Some views at The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park in New York. I wrote about our visit there here
Walking in Blue Skies in February
What a difference a week makes! I returned to Wave Hill this Sunday, where I took my walk last week under gray skies and in freezing temps. This week, the skies were blue, and the temps in the 50’s- it felt like spring! Here’s some background on Wave Hill.
Wave Hill is a 28-acre estate in the Hudson Hill section of Riverdale, The Bronx, in New York City. Wave Hill currently consists of public horticultural gardens and a cultural center, all situated on the slopes overlooking the Hudson River, with expansive views across the river to the New Jersey Palisades. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the estate includes two houses and a botanical garden. The oldest part of the main house, Wave Hill House, dates back to 1843.
First we headed to the main house where I could pick up a Latte in the cafe. 
Then out to the patio. 
After sitting for a bit I set out with my camera to walk the property, leaving my husband in the company of his book. 
Pathways lead up to the top of the property.
In spring the vines here are all in bloom, quite a different sight from the bareness of winter.
And more stairs to climb
To reach the gazebo with a view of the Hudson River in the distance. It is a quiet place to sit and think.
Here’s the view from the Gazebo. That’s ice in the Hudson River, from our below zero temps last week.
The birds were out enjoying the warmer weather too
I returned to find my husband taking in those rays
See you next week!
FOTD – February 4, 2019
Nurturing Thursday
Pull Up A Seat Photo Challenge
I came upon this bench in a museum I visited. It was so quiet and still with a beautiful view out the windows. I sat and enjoyed the silence around me for a bit.
Cee’s B &W Photo Challenge: Construction
Weathervane Wednesday
I spotted this weathervane in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. It looked as if it had seen better days as whatever had been adorning the top looked gnarled and broken, and the E for East had broken off. Mr. Crow seemed quite content to perch there.
And curious about it
A good place for a lookout
Wordless Wednesday
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Rose
This week Frank invites us to share something using the word Rose
Roses seem to be most often thought of as red. A dozen red roses signifies love, and is always a popular choice for a bouquet. They do come in a myriad of colors. My grandfather loved roses and cultivated many bushes at his home. He even won first place in a contest one year. I had forgotten about that until the prompt for the challenge. Thanks Frank, for bringing that back for me.
This Rose was the only one left on the bush as I passed it on a walk a few years ago. I loved the color, and how it was open, showing its petals in bloom.
This Rose I spotted at the New York Botanical Garden. End of the season, most had bloomed themselves out, but this one still seemed very much alive. I loved the layers winding one into another that could be seen so beautifully. 
A white and a yellow. The white almost spent, but the yellow just opening.
Jo’s Monday Walk
Many Sundays I visit a park/garden overlooking the Hudson River in Riverdale, NY, called Wave Hill. The views are spectacular, the grounds are both flat and hilly, and there are spots one can disappear into to find a moment of quiet and solace. I love going there no matter the season. Spring and summer are most glorious as the gardens are in full bloom. But there is something about visiting in winter, even on a gray day, as my friend and I did yesterday.
We decided to explore a walkway that runs behind the park. In summer the trees completely obscure the trail, we had no idea it was even there!
It went from stones, to wood
Uphill
and downhill
Then dirt and leaves underfoot
I heard rustling in the bushes and spotted a Blue Jay
Down below stands a school- though it looks like an old Tudor style house
We emerged from the trail and found ourselves once again on the main grounds overlooking the Hudson River
And the resident Mockingbird came to say hello… he greets us every time.
but the day had grown late and so we bid him goodbye until next time….
RDP Sunday: Flight
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Black and White
This week Cee invites us to share photos in black and white. Any subject, just black and white.
I don’t take candid portraits, or photos of people as a rule. There is a part of me that thinks it is invasive, or just not right to take someone’s photo without them knowing about it. Every now and then I do break that rule though. I will come upon someone in a setting that seems to beg to be captured. Such was the case in the following photos, which I thought translate well into black and white. Perhaps the way the people in each photo seem so solitary. I wondered what they were thinking.
Bowling!
I was on winter break vacation from school this week. Yesterday my nieces came to spend the day. I have written about them before, here. We needed an indoor activity as it was pouring rain all day, and something besides shopping. We could always spend the afternoon shopping. We decided to go bowling. I have not bowled in at least 25 years, but figured we’d have a good time.
First, those shoes. I supplied socks for all of us, as the thought of putting my feet into shoes other people have worn just gave me the willies. So that hasn’t changed in the last 25 years. Everything is automated! There is a digital scoreboard, no more little pencils with cards where you have to keep track of your score, and total it up. There we were, our names and scores lit up on the screen. The extra A in my name is for Aunt. 
For starters, my niece had to correct me on the fingers I stuck in the holes, “No Aunt Lisa, not your pointer, your middle and ring fingers go in the holes.” Off to a great start. 
Then my other niece told me to focus on the center arrow in the lane. Gutter ball. And then….
STRIKE!!!!! We could not stop laughing. We played 3 games, the 2nd game my final score was 100, so for me that was pretty exciting. By the end of game 3, after an hour and 1/2, my lower back was screaming a bit, and I was exhausted. My nieces were too, so I didn’t feel so bad. The bowling alley had a photobooth so of course we had to squish in and get a strip.
