenport was famous as a whaling center and for its fishing and ship building industries.

Greenport is popular with boaters, from Connecticut, and Block Island as well as Montauk. The art deco movie theater is very popular with the locals as well as tourists. The Claudio’s dockside restaurant and marina is popular with boaters where they can dock their boats and stop in for a meal. There is the famous Preston’s, an older building where you can purchase nautical items and clothing.

Is also the northern terminal for the Shelter Island Ferry. Day trippers line up for the short ride to Shelter Island. Both cars and foot passengers are allowed on the ferry. Once you arrive on Shelter Island, you can take the south ferry to the Hamptons and the South Fork of Long Island.

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Please check out the lodgings in Greeport,  and spend a weekend to see what the town has to offer.

There are a variety of restaurants to satisfy every appetite. 

Some of the activities, 

are the antique carousel and the railroad museum of Long Island.

The Greenport Union Free School District is considered one of the best on Long Island too.

For more information about the school district, click here… 

For the location of Greenport and a map of the area, check out the maps. Maps of Greenport. 

Long Island Rail Road Greenport Station: End of Third Street Suffolk: 631-231-5477

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S. T. Preston & Son, Greenport

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Patchogue

Patchogue River, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Patchogue Village, Long Island

Patchogue River, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Patchogue Village

Patchogue Village, in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, is an incorporated village, located on the south shore of Long Island, between Blue Point on the west and Bellport on the east.

Fifty miles from Manhattan, Patchoque was incorporated in 1893 and in the past 115 years or so has been a busy community. 

The business district has Main Street shopping and restaurants making trips to the large Long Island Malls unnecessary. 

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The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, at one time a movie theatre, has been fully renovated. The Theatre has live performances and the lobby can hold receptions and has a full service bar. The theatre has hosted a variety of performances including plays, comedies, auctions, dance performances and live concerts from classical to rock.

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There is ferry service to Fire Island. 

The ferries leave Patchoque for trips to Watch Hill, part of the Fire Island National Seashore, and Davis Park, a summer residential community. 

Fire Island is a barrier beach with Atlantic Ocean waves beating against beautiful white sand. It is all just a ferry ride away. Patchoque also has the bay and waterfront marinas and piers that extend into the Great South Bay. 

You can spend the day fishing or swimming in the bay or sit and watch the boats go by on the Patchogue River.

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Transportation is available and convenient.

 The Long Island Railroad stops at the Patchoque Station on its Babylon Line. 

• By car, take the Long Island Expressway to exit 63, North Ocean Ave. and travel south about 4 miles. There are public scheduled buses throughout Suffolk County and private taxi service too.
  
• Patchoque children attend the Patchogue-Medford School District. The village also has two colleges, St. Joseph's and the Briarcliff Colleges. It is a family community and dedicated to educating the children of the community.
  

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For a map of the area, click here for the map by Google.

See the following web site for more information about: Brookhaven Town

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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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Long Island’s South Shore and Captree State Park

The Fishing Fleet

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The boat, Capt. Ron

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The Captree Fleet

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There are many advantages to living in the towns and villages of Long Island’s South Shore. There are abundant beaches and marinas as well as national, state and town parks. 

One of the wonderful recreational activities on Long Island is fishing. 

Many towns have piers or docks for the casual fisherman. 

There is also the fishing fleet with boats for charter at Captree State Park, in the town of Babylon.
Captree is a fisherman's paradise and a place to take the family. 

The park features a boat basin with charter boats available for fishing and sightseeing. 

It has fishing piers where families can share this outdoor activity and a picnic area and snack bar/restaurant if you would like to buy something to eat.
Some of the fishing boats stay in the Great South Bay and others go out the Fire Island Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean. 

Whether you are experienced fisherman or a novice, there is a boat for you. 

There are half or full day boats charters to suit your needs and budget. 

Be sure to check out the schedules and prices before making plans. 

There are a variety of fish running in the bay and ocean off Long Island. 

In April and May you can fish for flounder; April through December, striped bass and May untill September, fluke.

Directions: Take the Robert Moses Parkway South. At the end of the Robert Moses, head east following the signs. As with any state park, there is a parking fee; if you have a New York State Empire Pass the parking fee is waived.

All of this is available to you on Long Island!

For more information visit The Captree Fleet.
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storm brewing

storm brewing, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

A storm comes quickly sometimes. Sunshine, then clouds and rain.

 Suddenly.

Do you see the light behind the clouds? Do you see the "silver lining?"

" Every cloud has a silver lining."

I wish that were always true.

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Click here to see the photo in a larger version.

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Noteworthy on Photo Friday!

I did it!

I just received the "Noteworthy" mention for my entry

Passage of Time.

