Life and the pursuit of happiness.

New Hamphire

2011-11-22T23:01:00.001-05:00

Lake Chocorua with Mount Chocorua in the background.

Table mountain in Dixville Notch.

Tri-pyramid mountains from Whitefield.

White mountains including Mt. Washington

Campfire

2011-11-22T22:58:00.001-05:00

Campfire I built in front of our cabin.

Northeast Kingdom in Vermont

2011-11-22T22:36:00.001-05:00

Forest Lake

Vermont Mountains

Lake Willoughby

View from Hinton Hill road

Vermont farm

Lake Wallace

Dawn on the First Connecticut Lake

2011-11-22T22:33:00.001-05:00

Haggetts Pond Trail

2011-07-14T18:54:00.000-04:00

I stopped on the main trail to look in the meadow

and found this lovely doe standing there.

A hornet, a moth and ants on this flowering plant.

Rocks in a shallow end of Haggetts Pond.

Horses after the Ride

2011-07-05T09:16:00.001-04:00

These horses were just unsaddled and were cooling off and grazing on the grass untied.

Bradley Palmer state park in Topsfield.

Striped Wings Dragonfly

2011-07-05T08:57:00.000-04:00

I found a few of these flying around an open field

at the Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield.

This is the best photo of the bunch.

Crane's Beach Sunset

2011-07-03T18:07:00.000-04:00

First time to Crane's Beach this summer. I was there for a hour as the sun was setting. The ocean was unusually warm and I had the pants rolled up above my knees to get some photos close to the waves.

These birds were diving into the ocean for something.

Sandbar and my long shadow.

Sandbar receding with incoming tide.

Me almost knee deep in the tidal pool.

Pond Life

2011-06-26T22:12:00.000-04:00

Frogs in the Skug River wetlands

Frog poking its' head of of the water

later came out for a look : )

Frog on a log in a different wetland area.

Black racer snake along the edge of Stearns Pond.

Swans on the Pond

2011-06-26T21:36:00.000-04:00

Bakers Meadow Pond

Muskrat

Swans

Garden Flowers

2011-06-26T21:18:00.000-04:00

Cottontail

2011-06-26T21:10:00.000-04:00

Cottontail rabbits at Stevens-Coolidge Place gardens.

Carter Hill

2011-06-19T12:50:00.000-04:00

Looking up towards the top of Carter Hill.

Field Flower

Black bird with white striping.

Top of Carter Hill .. that is my car way down there.

Interesting cloud taken from the top of the hill.

Rows of corn barely sprouting from the ground.

Sun setting on a farm in North Andover.

Placid Ponds

2011-06-19T12:24:00.000-04:00

Stevens Pond near sunset.

Field Pond

Stearns Pond

Shawsheen River

2011-06-15T19:48:00.000-04:00

The Shawsheen river as it bends around Den Rock park.

Sunbeams breaking through the clouds at trail head.

Shawsheen Dragonflies

2011-06-11T12:28:00.001-04:00

I took a short walk through the tall grass along the Shawsheen river and there were dragonflies of different colors all around.

Dragonflies

Colorful Plant

Maudslay State Park

2011-06-05T22:23:00.000-04:00

Young Muskrat

Small turtle having a look see.

Blossoms.

Forest Ponds

2011-06-04T16:10:00.000-04:00

Harold Parker State Forest

Collins Pond

Field Pond

Dragonfly on a Stearns Pond lily pad.

Butterfly

Stevens Pond

2011-06-04T14:02:00.000-04:00

Stevens Pond in North Andover.

Wind swirling the waters.

Geese and goslings.

Swans.

Flowering Garden

2011-06-04T13:51:00.000-04:00

Gardens at Stevens-Coolidge Place.

Irises, Orchids, Roses and more..

Surf, Sand and Sky

2011-05-30T21:55:00.025-04:00

Surf

Above unfocused .. looks like a painting.

Sky

Sand

The line in the sand .. cannot go past !

Shells

The green side of Plum Island

Groveland

2011-05-30T11:37:00.000-04:00

I visited a park and ponds in Groveland.

The Grasslands

Up the hill.

Which way to go ? I took the high road to the left.

At the top of the hill .. grass high view.

A dark butterfly.

A spotted gray moth .. many of them flying about.

Wild roses.

Johnson's Pond

Meadow Pond Turtle.

Riverside

2011-05-28T23:08:00.000-04:00

Around the bend .. the Merrimack River in Amesbury.

Ducks and ducklings.

Cormorants.

North Parish

2011-05-25T23:25:00.001-04:00

North Parish's Meditation Garden.

Nearby a short trail through the woods.

Garden at the Parson Barnard house.

Between Raindrops

2011-05-19T20:44:00.004-04:00

Stevens-Coolidge Place garden.

