Spring on the River

The colors of spring are a most welcome sight after a long winter.

And this year was no exception.

The river was running a little high.

The trees were starting to bud.

The warm day had a slight breeze that kept the annoying black flies away.

It was such a treat to take a stroll through the field that led to the river.

The bees were happily buzzing from one dandelion to the next - the first food flower of the season for them.

Little May flowers and sweet violets grew in patches in the shorter grasses.

The maples were sending out their seeds as the birds called their spring songs from up in the branches.

Mother Nature sure knows how to bring joy to the soul.

Each season has its own special gifts, and this day was one of Spring's finest.

 

Ice Art

 

The rain was coming down and freezing upon contact one February afternoon.

When it finally stopped, I was anxious to get outside, but being in the middle of something, my walk was delayed.

The temps were quickly rising, and I could see the ice falling from the tree branches as I watched from the window.

I was going to miss my ice photos opportunity - one is lucky to get these perfect conditions once a season when it all comes together just right.

By the time I made it outside, there wasn't much ice left on the bushes, berries, branches, or pines.

A few mediocre photos made it onto my camera, and I was getting ready to retrace my path back into the house.

Then I saw it out of the corner of my eye.  That perfectly shaped ice leaf - all alone hanging from a branch.

It had separated from the leaf on which it had been formed, and it was just there - in the empty space between the branches.

I snapped a few photos of this little beauty before it joined all the other ice creations that had succumbed to the warming temps.

I had been fretting not ten minutes before about being too late in getting outside.  

Had I been earlier, this piece of ice art wouldn't have been finished and I would never have seen it.

And just a minute later, I would have missed it as well.

Timing was perfect for this shot, and I was most lucky. 

Things do have a way of working out if we just let them.

 

Leaves Underwater

The colors weren't as vibrant this year as in years past.

And the leaves are pretty much all down now - it seems a bit early for that too.

Caught some colorful ones sitting on the bottom of the lake about a foot down under the water.

The polarizer on the lens cut through the reflections to capture them below the surface.

That  is my favorite filter - I have one for each lens.

As you turn it you can see the effects it has on your subject.

And if you don't want to use it, then there is a position for that too.

It does have a bit of an effect on the exposure though.

But with today's digital software that is something that is easily fixed during the post processing.

Glowing Leaves

The sun was reflecting off the lake water just right.

It seemed to set the red maple leaves all aglow.

We've walked by this tree many times, but those leaves never looked like this.

That's one of the joy's of photography.

Seeing that special light when it appears is a gift - and it's even better when my camera is with me.

Everyday sights made beautiful at just the right moment.

Life is good!

ABC Wednesday - O is for Orchard

One of my favorite places to visit in the autumn is the apple orchard.

One is completely surrounded by the aroma of fresh apples.

The tree branches are heavy with them and they all are very tempting to pick.

Each one perfectly grown and they do taste the best when just picked from the tree.

The orchard we visit is on top of a hill that has beautiful views of the distant mountains - they even have a map that names each of the peaks for those curious visitors.

I have never been in the springtime, but that orchard must be something to see with all those apple blossoms on the trees!







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

Busy Busy Times

I know there is no excuse for the few posts lately - but I really have been quite busy

Too many irons in the fire is how it goes, and I think it will be staying this way for a while.

We are making plans for a move - hopefully in a year's time.

We work out of our home and have more than just our home things to think about.

Once we get it under control, then the looking for a new place can begin.

Over thirty years we have been in this spot, so it will be a change for sure.

And sometimes changes are hard.

But this one is just what we have been working towards all these years.

To be closer to the ocean that we love so much.

Enough for now - back to work I go!

ABC Wednesday - G is for Gnawed

If you look closely, you can see all the teeth marks.
I could not believe the size of this stump.
The beaver did a tremendous job with his gnawing to bringing it down.
He must have worked on it for months - after all, he had all winter to do it.
You can also see the shavings he left behind on the ground .
It is easy to see where the saying "Busy as a Beaver" comes from.
And from the size of those teeth marks, I was glad that we didn't run into him!



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.

Iced Branch

Iced Branch




 

Winter has finally arrived.

With the temperature to be below zero for the next couple of nights, the hard ice is sure to stick around for a few days.

Keeping warm inside is the goal for the day.

Some baking will keep it extra toasty.

And a movie in the evening with the fleece throw tucked in around the neck sounds great to me!

 

ABC Wednesday - T is for Tubes

T is for Tubes..........




 

We travel this back road each spring in our search for our delicious fiddleheads.

We pass several streams and several farms in this beautiful region.

But upon passing this farm beside a stream, we noticed these strange white tubes following alongside the river's edge.

We couldn't figure out what they could possible be, and decided to take a look inside of them.

