Wednesday, September 21, 2011

pollen & bee

pollen & bee by Alida's Photos
pollen & bee, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.

The dahlia garden at the Cutting Arboretum in Oakdale is at its peak. Take a ride over there and view the beautiful dahlias! There are also lots of bees but don't worry. They won't be interested in you with so many colorful flowers available!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

praying mantis 2

praying mantis 2 by Alida's Photos
praying mantis 2, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.

According to wikipedia:
"Close up image of a mantis' face (Archimantis latistyla) showing its compound eyes and labrum. The structure of the compound eye creates the illusion of a small pupil."

Friday, September 16, 2011

grape vine

grape vine by Alida's Photos
grape vine, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.


North Fork Wineries grape vine
~
We took a car ride out to the North Fork Wineries and made a few stops to sample some Long Island wines.
I volunteered to be the designated driver so I kept busy by photographing the grape vines and scenery.
A few vines still had their dark red/purple grapes.
Luckily hurricane Irene did not spoil the grapes although you could see the salt water damage on the grape leaves.
It was a beautiful day for a drive and it always amazes me at the vast areas of agricultural land still there on the east end.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

parking by the bay

parking by the bay by Alida's Photos
parking by the bay, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.

There is something so different about the air once Labor Day arrives. The sky has less haze and more fluffy clouds. The coolness in the air has that almost autumn feel. It is one of the best times on Long Island!

Friday, September 09, 2011

Port Jeff ferry

Port Jeff ferry by Alida's Photos
Port Jeff ferry, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.

The rain finally stopped long enough to walk around Port Jefferson. We love to watch the huge, powerful ferry turn in the harbor loaded with so many cars. Don't you wonder how something so heavy can float? I know why, but it always amazes me. I feel the same when I see a heavy plane take off and fly. Doesn't seem possible, but it is. Just amazing!

Monday, September 05, 2011

blue 5, the color series

blue 5 by Alida's Photos
blue 5, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.
Every once in awhile, I participate in a little project. It motivates the creativity, since I'm always taking photos and sometimes feel like there is nothing new to photograph in my everyday life. This week the project was color! Here are three photos, blue, violet and orange.

violet 3, the color series

violet 3 by Alida's Photos
violet 3, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.

orange 6, the color series

orange 6 by Alida's Photos
orange 6, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.

Friday, September 02, 2011

Fire Island beach

Fire Island beach by Alida's Photos
Fire Island beach, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.

Leaving Davis Park, a police patrol rides along the beach.

I've spent the last three days on the beach and the weather was perfect! My thinking is that I needed to squeeze in all the beach I could get since Labor Day is here and the weather will quickly cool down. Perfect weather!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

flooding river

flooding river by Alida's Photos
flooding river, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.

Hope you all recover soon!
The flood water has receded but many of you are without power. In this photo, taken on Sunday, the water pours out of the river onto a residential street.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Race Rock Lighthouse

Race Rock Lighthouse by Alida's Photos
Race Rock Lighthouse, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.
One of the lighthouses on our Lighthouse Cruise out of Greenport.

One of the engineers of Race Rock Lighthouse, Captain Thomas Albertson Scott, also built the seawall at Governors Island and the foundation for the Statue of Liberty.

It was a great cruise!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

North Dumpling, Fishers Island

North Dumpling Lighthouse was one of the lighthouses we saw on our Lighthouse Cruise. It leaves from Greenport. Check it out: http://www.eastendseaport.org/cruises.htm

Friday, August 19, 2011

beach grass

beach grass by Alida's Photos
beach grass, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.

The weather has been beautiful. The ocean waves have been calm and the water warm. It's been perfect beach weather, but last night's storm gave us a reality check. Enjoy the summer while you can!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

our visitors

our visitors by Alida's Photos
our visitors, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.

The lamb and goat story...

On Wednesday, we were visited by a small lamb and goat. Thinking they just wandered from a neighbor's yard (some homes here are on one acre or more), we sent them back into the direction from where they came. Two hours later a Suffolk County police officer knocked on the door, looking for a lamb and goat. We told him that we saw the animals but they were no longer here.
An hour later, the goat and lamb returned. I called the police to inform them and the police sent three cars and three officers, one with the SPCA division. This was about 3pm on Wednesday. The men used our patio furniture to contain the animals in one area of the yard, near the canal, to limit their wandering.
They tried to find the owners of the animals with no success.
My husband and I had to leave by 7pm, so we left the two animals and three officers and a pile of patio chairs next to the canal in our back yard.
We returned at 9pm only to find the animals on our driveway, no police or SPCA, and a missing chair. Where could the chair be? In the canal of course!
Apparently, having no way to remove the animals and nowhere to place them, the officers left. The animals stayed and pushed their way out, sending one of our patio chairs into the water.

Next morning, the animals, still very comfortable in my yard, were eating my annuals and shrubbery. I called the SPCA again. After answering 20 questions from someone who obviously didn't know what I'm talking about, they eventually call me back and explained the situation. They cannot take the animals. There is no placement for them, and according to the lieutenant "...they called every farm, petting zoo and animal rescue group on Long Island and no one can take these farm animals..." I will just have to wait.

Friday morning, the cute little goat and lamb are still here. (We are becoming attached to them, honestly, but still don't want them here.) No calls from the police or SPCA either. I make, what happens to be, my last call to the SPCA. I answer another 20 questions and I'm told they will call me back.
I never get a return call. The SPCA and/or the police never returned my call!

By the end of the day, realizing I was on my own and there would be no help from a government agency, I start calling my animal-loving friends. Our friend Gail knows of a group, the Double D Bar Ranch. They rescue farm animals. We call them and in about one hour, they travel from Manorville to Bayport and pick up the animals. No problem!
Check out their web site. http://doubledbarranch.org/
Rich and Gay Devoe came and gently captured the animals with their bare hands.
Placed them into the back of an SUV and drove away!

The Double D Bar Ranch was set up to provide homes for prior abused or unwanted farm animals. This Is a Non-profit Organization 501 (c) (3) Approved. (All Donations Are Tax Deductible and All Funds Received go to the Animals. No Salaries or Administration Fees Are Taken, according to their web site.)
They are located at:

344 Wading River Road
Manorville, NY 11949-3444
Phone (631) 878-4106
Fax (631) 874-4024
Cell (631) 513-6828

I am writing about this and posting this to make everyone aware of these generous animal-caring people.
I want to thank them for responding so quickly and taking the animals in a loving and gentle way.
Thank you Rich and Gay!
If you'd like to help them, check out their website.
Read the stories and contribute a donation or volunteer to help!

Friday, August 12, 2011

great south bay race

great south bay race by Alida's Photos
great south bay race, a photo by Alida's Photos on Flickr.

Last night (August 11, 2011) on the Great South Bay

A beautiful night on the water, calm breezes and warm temperatures.

Thursday, August 04, 2011

Home of George B Post


I had an interesting day today.
Since I am on the House Tour committee for the Bayport Heritage Association, I toured the house built by George B Post.
The home, the Littlewood Estate, built 1896, is now for sale.
Since it is such a historic house and built by a well-known architect, the Heritage Association wanted to have it shown to the public.
It is not known what the new owner will do, how the house will change or even if it will remain standing (Yikees!).
It is a beautiful old home, with 9 bedrooms, servants quarters, trunk room, full basement and attic. It needs much updating but the right owner can do it justice and return this to the masterpiece it once was.
My wish is for its preservation, of course.

If you'd like to go on the Hour Tour, October 16, 2011, please comment to this post and I will send you more information to buy tickets, $25. There will be 5 or 6 homes on the tour as well as refreshments at the estate of Meadow Croft.