Patchogue Parade

We went to see the Patchogue Christmas Parade last night!

Boats are decorated for the holidays and float up the Patchogue River with Santa in the last boat.

Grucci Fireworks were an added bonus!

Wonderful!

There were some great entries and it seemed that everyone had fun.

People were getting into the holiday spirit!

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Autumn on Long Island

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Autumn colors here on Long Island...

Many trees are already bare. I realized, as I walked through the Bayard Cutting Arboretum, that I waited a week too long. The red maples seemed to be the only trees with color, still holding onto their leaves.

I'm happy to be back on Long Island with Thanksgiving just a few days away!

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Harbour Village

My work for Harbour Village is finished!
My husband Chris and I took hundreds, maybe thousands, of photos of the Harbour Village Beach Club Resort and finally finished the selection and processing in Photoshop CS2.
Our final count: 200 photos.
Yep, that's the final count, just of the resort.
It is amazing how, after looking at all the photos over and over, you can see the minor differences and make a decision on what is more pleasing to the eye...based on color, composition, sharpness,....so many photos are rejected.
Now my fingers are crossed and I will wait for the response from the resort.
I never thought that after retirement from teaching I would be taking photos and making money from it. It happens now all the time. I'll never get rich from this, but I love it and the extra money is a bonus!
Above are just three photos of the Harbour Village Resort in Bonaire.

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More of Bonaire, the Netherlands Antilles

"Red" slave hut near the salt flats, with the lighthouse in the distance....

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A young couple ride a rented scooter by the saltflat pans with a navigational marker and the "red" slave huts in the distance....

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A young girl, about 8 or 9 years old, learns to windsurf at Lac Bay.

Bonaire is known for being a great place to learn windsurfing due to the mild, consistent winds and the shallow waters of Lac Bay.

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Check out the map for Bonaire....

It's beautiful year round and isn't in the path of the hurricanes.

Salt is a major export, still,

...and tourism is a major industry here with scuba diving as the main attraction.

I love Bonaire and have been here many times!

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Island Paradise

Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

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1000 Steps, Bonaire

A dive site called 1000 Steps

There are only 64 steps but after a dive, all the gear must be carried back to the car! Not an easy or pleasant task!

Underwater the site is spectacular!!

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Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

I know it's cold in New York right now, but here in Bonaire the temperature is 82 degrees F. and sunny. Diving and snorkeling is the major activity for those on vacation.

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Harbour Village Beach Club, Bonaire

I'm in Bonaire, just two weeks after the Galapagos. Why?

Well, it's a long story, but the short explanation is that I'm here taking photos for the Harbour Village Beach Club Resort....and getting in some first rate diving.

I was hired to take photos of the resort because of the photos I've posted from my previous trips here. I love Bonaire and have a full gallery of shots!

This is the Member's Lounge with pool table and large TV for group viewing.

Not such a bad assignment....is it?

Oh, and my husband Chris is here to help out and share in the photo taking and of course, the diving as well.

Poor guy....he just had to help me out!

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Galapagos Fish Market

Amazing to see, the pelicans and even a sea lion were waiting for the scraps from the fish cleaning counter.

All I could think of was that in New York, the Board of Health would have stopped this long ago.

Well, we ate fish and didn't get sick, so I guess it was not as bad as it looks!

We loved the trip, the people and the food and everything that told us it was not the USA.

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my photo given to Tim Bishop

This photo, not taken by me, shows Representative Tim Bishop being honored for his work and "...leadership in ensuring that all Americans remain safe and healthy while they enjoy their local rivers and waterways."

Also, "At a special reception attended by around 100 environmental activists at the Capitol, Congressman Bishop accepted an award for his work to protect America's waters. "

The American Rivers group requested that I donate this photo, Misty River Fisherman, to represent this award.

I agreed and thought it was wonderful to participate in such an honor.

The plaque with my photo will hang in Tim Bishop's office in Washington.

*You can see the original photo here.*

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Alpaca

Cute, huh?

The hair from this interesting, llama-looking, Alpaca, produces beautiful yarn for the sweaters below..........

The more expensive, softer, sweaters, are made with "baby" alpaca, which is the first cuttings from a young calf.

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more travel photos

The giant tortoise, gave the name to the Galapgos.

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A Red-footed Booby bird with its chick....Galapagos Islands.

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Booby Birds of the Galapagos

The Blue-footed Booby bird is one of the main attractions to the Galapagos Islands!

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Red-footed Boobies do a mating dance that is truly a dance! Wonderful to watch!

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Peru

Woman in the mountains

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Peru

Just one photo of Machu Picchu, Peru
On vacation, this Long Island Woman is visiting just one of the many places on her "must see" list of destinations.

Fantastic, spiritual and amazing!

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Take a ride on the river.....

fishing on the Great South Bay

We went fishing the other night, and watched the sun go down.

Beautiful!

Fishing to me is not just the activity of catching some fish.

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In fact, we caught a King Fish and a Sea Bass, which we ate for dinner.

I then went to the farm stand and got some fresh corn and local tomatoes, a head of Boston Red Leaf lettuce....all picked fresh off the farm.

Yummy!

A real farm fresh dinner with fish from the bay! To me, a perfect dinner!

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I really enjoy the time on the water...the feel and smell of the salt air...the connection to nature.

Birds flying overhead. Fishing jumping. The sunset.

The Great South Bay in September is practically empty of pleasure boats.

The only boats out there are sport fisherman or sailors.

No crowds or boat traffic.

Just me and nature!

I love it! And I love Long Island for those reasons!

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Bayport Beach

Not technically the greatest shot, but I like how the birds enjoy a perch, regardless of where they are.
Fire Island is the distant shore.
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Cherry Grove

The Cherry Grove Fire Department.
Cute, huh?
Tiny vehichle for tiny walkways.
And two firemen who look like they are enjoying the attention!
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Gull of Fire Island

Sometimes when we anchor the boat to just relax and enjoy the sunshine.....and to smell and enjoy the movement of the water, we have visitors.

There will inevitably be a gull or two sitting behind the boat.

Maybe they hope we will throw them a crumb or two. A pretzel? Something!

I hate to disappoint them but if I throw one item, one crumb, a whole flock of gulls will arrive.

Not a good idea!

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