Happy New Year to all my friends and family and my
Long Island Woman visitors!
May your year be filled with good health and happiness!
~~~
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Dyker Heights: 50% off
Dyker Heights, Brooklyn
~~~
The end of the Christmas holiday and the decorations are for sale at 50% discount.
~~~
We took a ride to Brooklyn to see the much talked-about Christmas decorations. Some houses are decorated where every shrub, lamp post and even the lawn are covered with lights. Some homes have signs stating that they were decorated by professional "Christmas Decorators."
~~~
Monday, December 29, 2008
red curls
Another little visitor who came for the holidays and left the house with lots of finger-prints on glass and crumbs on the floor.
He is a real sweetheart and not a problem at all!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Season's Greetings!
~~~
May you enjoy the holidays in good health, with good friends, and family!
A snowy, very cold day here and lots of holiday preparations to do, so I don't think I'll be out taking photos.
I'll be thinking of you and I do wish you a happy time, whichever holiday you celebrate.
~~~
Friday, December 19, 2008
wheelbarrow
~~~
Our first "real" snow here on Long Island.
Lucky for most people, the weekend is here so travel can be limited.
~~~
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Indian Island Riverhead
~~~
We took a drive out to Riverhead today and stopped at the Suffolk County Park of Indian Island.
The lighting and clouds brought out the autumn colors. Winter will begin in just a few days.
~~~
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
light snow
Light snow today. The weather report is for more cold weather and rain.
Well, winter is about to begin, so I guess we shouldn't be surprised!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.
~~~
This monument was built in 1991 under the auspices of the Suffolk County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee.
Bald Hill, Farmingville, Long Island, NY
~~~
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
sky watch Dec. 1, 2008
Last night, December 1, 2008, about 5:30pm on Long Island
Venus, Jupiter and the moon in alignment and close proximity.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
shoeless on beach
Fire Island, Atlantic Ocean and running shoeless on the sand.
~~~
My son's girlfriend Ragan, and her niece Sierrah, came with him to visit for Thanksgiving. Neither one of them have ever lived near the ocean. They both grew up in Whitehall, NY.
So first thing we did on Friday was to go over to Fire Island and the Atlantic Ocean sandy beach and run through the sand and waves.
I love when family visits!
~~~
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Long Island Duck
~~~
Photo © Alida Thorpe. All rights reserved.
Photo cannot be used without permission and consent.
In 1931, duck farmer Martin Maurer built this 20-ft. high, 30-ft. long, concrete over wooden frame "duck" to use it as a Riverhead (Flanders) shop.
Maurer sold ducks and eggs from this location. When the land was sold for development, Giant Duck preservationists and the Friends for Long Island's Heritage petitioned to save the structure which had become a Long Island attraction.
The owners donated the Big Duck to Suffolk County in 1987. In 1988 it moved from Flanders to Hampton Bays along Route 24 at the entrance of Sears-Bellow County Park.
It has now moved back to Flanders near the original duck farm, on Flanders Road.
The housing development was never built.
The shop still operates -- now as a tourism center for the East end of Long Island, selling souvenirs to tourists and New York City weekend visitors.
Each year, on the first Wednesday in December, the Suffolk County Parks Department sponsors the Annual Holiday Lighting of the Big Duck.
This year, it will happen on December 3rd.
Visitors join in singing carols and once Santa arrives, transported by the Flanders Fire Department, the switch is flipped and the Big Duck lights up for all to see.
~~~
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Saltaire and Kismet
~~~
Another aerial photo. This time it's Saltaire, looking west to Kismet, then the Fire Island Lighthouse and Coast Guard station, Robert Moses beaches and park, and eventually the ships traveling into NYC harbor. Some view!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Boat Builder on Long Island
"The Frank F. Penney Boatshop was originally built as the laundry building for the old Brooklyn Hotel in Center Moriches. When the hotel burned down, Mr. Penney jumped at the chance to rescue this building for use in his boatyard. This fine old building was floated down the Great South Bay from Moriches to its present site in 1978."
