Category: perseverance

'scene' along the way, learning, on closer examination, perseverance, photography, Uncategorized

Over the Tappan Zee…

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The last time I visited New York I was looking for someplace to go to spend the day with my grandchildren and my google search showed me the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.  I thought that sounded like a great idea but the kids weren’t enthused at all so we didn’t go.  Today, however, I headed up and down a lot of hills, and managed some hairpin turns, and eventually drove over the Tappan Zee bridge, but I got there.  It was originally the Tarrytown Cemetery, founded in 1849, but it was posthumously renamed at Washington Irving’s request.  His grave overlooks the adjacent 3 acre graveyard from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, adjacent to the Old Dutch Church.  Nearby is a bridge which was built in a rustic style to suggest the bridge upon which Ichabod Crane failed to escape the Headless Horseman.  It’s a beautifully set and well maintained resting place, I think I need to reread the story…6-18Irving6-18officeHDR6-18olddutch6-18redtreeHDR6-18stepsHDR6-18ivyHDR6-18woodenshoes6-18stream6-18bridgeAs I was driving away intending to head home I saw a road sign pointing to a waterfront area, and who could resist that?  The Tarrytown riverwalk I think it was.  And a little ice cream shop alongside the parking lot, and the signs on the window announced ‘coffee’ and also ‘ice cream’, which to me became Coffee Ice Cream, so I went in.  Alas there was no coffee ice cream, but the young man behind the counter suggested their specialty, vanilla ice cream with a shot of espresso.  What a good idea.  And the view from the waterfront was the Tappan Zee from the feature photo, but in the other direction was this from the iPhone…Single photo enhanced with easyHDR 3.12.0: 6-18iphonelighthouse.jpg6-18lighthousecloseAnd this is why I carry the 150-600mm lens.  Just sayin’

a second look, fun, perseverance, photography

Harness Racing Museum…

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When my daughter-in-law saw my photos from Goshen she was surprised that I didn’t include any from the harness racing museum.  What museum, was my question.  She said that I must have walked right past it because it’s exactly where the photos I took yesterday were.  So I went back today and yes, it was right where she said it was, but tucked away a little.  Not so easy to spot.  I took a few photos outside and then was told that there was racing today, and it was nearly post time!  It’s a tiny little harness track, it gives you an up close and personal experience.  Quite a lot of entertainment for $5. And just so you know, Tinkerbell won her race today.  My son was lamenting that he wasn’t there since he would have bet on a horse by that name, and he’d have won.  6-17museum3HDRdone6-17museumHDRdone6-17trotter2HDRdone6-17trotterHDRdone6-16trotter16-16trotter26-16trotter3

'scene' along the way, adventure, bucket list, history, perseverance, photography

Land O Goshen…

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I looked up that phrase to make sure it’s a real thing, and it is.  A Southern expression of amazement.  But I’m no longer down south, where I hear it’s extra toasty weather, and the last five miles of my pilgrimage up north had me driving down Main Street, Goshen, NY.  I didn’t stop right then for photo ops, I was too close to my goal.  But after visiting with my son and his family all afternoon I did run out to see if I could get some pictures of that charming town.  6-16goshenchurchHDR26-16mainstreetHDR26-16pianoHDR26-16catherinesHDR26-16redchurchHDR26-16steepleHDR26-16stevesdeliHDR26-16sweettymesHDR26-16yellowHDR2The piano is an example of what you might find around town.  Old pianos, painted whimsically, and sitting out available for playing, or just admiring.  And the Goshen Town Hall used to house a two room school where Noah Webster once taught.  Where would we be with out Webster’s dictionary?  I might have to head back to Sweet Tymes for an ice cream cone before I leave.  Coffee preferably, but I wouldn’t object to some chocolate chips in it…

'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, bucket list, finding my way, on closer examination, perseverance, photography, travel