Wild Flowers in Fields

2011-05-14T18:10:00.001-04:00

My first visit to the Sherman Reservation in western Andover.

After a stone marked and flower lined start..

the trail became a little ambiguous until..

..I found a hidden entrance to the field.

I followed the mowed path around the field.

The path had some wildflowers along the way.

Dandelions

Buttercups

Other flowers in the area.

Lovely fully colored lilac.

Stream through the nearby woods.

West Parish

2011-05-08T21:29:00.002-04:00

The Children's garden.

Manderville.

Reservation pond and fields.

Geese and goslings on the pond.

Geese and goslings eating grass earlier.

Geese in the field scattering as I approached.

Shawsheen Weir

2011-05-08T14:51:00.001-04:00

This is just a short walk from home but I never checked the Shawsheen river at this location. I was surprised to find a weir and fish trying to jump over it, large and small.

Also nearby, some nice flowers.

Pustell Reservation

2011-05-08T13:54:00.002-04:00

Wild roses at the entrance.

Gnarly path at Hobbit height.

Bend in the stream alongside the trail.

Baker's Meadow Pond

2011-05-08T08:36:00.001-04:00

Geese and a baby Gosling.

Swan.

Ripples in the pond from some animal splashing.

Reflection from the northeastern end of the pond.

Chipmunk that let me take a lot of photos.

Hide and Seek.

Chipmunk let me get closer and closer :)

Sunday Sunset

2011-05-01T21:28:00.001-04:00

Blossoming tree on the Phillips Academy campus.

Bakers Meadow Pond

First of May

2011-05-01T16:52:00.000-04:00

I went for a morning drive through Harold Parker State Forest.

Wetland Trees.

Northern part of Stearns Pond.

Strongly flowing waterfall to the
larger, lower lying part of Stearns Pond.

Pines towering overhead as I walk to Frye Pond.

View towards the southwestern corner of Frye Pond.

Several turtles sunning themselves in the southeast corner.

Only turtle who stayed on the log .. he the turtle !

Frye Pond waterfall.

Skunk river Reservation.

Fiddlehead ferns.

Chipmunk having a peek to see if I'm still around.

Cardinal.

Merrimack College

2011-04-30T23:55:00.001-04:00

Merrimack College was established by the Augustinians.
I graduated from here. My mom is well remembered
for her years working here as the receptionist and
the first person you'd meet here.

View across from Austin Hall where she worked.

Madonna and Child.

Rosary beads below the statue.

Statue 'Christ the Teacher'

Sun breaking through a thick cover of clouds.

Paper Bark Birch trees.

Little blue flowers in my hand.

White varietal of the same flower.

Pink varietal of the same flower.

Robin on the grass.

Gray squirrel chomping on something then smiling :)

Dicentra or 'Bleeding Hearts'.

Pink Rhododendron.

Yellow Tulips

April Flowers

2011-04-30T01:12:00.002-04:00

First visit of the year to Stevens-Coolidge gardens.

On the way there, a quick stop for this.

Daffodils in the fields were very nice.

These two were blowing in the breeze.

Back side of a daffodil lit by the setting sun.

The garden's varieties of tulips though not open yet.

Other flowers and greenery as well.

Sparrows I believe.

One in the house :)

Another on a branch enjoying the setting sunshine.

The clouds at sunset were beautiful.

Ballard Vale

2011-04-17T16:49:00.000-04:00

Ballardvale is a village within the town of Andover.

A wooded vale or valley along the Shawsheen river.

These are Andover Conservation Commission woods.

Looking up towards a clouded sun.

Birch trees bare.

Massive Pine.

The middle of the pine tree woods.

The trail I took to exit the woods.

This conservation area called Serio's Grove.

A vernal pool.

Birch tree on a bank of the Shawsheen river.

The Shawsheen river winding through the vale.

Eddies in the Shawsheen river.

Reflection of trees on the river.

Forest Wetlands

2011-04-16T20:10:00.001-04:00

I went into Harold Parker State Forest this afternoon.

The sun was visible for a while but lost the battle to thick layers of clouds. Then strong winds kicked up and it got quite cold for this time of year.

First up, the wetlands on both sides the road.

Tree stump not focused but an interesting result.

Kind of heart shaped tree log in the wetlands.

Leaf floating by in the wetlands, lots of water flowing.

Stream feeding the wetlands.

Next up, Stearns Pond area.

Canadian geese.

Brook feeding into Stearns Pond.

Lastly, Frye Pond and surroundings.

Springing Slowly

2011-04-10T19:23:00.000-04:00

Nature is still looking brown and gray,

no leaves unfurling, as of yet, today.

This afternoon's rambles in the forest included:

Skug River Reservation

Trees and sunshine.

Cross section of a hewn tree.

Waters of the Skug river.

