Category: black and white

seaside4

seaside4

Back to my favorite beach: Jones Beach, NY. For me, the nature of the shore brings a welcomed reminder of my smallness…. a sense of wonder… a sense of story…. it’s funny that I really don’t have a desire to be on the sea… but taking a walk along the shore…the music of the waves…the sea gull choirs… the refrain of the ocean advancing and retreating as my feet are swallowed up by the sand… salty air you can taste… and memories… clinging to my dad as a child while he fearlessly carried me into – what was for me – the great deep ocean…i was terrified and overjoyed all at once…. or watching my dad effortlessly float on his back as he sailed away… my mom breaking out delicious food and making sure we had sunscreen… lots of sunscreen!….. hope you are having a great weekend…

 

when winter goes

when winter goes

In celebration of the end of winter (he said with great hope!) here is another picture taken at Matthiessen State Park when I was there a few weeks ago with my son and his buddies. We had a great time exploring these falls, and, considering where the boys climbed and explored, lets just say it’s a good thing that no moms were present!

locks at starved rock

locks at starved rock

From the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River, the Illinois Waterway is a marvel of engineering and commerce. This is Lock and Dam No. 6 and is in the National Register of Historic Places. And that’s now more than you ever wanted to know about this particular location 🙂  Taken from one of the beautiful hiking trails at Starved Rock State Park.

devil’s doorway

Devil's Doorway

Since my last two posts had us visiting Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin, thought we would explore a bit. The rock formation pictured here is known as Devil’s Doorway. The geological features of the park are really a delight and easy to enjoy: quartzite bluffs, hiking trails, rock climbing, forests, and, the  lake all make up for a beautiful setting to enjoy the outdoors. My goodness! I sound like a commercial for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism!

i see u 2

i see u 2

Oh ‘cmon! You knew this was coming!  🙂  Also from Devil’s Lake State Park. Have a great weekend!

 

i see u

i see u

Taken at Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin. Sometimes I look at this image and think, “Kinda cute!”. Other times I think, “Kinda creepy!”  🙂

jones beach water tower 4

Jones Beach Water Tower4

Well, my last trip home to New York has resulted in a series of images of this water tower, and the beach. I have a couple more of the shore to post, but for now, the water tower wins the draw. My parents still live in the house I grew up in, so going home is always a wonderful experience. Jones Beach State Park is a big part of my growing up years, and, I will never tire of the shore and this cool structure. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

killing icicles

killing icicles

Took my son and his buddies to a local state park last week and did what any other teenage boy would do: tried to destroy as many icicles as possible by throwing rocks at them. I mean, this just makes sense…..surprised it’s not an Olympic event….just sayin’…..

turn to clear vision

turn to clear vision

Back to Jones Beach State Park for this capture. Have a wonderful weekend!

a father’s joy

ice falls

I can remember saying this to each of my four children, when they were around two or three years old: “Now, you are going to stay this age, right? No more growing up. Just stay right here.” Of course none of them listened, and, even though the experience of watching your children grow is bittersweet, there is also the joy of loving them and relating to them as adults. This is my oldest daughter. One of our favorite things to do is go hiking at Starved Rock State Park. We hike, walk, and even as I enjoy her beauty and conversation, and, what she is doing in life, I still wish, just a little bit, that she (and the other three kids) was 2 or 3 again. I am blessed. Looking forward to more hikes Andrea.