Ups and Downs

Most mornings I am starting to doze off by the time the train goes through this section of the great swamp. But since I had a lot of work to do, a definite downer, I was still awake when we got here. 

It is one of my favorite spaces in the great swamp. The blue herons have started a 2nd colony here. It's still small. Only 4 nests even though they've been at it for about 7 years now. A few years back we had a big storm that knocked the nests down, but the herons were undaunted and put them back up. 

In the winter, the water freezes over into little ice islands. One winter a fox was trying to cross, each step he took broke through the ice so he started running faster as he crossed, skipping across the ice staying just one paw ahead of a good soaking. 

In the summer on a hot still day you can look into the water and see the fish slowly making their way up or down in the currents. 

Don't let the surface stillness fool you or the apparent shallowness of the water. It's a good strong current and beneath the 1-2 feet of water is a 7 foot deep muckish mass that will suck you down in a heartbeat. 

On this morning, my train got stopped by a signal problem so we sat here in my favorite spot for awhile. On the one hand, I knew I would be late for work. On the other, I was happy to be able to sit and enjoy. 

Cross in the Woods

My baby sister works at a place called Cross in the Woods. Its a national shrine and she's the music director there. It's a place of quiet reflection and beauty. Mostly filled with a lot of silence. 

Needless to say, my cross in the woods is neither silent nor reflective. It's filled with the blaring horn of the train, flashing lights, clanking metal wheels, steel rails and blacktop. 

This morning when I saw the crossing, however, it seemed more of a guardian of safety rather than a harbinger of noise.  And something linked the 2 crosses together. 

I wonder if the MTA is looking for a music director?

Storm Aftermath

No picture, because there's nothing to see.  We lost power for about 2 hours - just at to the point where we were thinking about getting up and doing something about it.

No damage.  No flooding.  Nothing bad at all.

It was a first for us.  We usually get hammered - trees down, water everywhere, debris everywhere.

But this time?  Nothing.

Of course the trains aren't running - so working from home.  And some of my friends and family got hit - but nothing too bad.

So thankful.  So lucky.

Running Errands

Dashing around today taking care of those last minute little details that always seem to crop up right before a major storm comes knocking on our door.

Is there enough wood cut and ready?  Do we have the coolers set up in case the electricity goes out for days on end like last year?  Are all of the batteries on the cellphones, smartphones, laptops, and flashlights charged and ready to go?

Is there food to eat that won't spoil without a refrigerator?  Is there enough gas for the camp stove and grill to cook with for a week or so?  Is there water for drinking - and other water needs?  Gas for the blow torch in case the pipes start to freeze up?

Is the truck gassed up?  Are the chain saws tuned and gassed up?

Where the heck are the playing cards!?  (My DH and I have marathon card playing sessions when the electricity goes out.  This time I *know* I'll win!)

Fortunately our emergency kit is stocked with all of the essential strange things we only use for this type of emergency - like flame starters for the fireplace, Dura-flame logs, sterno.

I'm still not convinced we are going to get as hammered as the weatherman says, but I've learned that caution is a good thing.

In the meanwhile, just a few more errands to run.  Enjoying the foliage.  Happy that most of the leaves are down already - less weight for any unanticipated snow to cling to.

Coloring Colors

I tried to make this photo really show the colors that were popping on the mountainside today.  I adjusted the hue, saturation, balance, levels.  But still, the colors I saw today were so much more vibrant!

Today was the day that the deep bronzes and burgundies were just plain showing off.  The hazy trees have already lost their leaves, I think those were the red ones, so the color palette has changed to these toasted colors.

It really makes me think of a Thanksgiving table.  Cranberry sauce, roasted turkey.

Maybe I should have had lunch before I went out today!

Marsh Grass

I can't say that I really enjoy looking at the grasses in the marsh during the summer when they are all bright and filled with green.  I believe it has to do with the fact that they are also filled with mosquitos.

I can really do without mosquitos.  And black flies.  And mosquitos.

Where was I?  Oh, right...

But I really love the marsh grasses in the Fall when they turn spectacular shades of gold and their seed heads wave in the wind.

So lovely.

Fall Foliage

After spending the day curled up with a heating pad on my back, I finally gave in to reality and headed out to do my weekend errands.  Once I got going and saw the colors of Fall everywhere - I was really glad that I did.

I wasn't sure if it was the color of the leaves or the colors in the sky that were more amazing.  Either way - it was worth the trip.

Besides, the heating pad would be waiting for me when I got home.

Pumpkin Peppers

It's almost time for pumpkins.  I've already made the first pumpkin pie of the season and today my DH and I were out looking for some carving pumpkins for Halloween.  We didn't find it yet, but I did find these "pumpkin" peppers in the gardens.

I guess I must have missed them somehow, so now they've over-ripened and turned these fantastic shades of orange, gold and red.  I think I'll leave them for Mr. Rabbit.