Then it was off for lunch to regain our strength for an afternoon of hitting the mall. There were more sales than Black Friday, and the mall was empty, making it a very pleasant shopping trip. We all did very well.
After a brief break at home my husband joined us and we went out for dinner. A real vacation day for me, and another great opportunity to connect with my nieces and spend time together. And making memories.
A Photo a Week Challenge: Contrasting Colors
Nurturing Thursday
Old friends are the great blessing of one’s later years . . .
They have a memory of the same events and have the same mode of thinking.
Last night I had dinner with my BFF and a mutual friend of ours from childhood who we have not seen in years. We shared a bottle of wine, a good meal, and reminisced about the past. We shared where we have been, where we are now. Life from the perspective of being 60, though in our minds we are still those kids growing up together. The mistakes we made along the way and what we learned from them, how loss has changed our reactions to things, the choices we make knowing there are no guarantees. Having reached an understanding of what’s important and what’s not. A gift to be able to laugh and cry for a few hours with those who totally understand where you’re coming from. Because they were there with you at the start.
If You Feed Them, They Will Come
You start with a dish of bird seed.
And first the Blue Jays arrive. Quite noisily, letting every Blue Jay in town know there’s eats at Lisa’s house.
Then the Juncos arrive
Followed by the Tufted Titmouse
Who must have told the Red Bellied Woodpecker 
Who passed it on to the Male Cardinal
Who told his lady friend
Who told the Starling
Who left a bit of seed for the Sparrows
And tomorrow… you never know who else might just show!
Weather Vane Wednesday
I spotted this weather vane on a day trip to Historic Walnford in New Jersey. A small community started by a man named Waln, on site there is a grist mill, saw mill, fulling mill, blacksmith and cooper’s shops, a large 2-family brick house, five tenant houses, farm buildings, 100 plowed acres and two orchards. The 1879 Carriage House was built for the Walns’ carriages and the horses that pulled them. Sitting atop the carriage house is a running stag weathervane.
Wordless Wednesday
#JusJoJan 2019 Daily Prompt :Jan. 22nd: Curiosity
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Flow
This week Frank invites us to go with the flow and walk along the Bank.
So I did. I ventured out at 7:30 this morning, in 13 degree weather. No wind blowing today, which made it barely bearable. My intention was to go in search of Bald Eagles, but then Frank’s post popped up and I figured I could kill 2 birds with one stone. Figuratively, of course. First stop, the banks of the pond, where it paid to look up from the banks, because there above me, perched in a tree was a Juvenile Bald Eagle.
Yeah, I think he spotted me, a minute later he took off- I was too stunned at the breadth of his wing span to get a photo- absolutely astounding. 
Then on to the banks…
The Geese were sleeping along the banks, not seeming to mind the cold.
The water was flowing and breaking up the ice as it went along
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As a child my father would play Banks of the Ohio on his banjo and we would sing the refrain together. If you’ve never heard it, here it is. A sad song.
The Tufted Titmouse Pays a Visit
This Tufted Titmouse came by yesterday to have a bite . 
The wind was howling and the temps in the single digits, so he hung out in the tree outside my kitchen window.
Hey lady! I see you in there with that lens!!
Did you hear me??
Well I’m gonna puff myself up to ward off the cold and ignore you.
and turn my back on ya
and now… I’m outta here!
Which Way
Monday Blues
My yard is filled with BlueJays coming to eat because of the frigid weather we are having today. They usually show up around 9. eat a bit and leave until late afternoon. Today they have never left. They rest in the bushes to take a break from eating and then begin again.
Ruffled feathers from the wind
Baby It’s Cold Outside-Jo’s Monday Walk
5° MOSTLY CLOUDY feels like -15° H 15° / L 11°
(that’s -15 Celsius)
Temps this low are pretty unusual for the area I live in. The weather people are blaming it on the Polar Vortex, something new they have come up with to account for frigid temps. Last week they predicted 12 inches of snow would arrive on Saturday going into Sunday, which sent everyone into a panic. Turns out we had a dusting of snow that quickly turned to rain, and Sunday was clear. Go figure. Someone posted this message on Facebook which pretty much summed it up.
Seeing as the weather had cleared, I decided to venture out to my favorite local trail. It wasn’t as cold as it is today, just muddy from the rain the night before. 
I passed a White Throated Sparrow who was drinking in the creek
and a Song Sparrow pondering his next move
A Golden Crowned Kinglet and a Carolina Wren paused just long enough for me to get a shot- they move at a rapid pace so I was lucky to get these even if they weren’t as clear as I would have liked.
I was surprised to see a Mourning Dove and Red Winged Blackbird sharing a branch. When it’s cold everyone needs to stick together I suppose.
A welcome burst of color on this cold, gray winter day made me smile. Why the leaves on this bush are red I don’t know.
After an hour my feet were numb and I headed back to the car. I stopped for a coffee at Dunkin Donuts and then headed to my favorite pond. I caught the sun beginning to set, a tiny glimpse of blue in a very gray sky peeking through.
And then it was home… back to the warmth of my kitchen! 
A Day In The Life 
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