boston public garden

One of Boston's true treasures - in any season

This particular day was cold and blustery,

 and way too sunny - which is normally my preference - but not so great for photos at mid-day

yeah - oh well...

Another lunch break - I hopped on the subway to catch a Boston favorite

make way for ducklings - all dressed for Christmas :-)

this is one of the most popular attractions in the Boston Public Garden

- and one of my favorite childhood stories, written by Robert McCloskey

(although I may be biased as the story takes place in Boston)

A friend said to me - it must be so fun to work in the city during the holidays
Yes, it is!

I'm thankful for my lunchtime photo adventures
- Exploring a city with a LOT of holiday cheer
- Christmas with my family
- Vacation next week!
- My warm home during these cold days

The ducklings and I wish you a very merry Christmas!

I'm joining Tom for Tuesday's Treasures
Michelle for Thankful Thursday
Tanya for Willy Nilly Friday Five

Thanks for dropping in!

photo challenge week #7 - close-up

Not to be confused with macro

- which I am pretty sure I will be attempting in the not-too-distant future

Little bugger...

Headed to the hardware store - 

Greg: Is there anything you'd like me to pick up while I'm out?

Me: Yes - we're out of suet, but whatever you do don't choose one with nuts...

Yeah - little Nutkins, here, surely is enjoying his peanuty treat

He knows I'm watching him - but he's not looking particularly fazed

As my daughter would say - he's just living his life...

I did a little cropping to get this guy to fill the frame
- but it looked "close-up" to me before
- and I like him so much better than my close-up of the ferns
as long as he stays out of my attic!

Next up - SOOC (straight-out-of-camera) eek!
which will be in two weeks
Have a great weekend!

photo challenge - outtakes

I am learning so much more from my photo challenge than I had ever anticipated

- the prompts, themselves, are meaningless

and yet, each one challenges me to focus on something specific
- while trying something new

- take a different approach
- look from another angle...

So this week, I'm sharing some outtakes

(aka camera dump - but I'll keep it to a minimum)

Clouds - still clicking away at the John Hancock tower,

I like the fluffy cloud reflections and bright blue sky

this was a close runner up - but leaves me dissatisfied somehow
although, I can say the same for my chosen photo...

The color red - technically not an outtake

I took this photo a few weeks before starting - and archives are against the rules... (gasp)

The red cups drew my eye - but the photo is about morning in a coffee shop

From a high angle - I was really just playing
- but laughed when I saw this one
penguins and tie-dye - Laura has always loved color - and LOTS of it
- and I do believe I caught her catching up on my blog :-)

Door(s) - this is one of my favorite Boston neighborhoods

I often walk through it on my way to work - stopping one morning,

hoping to capture the early sun and feel of a city morning

- hmmm, maybe if there was a family leaving for work or school

 - but then, I would have felt like a stalker...

From a low angle

There were so many ways to approach this prompt

This photo is a good reminder to me, 

 that while I'm feeling completely conspicuous,
kneeling on the sidewalk with my camera near the ground

- only one person even notices me

He looks kind of grumpy - but I don't think he really cares

Next week - back on track with Close-up
- which is actually ready to go - but it can wait...

Happy Sunday - enjoy your day!

thankful for december

I'm thankful for December
- when the bears settle in for their winter nap (we hope)
- bird feeders are back on our deck

and colorful birds gather on Saturday mornings
- it's the little things -

are blue jays bullies? - hmmm, I don't know - maybe

I'm just taken in by their beautiful blue coloring

I'm shallow that way...

Well, good morning!

Yeah - snow wasn't really my thing - I guess I'll just wait my turn

- ummmm - hello? - are you about finished?

This is supposed to be our feeder...

Is she still watching us?

Gee, lady - isn't it about time that you go take a shower or something?

Who knew birds were so perceptive?
- so that's what I did before heading to our local bird store

to buy these guys a new pole for their peanut feeder
(which was bent over last year, by a bear - bad bear!)
- and hopefully give this feeder back to the chickadees...

So - how can I go about getting that bear gig?
- a winter nap sure sounds good to me, right now

Have a wonderful weekend!

I'm joining Michelle for Thankful Thursday - and Tanya for Willy Nilly Friday 5

west dummerston vermont

We've driven past this covered bridge many times
- hundreds of times -
over the past few years

located in West Dummerston, Vermont
the bridge was built in 1872

and spans the West River - a popular summer swimming spot

After riding through this charming bridge to explore the Black Mountain quarry,
it seemed about time I attempt a photo - or two

I found the quarry fascinating - it was in operation in the early 20th century
the town, growing to accommodate the workers

- and I can't seem to find any information on this old wheel
- what it is, or why it sits here

but I kind of liked it - so, yeah - it is what it is -
an old rusty wheel... painted with graffiti...

Happy Monday - I hope your week is off to a good start!

I'm joining Tuesday's Treasures and

Thanks for dropping in!

photo challenge week #6 - from a low angle

Dummerston, Vermont - abandoned stone quarry

looking up the rock face of Black Mountain

on a chilly Vermont afternoon

I'm not sure whether Greg knew that this was my next prompt

when he took me on a detour, saying "you want to see something cool?"

Why, yes - yes I do
:-)

next up - Close up
- which I'll post in two weeks
I'm thinking about doing something a little different next week...

Thanks for dropping in!

Canon EOS REBEL T3i

EF-S18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS II

ISO 100 20mm 1/60 sec @ f/4.0

thankful thursday

Thanksgiving weekend was absolutely wonderful

- downtime at its best

Reflecting back, I'm thankful for so many things:

- sharing holidays with this crazy crew 

even when it's loud and hectic and the stuffing is a little dry...

- finding out there will be a new family member joining us for next thanksgiving

yep - I'm going to be a grandma

:-)

- misty mountain mornings

there is nothing I'd rather gaze at while enjoying my coffee in the morning

- the annual tractor parade - shared with another branch of our family

the best way ever to get into the Christmas spirit!

- riding home from a family outing, when Greg and my son-in-law

spot this beautiful owl in the woods on the side of the road - 

and I actually have the right camera lens with me

and so much more

I'm joining Michelle for Thankful Thursday
and Tanya for Willy Nilly Friday Five

whoa - it's December, already - how crazy is that?!

Thanks for dropping in!