GOURD DOOR

More signs of autumn; every year we decorate above our door with gourds. Sometimes if the weather is too warm we have to replace them once or twice but I like the festive look so it is worth it. 

RIVER FROG

Here is a photo of a frog I took along the river. I've been noticing that in the last few years, frogs a not as common as they once were. I see this frog, or a frog like it, in the same place when I am walking along the river. 

TOWARDS THE LIGHT

I am on this Black and White kick, sometimes color detracts from the point of the photo, and sometimes it just doesn't look right. Anyway, here is a photo of my wife walking through the Sheffield Covered Bridge in Sheffield, MA.
 

THE OLD MILL POND VILLAGE SHOPS

Granby, CT - This is a photo of a few of the buildings of the Old Mill Pond Village Shops. It is a grouping of eight buildings, some of which are over 200 years old, in which they sell everything from furniture, to lighting fixtures, to penny candy. The large building in the background is a Christmas Shop; it is huge inside but cozy at the same time. It is a very scenic place just to walk from building to building. In the middle of all the buildings is a mill pond.

 

EAGLE ROCK

My wife and I were down around Marlbough, CT and we spied this piece of art. She was on that side of the car so she snapped this photo for me. A stone eagle...cool.
 

VINEGAR IN THE SUN

Here is another photo from my favorite place take photos, Blossoming Acres in Southwick, MA. I can always find something to photograph here. My wife and I went to buy some gourds to put above our front door and I saw these bottles of vinegar and had to run out to the car to get my camera. It is just one more thing that says autumn to me.
 

WHAT? MORE MOOSE?

Bennington, VT - Just when you thought it was safe, I come up with more moose. I was looking through my photos to find something to post for Saturday and found these from my trip to Bennington. I really think this is the end of the moose photos.

This moose was in the window of The Village Chocolate Shoppe. It is a Jelly Bean Moose.
 

This moose, last but not least, is the newspaper moose.
 

OLD MILL IN B/W

I couldn't decide which photo I liked the best so I posted them all (from the photos I really liked). This is a pseudo mill that is in a field in Granville. That is all I am going to say, I don't want to take the mystique out of the photo. Tell me which one you like, I really couldn't decide myself.

This is Number 1
 

Number 2 

Number 3 - This one looks like it is from an old movie set. 

Number 4 

Number 5 

NORTHAMPTON’S CITY HALL

Northampton, MA - I wrote to the historical society to get permission to print an article about this building but I never got an answer. So, if you like to read more about it you can go to their website. It is such a cool building. You don't see many of these.

Info: http://www.historic-northampton.org/Listings/213/806/7/935072857/
 

POTTER’S CAT

Bennington, VT - While shopping at the Bennington Pottery factory I came upon this cat; he was catin' around between the two buildings. I thought it made a good photo so I snapped his picture.

 

FLY BY NIGHT

Northampton, MA - Now would you buy anything from a store with a name like, Fly By Night? Actually, it is a very good, reputable store with a very odd name. You don't forget it though 

PUMPKIN PILGRIMAGE

My wife and I stopped by a farm stand to pick up some end of season tomatoes and I spotted these pumpkins. Don't they look like they are on a pilgrimage to see the Great Pumpkin?
 

FIRST SIGNS OF FALL

I was walking my dogs in the state forest and I was taken back by how many leaves had fallen in the last few days. It had been raining for the last few days and knocked some leaves down. The leaves, which have just started turning colors, are littering the trail with what looks like colored confetti.
 

A FUNNY STORY...

A couple weeks ago I was walking with my dogs in the woods and I came upon this stump. It looked as if a bear had been pawing at it looking for grubs. A few minutes later I heard from the woods a thump and then a few minutes later another thump. Fresh in my mind is that stump and I am thinking...it might be a bear. So of course I walk towards the sound hoping to get a photo just in case it is a bear. My wife is always saying that my last photo I take will be a close-up of the bear's mouth just before he eats me. Anyway, I keep hearing a thump every few minutes but I don't see anything. Now as I am walking toward the sounds they sound closer and closer but I still don't see anything. I feel like Tom Hanks in Castaway on his first night on the island where he hears the thump every few minutes and yells out, "What is that?". In the morning he discovers that the sound is coconuts falling. Well...
 

These are my "Coconuts". The pinecones decided to start falling from the trees that day. Being green they were heavy and made a good thump when they hit the ground. No bear shots but at least I did not walk without a funny story.
 

NORTHAMPTON BREWERY

Northampton, MA - In 1986 after visiting the Front Street Brewpub in Santa Cruz, CA, brother and sister, Janet and Peter Egelston decided to be brewpub owners. In 1987 they opened the Northampton Brewpub, the second one in the region behind the Commonwealth Brewing Company in Boston. Presently, the Northampton Brewery is the oldest operating brewpub in New England.
The Northampton Brewery is in a restored carriage house, circa 1894. It is located on Brewster Court, a street named after the Brewster family. It is a fun coincidence that "Brewster" is the old English term for a female brewer.

The also started the Portsmouth Brewery and Smuttynose Brewing Company in New Hampshire. After buying each other out, Janet owns the Northampton Brewing Company and Peter owns the other two.

Info: www.thenorthamptonbrewery.com

 

THE OLD DRAKE HILL FLOWER BRIDGE

Simsbury, CT - This bridge was originally built in 1892 by J.E. Buddington from New Haven. It is 183 feet long and the roadway is 12 feet wide. In 1992 this bridge was replaced by a new bridge. In 1995 the bridge was restored with 80% Federal funds at a full cost of $400 thousand dollars.

Inspired by Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, MA, a group of Simsbury residents started to plant a garden on and around the bridge in 1996. It is now enjoyed by walkers, bikers, picnickers, anyone who just wants a peaceful place to go, even a photographer/blogger.


Info: www.townofsimsbury.com/history/bridge.html

 

View from on the bridge looking toward the new bridge.
 

LIKE A STREET IN BELGIUM

Northampton, MA - Every time I walk down this street it reminds me of houses in Belgium. I'm not exactly sure why, maybe it is the architecture or the lace curtains in the windows. All I know is that these are very nice houses and if I were to live in the "city" I don't think I would mind living in one of these houses. Coincidently, the Northampton Brewery is just down the street. I will show a photo of that soon.
 

AMISTAD MEMORIAL

New Haven, CT - This memorial commemorates the 1839 case of the Amistad, a slave ship that was taken over by the slaves and the Captain killed. A synopsis of what happened: there was a trial to determine the fate of the slaves. It had to be determined if they were property or free men. The trails went as far as the Supreme Court and their case was argued by John Quincy Adams. It was determined that they were captured and held against their will illegally. They were eventually freed and shipped back to their homes in Western Africa.
The sculptor was Ed Hamilton, the sculpture was completed in 1992.

Info: www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/amistad/AMISTD.HTM

This side depicts Sengbe Pieh in Africa before being kidnapped.