January 27

Today is supposed to feel a bit like spring with temperatures climbing close to 50 degrees. Not expected to last though and we could see snow again on Tuesday. Our ever changing winter weather.

The little shed below is one I've photographed numerous times. A couple days ago I learned its history. I had taken a few photos and was stopped in my car on the side of the road. A super nice woman stopped by to see if I was alright. Turned out her family has a farm on the property with the shed. She told me that the shed was once part of a school. It was the outhouse! One side for the boys, one side for the girls. Small coal furnace kept it warm. Love the slant of light I caught in the door.

On another note, I'm curious if anyone (or who) reads my blog posts. If you are inclined, feel free to comment, even by simply leaving your name, or feedback. Thanks!!

January Thaw

Today felt like a spring day with temperatures in the high 40s. All of a sudden my romance with winter took a nose dive. I found myself longing for the sweetness of spring. Or warmer climes. Yet I know this is where I belong. Here on this hill, in this house. Right now. My life as it is. 

My mind drifted to one of my favorite poems -
about being, our imperfect selves, authenticity etc...

The House of Belonging

I awoke
this morning
in the gold light
turning this way
and that

thinking for
a moment
it was one
day
like any other.

But
the veil had gone
from my
darkened heart
and
I thought

it must have been the quiet
candlelight
that filled my room,

it must have been
the first
easy rhythm
with which I breathed
myself to sleep,

it must have been
the prayer I said
speaking to the otherness
of the night.

And
I thought
this is the good day
you could
meet your love,

this is the black day
someone close
to you could die.

This is the day
you realize
how easily the thread
is broken
between this world
and the next

and I found myself
sitting up
in the quiet pathway
of light,

the tawny
close grained cedar
burning round
me like fire
and all the angels of this housely
heaven ascending
through the first
roof of light
the sun has made.

This is the bright home
in which I live,
this is where
I ask
my friends
to come,
this is where I want
to love all the things
it has taken me so long
to learn to love.

This is the temple
of my adult aloneness
and I belong
to that aloneness
as I belong to my life.

There is no house
like the house of belonging.

– David Whyte

Took this photo after many hours of rain. Sun struggling to break through and mist gently rising. I am drawn to the color palette here.

After the rain...

The other worldly light after the rain. Many of my friends spoke about the almost mystical feeling it created. It felt like this...

Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada

I'm completely awestruck by the beauty here. This is my first trip to Niagara Falls (Ontario). With all the hype surrounding it as a tourist attraction, I had no idea what to expect. This is the perfect time of year for me with the absence of tourists. Yep, it's a tad chilly down by the falls, but there are places to get out of the cold. Treated myself to an amazing room at the Marriott - floor to ceiling windows with a view of the falls. Prices are slashed in winter because many people don't like the cold. Me - I have a serious romance with winter.
In my room, I feel as if I'm 'in' the water. A bit like being at sea. At first it was a bit eerie, but I'm adjusting just fine.

Here's a view from my room. 
Sunrise

The Falls

Many rainbows

The power of water

Sunset...

This is one of my favorite shots.  A great spot down by the Falls as you approach the Welcome Center. The Welcome Center was a perfect place to get in from the cold and grab a cup of coffee. I captured this photo on my way into the Welcome Center.

Such a spectacular place. I love my road trips!
All this beauty within 5 hours of home. Wow!!

Art In Sixes   11/18/17

Thrilled to be part of Art In Sixes once again this year. It's a small works show featuring an array of mediums and over a hundred artists. Needless to say, the opening was packed. Me, almost a recluse these days, had a fantastic time. Guess I needed some serious socializing! Plus, I felt proud of the pieces I submitted, probably my best group of work so far. All black and white photos and I loved every one of them. I can honestly say that I'm finally coming to grips with the fact that I'm a good photographer. Yes, I still have lots to learn but I'm losing much of my self-deprecation when it comes to my own work. Amazing positive feedback at the show, also sold one photo that of course gave me a boost. Actually, it was extremely touching for me because an artist whom I greatly admire bought it.

Art In Sixes is a yearly event at the DVAA - Delaware Valley Arts Alliance in Narrowsburg NY. A truly wonderful group of people keep this organization afloat and I suppose it's their incredible energy that made the opening super fun.

Below is one of the photos I chose to submit. It's a house I've photographed often on Block Island. An Edward Hopper feel for me. Love this house!

Traveling

Seems like I'm filled with the urge for going these days. It doesn't even matter where. Just want to be on the road. Of course, one does need a destination. Aimless wandering is probably not such a great idea.