I just love it when Mother Nature takes care of the seasonal decorations!

City Waterfront, Country Waterfront

I was down at the waterfront in midtown yesterday.  The amount of equipment they have right on the waterfront never ceases to surprise me.  Aside from the boats and docks and all, they have the cranes there for moving freight and then there are the dredgers.  The Hudson has a lot of silt that builds up pretty quickly - at least I think it does considering that they always seem to be dredging.  Quite the busy little waterfront.

Today I was down at the waterfront up by our bucolic manor.  It was busy in its' own way.  You know, what with the water flowing down the river - and then more water - and then some more water.   Bust little waterfront.  Yup.

City vs country...which to choose?

A Moment

I took a moment today to look up a the sky and saw the most lovely display.  Most of the day was overcast and grey, but for a moment...

So pretty.

So relaxing.

So much more to do before the weekend ends - I'd best get back to it.

Oh well...

Sheep in the City

Today I played hooky from work this morning and headed down to midtown.  To see some sheep.

Normally there aren't any sheep in midtown, but the Campaign for Wool was having an event, so they shipped in some sheep from way upstate, along with some yarn art, displays about wool and how using wool is a much better environmental choice than say - plastic.

The entrances were flanked by these cute sculptures of sheep in dyed fleeces.  And since the whole thing was started by Prince Charles, they had some mannikins dressed up in English military outfits.  Made from wool, of course.

This little sheep was all about promoting the English roots of the wool event.  He even brought along his umbrella.  I had to laugh!

No wool event these days is complete without a "yarn bombing".  That's where they take an object and coat it in yarn.  They took it one step further in the fountain, though.  They made water out of yarn.

Well, actually it was roving - unspun fibers.  But I think it really gave the artist the ability to show a lot of movement in the wooly water.

I just loved the colors though.  I could definitely make a nice pair of mittens out of that mossy green, or a sweater out of the grey...  But I'm here to see the sheep!

They had 2 types of sheep - the Katahdins still have their fleece on.

They were all about eating the hay that the farmer put out for them.  Well, eating the hay and staying away from all of the people that were right up against the glass fencing.

I was sitting back, enjoying my coffee and knitting, of course.

This must have come from that guy over on the right.  The color sort of matches, don't you think?

The sheep came from a farm pretty close to where our bucolic manor is.  Just down the road aways.  I was happy that they didn't have to take the train down to the city.  That would have made for one smelly ride.  Bryant Park had their own guy acting as the shepherd - he was shepherding the people from leaning on the fence.  The sheep totally behaved themselves, though.

That is, until Dog-Z came by.  Dog-Z is a chow that lives in the area.  His owner had no idea that there were sheep in Bryant Park - until Dog-Z pulled him at a full run right up to the fence.  At that point, the owner lost the leash and Dog-Z was on his own.  Fortunately for the sheep, Dog-Z really had no idea what to make of them.  They stared at each other through the plexiglas - sizing each other up.  And then I noticed...

Look closely - that Katahdin is sticking it's tongue out at the chow!  That's one tough talking country sheep.

The 2nd type of sheep were the Southdowns.  Unfortunately for them, they had recently been sheared.  Alone, bald and ostracized by the Katahdins, they hung out around the outside of the pen.  The joke is on the Katahdins.  They're bred for meat - the Southdowns are bred for wool.

Overall it was a wonderful way to spend the morning.  I felt as if my two lives were colliding!  Sheep in Bryant Park, right!?

But all good things must come to and end - so off to the subway and back to the office.  I'll see the sheep again when I get home tonight.

Storm's a Comin'

There are a lot of old country sayings that tell you what to look for when a storm is coming.  Red sky in morning, sailors take warning...Cows facing west, rain coming fast...Sheep crowd together, here comes the bad weather.  Old sayings.

But what about if you're in the city?  So I took a look around to try to find a definitive way to tell that rain was coming.

Crane folded down...ummm...rain coming anon?  Nah.

Flag standing straight...ummm...weather not so great?  I don't think so.

Pigeons on the ground, rain coming down.  That's it!  The city version of how to tell if it is actually going to rain.  Pigeons.

Darkness Is Coming

It's getting to be that time of year where darkness wins out over light.  By the time I get home tonight the sun will have set.

Unfortunately, my ongoing campaign to continually adjust working hours to accommodate the hours of daylight (less light = less time in the office) has once again failed.  Although I have a great amount of support from my fellow commuters, my boss has not yet hopped on the bandwagon - so I guess I will just have to get used to the darkness and hang in there until next May.

In the meanwhile, I think I'll just enjoy the sun in Manhattan during the week and at our bucolic manor on the weekend.

Maybe I'll get a little light back when the clocks change!

Berry Nice

I couldn't believe it, but it's apparently true.  The holly berries are starting to turn to red.