Sudden Pond

Canadian Geese.

Small waterfall at the end of the pond.

Pines trees reaching tall above me.

Sun through a hazy sky and the pine trees.

Ducks on Stearns Pond

Bog, Ponds and Streams

2011-04-09T21:39:00.004-04:00

I visited a few reservations that I'd not visited in a while.

First up was the Pine Hill bog and pond on the Ward Reservation.

Boardwalk through the Bog.

Pine Hole Pond.

A reflection in the bog water.

Garter snakes.

Unsure of this plant's name.

Next up was the Taft Reservation.

Vernal pond.

A stream in the Taft reservation.

Looked more like a moth than a butterfly.

Robin on the gate into Keck reservation.

April Ponds

2011-04-03T16:31:00.000-04:00

Pomps Pond

To the west above, to the south below.

Bakers Meadow Pond

Tortoise

At first totally under water and unsure if alive.

When I returned its head was up out of the water.

Turtle

Not too bad given the turtle was under murky waters.

I saw a muskrat or beaver in the pond but was not quick enough to snap a photo.

Fowl Weather

2011-04-02T15:53:00.001-04:00

As left home for the forest the sun was shining with cumulus clouds here and there. There was no signs of life aside from water and trees, no amphibians to heard or seen. When I parked by Stearns Pond the clouds got thicker and a bit darker.

Stearns Pond almost totally ice free now.

I happy to find these two on the pond.

New Hampshire Shore

2011-03-27T17:06:00.000-04:00

First up, Hampton Beach State Park.

I was surprised to see horses on the beach.

They were racing on the beach, this is one at the finish.

Wind blowing the sand across the beach.

Lines in the sand left by receding waters.

Sunlit pool during low tide.

Rocks and pool during low tide.

Rock, sand, water, shadow.

Now across the harbor to the Seabrook Beach side.

The waters separating Hampton and Seabrook.

Water exiting a tidal pool on the other side of the rocks.

Sparkling waters receding on the other side.

Marbled granite forming a wall.

A path through other rocks.

Interesting crevices and shades in a rock.

Tidal pool at The Rocks.

A small wave breaking over some rocks.

Translucent Angel Wings .. a mussel shell.

A wide view of Seabrook beach.

Back on the now shallow tidal pool side .. plovers !

Seagull standing its' ground.

Plum Island

2011-03-26T20:31:00.000-04:00

I went to the beach on Plum Island this afternoon which will be closed on April 1st for the Piping Plover egg hatching season.

The boardwalk through the dune to the beach.

A peak of the Atlantic and the top of the sand dune.

Erosion of the dune due to wind and winter waves.

Shadows on the dune.

Weathered remains of a crab.

A piece of shell on the sand.

Driftwood above and below.

Seaweed casting shadows on the beach.

Might be the remains of a Sea Urchin on the beach.

The two sides of a well worn clam shell.

A seagull making its' way around on the one leg.

Seagulls gathered on the beach.

The incoming tidal waves .. most on the small scale.

First Day of Spring

2011-03-20T17:20:00.000-04:00

It was a rather cold first day of Spring here.

I went for a walk in Ballardvale village.

Found a pair of geese on Burns pond.

Here it looked like the first day of spring.

Bakers Meadow pond was frozen for the most part

except near the parts of the shore near the waterfall.

Shadows on the beaver pond bottom.

Rising Water

2011-03-09T00:31:00.000-05:00

The Skug watershed river, streams and wetlands

were rising due to melting snow over the weekend.

These were taken from a small wooden crossing.

Looking north .. the Skug river below the waterfalls.

River flowing downstream to the south.

Sun setting to the west over the hillside.

Further upstream on a deep snowbank.

Cascading water frozen at a high shutter speed.

Icicles formed on a fallen tree across the river.

A tree branch encapsulated in ice.

Ice on the forest floor on the hike back.

My hand and pine branch walking stick.

Glacial Erratic .. trees and shadows.

Shadows encompass a frozen wetland as the sun sets.

The sun setting between the branches of a pine tree.

"and that's the end of the show .. good night!" : )

Sanctuary

2011-03-06T19:10:00.000-05:00

Cochrane Sanctuary trees,

swaying, in the warm breeze.

Oak and pine trees reaching tall,

branches bare, since the fall.

Pine tree bark has weathered all,

strong, though it's beginning small.

Waterfalls at peak of flow,

warming sun, melting snow.

March Melt

2011-03-05T19:13:00.000-05:00

I finally made it into Bakers Meadow Pond again.

The six feet of snow we received this winter

has melted away enough that I could

walk in and around without too

much of a problem.

Water Colors

2011-03-05T18:34:00.000-05:00

Some interesting photos of the waterfall

at Bakers Meadow Pond reservation.

Sunset

2011-03-02T23:35:00.002-05:00

I followed the setting sun this afternoon.