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You can see it here.

The photo is of an older woman in Italy who is traveling on the train to Sorrento. Maybe you've seen the photo?

Passage of time, in her life, on the train and for me with the camera.

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Pirates Point Resort, Little Cayman

pirates point beach, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

I'm home now, on Long Island, with temperatures of 25 degrees F.  :-(

In Little Cayman just days ago, from sunrise to sunset, the view was spectacular!

The weather was a pleasant 75-85 degrees F. and the sights underwater are the reasons that people travel from all parts of the world and come to Little Cayman to scuba dive.

I swam with turtles and swam atop and along a "wall" of coral that was thousands of feet deep. Little Cayman has the well-known Bloody Bay Wall and the Jackson Wall.

 I met some wonderful people, who like me, would rather wake up early and enjoy the wonders of nature than stay up late and party as vacationers do on the larger islands. (Little Cayman is the "little sister" island of Grand Cayman but does not have its nightlife, population or traffic.) 

A daytime bike ride after two spectacular dives, and an evening of playing card games or dominoes after a wonderful relaxing dinner, is the way of life here. Does it sound like an exciting vacation? You must define "exciting" for yourself.

 For me, it's my kind of vacation!

Sunrise at Pirates Point, Little Cayman

Sunrise at 7:02 am....a reasonable hour for picture taking....just before breakfast and a day of scuba diving!

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Little Cayman

Little Cayman, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

I've spent the last week in Little Cayman, the little sister island of Grand Cayman. It is mainly visited by scuba divers and bird watches.

Winter on Long Island

The fragmities turn dark, and the trees are bare.

It's winter on Long Island.

Not a bad winter so far. In fact, the weather has been mild.

Surrounded by water, temperatures are usually mild for the Northeast, relatively speaking.

It's just another reason to enjoy Long Island!

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With New York City just one or two hours away or less, (depending on where you live on Long Island of course), it is such a great place to live.

See my New York City photos below.

You can click on each photo to enlarge it and see more details.

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More of the Brooklyn Bridge and NYC

The cables....

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The bridge and East River...

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My favorite shot of the day....

I feel like I'm in a Hopper painting....all shadows and stillness...

What does this person see? Is that a friend walking away?

Is he looking at the bridge?

Is he happy? sad?

You can create your own story.

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You can click on each photo to see the enlarged version.

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Into the city for the day....

Looking back over the bridge just crossed....the Brooklyn Bridge.

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You can still walk across the bridge. Many people do.
It is still amazing, even after 100 years!

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Click on each photo to see them larger!

Pier 17, at the South Street Seaport, at sunset as seen from the Brooklyn Bridge

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icy branches

icy branches, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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The cold weather is taking a break this week. The report is for warmer temperatures and sunny skies. Fifty-two degrees F. predicted for tomorrow.

Not bad for January in the Northeast, is it?

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freezing river

freezing river, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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Ice on the river reflects the autumn colors remaining.

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just before sunrise, new year, 2008

before sunrise, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

January 1, 2008, just before sunrise...

A new year, 2008

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I watched the sun come up at the beginning of a new year. 

It was windy and cold but held the promise of good things to come.

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a Christmas video

the lonely tree

the lonely tree, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Sullivan House on the lake

Sullivan House on the lake, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The holidays wouldn't be complete without a visit to the in-laws.

My in-laws live in the retirement community of Hershey's Mill, Pennsylvania. 

The Sullivan House, above, is the historic building of the original estate, now used for catered parties. Hershey's Mill is many acres of condos and single family units that are part of the retirement community.

My in-laws love it there. There is the community center with a golf course, restaurants, pool and so much more. The most important feature is a society of people near their age for socializing.

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Merry Christmas!

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Merry, Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

May you enjoy the holiday in good health, 

surrounded by the ones you love!

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Greetings

Greetings, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Winter on Long Island

A little island near my home, looks very different to me this time of year.

Usually, the plant growth is so thick, I cannot even see the ground. 

With snow, I realize it has a small hill, soil that was the remains of dredging years ago.

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Each season on Long Island brings a new and interesting environment...new things to explore.

Right now in my life, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

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The baby arrives!

A new baby in the family, just 1/2 hour old in this photo...drops in the eyes and all bundled up, the grandparents get to hold him....Oliver Scott, 7 lbs. 4 oz., and 21" tall.

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Winter on the North Fork

A wonderful ride out east, on a sunny day, showed us the winter beauty of the North Fork.

The grapes are gone, but the winery has many winter chores to do in preparation of the season's harvest.

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christmas cactus

christmas cactus, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

It is beginning to bloom......
Almost ready for the holiday....

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History

History, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.