Winter in Rye Harbor

This photo was taken about four years ago on a winter trip to the ocean at Rye Harbor.

Part of the State Park system in NH, we have visited here at least a couple times a year for as long as I can remember.

This past year we were never able to make the trip and the ocean was surely missed by us both.

No matter what time of the year, there is nothing like smelling the salty fresh air and seeing the everchanging beauty of the water and waves as they rush along the shore.

The sea gulls, ducks, and sand pipers that are numerous in the summer are no where to be found in the winter.

But if one is really lucky, there are a couple of Snowy Owls that have been known to visit the area.

To them, this is their "south" as they nest and breed in northern Canada each spring and summer.

I have never been able to get a decent photo of one of these beautiful owls, but I was lucky enough one winter to see one.

He was easy to find though - the group of tripods and photographers were a dead give away that something interesting was going on down by the shore.

They were respectful and kept their distance as not to scare him away so we could all enjoy his winter visit.

 

 

Phone Camera

I am finding that as I get older, lugging around all my photo gear is really quite tiring.

I hate the idea of being without my camera, and I have set aside some of the lenses to make the bag lighter.

Not only is the weight a problem, but the thought of somebody conking me over the head and running off with my gear has also been a worry.

Neither my husband's or my reflexes are what they used to be.

And the white hair does make us more a target.

With all the money I have invested in my gear, I really don't want it ripped off.

So, as an alternative, I find myself using the camera in my iPhone more and more.

And many of the photo agencies I contribute to will accept the images.

Very easy to upload from the phone while on wifi with the various apps that are synced with my accounts.

Way too cool. Way too quick.

And most of all, way safer for my camera and me.

There are many instances where only my dslr will do the job, but these phone cameras have really come a long way.

Now, I just need to find my glasses so I can see the photos on the phone screen! 

New Old Stuff

There is always so much to do.

My photo website has taken a back seat for a while now.

And it will probably be that way for a while to come.

Life has a way of doing that - throwing one curve ball after another.

I do have images that were processed a while ago that still need to get uploaded as well as new stuff from the past year that I haven't even had a chance to look at yet.

Heck, some of it is still on the camera needing to be uploaded to the computer.

And the poor camera - it hasn't been used in months - the battery was so low it wouldn't even turn on.

 But, when I do get a few minutes, every now and then, I will be trying to upload what I have to my website, and to several of the microstock sites that I contribute to.

Most of it is a couple years old now - but it's all still new here.

43 Days Til Spring

The days have been getting longer - it doesn't get dark now until after 5:00.

They may be longer - but they certainly haven't been any warmer.

The bitter cold has made this winter seem even longer than it usually is.

After the big snowstorm we had yesterday, it was good to hear the news lady mention we only have 43 days left until the first day of spring.

It's on it's way, and I can only think it can't get here soon enough.

Mother Nature paints a beautiful scene with her snowfalls, but they are nothing compared to the glorious spring season that she will deliver in a few weeks time.

Through the Dry Grasses

All of the wildflowers and grasses along the ocean's edge have prepared for the winter ahead.

A few sprigs of green grass remain there as well as in our yard.

They even withstood the heavy frost that we had a couple of nights ago.

The ocean is beautiful no matter what time of the year.

Each season has it specialties, and as much as the cold seems to get to us each year, we wouldn't want to be any other place.

Website Finished

It has been about month since I started to redesign the website that hosts my images for sale.

I have been picking at it, changing little things here and there - both on the website and the blog.

I still have a couple of small cosmetic issues that I need to work out with the website, but overall I am pleased with the results.

The slideshow was pretty easy to set up once I figured out how to do it.

Uploading new images could be made easier, but perhaps that is something that will be worked on by the host as time goes on.

I like the clean, new design, and the gray color is different for a change.

I fixed the blocky look on the blog, and streaming a slide show on the side bar worked nicely too.

Check it out if you get a chance - I would love to hear what you think!

Good Old Summertime

It is officially here now - summer really begins once the 4th of July has come.

Although it has been a hot and wet one so far, it is still the best.

The gardens are growing, the robins are on their second family, and we are at the lake everyday enjoying the water.

All the little things that we love at this time of the year.

The blogs and photos have been a bit lax lately, but the older we get, the more we must enjoy all those little things.

Life is good in the good old summertime!

ABC Wednesday - S is for Sea

It is calling.

 It is the Sea that's calling.

I grew up beside it, and there isn't a time I remember it not calling me.

I have been away from it for over thirty years - going back a couple times a year to breathe in it's salty air and smell it's ocean scent.

It never leaves you once you are under it's spell.

It's always calling, and it is getting close to answering it once again.





This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - K is for Ketch

Ketch is the fancy name for a sailing vessel that has two masts.

Not too impressive while docked or on a mooring as this one is.

But when the the sails are up and they are billowing in the wind, a ketch is a beautiful thing indeed.

So quietly they glide over the water - reminiscent of days gone by when only sails were around.

Love those old boats, or Tall Ships, as they are called.

And a ketch is a mini version of those beauties that we get a glimpse of when we visit the ocean.




This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - A is for Abode

This stately, rambling abode was built in the 1700's in Portsmouth, NH during the colonial years.

It is the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion and it sits on a peninsula in Little Harbor.

It's a most beautiful spot on the ocean with views of the harbor and islands around it.

This abode has 40 rooms and was home to NH's first royal governor, Benning Wentworth.

