snow family

snow family, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Plenty of snow on Long Island...
Neighborhood kids were off from school, but were very productive!

Merry Christmas!

Shepherd, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The shepherd in a Christmas manger in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

Flanders Duck

Flanders Duck, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Flanders Duck in December, decorated for the holidays.

Oliver 3rd Birthday

Oliver 3rd Birthday8x10, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Oliver's birthday is just two weeks before Christmas; he is now 3 yrs old!

imagine

imagine, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Thirty years ago, we lost someone special.

Was he really only 40 years old? It was a loss for everyone but I'm sure the under-30 crowd does not understand.

There is a commercial for Beatles music, now for iTunes, and it says, "The Beatles, they changed the world."

As a young girl, I knew that was true.

"We were all on this ship in the sixties, our generation, a ship going to discover the New World. And the Beatles were in the crow's nest of that ship."

John Lennon (1940-1980)

May he rest in peace...

~

Carmens River rowboat

Carmens River rowboat, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Rowboat on Carmens River, Bellport

Cusco, Peru tilt-shift

Cusco, Peru tiltshift, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Does this look like a miniature village?

It's my first attempt at "tilt shift" effect in Photoshop.

The idea is to make an image look like a model miniature.

Here is a great YouTube tutorial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1kVwFYZwHE

The Grange, Sayville

The Grange Buildings, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The bare trees create shadows on the Grange buildings in Sayville.

We have our first real taste of winter as the temperature drops to the 30s. Brrrr.........Get out those hats, gloves and scarves!

~~~

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Great Frigatebird, male (Fregata minor), originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

No, this is not a turkey! It made me think of turkey, especially since I just finished the left-overs from yesterday's dinner. Hmmmmm....

Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful!

Sayville, Long Island

There is something so pretty about a leaf-covered ground in autumn....

...everything orange, red and brown.

This photo was taken in a park in Sayville, near the bay. Not many people here on a cool autumn morning, except for the dog walkers and joggers.

~~~

phragmites

fragmities, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Phragmites in November, dry and brown in color

I enjoy the autumn... the coolness in the air and the outdoor colors of orange and brown.

Long Island is a great place in the fall, never too cold.

I enjoy waiting for the migratory birds to pass through my yard and the parks nearby.

~~~

sunset

sunset, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Sunset in November

This photo was taken in November, a few years ago.

It is interesting to watch the setting sun as it changes position through autumn, each day setting more to the south than west.

In this photo the sun set just left of the Linden Tree. After December 21st, it begins to move to the right (north-west) and sets over the canal.

There are just subtle differences that let you know the seasons have changed, until the weather "slaps" you in the face and let's you know it really has arrived.

~~~

Fort in Sagres, Portugal

Fort in Sagres, Portugal, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

At the end of the continent......the remains of a 17th Century fort.

Veterans Day, 2010

vic cortner, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos. Please note: (This photo is not for sale.)

Today is Veterans Day.

November 11th, 2010

Thank a veteran today!

Bill in fatigues

Bill in fatigues, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.This image is not for sale.

My father-in-law, William H Thorpe, died last week Oct. 30, 2010.

He was in the 446th bomb group during WWII stationed in England.

He never talked about it.

We found his war time photos and I'm so sorry I didn't ask more questions when I could.

Thursday is Veteran's Day.