~~~
Today it is the center of the boat building restoration projects.
You can visit the maritime museum in West Sayville:
Monday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm
Sunday, 12noon- 4pm
Location:
86 West Avenue
West Sayville, Long Island, New York 11796
(631) 854-4974
~~~
Monday, November 17, 2008
Watch Hill Marina, Fire Island
~~~
One of the favorite marinas to dock a boat for a few days, is Watch Hill, just east of Davis Park.
It also has camping sites. (You may need reservations!)
It has many conviences for docking overnight: showers, a picnic area with grills, a dog-run, a restaurant and snack bar, not to mention the Atlantic Ocean beach and extensive walking trails through the marshes.
Just beautiful!
~~~
Friday, November 14, 2008
Fire Island Autumn
~~~
Flying over Fire Island, this is east of Watch Hill, part of the National Seashore.
I had to get away from the New Mexico photos. After all, this blog has "Long Island" as part of its title and many of you want to hear about Long Island.
It is also about a Long Island Woman, my life here and the things I see and photograph, so you will see photos of the places I've been.
Being retired, I am able to travel and see other parts of the world. Unfortunately, many Long Islanders are struggling to pay their bills and are not fortunate enough to retire or travel. I know I'm lucky, but it didn't come easy. I worked hard for many years to get where I am. Luck is important but as I have said before, making the right choices in life is even more important. I studied hard in school (commuting to less expensive State Schools); I stayed away from drugs and I surrounded myself with good, positive people. Hard work does pay off in the long run.
And so, here is another photo of Fire Island, a place I love to visit. It is a real national treasure that many Long Islanders visit throughout the year. It is also a place where European visitors traveling to New York City, take the train or a tour to see our fabulous beaches.
I love to travel but I love Long Island!
Yes, I made the right decision to live on Long Island!
~~~
Thursday, November 13, 2008
San Francisco de Asis
San Francisco de Asis, Taos, New Mexico
Most famous, it was painted by Georgia O'Keeffe and photographed by Ansel Adams.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Mary's Bar
~~~
A local bar in the town of Cerrillos, New Mexico.
It has the feel of a ghost town with dirt roads and older buildings.
~~~
Friday, November 07, 2008
Pedernal at Abiquiu
Pedernal at Abiquiu, New Mexico
A flat-top rock that the late artist, Georgia O'Keeffe, painted many times.
New Mexico Highway
~~~
Just a quick stop along the highway to take some photos.
New Mexico is beautiful!
The mountains, the colors, the country-side.....all spectacular!
Once again, this Long Island Woman is on the road! This time it's New Mexico...Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos and all territory in between!
~~~
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Fire Island Aerial
I went flying today!
Yes! Just to take photos.
Here is Fire Island, looking west toward New York City. You can see the Robert Moses Bridge and Causeway as well as the Great South Bay and Captree Island.
~~~
Monday, October 27, 2008
Bayard Cutting Arboretum
~~~
A beautiful day for a walk in the Bayard Cutting Arboretum...
The trees are just beginning to reach their peak, here on Long Island.
~~~
Friday, October 24, 2008
lady bug on dahlia
~~~
The Bayard Cutting Arboretum has a "Dahlia Garden" in full bloom right now.
We went to the arboretum in Oakdale, yesterday.
I took a lens for landscapes to capture the trees in their autumn colors but found that most trees are still green.
The dahlias were in bloom and lucky for me, I had my macro lens.
This little guy was just waiting for me to take a shot.
~~~
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunken Forest Walkway, Fire Island
This photo was taken last year on this date. I remember the day. We had very similar weather here on Long Island. The air is crisp and the sky is clear....a beautiful early autumn day!
~~~
Monday, October 13, 2008
Jets and Mike Westhoff
~~~
The Jets in their old Titan colors:
Read about it here.