This past weekend I went to visit a good friend in New Haven. My friend Maryanne has a lovely rambling old home just minutes from Yale. She's a retired professor and super fun. 

Left early Friday morning and got caught in a completely unexepected snow squall. At times visibility was about zero and I contemplated turning back. That didn't feel like fun, plus I had just put snow tires on my car.  I put snow tires on my car so I can drive in the snow, NOT stay home! Despite the snow mess, I still made it to New Haven in about 2 1/2 hours.

I want to focus on Stonington CT now. Yes, I went to an exhibit at the Yale Art Museum (it was fantastic) and a photo exhibit in Mystic (loved it!) but then there was Stonington...

I've been to this town many times on my own. Mostly in the early morning to shoot photos.  Still feel like I haven't captured it properly.
Stonington is about a 4 mile drive from Mystic. It is not a resort/tourist town and there's not much there. But I'm drawn to it in an inexplicable way. There is something. And if you feel it, well you know what I'm talking about. My friend Maryanne fell in love with Stonington. We had driven there for dinner but as we walked to the restaurant she mentioned wanting to spend the entire day there. She gets it. I was thrilled. Because there isn't much in Stonington. A handful of shops (maybe five) and a couple restaurants. Nothing much to do, but the town itself - understated charm.That is, if you feel it.

This is the story of Stonington, well at least what I can glean from reading and being there. It's very self-contained. Only a few blocks long, less than one square mile. Population about 1200. Many intellectuals and wealthy urban folks have settled there. One would think snooty perhaps, but I only find friendly. And the beauty. Hard to put into words. There is simple and palatial. One sees old fisherman's cottages sandwiched next to each other with barely any property and then the pillars of houses across the street on Fisher Island Sound. Those houses are wedged rather tightly together too.
A lone commercial fishing fleet still exists in Stonington and I've heard it's considered the heart and soul of the community. The old and the new co-existing. In harmony so it appears.
A writer once said of Stonington, "It's gray and lonely in winter, but those are perfect condtions for a writer." Perfect conditions for taking photos too I think. Ah, another winter destination.

I didn't get too many photos this time around. I've discovered that taking photos is a solitary project for me. Of course, Maryanne would've been fine doing something else but I found myself trying to shoot photos as we were walking and talking. That's tricky. But all ok. Everything about Stonington was close to perfect. I will return.
All these photos were taken with my $80 point and shoot. For some reason, lighter felt better.

The beginning - it got worse! But then got a little better...

Taken from a cafe in Mystic - insanely blustery and cold outside but sun shining, drinking coffee!

House, Stonington

Sunset, Stonington

Stonington






These photos are  from a few years ago, when I first stumbled upon Stonington.

Lighthouse

Time change and more

I'm probaby one of the few people who actually like the time change. I love morning light. And I don't mind the night's early darkness. Makes me want to crawl into bed with a book or a good movie. Getting into hiberation mood.

Summer lasted into fall this year and all I wanted was to be outside. I sort of forgot about house chores. And things do pile up. So for the last three days I've sequestered myself inside this house playing catch up. Reorganizng my office, cleaning cleaning cleaning, hauling wood inside, making sense of everything in the garage...feels good. I see progress! I did have to dash out for a few very quick errands and of course, brought my camera with me. Plus, there's always sunrise to catch in the field across the street, sometimes still in my pajamas.

Planning another mini-road trip end of the week, part of the impetus to pull everything in this house together. Headed to an art exhibit at a gallery on the Yale campus in New Haven, then onto Mystic for a photography show. Life is busy and good! Oh yeah, an old friend is playing music in Parksville NY this Wednesday night. Hoping to experiment a bit with taking photos of people, something I rarely do. Trying to challenge myself. Always.

Sunrise

Down by the river, the Delaware

On Swago Pond

Red sky at night sunset.

Feeling like the end of summer in October - on Swago Pond

Love this sunrise shot. Subtle color through the thick fog.

Fog

Those who know me well, know that I love fog. I stumbled upon incredible fog as I was driving to work yesterday. I wanted to walk into the forest and stay there...maybe forever.

Meanwhile, I was running late for work and had to be satisfied with a few quick snapshots. Sigh...

Sharing anyway and this is TWO posts in one day - a record for me I think!
On another completely different note, I somehow volunteered to help at a Halloween party in my little town. I call it my "little" town but it's no longer the sleepy town I once knew. There are two Halloween parties side by side. Oh my. But I might just go to both.