Not wanting to be spotted by the landowner, we made it quick and were surprised with our find.

Inside each one was a tree seedling.

Not sure what kind of trees they were protecting, but each one was a single stick.

It's hard to see in the photo, but there are hundreds of these tubes all along the river.

It will be interesting when we go back this spring to see how they are doing.

 

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

ABC Wednesday - P is for Path

P is for Path..........




 

This is a popular garden in my home town of Portsmouth.

Set in the historical district of the city, along the water's edge, the beautiful Prescott Park has brick walkways and bubbling fountains.

Gnarled old trees drape gracefully over the colorful flower beds.

The old brick paths meander between the gardens.

A relaxing spot to sit and think a bit - especially in the early morning when there is no one else around.

 

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

Red Maple Leaves - Our World Tuesday

  Red Maple Leaves - Our World



 

The peak leaves are beginning to arrive in our corner of the world.

 

These brilliant red-orange leaves are set off against the water background of the lake.

 

Try as it might the camera cannot capture the rich glowing hues of the colors.

 

They will only be here such a short time, but autumn's colors are the best!

 

Layers of Autumn - Our World Tuesday

  Layers of Autumn - Our World



 

Layers of autumn colors at the ocean.

There were bright bushes along the edge of the rocks that lead to the water.

The wispy clouds and the blue sky complete the perfect fall display.

The beauty of Autumn in New England is hard to beat!

 

Autumn Clouds Reflection - Our World Tuesday

  Autumn Clouds Reflection - Our World



 I have joined a new meme for this post. For the past couple of years, I have posted in the My World Tuesday meme. It was ended earlier this summer as the person who ran it, Klaus Peter, passed away. Continuing in his tradition with this new meme, Our World Tuesday was begun about five weeks ago. My first post shows our lake in the autumn in all her spendor. She is beautiful in all seasons, and fall is my favorite. Please join us in this mew meme by clicking the graphic below - all are welcome to visit us in Our World! 

ABC Wednesday - T is for Tall

  

 T is for Tall............





These tall pine trees line the edge of the beach area at a park beside the lake. Standing in the middle of them and being surrounded by these thin giants was quite an experience. See how the greenery is at the top? There is a reason for this. The park is part of the flood control system of dams that run through our state. Each spring this whole area is under water - most times only as high as those bare trunks. But I have seen it a couple of times where you couldn't even see any of the tree tops - they were all completely under water. The last time it happened was about three years ago, and so much damage was done to the structures in the park that it has had to remain closed to the public since then. The state has even put this piece of property on a list that it wants to auction off - there are no funds to put towards it's repair. Hopefully things will turn around before that has to happen - this has been a family spot for many years. 




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

ABC Wednesday - S is for Solitary

  

 S is for Solitary............




There it stood beside the ocean's edge. A lone oak tree still dressed in it's autumn finery. Look real closely at the water's edge along the right side of the image. See that group of black birds? They are sculptures - placed there by the park owners. Straight and tall, this solitary tree has seen many seasons. But not as many as some of the older, much thicker oaks that are further down the path.







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

Happy Spring!

Happy Spring

It hasn't been an overly long winter - Mother Nature was late in arriving with the snow.

But when she did bring it on - she delivered big time - over and over again.

So happy we are to see this first day of Spring.

And there was even a Robin in the sumac tree this morning - eating what leftovers he could find on those branches that had already been picked clean.

Can't wait until the snow is gone and he can find his pickings in the grass.

 Won't be long now!

Abc Wednesday - I is for Ice

  I is for Ice............




I thought we were done with it. After all, spring is only four days away. But no - we have it again - ice and wet snow. The heavy kind that makes the poor pine trees droop. But even so, they are so beautiful with those ice drops on them. They won't last long though - temps are supposed to rise this afternoon. 
 





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

Walkway in the Park - My World

Walkway in the Park - My World




  Growing up, we would visit my grandmother who lived in an apartment right next to this park. Since she had no backyard, we spent many hours here walking and playing.
When I visit it now, over forty years later, I see many of the changes, but I also remember those old days. This is in the old original part of Portsmouth along the ocean front that I just love to visit. Such history, and one can really feel the "days of old" here as you stroll along.

Foggy Autumn Morning

Foggy Autumn Morning






After two days of snowstorms giving us over 20 inches, there is another one predicted for tonight. Time to go back to the colorful, warm days of autumn. Although this one was rather damp, you couldn't beat the peace that was present at the lake that morning. Not a ripple on that water - the fog making the foliage appear subtle - almost like a painting. We whispered when we talked - not daring to disturb the serenity. Treading lightly and slowly, we enjoyed this view of the lake that we seldom get to see.