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Click on the photo for more detail...
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Sunday, September 21, 2008
monarch butterfly migration
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The Monarch Butterfly population is on its way.
Monarchs are known for their lengthy migration to Mexico.
In North America they make southward migrations starting in August until the first frost.
This week, on Fire Island, large groups of the Monarch were seen flying over the dunes on their way.
To read more about them, click here.
~~~~~
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Blue Claw Season
It's blue-claw crab season and the bay is abundant with crabs.
Actually, you can catch crabs on Long Island all summer, but it is not until late August into September that they are full size.
An interesting thing has been happening though, and my husband and I don't know why.
We seem to be only catching males. Where are the females?
Usually, we throw the females back into the water so they will reproduce, but this year we have not caught one female and we've caught dozens of male crabs so far.
Does anyone know why?
I'd appreciate a comment and some input to the reason why?
~~~
How do you cook crabs?
Do you have a favorite recipe?
Well, this is how we make them in our family, a recipe handed down from my parents:
When you catch the crabs, immediately kill them with a sharp knife through the body.
(In my opinion, this is much more humane than steaming them alive, but I guess that's debatable!)
Then clean them by pulling off the top shell and cleaning out the insides. (I know some people eat that, but we don't.)
When they are clean, throw them into a fresh pot of tomato sauce.
That's it! Cook up some pasta and serve.
The crabs and sauce are so sweet this way. It is a messy dinner, so be prepared with lots of napkins, a washable tablecloth and don't forget the nut-crackers and picks.
Yummy!
Here is a another hint:
If you only catch a few and/or are not ready to eat them, freeze them after cleaning.
Keep adding cleaned crabs to the freezer in zip-lock bags until you have enough.
Sometimes we catch crabs all week and make the sauce on the weekend.
It's an inexpensive dinner and so delicious!
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Wednesday, September 17, 2008
My mom, Lillian, 1940s
I've been organizing photos and cleaning off my computer of un-needed files.
Some photos I cannot delete. This of course, is one of them.
This was one of the few professional photos my mother had taken of herself, dated '43. I don't know the occasion, but knowing my parents, some photographer owed my father some money or a favor and did this for free. That's how it was back in the 1940s.
I thought, and still think, my mother was a beautiful lady.
Her personality and spirit matched her good looks, although she never thought she was good-looking. She was so wrong.
She always looked on the positive side. She was strong and intelligent.
She raised five children, worked in the family business, cleaned the house and sewed her own clothes to save the family money.
She never judged people by their religion or ethnic background and raised me and my siblings to feel the same. She always said that there was good and bad in everyone. "Find the good."
What can I say? You go through old photos and it brings up memories, some good, some bad.
This was a good one.
~~~~~~
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Stony Brook Village, Long Island, NY
I went over to Stony Brook looking for "new" areas to photograph. There is this cute little shopping center called the "Stony Brook Village."
Stony Brook doesn't have a true village or town center, like some towns on Long Island, but this quaint shopping area has places to eat and stroll.
There are nice shops and people seemed very friendly. They must have wondered why I was taking photographs, especially with a tripod, but they all smiled and said, "Hello!"
Stony Brook is a wonderful area with many assets. The best part of Stony Brook is the University and the cultural events it brings to the community. They have many music programs, plays, art exhibits, and more.
There is always something to see and they even provide classes for non-matriculating adults. The "Roundtable" is mostly classes given for older people who just want to learn. Workshops cover anything from political discussions to crafts to book groups.
The course list is quite long!
The Stony Brook Hospital is a great asset too, since it is "world class" and a teaching hospital. I guess that isn't the main reason to move there but it certainly improves the quality of life.
When I need a doctor or hospital, I go to Stony Brook.
~~~~~~
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Atlantic Rhythm
A very still, calm morning on the river....we sailed out to the bay to go fishing.
Yes, we caught fish again!
The bay is alive with Weak fish and King fish and lots of Snappers!
~~~
I love being on the water in the early morning. The wind is usually calm (since the heat of the day hasn't warmed the land to create the temperature changes that bring wind) and there are few boats moving about to stir up the water.
The air has that salty, fresh smell and a coolness this time of year.
Did I tell you I love being on the water?
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Monday, September 08, 2008
stone and blue
~~~
The potted plants seem to be doing very well at my place.
Cooler temperatures are keeping them green and not in need of frequent watering.
As the weather gets colder, some plants will need to be brought into the house but most annuals will be discarded.
It seems like such a waste, but that is the price to pay for the continuous color of annuals.
~~~~~~
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Robert Moses Causeway Bridge
A beautiful day today.
Yesterday's storm "Hanna" did not live up to its reputation.
I woke up this morning to a clear sky and perfect temperatures.
The above photo was taken from the town of Babylon.
People were fishing and boaters were out for the day.
~~~~~~~~~~
Click on the photo to see a larger version!
~~~
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Rainy Day Saturday....Hanna on the way!
Tropical Storm Hanna is on the way.
Rain and wind is predicted to be more severe than usual.
So, we got ready!
My husband and I went to the store and bought supplies for a possible emergency:
- batteries for small radio and flashlights
- candles in glass enclosures
- water in bottles
- gas in the car
- gas for our generator (Our basements pumps need electricity and so we really needed a generator. The last big storm flooded the basement.)
- rental movies so we can see movies if we do have electricity (...and who needs an excuse to catch up on movies we have been wanting to see?)
- food that won't have to be cooked (or can be cooked on a gas grill)
The lawn furniture is secure too!
If you have not gotten ready yet, stop reading this and go! Yes, get going!
If Hanna is not too bad, you will still be ready for Ike, Josephine, K.....
the list keeps on!
~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, September 05, 2008
Skimmers at Nickerson Beach
~~~~~
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.
~~~
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.
~~~
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Water Island View
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This is the view, looking northeast, from the little community of
Water Island on Fire Island.
This community has grown quite a bit in the last few years.
~~~~~
Friday, August 29, 2008
Labor Day Weekend
Another few wonderful days on Fire Island.
The weather has been beautiful, clear, warm and the color of the ocean has been spectacular!
The water has a clear, almost Caribbean, aqua color.
Labor Day has arrived and the summer activities will wind down, but this beach will be like this for another four weeks or so.
Hope you enjoy your Labor Day!
~~~~~
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Prague Evening
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Sorry I haven't posted any Long Island photos lately. I've been away.
This image above is just one of the many I took in Prague.
My husband and I took a two week vacation to
the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary.
It was quite the experience.
The most interesting part for me, was hearing about the time of Communist rule.
Our tour guides were women and men who were old enough to remember what it was like to live under a Communist government and explained to us how their lives changed in the past 20 years.
Very interesting.
It made me realize, once again, how fortunate we really are, here in the USA!
~~~~
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Town of Bellport
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The quaint towns of Long Island provide an atmosphere for strolling and shopping without the mall crowds.
~~~~~
Fire Island
~~~
You can take a ferry to Fire Island from
Sayville
Patchogue
and Bayshore!
Why not enjoy our national treasure?
~~~~~
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