Someone is having a birthday today.
You will have to guess the year, I’m not telling.
Endure /
This little flower in the intense heat and sparse moisture still blooms and delights people passing on the trail.
“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
1 Coriinthians 13:7 NLT
Colorado National Monument
Waiting /
Sitting on a pylon at the dock of the Jamestown - Scotland ferry on the James River. The Great Blue Heron was waiting on the Jamestown side of the river.
Two If By Land (2 photos) /
This is the interior of the Old North Church in Boston. It was from this church’s steeple that the lantern was hung to alert the patriots of the movement of the British troops and sent Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott on the night ride. Revere was made famous by the Longfellow poem. The church is just remarkable. I love the brass chandeliers that were hung here in 1775 and have been in place ever since.
Purple Shades /
The colors of this arid landscape are beautiful and ever changing as the sun traverses the sky. The park is found in the extreme western edge of Colorado just a few miles from Utah. We never even heard of this place but the trek to all parks led us here for an afternoon. We ought to have stayed longer but we could not this trip. I had no idea it would be as interesting or have so many hikes. Points out why you need a bit of research before you arrive. We are doing our homework on Alaska - or so we think.
Colorada National Monument
Deep /
We walked a distance in a Louisiana swamp, a part of the Jean Lafitte National Park site. He was a pirate who helped turn back the British at the battle of New Orleans. The park encompasses several separate places, this being one of the reserves in the delta south of the city. These blooms were stunning in the contrast to the surroundings. I loved the lazy arc and the Japanese feel to the composition.
Louisiana: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Welcome to Two Thousand Nineteen /
I hope it is magical for you.
Sun sets on 2018 (James River along the Colonial Parkway) /
I don't really get the exuberance of a New Year Eve celebration. Seems a bit arbitrary to me. Yet it is good to occasionally look back and take stock of life, feel gratitude for what God has seen you through - challenges and joys. Is that what the raucous crowds are engaged in - I kind of doubt it. Anyway, for those who find this day one of great fun, happy new year, to those who are more reflective, God’s peace and to those who do neither, go take some photographs, take a hike, go to a movie, play a game with your kids or sleep in. Enjoy.
And to my Grandson, Kellen, happy sixteenth birthday to an amazing, kind, disciplined, hard-working, clever young man of whom I am justifiably proud.
The Six Top Five New Parks of 2018 (2 photos) /
My favorite new park of 2018: Weir Farm National Historic Site is located in Connecticut. This is currently the only NPS site in Connecticut but there is one more slated to open “sometime,” the Colt Firearms complex. Weir Farm is one of two parks set aside to honor visual arts. J. Alden Weir was an American impressionist painter who initially disliked impressionism when he first viewed works in Paris. He not only embraced the genre he was the first and foremost of the American impressionists. He also hosted many other painters on the farm for short or long stays including John Singer Sargent, The farm (originally bought for $10 and a painting) is about 60 acres of the initial 158. But there are 16 buildings, a pond, trails, woods, meadows and stone walls lacing the property.
I am not sure why I was so struck with the site. The light, the contrast of the woods, fields and walls, the interesting tour - extra engaged and helpful rangers, maybe all of them together but I simply fell in love with this small, hard to get to park. I hope to go back and spend time making photographs instead of just a quick shoot.
“The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy.
The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain.
They all shout and sing for joy! “ Psalm 65:12,13 NLT
The Studio
The Six Top Five New Parks of 2018 (2 photos) /
Number two is not a mature park having been brought into the National Park Service recently under President Obama. But it is one that the story outweighs any deficiencies in the park as they expand and prepare the area for completion. Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, NY is a special place because of the remarkable story of Mrs. Tubman who lived her last 20 plus years in this village. The home she built is nearly complete, the church is under renovation, the home she created for women who had no where else to go is open for visitation - having been under private control for years and her grave is nearby as well. Inspiring courageous woman who deserves to be remembered and celebrated.
Mrs. Tubman’s grave stone with remembrances scattered about. While origins of this practice differ, some military, some mythology, some other eras, the trinkets and coins are left as a sign of respect.