Florida’s Route 301…

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Yes, I did mostly stick to major highways on this trip, but not always on purpose.  Route 301 in Florida came up at the beginning of the trip when I was fresh and excited to be on the trip, but also with an eye out for photo ops.  And since it winds through little towns with big speed traps you must slow down and savor the photo ops.  Many that I drove past, unfortunately, but we have to blame Ozzie for that.  He hadn’t yet settled down for the drive, maybe he thought I found a new vet that was farther away, but he was worried.  And every time I stopped he got upset about what was up.  It’s always been my contention that as long as life is going on as normal and your dog knows what to expect he will be fine.  But throw them a curveball, like three days in the car, and his applecart will be officially upset.  So after a few photos I decided to take pity on the boy.  6-16bradfordcountyHDR6-16churchHDR

a second look, connections, coping, courage, fantasy images, finding my way, friends, growing old, life goes on, live and learn, old dogs new tricks, perseverance, photography

Happily ever after…

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I have a friend who has lots to say on the subject of UFOs and aliens.  He asked if I believed in them, and while I couldn’t say that I do think they are ‘real’, I certainly wouldn’t stake my life on them not being real.  They are among the many things that I haven’t given a lot of thought to, or any thought to at all.  Even after he brought it up I spent no time pondering the possibilities.  

But I have moved on from the person I’ve been since Charley died, the one who was home every night, happily I might add, feeling snug, and safe, and proud of herself for making it through another day.  No, I’ve turned into a person who is looking at the world a little differently, able to admit that maybe there could be more to life, but not willing to bet any money that anything will change.  It’s made me see things differently.  And finding yourself single as you hang onto the last vestiges of your 60s is a lot like you have been dropped here from a UFO and are expected to make heads or tails out of this society.  One which bears no resemblance to what the world was like the last time I was single.  To me the ‘rules’ of behavior are still the same rules that I grew up with all those years ago.  But if TV is to be believed it’s a whole new world out there and I am totally not ready for it.  I don’t know the rules, or maybe the biggest rule is that there aren’t any rules.  I am as unprepared for a social life now that I’m old as I was when I was 18. 

I was looking for something to watch on Netflix, and saw a show called “Love”, and thought it would be harmless, kind of like the Hallmark Channel, or the easy listening channel on the radio.  Boy, was I wrong.  But I was looking at Netflix because I’m tired of the Hallmark Channel and it’s sappy, happily-ever-after stories.  That’s not real life.  But this is real life, and maybe I’m already living the only happily ever after that I’m going to get.  Would that be so bad?  No, not really…

moments, nature, perseverance, photography, sunrise, weather

It was a dark and stormy…

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…morning.  Couldn’t resist the Peanuts reference.  As I sat in the dark and quiet with my coffee I realized that I was hearing thunder.  And if I was hearing thunder there was probably some lightning out there.  Which is how I wound up out front of the house in my pajamas, at 4:30 AM, with my iPhone aimed at the sky.  I was using LightningCam2, an app I have had for a while but haven’t used in a long time.  It automatically senses a lightning bolt and takes the picture all by itself.  A no brainer.  But since I’ve used the app I have learned a lot about photography and the photo is horrible, too ‘noisy’.  I tried to ‘fix’ it, but it will never be great so I’m going to let it stand.  Turned it to black and white in Lightroom.6-8b&Wlightningcam2.jpg

My next thought was that if I went to Aripeka not far away, I would have wide open sky instead of the trees and power lines at home.  Even though I was nearly an hour ahead of sunrise the feature photo is what I found when I got there.  A very dramatic sky.  Good thing I was there early because clouds rolled in and spoiled the view before the actual sunrise happened.  And the lightning was too far off in the distance for any more lightning photos.6-8doggoneeasyHDR_easyHDR-night-strong6-8eltoritoSo I was out extra early, it was extra dark, and this little shop close to my house jumped out at me.  Or maybe it’s new.  Cute storefront though with the doggie.  But ElRanchito isn’t new to me, but if the photo is over the top so were the neon colors.