Grange...Firestation...Post Office

 
Winchester Center, CT - This is a multi-purpose building. It contains a Grange Hall, Firestation, and a Post Office(P.O. Boxes). 

ICE CRYSTALS

 
You are probably thinking...this guy will take a photo of just about anything. Well I guess you are right. These are ice crystals that I saw growing out of the wet ground. They are about 3 inches long and I thought they looked quite interesting. The patch of them was about six feet long but since they were growing out of this wet dirt they crystals were kind of dirty but still interesting. 

 
Here is a close up of the ends of the crytals that have small stones attached to them from when they came out of the ground. 

ICE FISHING ON WINCHESTER LAKE

 
Winchester Center, CT – I took a ride over to Winchester Center and checked out what was happening on Winchester Lake. There were a number of ice fishermen out on the lake. I was kind of surprised that the ice was thick enough to walk on. I noticed recent snowmobile tracks out there so I guess it was safe.

Here are a few fishermen enjoying the warm day, about 50 degrees, having a cook out. 

 
Here are a few youngsters enjoying the day. The boy was fishing and the girl was making a snowman. 

SOPHIE

 
She really is not as old as she looks. 

BRICK WOMEN

 
Burlington, VT - This face is part of a mural high above Church Street in Burlington, Vermont. The face is actually blue but I think it is much more interesting in black and white. You can see from my blog I really like black and white photos. Sometimes the color is what carries the photo but with black and white it has to have more substance to it (like I know what I am talking about, I just know what I like). 

KEEP ON PLOWIN'

 
Warning: Don't try this yourself;I am a trained blogger. New England Photos does not condone taking photos while driving.*






* - We were going real slow. 

THE SUN IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

 
 

SEAGULL PARKING

 
If it wasn’t for the lines, you might think that you were at the beach. These seagulls were hanging out in a parking lot when I took a photo of them. It had been sanded for ice which gave it that gravel look. 

BREAKFAST TABLE STILL LIFE

 
This morning while eating breakfast, the sun was shining through the window and hit these boxes on the table. So, like most of my photos, it hit me, that would make a great photo. So I grabbed my camera and took some photos; I think this was the best. And I think for the first time, my wife and I agreed on a photo we both liked the best. 

FARMINGTON VALLEY ARTS CENTER

 
Avon, CT – The Farmington Valley Art Center is a haven for artists. In this facility are 20 or so artists in residence, two art galleries, a store where you can by the artists work, and classrooms where they teach art; this is the store. Unfortunately, I had a smudge on my lens, in case you were wondering what that thing was in the photo. Figures…when I am photographing an art center…ah…by-gones. 

 
You can see each artist gets their own space. 

 
This is a window of one of the potters showing off their work. 

SITE OF FIRST HOME IN SIMSBURY

 
Simsbury, CT – This is the site of the first home in Simsbury, Connecticut. It was the Aaron Cook House, built circa 1660. It was also the site of the Pent Road Ferry, circa 1668. 

BIRCHES

 
 

TRAINE BAND TRAINING SITE

 
Terry’s Plain – Simsbury, CT - In 1673 Simon Woollcot and John Griffen called seven ‘Dragoons’ together to protect Simsbury, aka Massaco against potential attack from the Dutch. I am not sure of the exact meaning of “Traine Band”, but from what I have found out it seems like it is the heart of the local militia.

This area is just one of the training grounds that the Traine Band used. The other was on the Hopmeadow side of the river. Since the members of the band were located on each side of the river they would train one day one side and one day on the other. Since there was no bridge or boat they would have to ford the river to get across.

Info: Plaque on Terry’s Plain. 

INSPIRED PHOTOS

 
I was at work yesterday and saw a photo print on the wall that I really liked. So I looked back at some photos that I took a few weeks ago that looked simular to the one on the wall...here they are. The first photo is the closest match. 

 
Another forest photo. 

THE VERMONT PUB AND BREWERY

 
Burlington, VT – This is Vermont’s first brewpub. Greg and Nancy Noonan petitioned the Vermont legislature for three years to allow pub brewing in Vermont. In May of 1988 legislation was passed. That was the year that The Vermont Pub and Brewery opened. 

PATHETIC DOGS

 
Since I had the cats’ photo in the bog the dogs called for equal time. So, here are my dogs giving their most pathetic looks. This is Sophie. 

 
And this is Jazz or what I call her, Agent J – Dog in Black. 

OTHER BROTHER DARRYL’S

 
So now we know where Darryl and his other brother Darryl went to after the Bob Newhart Show went off the air. Now wait a minute, is this Darryl’s place or the other brother Darryl place? Now which is the other brother Darryl? Does it depend on who gets introduced first? Is one named Darryl and one called Other Brother Darryl? Now do they both own this Fish Market or just the Other Brother Darryl? Who’s on first? I’m so confused! (If you never saw the Bob Newhart show you will just think I’m Nuts!) 

OBLIGATORY CAT PHOTO

 
It seem like everyone has a photo of a cat on their blog. Well, here is my cat. His name is Phineas but I when I see him I say, “Hey Boy” on a deep voice. I got that from ‘City Slickers’ when Billy Crystal’s father called him to wish him a happy birthday. My wife calls him “Nibby” (it a long story). 

USS NAUTILUS’ PROPELLERS

 
I guess this is one of my obscure photos. These are the propellers that were on the USS Nautilus from 1954 – 1980. Anyone for some used props?