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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Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Florida

Dickinson State Park, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Florida

For more park info

"Close to 11,500 acres of land and river await the visitor to Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Teeming with wildlife, the park offers camping, canoeing, 

hiking and bicycling, picnicking, fresh and saltwater fishing and

 guided tours of the Loxahatchee River."

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Sunrise 2009

sunrise 2009, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

January 1st, 2009 at sunrise

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I awoke to a new year, 2009. The temperature outside was 10°F and it was very windy. 

There was ice and snow on the roadways.

My usual New Years Day trip to the beach was put on hold.

Plan B: taking sunrise shots near my house! It really was beautiful!

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I was just a little disappointed but decided that the beach would have had too much sand and ocean-spray blowing over us....bad for the camera and me! I could stand the cold but the wind makes it too uncomfortable. My husband decided to stay in bed.

It turned out to be a beautiful morning. I couldn't walk far, nor did I want to, but just around the neighborhood was magical. 

The pond and canal were beginning to freeze up but the birds were busy at the bird feeders 

and in the holly trees.

 I was the only one out there and loved it!

Enjoy your day and remember that we got to see a new year. 

That's amazing in itself and should be celebrated!

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Bayard Cutting Arboretum

Bayard Cutting Arboretum, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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A beautiful day for a walk in the Bayard Cutting Arboretum...

The trees are just beginning to reach their peak, here on Long Island.

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red maple view

red maple view, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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Climb to the first limb and take the photo.

Why not?

Explore.......and see the world in a different perspective.

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Happy Mothers' Day!

Happy Mothers' Day!

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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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