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. 

COLLINS COMPANY’S POWERHOUSE

 
Collinsville, CT – This is the powerhouse that supplied electricity to the Collins Axe, Adz, and Machete Company. This powerhouse was built by Collins employees and contains a low-head Francis type turbine and a General Electric remote controlled generator. It supplied enough power to Collins Co. and the excess was sold back to what was HELCO and is now Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P). I it may be called Northeast Utilities now, who can keep track. 

ALL FIRED UP

 
Hadley, MA – Today is my birthday so my wife brought me to All Fired Up for the Sunday brunch yesterday. We figured it was my first day back to work after my hospital visit and I may not want to travel all the way to Hadley after coming home from work. This place is great; it has what is called a Mongolian Grill. It’s just a big round griddle in the middle of the room where you take a bowl and go to what looks like a big salad bar where you fill your bowl with any combination of vegetable, meat or even fish you want and then go to a sauce bar where they have about 12 different flavored sauces and fill a small container with that. Then bring your bowl to the grill and they will cook up your concoction. It’s such a great thing; I love it. Then we stopped in Westfield for Ice Cream. A good time was had by all. 

THE OLD STONE SCHOOLHOUSE

 
Farmington, CT – This building was an old stone schoolhouse from 1790 to 1872. It was then turned into a chapel and community center from 1875 to 1956. It is a property of the Farmington Historical Society and is open for viewing Sundays from 2 – 4, June – September.


As the Stone Turns
Today is much better than it has been all week. The “tap” has been flowing fine and is putting out lemonade instead of Burgundy wine. Tomorrow I think it’s back to work for me.

Stay tuned for what is hopefully the series finally of As the Stone Turns 

COLORFUL ROAD

 
A road lined with colorful maple trees.



As the Stone Turns
I'm back again from the hospital, getting better slowly. I had the stent removed yesterday, now that is a different sensation. Hopefully I will better real soon.

Stay tuned to the next installment of As the Stone Turns 

ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET

 
Collinsville, CT - This is something you don't see every day. A carpet painted on the entrance to a store, watch out it is rolling up in the corner, don't trip. Unfortunately, someone put a rubber mat on top of it; it must get slippery when wet.


As the Stone Turns
Well it looks like the bleeding has started again, I have to call the doctor today and see if I have to go back for treatment or get re-admitted to the hospital. If any of my British readers read this, answer me a question. Why do you say, “Go to hospital” instead of, “Go to the hospital”? This has always intrigued me.

Stay tuned to the next exciting, not for me, adventure of As the Stone Turns 

FALL ON THE FITNESS TRAIL

 
Middletown, CT - I was walking on the Aetna fitness trail looking for some photo ops and came upon these berries. It was so windy I wasn't sure if the photo would be blurred but it came out OK. I think it is a great contrast between the ripe and over-ripe berries. 

 
I also found these fruits? Berries?, they look like tomatoes. If anyone knows what this is let me know. The leaves are shriveled so I can't tell if these are tomatoes or not. 

AUTUMN SUNSET

 
I snapped this photo last Thursday, I thought it made an interesting photo. It also makes an interesting screensaver.




As the Stone Turns
I got back from the hospital yesterday after getting my kidney stone lasered out. Unfortunatly, I had some bleeding problems and I had to go back to the hospital for more treatment. I am home now and hopefully will quickly be on the road to recovery.

Stay tuned for the next episode of As the Stone Turns. 

FLOCK O' TURKEYS

 
To keep with the wildlife theme I have going on here, turkeys. I saw this flock of turkeys on the way to work on Tuesday. They spotted me and started heading toward the woods. I was able to get this photo before they departed. Turkeys are really starting to be plentiful in this area.



As the Stone Turns

Friday, Nov.4th, I am going in to the hospital to get my kidney stone lasered out. I will let you know how I do on Saturday when I get back from the hospital. They are keeping me overnight just in case of bleeding, I am a Hemophiliac. Wish me luck. 

MUNCHING MUSKRAT

 
While walking on the wooden walkway in Collinsville I looked down and saw this muskrat munching away on plants. It must be used to having people around because it did not seem too interested in us, once he saw that we were looking at him, he bolted for the river. I asked my wife which photo I should post, she said the side shot, wrong answer,so I posted the one I liked also. 

 
 

WALKING TRAIL IN COLLINSVILLE

 
This is a walking trail that was made in the bed of old railroad tracks. This boardwalk portion is coming off a railroad trestle over the river. There are many abandoned railroad tracks in this area, built in the industrial heyday of the late 1800's and early 1900's. They are now being turned into hiking/biking trails. 

DOG WEIGHT PULLING

 
Winsted, CT – I drove by the Tractor Supply Company’s parking lot and noticed a bunch of dogs. I dropped my wife off up the street to do a few errands and told her I just wanted to take a few QUICK photos and I would be right back; well you know how that goes. I found out it was a dog weight pulling contest. I just had a few minutes so I took these photos. I think this was the heavy weight class, by the time I got there they were down to two dogs, a Malamute Husky and a St. Bernard. I would have loved to stay but had to go. When I left the dogs were pulling 2950 lbs. what looked about 10 ft. The handlers would get in front of the dogs, sometimes getting on their knees, and urge them on very loudly. To everyone that thinks this is cruel, the dogs seemed anxious to pull and looked like they really wanted to pull. I was reading up on this and dogs of all weights can compete.