THE CORN CRIB IS CLOSED

I pass this corn crib every day going to work. In the summer it is a unique vegetable stand where they use the honor system to pay. But now it is past growing season and time to shut the stand down for winter. 

BITTERSWEET

Just when you thought I was done with the red berries, here are some more. This is bittersweet, a parasitic plant that grows up other trees. If the growth gets to be too much it basically chokes the plant. Bittersweet makes a great wreath to hang on your door. In winter, the yellow outsides of the berry breaks open to reveal the red berry inside.

SHED IN BLACK AND WHITE

 
Yesterday was one of those dull dreary days. It was overcast and looked like it was going to snow any minute. So, I took this photo to match the day. This is an old shed and corn crib, way past their prime. Tomorrow I will post something a little more colorful and cheery. 

CHILLY DOG

 
While going for a walk in the woods with my dogs, the Golden decides to go swimming. I know that Retrievers are supposed to swim in cold water but she is not much of a swimmer. In the summer she just lays in the water to cool off. At 18 degrees I didn't think she needed to cool off much. Well, here she is among to icebergs. 

 
After she came out of the water she threw herself into the snow and started rolling around. As you can see, she is covered in snow. Maybe she thinks she just got out of a sauna. 

MORE EARLY SNOW PHOTOS

 
When I was going through my photos to decide what I wanted to post, this photo just struck me. Somehow it it conveys a quiet, simple, beauty...I really like it. I still have more photos from a walk I took after the snowfall. What I am trying to convey is the feeling I get walking in the snow, through a pine forest, with that snap in the air. I guess you have to experience it. Even the sound is somehow muffled by the snow. Well, the winter is still young.

I have some photos that I took just before it snowed. So if you see some photos with no snow you will know why. 

 
I also took this photo of the river just after the snow. Doesn't it look cold? Well I guess it was a little "brisk". It was about 18 degrees when I took this shot. It actually was a very nice day for a walk. 

FIRST SNOW OF THE YEAR ON THANKSGIVING

 
When I woke up Thanksgiving morning I had a suprise...SNOW. It is a good thing that my wife and I changed the tires over to the snow tires. I spent and hour or so shoveling my driveway. Would someone remind me to get my snowblower fixed! Luckily, it was the lighter snow and was easier to shovel. I will talk futher about snow in southern New England in future postings;the winter is young. I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. 

 
Two Adirondack chairs in my back yard that should have been taken in. 

 
This is looking down the road in front of my house, just after the snow stopped. 

 
Of course, Thanksgiving is not complete without Pumpkin Pie. 

HORSE vs TURKEYS

 
I was driving to work a few days ago and saw a flock of turkeys in a pasture with a horse. The horse just stood there watching the turkeys feeding just a few yards from where he was. It is a good thing that horses don't eat turkey for Thanksgiving. 

 
A closer look at the turkeys. 

ICE JUST STARTING

 
The ice is just starting to cover the ponds here now. We are expecting the first snow here in a few days. I don't think we can hold off winter much longer. 

SUMAC BERRIES

 
I decided to keep with the red berry theme; these are Buck Sumac berries. Now that all the leaves are gone from the trees, the berries are all that is left. Sumac berries have red fuzz on them, not smooth like most berries. If you boil these berries in water it makes a drink that has a taste simular to lemonade. Buck sumac is not to be confused with poison sumac which has white berries. 

LITTLE RED BERRY TREE

 
I'm not sure what the name of this tree is so I call it the little red berry tree. This time of year, when all the leaves fall off, berries like this become exposed. Unfortunately, they don't make very good decorations for around the house; they dry out and fall off the branch. So I just enjoy them in the woods and everyone else can enjoy them through my photos. 

FIRST ICE

 
Today while walking my dogs along the river I noticed these ice formations on branches near the water. I really like these that look like bells I guess. I am posting this early, Saturday night, because I am going to the Mohegan Sun Casino early tomorrow to watch bull riding. See farther down. 

 
Long bell formation...I just made that up...sounds good though. 

 
 

 
Today, Sunday, I am going to go to watch Bull Riding in Connecticut. Oddly enough, Connecticut is the first stop on the PBR(Pro Bull Riders) circuit and later in the year the PBR will return to Worcester, MA. Who knew Bull Riding would be so big in New England. First NASCAR now PBR what's next? Unfortuately, no cameras allowed. I did get a photo of me riding on a stuffed bull at the PBR National Championships in Las Vegas a few years ago. 

MORE COLORS OF THE SEASON

 
I took this photo on the grounds of Aetna in Middletown, CT. If nothing else the grounds are very nice.



As the Stone Turns - Series Finally

I went back to the doctor and got my final sign-off. I am now well on my way to a full recovery. The bleeding has stopped and the pain is all but gone. If anyone has an opportunity to get a kidney stone...DON"T. It is not fun at all. 

TUNNEL OF GOLD

 
I took this photo while walking in Granville State Forest. It was kind of cool being surrounded by all the bright color. 

MEETING HOUSE PULPIT

 
Granville, MA - Back in October I posted a photo of our Meeting House. This is a photo of the pulpit that is in the front. In this building church services would be held as well as town meetings. 

WALKWAY IN COLLINSVILLE

 
Collinsville, CT – Attached are two photos taken on the walkway in Collinsville. The first is a look off the bridge that spans the Farmington River. Through the trees you can see an old factory made of stone. 

 
This photo is of the same factory as above. You can see the town line marker that denotes the separation between Farmington and Collinsville.