I bought tickets for a Jets game for my husband's birthday.
Read about it here.
I bought tickets for a Jets game for my husband's birthday.
He's a Jets fan and was thrilled to be sitting in the second row at the 40yd line.
I needed to take out a loan to pay for the tickets!
Well, not really but boy! are they expensive!
How can any average person afford to buy season tickets?
Not to mention the cost of gas to travel all the way to New Jersey, tolls for the bridge and tunnels, $25 parking fees, $8 beer and .....$$$ for whatever!
It was a special birthday so I felt it was a great gift. Besides, I never know what to buy him.
I understand that they are building a new stadium and people will have to buy tickets just for the privilege to buy season tickets!
~~~
We did have great seats and my husband was thrilled!
~~~
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
NWPLI Exhibition
Do you love nature photography? Well, if you do, don’t miss this show!
The NWPLI (Nature and Wildlife Photographers of Long Island) will have its third annual Autumn Exhibition beginning October 18th through November 22, 2008.
It is being held at the Castello di Borghese Winery in Cutchogue.
The exhibit will showcase the group’s best work in nature, wildlife and landscape photography.
NWPLI has been awarded numerous honors for its work, most recently winning the Nature’s Best Photography International Awards (Camera Club Category) sponsored by Nature’s Best Photography Magazine.
The photography on display will include natural subjects that have been captured with digital and film cameras. Photos are from Long Island's own natural surroundings.
Some selected images will also be available for purchase.
The Show will run from Saturday, October 18 - November 22, 2008
The reception, with refreshments, will be Saturday, October 25 from 1-5 pm
For directions to Castello di Borghese…Click Here!
I hope you have the opportunity to stop by the exhibit on your yearly autumn visit to the wineries and to the pumpkin farms!
It’s nature photography at its best!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Last Boating Days
Trish and Oliver
~~~
The last boating days are here as we enter the month of October.
The days are colder and daylight hours, shorter.
Today, Sunday, it is raining here on Long Island. :-(
~~~
Of course there will still be fishing days this month and next, which is a totally different "ball game" all together.
On social boating days like the photo above, you cruise out into the bay, eat some snacks, feel the warm sunshine on your face and socialize.
You can smell the fresh air and watch a few boats go by.
Sometimes when boating we would cruise over to Fire Island, just three miles across the Great South Bay.
There, we can get off the boat and take a walk along the sandy ocean shore.
But on "fishing days" which are possible even in cold weather, you wear warm clothing and jackets and hats, and fish!
...and you hope you catch something.
While you are fishing, you watch other boats to see if they are catching anything!
So, these are two entirely different experiences.
With both you enjoy the fresh air and sea breezes. You get away from the house and the chores and have a pleasant day.
Me? I like both.
I like being on the water and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, whether I'm socializing or fishing, whether it's cold or hot or in-between.
It just is a great way to spend a day!
Hmm, I don't like boating in the rain though, which is why I'm home on the computer writing this right now!
Hope you have a great day today, whatever you do!
~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, October 03, 2008
Barrett Beach
~~~
The autumn in here and it is just beginning to feel that way.
The photo above is Barrett Beach, as seen from the dock in the Great South Bay.
Clouds and the wind bring the need to wear a jacket but it is just as beautiful as ever, maybe even better than summer.
~~~
Monday, September 29, 2008
Port Jefferson
~~~
This is the power plant stacks in Port Jefferson harbor,
with a tugboat on the left, at the ferry pier.
It's a wonderful little town and a real pleasure for strolling and shopping.
The ferry takes pedestrians and cars to Connecticut.
There are restaurants to meet everyone's budget.
If you haven't been there recently, take a ride and see the town for yourself.
~~~
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Last Day at Shea Stadium
~~~
Yes, today was the last day.
Shea is now closed and the new stadium, Citi Field, will open next season.
