TUNNEL BAR - NORTHAMPTON

Northampton, MA - This is the Tunnel Bar; an upscale bar that once was an entrance to Union Train Station above. Union Station was designed by noted architect H.H. Richardson and built in 1896. The whole bar is the width of the tunnel.
 

FISHING ON THE FARMINGTON

Pleasant Valley, CT - Two boys fishing on the Farmington River.Usually this is a very busy spot but it was late in the day. I will show this spot later in the year.  

GREETING CHICKEN

Southwick, MA - This chicken greets people who come to shop at Blossoming Acres. 

MUD SEASON

It's getting to be that time of year again...Mud Season. Every spring when the ground begins to thaw and then refreeze at night and then thaw again during the day; the dirt roads turn to mud. I assume this phenomenon is country wide, in the cold climates, but it definitely happens here.

 

HAPPY EASTER FROM WINCHESTER CENTER

Winchester Center, CT - Happy Easter! This is a photo of the church I attended, the Winchester Center Congregational Church. I thought it was appropriate for Easter. 

ELEPHANTS FROZEN STIFF

Kent, CT - Here is something you don't see everyday. This is a photo I took a few years ago. It is two statues of full size elephants in the middle of a field. I think they left to join the circus or something but, they were there for a few years. 

HOUSE IN SNOW - BLACK AND WHITE

I ran across this house yesterday and I decided that it would look best in black and white. What do you think? I will be throwing in a few black and white photos ever now and then
 

JOHN BROWN'S BIRTHPLACE

Torrington, CT - This marker is located where John Brown the famous abolitionist was born on May 9, 1800. The house burned down in 1918 and all that is left now is top of the stone foundation and this marker. John Brown was convicted for treason for his 1859 raid on the Federal Arsenal in Harpers Ferry, VA.
 

BOILING THE SAP TO MAKE MAPLE SYRUP

Maple Corners Farm, Granville, MA - Once the sap is collected it is put into a holding tank and then piped into an evaporator. The sap is kept between 217 and 219 degrees until it gets to the proper sugar content. It is then poured off as Mark is doing above, and gets sent to another machine to get finished off. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. It is my understanding that the grade of syrup is mostly determined by time of season. The earlier in the season the better grade of syrup, Fancy earlier and ends off at B grade just before the buds appear. Once the buds appear on the trees, maple sugaring season is over.
 

MAPLE SUGAR TAPPING - OLD STYLE

This is the traditional way maple sap is collected to make maple syrup. In the past the farmer would collect the sap in a tub that was on a horse drawn sleigh, some farmers still do. Today, a tractor would be used instead. Freezing nights and warm days are needed to make the sap flow. Each tree will yield about ten gallons of sap which will make about one quart of syrup. 

MAPLE SUGAR TAPPING - NEW STYLE

This is the way that many maple syrup makers collect the sap today. Each tree is tapped and connected together by hoses. These hoses are connected to a large "pipeline" and ends up in a collection container. These pipelines can be as long as a mile in length. 

DAFFODIL'S ARE ON THEIR WAY

Daffodil shoots are just starting to pop through the ground, a sure sign of spring.
 

ABOUT MY BLOG SITE

I want to give a flavor of New England, what are the sights and what it is like to live here. New England has its own beauty, everyone knows about the brilliant autumn leaves, white churches in picturesque villages, the rocky coast of Maine, fishing fleets off of Glouster, MA. I am hoping to give you all of those as well as the lesser known sights and people known as New Englanders. It is also very industrialized in certain areas, especially in Connecticut, home of most of the big insurance companies and many defense contractors such as Pratt and Whitney, Electric Boat, Sikorsky Helicopters, as well as many others. Many houses are from the 18th century, I myself live in a house, originally built in 1770 as a law office. I feel New England is a special place; it has a special feeling that cannot be duplicated in any other part of the country. So come on in and stay awhile and enjoy my New England. Let me know if there is anything you would like to see a picture of and I will see what I can do.

Bill

EARLY SPRING APPLE TREE PRUNING

Ray Nestrovich of Nestrovich Fruit Farm is pruning apple trees in early spring. Pruning is best done before the buds appear. This will insure a better crop for that year. 

CROSS COUNTRY SKIERS

This group visiting from Texas decided to try their hand at cross-country skiing at Maple Corners Cross Country Ski Center - Granville, MA 

Bears are in Southern New England and we have to know how to live with them. 

FORMER SETH THOMAS CLOCK FACTORY

Former Seth Thomas Clock Factory - Thomaston, CT

GORDON HALL MONUMENT

Monument on the Tolland, MA green commemerating Gordon Hall the first American Board Missionary to India.

GRANVILLE GENERAL STORE

INSIDE GRANVILLE GENERAL STORE, HOME OF GRANVILLE CHEDDER CHEESE - WWW.GRANVILLESTORE.COM

GOD SHED HIS LIGHT ON THEE

GOD SHED HIS LIGHT ON THEE - EAST HARTLAND, CT

NOBLE AND COOLEY DRUM COMPANY

NOBLE AND COOLEY DRUM COMPANY - ORIGINALLY MADE TOY DRUMS NOW MAKES HIGH END DRUM SETS - GRANVILLE, MA

OTIS POULTRY FARM

Unique signs before and after the Otis Poultry Farm. Also on the small barns beside the building are signs reminiscent of the old Burma Shave advertisements.
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WINTER STREAM ALONG OLD RT.8

WINTER STREAM ALONG OLD RT. 8 NEAR BECKET MASS

WEST GRANVILLE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

West Granville Congregational Church 

WINTER IN GRANVILLE

Winter in Granville 03/08/05