If you have the opportunity, talk to a Veteran.

~~~

Central Park

central park rowboat, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The leaves are just beginning to turn in the city, always a little later than on Long Island.

American Kestrel, captured

American Kestrel, captured, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

A photo op with my Nature & Wildlife Photographers group, rescued raptors.

Photography Exhibit

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 annual Autumn Exhibition beginning

November 7th through December 5, 2010.

The reception, with refreshments, will be November 7th from 12noon-3pm.

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.

Visit the group's website: http://www.nwpli.com

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 Sunday, November 7th - December 5th, 2010,

during winery hours.

For directions to Castello di Borghese…Click Here!

For additional information, contact Lou Buonomo at lou@nwpli.com

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!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Central Park model boats

Central Park model boats, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

We went to Central Park today to meet with some other photographers. It was just a day to connect with friends and take some outdoor photos. What a beautiful day! The sun was shining and it was warm and pleasant. The park was fairly crowded which I expect is the usual on a Sunday.

The is a photo of the Conservatory Water- A quiet pond on the east side of the park, most noted for its model sailboats.

Barn Owl, Captured

Barn Owl, Captured, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

My group, NWPLI, (Nature and Wildlife Photographers of Long Island) met with an animal rescue group today for a chance to photograph some beautiful but otherwise difficult-to-capture raptors.
I'll be posting more from today's shoot soon!

Slideshow of Portugal images

I've been busy working on my travel images from Portugal.

Here is a slideshow of the first group of photos.

Talisman, Fire Island

Talisman beach, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

I'm home.
I haven't posted a Long Island photo in so long, I thought I should to keep up with the local beauty.

on the balcony

on the balcony, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Sunrise from the Lisbon balcony.
I'm back home but already missing the early morning coffee on the balcony.

decorated crab plate

decorated crab plate, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

This plate was attached to a wall at a ceramic shop. The town is Sangres, Portugal, at the very south-westerly end of Portugal, the town from which Vasco di Gama sailed across the Atlantic.

Palace of Estoi

Palace of Estoi, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Estoi, Portugal on the Algarve coast, this is a government run Pousada, restored palace.
See the information below!

Ceiling in the Palace of Estoi

Ceiling in the Palace of Estoi, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

One of the Pousadas of Poutugal, this is an old palace which has been remodeled and updated.

In the city of Estoi, read about it here!

Portugal has government owned Pousadas that are now luxury hotels, at a discount for senior citizens, over 60, in the off-season period.

This has been, and continues to be, a wonderful vacation in Portugal!

~~~

selling in Nazaré

selling in Nazaré, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

This older woman was selling dried figs and nuts in Nazaré, Portugal. It's an older fishing village with lots of character. One item they sell here is barnacles. They collect them from the sea, then cook them, and peel and eat. I haven't tried them yet but I know on Long Island, we scrape them off the bottom of the boat. I'll have to try them before I leave.

Another woman was selling fresh figs which are in season here in this area of Portugal. Nothing is sweeter than fresh ripe figs! Now I know why my grandparents, from southern Italy, grew fig trees in Brooklyn. The difference is that in Brooklyn, the trees needed to be protected in winter. They were pulled over, wrapped in tar paper and covered with a bucket. Sounds crazy? Well, I guess you just have had to been there....... Ripe figs are delicious!

Nazaré

Nazaré, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The fishing village of Nazaré, not far from Lisbon, Portugal.

Bicycles in Lisbon

Bicycles in Lisbon, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

This could be any US city, but it's Lisbon, Portugal.

The city has hills like San Francisco and a tram or trolley. Some of the buildings are much older since this is Europe, but there are modern buildings also.

The people are very friendly and we're having a good time speaking with the locals. From our experience here, they are happy to practice their English and we are using our limited Spanish and learning some Portuguese words. No problems what-so-ever understanding each other.

The Portuguese language is not what I expected. Some words look like Spanish and are familiar to me but it sounds very different, more like Greek or Russian (to my very untrained ear. Forgive me if this comment shows my ignorance! I'm not a language student.)

It's fun to travel and learn the differences and similarities that make us all human!

Lisbon Laundry

Lisbon Laundry, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

As in most cities of Europe, people dry laundry in the fresh air. This is a common European city scene.

Electricity is expensive and drying outdoors is so much more practical. How wasteful we are, drying in the electric or gas fueled clothes dryer!

Fatima Sanctuary, Portugal

Inside the Fatima Sanctuary, Portugal, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

We are still traveling through Portugal, today going to towns of Fatima and Obidos.

Fatima's statue, "Our Lady of Fatima" has much significance for many who make the long journey to see this holy place.

See this link for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Fátima

Chiado

Chiado, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The view from our apartment, renting through VRBO (vacation rentals by owner).

Castelo dos Mouros

Castelo dos Mouros, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

A castle in the hilltops, it's all climbing and steps to the top. They didn't tell you that in the guidebooks! It was a good workout and the view was spectacular!