The Six Top Five New Parks of 2018 (2 photos) /
Sand, surf, history, marsh, woods, lighthouses, dunes, ocean, sunsets, trails, bay side - hard to tell our two tied for third place apart, except for the alligators, no alligators in Cape Cod. The Gulf Islands National Seashore is found in Florida and Mississippi and was a great place to explore. Cape Cod National Seashore in the arm extending into the ocean from Massachusetts. Both were wonderful, both had interesting history both inside and near to the parks, both had a host of great restaurants. Can’t go wrong at either place.
Marsh ponds, dunes and a bright blue ocean at Cape Code National Seashore
a good evening at Gulf Islands NS
The Six Top Five New Parks of 2018 /
Our second park is in Alabama, the Tuskegee Airmen NHS. This is the field where the first African-American troops began flight training. The little yellow “cub” is the first of the planes they flew as the progressed in the program up to the Army's PT-17 Stearman bi-plane. Then on to actual combat planes and then into the fray. And the did well, contrary to many opinions of the day. This airfield is neat not only for its history, its importance in the wave of civil rights legislation but also as a time capsule of the era. A lot of original buildings are still intact and the field of view is very much what men training here in the 1940’s would have seen. Nice museum in one hanger and the club where Ella Fitzgerald and other greats preformed for the pilots in training is also one you can visit.
The Six Top Five New Parks of 2018 (2 photos) /
At number five, a dark horse (check out the political meaning:) was the low expectation park for Martin Van Buren and his home Lindenwald near Kinderhook, NY. The house is nice and well-presented but does not have the grandeur of the Roosevelts or the Rockefeller’s a bit further south. It is on a rather small portion of the remaining farm and fronts on the old Albany Post Road a few yards of which still remain. The presentation by the ranger was excellent and we were impressed with the setting that still retained much of the rural feel of the early 1800’s when Van Buren served as the 8th President of the United States. And his role as father and grandfather added a lot to personalize his story. Nice day here.
Van Buren bust reflected in the mirror of the dinning room
An avid fisherman, here are some of his lures in one of his tackle boxes.
Christmas Day /
May each of you enjoy family, friends, memories or just quiet joy in Him whose arrival changed everything. Forever.
Merry Christmas
Christmas Eve /
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13, 14 NIV
Three Days Before Christmas /
This is based on the Charlie Brown Christmas, a favorite of mine. But I got it because it also reminds me of the dozens of kids dressed in bathrobes and towels, foil crowns and glitter halos that Cindy and others prepared each year for the Christmas pageant at the various churches we served. The memories are wonderful and the kids unpredictable except that the had a super time. And Mary - whomever was Mary, always took it as a serious honor.
“Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her mind.” Luke 2:19 NIV
Four Days Before Christmas (2 photos) /
Window shopping is harder to do online! Still fun to wander around and look at the displays. Macy’s in NYC even had animated windows like we used to go downtown in Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving night to see the departments stores unveil clever windows for the Christmas season.
Macy’s window, NYC
Five Days Before Christmas /
One of the nice things among many about living in Williamsburg was the start of the Christmas season with the Grand Illumination that draws thousands of people to watch the fireworks the first weekend of each December. With fewer booms and light streaks, the homes and businesses in Colonial Williamsburg are also decorated with “natural” materials and the creativity and clever use of gourds, fruits, plants and imagination is aways nice to see and makes the walk along the two main streets especially nice on a December day. Note that modern life is not that far away, computer cords in the window!
Six Days Before Christmas /
A little family time. We were able to share in the Lessons and Carols service that is put on by the school EB attends. She auditioned for and was given a solo part for the music that the 5th and 6th grade levels performed and she sang beautifully. We were very proud of her poise and her clear voice - and doing it in a room of several hundred people, amazing. All of her family gathered for a photo afterwards (I who carry my camera up every little hill and into every historic house did not have it with me, so the iPhone took center stage). The program itself has quite a history and really seems to begin the season for me. Great joy that evening.
Seven Days Before Christmas /
Love the season of cookies, lots of them, lots of kinds. I think the baking resumes on Thursday, Yay! Which is also a very good thing as this is a mere afternoon’s supply.