In the early 1900's, John Coolidge purchased the 65 acre property and restored the neglected house and grounds to it's original colonial beauty.

When his wife passed away in 1954, the lands and home were donated to the state, and it is now maintained as a historical property and is open for tours to the public.

When I first visited this house during a field trip in grammar school, I loved the grounds and the views.

The inside wasn't open on the day I visited it a couple of years ago, but the outside and surrounding lands were just as lovely as I remembered it from that childhood trip.






This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - R is for Ramp

It has been a while since I have contributed to the ABC Wednesday, but I do have a moment to make a post for this week.

Not a spectacular post, but an R one nonetheless.

This little ramp is located along the edge of the river by the mouth of the harbor.

It is right off the road, and to be honest, I really don't see how anyone cold use it without tying up both sides of the road - and the corner it is located on.

Bet there are some annoyed drivers when someone is launching a boat on this ramp!

This is the eleventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

ABC Wednesday - E is for Estuary

ABC Wednesday - E is for Estuary

The Great Bay Estuary is one of the largest estuaries along the Atlantic Coast.

It is broken apart into two areas - Little Bay and Great Bay.

This image was taken where Little Bay ends, and Great Bay begins.

Home to over 162 species of birds, fish, and plants, the estuary was once the commerce hub of many seacoast towns.

Pollution ended many of these activities in the mid 1900's.

Great Bay has a very dramatic tidal range - over 50% of the bay is exposed at low tide.

The tide was over 1/2 way in in the above image.

Quiet on the Blog

Quiet on the Blog



 

It has been a bit quiet around all my blogs lately.


The summer has been a hot and busy one.


And we are another year older and don't move as fast as we used to - especially in the humid heat.


It sometimes takes twice as long to do something as it used to.


But we have been enjoying this time of the year - a swim at the lake each afternoon has become a welcome ritual.


The bones and joints sure appreciate the weightlessness that only being in the water can bring.


Hope you all are finding a way to enjoy this summer season too!

 

ABC Wednesday - V is for Viewer

V is for Viewer..........




 

These viewers can be found at many of the panoramic view sites across our state.

From the mountains to the seacoast, one will find these metal "binoculars" which allows the user to get a closer look at distant scenes as they move and pan the viewer around on the post.

But one cannot just walk up to one and begin using it.

They cost money.

Not sure how long they run once the money is inserted - I have never used one.

I usually have my camera with me, and I am sure my lenses give me a better look than that contraption can deliver!

 

This is the tenth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

ABC Wednesday - S is for Sandpipers

S is for Sandpipers..........




 

These little guys were so hard to photograph.

Not only are they small, but they move so very fast.

Running along the edge of the waves as the come and go, they eat the little bugs in the seaweed.

I must have taken over thirty photos, and I only got two that I could use, and they are not really all that great.

Next time the tripod and a few camera adjustments might help in getting them a bit better.

 

This is the tenth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

ABC Wednesday - P is for Pier

P is for Pier..........




 

So very long is this old wood pier at the ocean.

The wood has been weathered by the rain, sun, and salt air.

Every so often you feel a soft, rotting plank as you walk along.

And here and there you will find one missing.

The park people work on it a couple times a year to replace the rotting and missing planks, but that is not what worries me the most.

It's all those supporting beams underneath that have me concerned.

They are old, the water is very deep, and I don't believe they get any care.

I am glad to see they are thick, but the wiggling gets to me each time I see them moving in the water.

I would think they would ban us from going out on it if it got to be too dangerous.

Until then, I enjoy it and keep a cautious eye on the whole situation.

 

This is the tenth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

ABC Wednesday - M is for Moss

M is for Moss..........




 

It looks so smooth and really neat from a distance.

This green moss all laying so perfectly spread out on the rocks.

But is is quite deceiving.

The color is gorgeous - the light and dark greens give it such depth and texture.

Just don't step on it.

It is worse than any ice that I have been on.

There is no standing on this stuff it is so slippery.

Admiring it from the edges is the only way to safely view it.

 

This is the tenth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

ABC Wednesday - G is for Gull

G is for Gull..........




 

This gull had the whole beach to himself, besides us of course.

The day was so hot, I wonder if the cool water and wet sand felt as good on his feet as it did on ours.

Our presence didn't bother him - I am sure he is quite used to having people around.

But when those dogs start coming around, as they usually do at this beach, I am sure he is no where to be found.

I was actually pretty glad they weren't there too - the camera doesn't go well with shaking wet dogs that are only too eager to visit.

 

This is the tenth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

ABC Wednesday - X is for XX

X is for XX..........




 

I am really stretching it this week - after nine rounds, my "X" vocabulary has dwindled considerably.

My youngest will be turning twenty years old this year, leaving the teens behind to begin a new decade.

And to represent the number twenty in Roman Numerals, one uses the capital letter "X" two times.

Ten for each "X" equals twenty.

XX = 20.

Really stretching the X for this week, and I hope it qualifies!

 

This is the ninth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Summer Ocean View - Our World

  Summer Ocean View - Our World



 

It is different in this spot each time we visit it at the ocean.


Different flowers for each season, and even though they are wild flowers, they change each year.


Which makes me think that someone must clear them out.


A couple of summers ago, it was overrun with milkweed and thistle.


There have been none of these plants there since.


I kind of miss the fluff and little Goldfinch birds that love the thistle seeds.


Glad we were able to see it when it was there!