The view from the Walkway Over the Hudson 212 Feet (64.6176 meters) above the ground. Looking down on the town of Poughkeepsie, NY. My fear of heights kept me from leaning any farther over the edge.
A boat passing by along the Hudson River
Nature vs First Grade
Working as an assistant all day in a classroom with 19 first grade boys can be exhausting. I am usually spent by days end. At the moment I am reevaluating if I want to continue doing what I am doing or look into other options. Am I burned out after 5 years in the classroom? Am I bored by doing the same thing year after year- stapling and collating and going over tens places and blends? Maybe a little bit of everything. I have become disillusioned by some of the people I work with, the administrators who exhibit less than “look up to” behaviors. Narrow mindedness and back stabbing. I don’t kid myself; I know wherever you go you may find these same problems.
I left work and needed an airing out so went home, changed my clothes, grabbed the camera and went to the pond. First thing I saw
Hanging out on a branch overlooking the pond was an Eagle. Maybe the same one I saw the other day as he was in the same spot. Once again he allowed me to stand close to the branch he was on and capture his beauty up close. Quite a beak he’s got there.
On the pond floated some ducks- Hooded Mergansers and Mallards
One Goose- all alone- I wondered where the usual flock was. I liked how the setting sun reflected on the water.
Sunset approaching, I always love how the bare trees look against the sky in winter
As I turned to go I caught sight of what at first I thought was an Eagle, until I saw the long legs extended out behind and realized it was a Heron. I swung the camera toward the sky to see if I could capture him. It was blurry, but it made me smile to have captured the moment. 45 minutes and the nonsense of the day was forgotten and I was ready to head home renewed.
Remembering My Brother
I received a package from my sister last week filled with old photos that had been in old family albums. I wrote about it here. In among those photos were some of my brother that I had never seen before. Two years ago yesterday he died, taking his own life after struggling with mental issues for many years. Looking at the photos I was reminded of the person he was before he became so troubled, and the life he had lived. I was glad for the reminder, to remember him with a smile instead of sadness.
Blue Skies Bald Eagles
I took an early morning walk around my favorite pond on Monday, taking advantage of the day I had off from work. Winter had returned, it was back into the 30’s but I didn’t mind as the sky was blue and the sun was shining. I looked out across the pond to see 2 Eagles perched in the trees at different ends of the pond. Here’s one of them.
I took a few photos from across the pond and then continued to walk around, assuming that when I got near the side they were on they would most likely take flight. Much to my surprise I was able to stand directly beneath the tree one of them was perched in and look straight up at him. What an amazing bird to see so close up. I took a few photos and moved on, but he never left. By the time I neared where the other Eagle had been he was no longer there- I don’t know if he heard me coming or just decided to find his own spot where he didn’t have to share his catch with anyone.
The Weekly Smile
The weather yesterday was unseasonably warm- close to 70 in February when it should really be in the 40’s! I took advantage of this welcome occurrence by heading out for a walk. I passed a couple on the trail walking in the opposite direction, laden down with binoculars and cameras, and we said a friendly hello. Half way around I met them again and they asked if I had seen the Eagle flying around overhead, which I had. We then stopped and chatted about our mutual love for bird watching, sharing some of the local places we went to and the different species we had encountered. We laughed at how nice it was to share our information and not get a roll of the eyes or a comment like “they’re just birds!” What a pleasure to meet someone who also gets excited at spotting a never seen before bird. As we parted I continued to smile inside and out, at the warmth the sun brought to the day, at connecting with someone over a shared passion, at how being in nature blocks out all else that is on my mind. My weekly smile. What made you smile this week?
Black & White Sunday: Traces of the Past
Paula invites us to take a look at the past. It may be a past long forgotten or a past very much present and incorporated into today’s existence.
I took a walk this morning around a local historic site near my home that I have written about previously- one of the buildings on the site was used by General George Washington, which I thought appropriate as here in the United States we celebrate President’s Day tomorrow. This building was built in 1752 and is where George Washington set up headquarters for a time. It has sat on this land since that time.
The house in the foreground is an example of a sandstone cottage and was built in 1678 and moved to this location a few years ago.
This is another sandstone center-hall 4 room house with a full cellar and full garret/attic capped with a gambrel roof, built in 1774. It was also moved to this location.
Traces of the past that remain in the present, and as I wandered the grounds today I came upon this man, very much in the present, but dressed for an Historical Event taking place later in the day. 
Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Perspective
This week is all about things with a slightly different perspective or slightly different view than the normal.
Across
Down
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Things that Look Like Faces
I posted this photo a few weeks ago and one of my blogging friends pointed out it looked like a face to him. I looked at it again and realized it did!
Here’s another one- I like that the windshield wipers serve as eyebrows
Thursday’s Special: Le Rouge et Le Noir
Today Paula would like us to continue with dramatic captures, but through the use of bold colours. She asks that we show what effect placing red next to black can produce.
Backyard Visitors
Share Your World
Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?
Seriously tucked in. I cannot sleep unless I am totally encased, especially with the sheets tucked in tight at the end of the bed. The blankets also need to be tucked in tight too. My husband on the other hand, prefers nothing tucked in, so I have mastered the art of keeping my side tucked while his remains totally pulled out and messy.
Have you stolen a street sign before?
No- whatever for? A few years ago they were changing the local street signs and giving them away. For a moment I thought it might be fun to have the street sign where I grew up, and then in the next moment thought, why and what would I do with it.
Do you cut out coupons but then never use them?