I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium back in 1965.
I was one of those screaming young girls who couldn't hear them sing or even see them from the seats way up top. I knew it was them. My friend had binoculars.
Everyone was screaming. We LOVED the Beatles.
I'll always remember Shea and the time.....
~~~
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Financial Crisis
~~~
I'm not usually a political person. If you've noticed, I don't write about politics and I try to keep this blog up-beat and positive.
I'm that kind of person.
What I can't understand is how this "financial crisis" happened without the banks and government knowing in advance.
I knew. I saw it coming for years.
I knew that some people were in trouble when I saw that my co-workers, buying homes for the first time, put very little money down and spent $350,000 for a house, with taxes of $6,000 a year!
How could they do it? Why did the bank allow it?
The home prices were inflated, and the loans were ridiculously high!
I couldn't do that when I bought my first house in 1979.
We had to put 1/3 down.
~~~
I also knew the banks were lending too much when my charge account statements arrived.
I would receive, (and I still get), blank checks with the ability to receive "cash advances."
With my good credit rating, the approved amounts were very high.
"Just write a check for $20,000 and it's yours!"
I would often say to my husband, "We have to pay this back eventually, right?!"
Well, of course. Nothing is free!
I'm sure there are some people who filled out those blank checks for the full-approved amount. It was too good to be true.
And the banks got the interest!
~~~
Another example:
Mail would arrive at my house, approved credit cards for my two sons.
My sons were in college and had part time jobs, making, if they were lucky, $5,000 a year...just enough for spending money.
The banks sent them credit cards! Pre-approved!
Were they kidding?
How did they expect these college kids to pay back that money?
With college expenses, books, food, gas, car insurance, etc., how could students pay back credit card charges on their own?
I guess I didn't know for sure that we were in trouble as a nation,
but I had a sinking feeling that the banks and loan companies were just lending out too much money.
Wasn't the "Great Depression" caused by the same lending practices?
Buying on "margin" which meant buying something on the hope and promise of pay-back and profit?
Did we learn nothing from the past?
It makes me angry that now we, as taxpayers, have to help get the nation back on track.
I followed the rules, bought only what I could afford, and now I will have to bail out the troubled economy.
Who will be there when I need help?
~~~
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Fire Island Praise
~~~
The gulls enjoy a sunny day at the beach!
I am so much like the seagulls.
If the sun is shining and the ocean breezes are cool, I'm enjoying the beach.
The beach has a calming effect. I don't know if it's the sound of the waves or just the sunshine and fresh air, but it seems like the place to be when life becomes stressful.
Maybe it's being away from the house, the news, the computer and phone.
(I do have a cell phone but leave it off most of the time!)
A beach chair, a good book and sunglasses are all you need to enjoy the day.
A nice walk along the shore, on solid sand only adds to the enjoyment.
~~~
Fire Island is one of the best beaches in the world.
The sand is fine and pinkish-white. The wind usually comes from the southwest, so you feel it on your face.
The best part is that it is often not crowded.
September in my opinion, is the best month on Fire Island since most people are back to school and to work, after their summer vacations.
Yet, it is still relatively warm on Fire Island.
Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Great South Bay, September's warm water, heated from the long summer, keeps the air at a comfortable temperature.
Did I tell you that I love living on Long Island?
~~~
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
beach diptych
~~~
The word "diptych" is a word from another time.
Originally a diptych (pronounced "dip-tick") from the Greek,
is any object with two flat plates attached at a hinge.
From Wikipedia, "Devices of this form were quite popular in the ancient world, types existing for recording notes and for measuring time and direction."
The word has a new use and popularity.
It is the connection of two photos that in some way form one unit, as the photos above.
The photos can be similar, opposites in subject or color, or any connection that seems to fit.
~~~
They are fun to create and give photography a new creative edge.
~~~
Sunday, September 21, 2008
monarch butterfly migration
~~~
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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