Castle of the Moors: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_the_Moors

Lisbon building facade

Lisbon building facade (or façade), originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The facade (or façade, in French) of many buildings, includes a balcony, tile work and some graffiti!

No Photoshop work on this photo. I'm working on my laptop in Portugal and have been using Picasa for edits.

sardines

sardines, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

One of the frequent items on the menu, sardines are eaten by many people in Lisbon. Usually they are fried and served with rice and french fries. Where's the veggies?

Metro in Lisbon

Metro Lisbon, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Lisbon, Portugal

We've taken the Metro just about everywhere. Easy to use and clean, makes me wonder why we can't do this in Manhattan!

Lisbon, Portugal

lisbon trams, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

This traveling Long Island woman is now in Portugal. Lisbon is a wonderful city and a real surprise to new visitors. Prices are reasonable and the food is good. The people are wonderful and are very friendly. Photos will be posted of this beautiful country, for the next few weeks.

Bayport House Tour, October 17th, 2010

The Bayport 24th Autumn House Tour will take place on

Sunday, October 17, 2010.

1 pm to 5 pm

Tickets, $25, go on sale Friday, October 1st at Country Junque on Middle Road in Bayport

and the Bayport-Blue Point Library.

In-laws

In-laws, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

My husband's siblings came to visit from Indiana and Pennsylvania. It was a fun week and it gave him a rare opportunity to connect with his family.

Long Island Duck

Long Island Duck, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Photo © Alida Thorpe. All rights reserved. Photo cannot be used without permission and consent.

Look for this photo in a new cookbook, coming out in November.
One Big Table by Molly O'Neill will have photos and recipes from around the world.

beach walk

beach walk, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

An older photo, I was looking for this on flickr and realized I never posted it. (I'm working on a project of beach photos for a person who wants to decorate their home with a beach theme.) Don't know whether or not this will work.
What do you think? Is this something you would hang in your home?

Tachyon sailing

Tachyon sailing, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

A very calm night but the sailboat race is on. This is the Great South Bay off Patchogue, just before sunset.

22ft J boat sails

22ft J boat sails, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Sailboats racing takes place on Tuesday evenings on the Great South Bay just off the shores of Patchogue. I pretty sure this is from the Sayville Yacht Club since they were returning to that area. We watched the sun set and then the sailboat race ended.
Another beautiful night on Long Island!

life guard umbrella

life guard umbrella, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Another shot from the day at Ocean Beach. It's sometimes called the "land of No" because of all the rules and signs posted about the rules.
This is the Great South Bay side of Fire Island. It's the better side for swimming if you have little children who can get knocked down from the ocean waves. The bay water is also warmer!

Keep Off! Ocean Beach, Fire Island

Keep Off! Ocean Beach, Fire Island, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Ocean Beach on Fire Island

Peconic River, Riverhead

Peconic River, Riverhead, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

In Riverhead, near the Polish Festival, is the Peconic River Herb Farm. It's a great place to purchase plantings for your home, or to just sit and watch the river. The river begins here and is slow moving and looks more like a pond, especially since we've had little rain in the last month or so. The Herb Farm has a large selection of "native Long Island" plants and shrubs, so check it out!

Saint Isidore Church, Riverhead

Saint Isidore Church, Riverhead, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The Polish Festival is happening this weekend. This is the St. Isidore R.C. church in Polish Town. It is a beautiful church, inside and out.
Be sure to stop by if you are at the fair!

Dingy on Great South Bay

Dingy on Great South Bay, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Ocean Beach Ferry

Ocean Beach Ferry, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

In the village of Ocean Beach, the ferry "Explorer" arrives...

We took the boat over to Atlantique yesterday, docked and walked to Ocean Beach. It was a beautiful summer day on Fire Island.

We had lunch with friends at the Island Mermaid, a restaurant on the bay. We swam in the ocean and watched the sunset from the Atlantique dock. On the way back home, we anchored and swam in the bay, laughing as the darkness approached.

The summer days on Long Island don't get much better than this!

Sailing in the Bay

Sailing in the Bay, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Small sailboats racing on the Great South Bay, off Patchogue, Long Island.

Summer Fun!

ferris wheel, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The summer traveling amusement rides are here. It's a fun way to spend an evening!