I used to but stopped. I had a growing pile that I would usually forget all about when I was shopping, so I finally gave up.
Do you have freckles?
I am freckled from taking too much sun, some freckles, some age spots. As a child I did have freckles along the bridge of my nose.
Travel theme: Eyes
Black & White Sunday: Darkness and Light
This week Paula invites us to look for some light and shadow, for drama, for moody or even harsh lighting. The theme of this black and white photo challenge is DARKNESS and LIGHT.
The Weekly Smile
Yesterday I received a package in the mail from my sister. She had been sorting through old photo albums that belonged to my mother and sent me close to 100 photos she thought I might like to have. Many were duplicates that are in my own albums, but some I had never seen, or had no recollection of. I spent the evening sorting through them and thinking back to when they had been taken, where life has gone since then, my parents both no longer here. Though bittersweet, I smiled at the memories, at the good times caught by the lens, just remembering.
Me and my mother, taken in 1972 at the party of a neighbor, I was 15. I don’t recall ever seeing this photo before. I do remember the dress though!
1975 me on the piano at a family gathering with my sister and Father singing along. Another photo I had never seen before.
Me and my Grandfather in 1988 on the Shelter Island Ferry- we must have gone from his home in Southampton NY to visit my Aunt who lived there. He was 82 at the time.
What was your smile for the week?
Song Lyric Sunday
The theme this week is to post a song about the doubts and insecurity in a relationship. “Should I Stay or Should I Go” is a song by the English punk rock band the Clash, from their album Combat Rock. It was released in 1982. It became the band’s only number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, a decade after it was originally released. I love its beat, and no matter where I am when I hear it, it gets me moving. I saw The Clash many times in concert during the the late 1970’s and 1980’s so it take me back in time too.
Darling you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
If you say that you are mine
I’ll be here ’til the end of time
So you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
It’s always tease, tease, tease
You’re happy when I’m on my knees
One day it’s fine and next it’s black
So if you want me off your back
Well, come on and let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go, there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know
This indecision’s bugging me (esta indecision me molesta)
If you don’t want me, set me free (si no me quieres, librame)
Exactly whom I’m supposed to be (digame que tengo ser)
Don’t you know which clothes even fit me? (no sabes que ropas me queda)
Come on and let me know (me tienes que decir)
Should I cool it or should I blow? (me debo ir o quedarme)
Split
Should I stay or should I go now? (yo me enfrio o lo soplo)
Should I stay or should I go now? (yo me enfrio o lo soplo)
If I go there will be trouble (si me voy va a haber peligro)
And if I stay it will be double (si me quedo sera el doble)
So ya gotta let me know (me tienes que decir)
Should I cool it or should I blow? (me debo ir o quedarme)
Should I stay or should I go now? (tengo frío por los ojos)
If I go there will be touble (tengo frio por los ojos)
And if I stay it wil be double
Si me quedo sera el doble
So ya gotta let me know me tienes que decir
Should I stay or should I go?
Macro Moments Challenge: Week 30
Musin’ With Susan’s theme for this week’s challenge is birds! My favorite capture with the lens. My camera is a Nikon B500.
Thanks to nowathome for posting a beautiful photo and introducing me to Musin’ With Susan
Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadow
A Photo A Week Challenge: Details
While walking through a street fair last summer in New York City, I looked North on Lexington Avenue and saw a large skyscraper blocks away that seemed to have interesting architecture at the top. I zoomed in with my camera to take a closer look. It was the General Electric Building, originally known as the RCA Victor Building, an historic 50-floor, 640-foot tall, skyscraper built in 1931. Built in the Gothic mode of the Art Deco style, with the four monumental electrical deities, allegories of the power of radio at the top. The rays that emanate from their heads are cast aluminum and designed for neon lighting installation. Amazing architectural details.
Thursday’s Special: Profile
Wordless Wednesday
Owls, Coyotes and Trees, Oh My
Sunday I visited Wave Hill , a 28-acre estate in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, in New York City. It consists of public horticultural gardens and a cultural center, all situated on the slopes overlooking the Hudson River. A friend and I spent the day there- attending two lectures and walking the grounds. One lecture was about the Coyote population in New York. Very informative and interesting. I had no idea there were families of Coyote living in the woods in the New York area. The other lecture was about Owls, and we were introduced to a Screech Owl- he had been hit by a car and now resides in a preserve. We also dissected owl pellets- Owls regurgitate what they have eaten, small oval pellets consisting of hair and fur and bones. I was a bit squeamish about it, but too fascinated not to do it.
The day wasn’t too cold, though it did flurry for a bit, but undeterred we walked through the grounds and ate our lunch overlooking the Hudson River with a view of the George Washington Bridge. The friend I went with is someone I work with whom I have gotten to know better over the past 2 years. We have much in common- we share a love of nature, of handwork such as knitting and crochet, we love to color and create. I consider myself fortunate to have connected with her, often as we get older those connections are few and far between. She is calm of nature, which I am not, but being with her slows the anxious, tense parts of me, which I welcome.
A wonderful way to spend a Sunday.
Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge
Across or Up?
Black & White Sunday: Sign
Thursday’s Special: Pick A Word
radiant: sending out light; shining or glowing brightly
arboreal: relating to trees.
remote: situated far from the main centers of population; distant 
The Weekly Smile
When I visited the beach last week, at the end of the boardwalk I saw this large rock with a plaque attached to it. 
When I read what it said it made me smile.
What a lovely way to be remembered.
What made you smile this week?
A Day In The Life 
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