Somehow it doesn't seem fair.  It's still August - and today was as hot an humid of a day as summer could bring.  But I saw the first flock of geese heading south, and now with the berries...  Well, I'm just going to have to admit that Fall is on its' way.

(I won't say the "W" word yet - I just *won't*!!!)

Foggy Morning

This morning the fog was so thick all the way down to the train station.  Usually it lifts a bit as I come over the ridge between our bucolic manor and the station - but no such luck today.

It made the trip seem longer somehow.  I just kept driving forever, not seeing the lights from the station until I was right up on it.

I know it was just an illusion.  Driving slower to keep an eye out for the deer since a couple of their trails cross the road.  Turning on the wipers to clear the windshields.  No other cars in sight - well, that's normal.

Finally after almost 7 minutes, I arrived at the station.  Whew!  Such a lengthy commute!

Now if only I could get the rest of my commute to be so short...maybe flying cars or a transporter?

Maybe I just need some more sleep.

Marsh Mallows

I found an unexpected surprise when I went shopping, the wetlands were covered in flowers.  I supposed that they are there every year, but I just never noticed them before.

They were tucked into every nook and cranny behind the vines and shrubs.  The bees certainly had no problem spotting them.  They were everywhere - buzzing from flower to flower gathering nectar and spreading pollen.

From a distance, it really doesn't look like there are many blossoms at all.  Just a few flecks of white here and there.

But when you get a bit closer, there are yellows, reds, purple and those lovely white mallows.  

Wetlands dripping with blossoms at the end of the summer season - it was a wonderful unexpected surprise.

Now if I could just get my late summer garden to do that!

Hump Day

Wednesdays have always been the longest day of the week for me.  Sunday seems like it was forever ago - and Friday night is impossibly far away.

But since it is my week/month, I decided to do something about this blah feeling today.  I took the back road home just so I could enjoy this particular view of the corn fields in the valley.

The thing I love about these fields is that they are so open - no "Children of the Corn" horror movie here.  Just a nice field covered with thousands of stalks of my favorite veggies.

Maybe I can get some at the farmer's market in a few weeks!

Giant Alien Grasshoppers From Space

Last night I was attacked by a giant alien grasshopper from space - I swear it's true!  After much screaming and flailing about, my DH came to the rescue and captured it.  Even in its' container prison, it's still poised to go on the attack, but fortunately it doesn't seem to spit acid - or have a phaser gun - to break through the plastic walls of its' prison.

It's so terribly large because it obviously grew up in a gravity-free environment.  A normal earth-bound grasshopper could never have gotten so large.

This means it is from space.

You can also tell because it is clearly comfortable in the see-through round container that my DH used to catch it.  A regular grasshopper would not be so comfortable, but a giant alien grasshopper from space is used to spending time on space ships as it goes from planet to planet therefore it would obviously be very comfortable in an environment that was like its' space ship.

I call it a grasshopper, but that's only because I have no other word that begins to describe the hideous creature.  It hops, it flies...Oh the horror!

It's little mouth - filled with those sharp and deadly teeth could have done all types of harm and injury to me had my DH not come to my rescue!  Thank goodness he was here to save me!

So after capturing it, for fear that its' compatriots would come to find him, I had my DH release it back into the wild.  It should be able to make its' way back to its' space ship - and hopefully caution all of the other giant alien grasshoppers from space that this is not the planet for them.

They should go back to their home planet and not stay here, or at least not come into my home.

And most definitely they should not fly straight into my face and get caught in my hair so I end up running around screaming and flailing about madly.

It's just undignified, I tell you!

And where was my pup when it came time to defend me?  Sleeping.

I really don't like bugs in the house.  Really.

City Flower, Country Flower

This city "flower" blossomed with light.  Each one of the blossoms was sparkling!  Some of the patterns that I see each day in the city remind me of the patterns that I see in my gardens.  I guess it's a case of man imitating nature.

It reminded me of this country flower - bursting out all over with blossoms.

Maybe that's a bit too abstract?  That's okay - I found another one.

City flower.  It's even been painted over so often that the detail is starting to become filled in - very city.

Country flower.  Fresh little blossoms that the bees haven't even found yet - very country.

And just in case you were wondering, they are (in order of appearance!): a lamp, spearmint, an ornamental washer for a screw and a tomato.

City vs country.  Some days it's hard to decide.

Rainbow's Song

The promised front finally came through this evening on my way home.  Naturally I ended up soaked through and through.  Riding up in the air conditioned train felt really cold since every stitch of clothing that I was wearing was sopping wet.

Cold and tired, I got off the train and looked up through the driving rain to see a lovely little rainbow.

It put a smile on my face and a song in my head - of course, I couldn't decide whether to hum "Over the Rainbow" or "Rainbow Connection", so I kind of merged them together.

Judy Garland meets Kermit the Frog with Iz Kamakawiwo'ole's ukulele accompanying.

Want to smile?  Try it!