April Starling

April Jonguils

Earth Day Celebration!

magnolia tree, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Celebrate Earth Day and

the Grand Opening of the Suffolk County Environmental Center.

SEATUCK presents the

Eco-Carnival

April 24th, 2010. 10 am to 7 pm.

Located at 550 South Bay Avenue, Islip, NY.

The Eco-Carnival will be a full day of family fun featuring nature programs, storytellers, animals, face painting, live music, art, games and food!

Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the NEW Environmental Center.

Enjoy the 70-acre property.

There will be hands-on activities:

Nature Stations

Salt Marsh Exploration

Birds in the Woods (Bring binoculars)

Insect Adventures (Dig in the dirt)

Green on the Scene (Learn some botanical basics)

Nature Journals (Use art and journal writing)

Food: Taste of the South Shore

Food Court featuring samplings from local restaurants!

Music throughout the day! Live animal show!

Hope you will join us for a day of fun and learning!

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First Blooms

First Blooms, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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The neighborhood weeping willow is starting to bloom!

Yeah! for spring!!

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early spring

early spring, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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The daffodils: March 27th on Long Island. In my yard this morning!

The daffodils have broken through the soil in just the last week.

They are now preparing to bloom! I can't wait!

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Behman's Pond

Behman's Pond, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Springtime on Long Island

cherry trees Oakdale, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Long Island is coming into full bloom.

Another reason to love Long Island!

Early Springtime on Long Island

Early Springtime on Long Island, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

the birds in springtime

the birds, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Silhouette of birds in springtime

The birds have been very active here, nesting and chasing each other around the lawn and trees. 

It must be spring...

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Happy Easter!!

daffodils in April, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

This photo is not from this year, but Easter is so early that the daffodils are not yet blooming.

 I wanted a photo that says, "Happy Easter" and went into my archives.

Happy Easter!

Sunset before Spring

The sunsets have been spectacular. 

Not today's, since it was raining all day, but the last few days were wonderful.

Tomorrow, Thursday, is the first day of spring. 

The long awaited day when sunlight takes over the night-time. The hours of sunlight keep increasing until the first day of summer.

It feels good to know that warmer weather and additional sunlight will warm our spirits.

Let's welcome spring!

Go for a walk, take a bike ride, do some yard work, check on the daffodils and crocus.

They are starting to sprout.

Yes, spring is here.

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For Sky Watch Friday

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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From my recent trip out to Montauk Point...

Montauk Lighthouse escaping the fog.

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Montauk Fishing Fleet...

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Fishing Boat and Fish Traps...with the morning fog.

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Happy Mothers' Day!

Happy Mothers' Day!

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Montauk Point and May Surfing

Water temps about 55 degrees F, rocky shore, and fog.

The lighthouse is nearby but who can see it?

Montauk surfing in May.....

this is NOT California surfing!

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La Salle Military Academy, now St. John's University

Almost every night after dinner, my husband and I search for interesting places to take sunset photos.

We decided to drive into the grounds of the old La Salle Military Academy which is now St. John's University. It is a spectacularly beautiful place.

There is an old mansion with a long line of trees leading to the main entrance of the estate. The photo above shows a quaint little bridge over a pond, actually a river tributary, that flows into the Connetquot River.

At sunset, it is spectacular!

The main building, the mansion, has this huge chimney extending up above the roof-line.

It now contains the nest of an osprey.

This is the third osprey I've seen this spring that is nesting in an old chimney.

It is wonderful to watch them fly into the nest with a fish or eel for their young.

And, it is a great sign to see the return of the osprey...a healthy Long Island! Don't you think so?

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Sunset on the West Sayville Golf Course

Sunset on the West Sayville Golf Course....

Notice the very tall, wind-scuptured pine tree.

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See the photo below, also the Golf Course...

...and click on the photos to see the larger versions.

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West Sayville Golf Course

Tonight's sunset on the West Sayville Golf Course...

After dinner this evening I decided to take a ride looking for the perfect sunset.

Someone told me that there is a Sunset Street in Oakdale where the sunsets are beautiful.

Well, I went looking for Sunset Street but just had to stop at the Gold Course before the sun went down.

The photo above is the result.

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Click on the photo to see a larger version.

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Springtime in the Suburbs

Today I took a walk after dinner...

It was just so nice outside. I couldn't resist!

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All day today, the wind was gusty and cool; but, the sun was warm and very spring-like.

My husband and I were planning on going fishing today, but the wind was just too gusty for us.

It would have made the fishing trip an uncomfortable experience.

No problem though. Spring is here. We'll go another day.

Being retired has its benefits. We can go fishing almost any day.

Of course we do have our chores to do....yard work, errands, bills to pay, phone calls to make.

The chores and responsibilities never end, even after retirement.

.....but now we have more time to get them done.

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Well, back to my walk. The sun was shinning perfectly on the new spring growth. My neighbor's weeping willow tree was all aglow with the setting sun. The geese were slowing walking along the pond.

The flowers were colorful, the sky a glowing red-yellow.

I do love living on Long Island, but I guess by now you know that.

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