Around Field Pond in Harold Parker State Forest.

Phillips Academy campus in Andover.

New Snow

2011-02-27T18:09:00.000-05:00

Stevens-Coolidge Place

under a new blanket of snow.

Frost Farm

2011-02-22T22:21:00.000-05:00

Robert Frost farm in New Hampshire.

Sun hiding behind the barn, farmhouse on the right.

Shadows of the roofs upon the snow.

Snowshoe tracks at the back of the farm.

Trees and their shadows on the snow.

Perhaps rabbit tracks in the snow.

Melting Ice and Snow

2011-02-17T23:18:00.000-05:00

Nice weather at the moment.

The snow is still deep but melting now.

This is Clark's Pond in Ballardvale village.

I went for a short walk on the Skug Reservation trail.

I kept falling through the compacted snow.

I was rather nervous walking across the

snow covered bridge over the Skug river.

Melting ice on the Skug river.

Long shadows on the snow as the sun set.

Shark Reef Aquarium

2011-02-07T20:46:00.001-05:00

The Shark Reef Aquarium is at the Mandalay Bay resort.

Shark patrolling the waters.

Golden Crocodile at rest.

Komodo Dragon at rest.

Shedded skin of a Python which I did not see inside.

Colorful Stingray

Horseshoe Crabs

Lion fish

Piranha

Jellyfish

The Conservatory

2011-02-07T13:35:00.001-05:00

Chinese new year and the year of the Rabbit is a theme here.

Colorful art glass ceiling in the Bellagio lobby.

The Conservatory at the Bellagio resort.

Creative gardening with this large rabbit.

Bromeliad

Tillandsia Cyanea or Pink Quill

Cymbidiums

Mirage

2011-02-05T19:56:00.001-05:00

The Mirage resort has a Dolphin habitat and a Secret Garden.

The Dolphin habitat is for education and research.

A leopard, lions and tigers in the Secret Garden.

Colorful plants as well.

Flamingo's Paradise Garden

2011-02-04T19:21:00.002-05:00

Lovely garden with colorful birds, fish, waterfalls and palm trees.

Not sure what kind of mallard this is but it is lovely.

A black swan was looking for treats.

Flamingos :)

A white and black swan or goose with colorful bill.

Not sure what we have above and below here.

Palm trees.

Pink flowers.

Waterfall.

Colorful fish.

February Snow

2011-02-02T20:09:00.003-05:00

Two snowstorms hit us during the first two days of February.

Over six feet of snow has fallen over the past three weeks.

After a lot of shoveling, I went out for a drive.

I did clear off my car before I hit the road ; )

Parking at the campground was plowed so I went in.

The nature center will all that snow on the roof.

A stand of pines lines the road into the campground.

Snowshoe path towards Frye Pond.

Looking down towards the pond.

I had to get through thigh high snow
for a glimpse of the small waterfall.

Edge of the snow on Frye Pond.

On the other side is a stream from the waterfall.

Interesting patterns and colors in the snow below.

I spotted this bird (a robin ?) as I was leaving.

Plum Island

2011-01-23T18:42:00.002-05:00

This afternoon we drove to Plum Island with the dogs.

When we got to the ocean it was frigid.

Cold temperature and a fierce wind.

Plum Island Lighthouse

Big Pine Cones

The beach on Plum Island

I took these while holding the little dog's leash
and he was running all around the beach :)

Snow Trek

2011-01-23T00:47:00.003-05:00

I went trekking through the deep snow.

Baker's Meadow Pond Reservation

First had to climb over large snowbank.

Trail down towards the pond.

Following the trail to the eastern end.

Trail steeper as I near the eastern end.

View north across the pond.

Stream at the eastern end of the pond.

The surface of the water flowing downstream.

The small waterfall at the eastern end of the pond

On the other side of the waterfall looking back.

On the northern side looking south.

On the northern side looking southwest.

Shadows across the snow.

The next stop was at at waterfall near

Fosters Pond on Rattlesnake Road.

The final trek was along the Shawsheen river.

Another Snowy Day

2011-01-21T23:38:00.000-05:00

Another snowstorm passed through

although only four inches or so

of light, dry, fluffy snow.

It was nice to capture the snow

blowing off the trees through

the sunlight.

Harold Parker State Forest roads.

Road to Frye Pond.

Snow-covered Wetlands

2011-01-16T19:47:00.003-05:00

Mary French Reservation in Andover.

Entering via the northern trail head

after I made it over the 3' snowbank.

The boardwalk or bog bridge begins.

I did not expect to see insects in this frigid weather.

Hawk soaring above.

Sparrows on the snow.

Bluebirds in the trees.

Morning Shadow on Snow

2011-01-16T14:16:00.002-05:00

Beautiful sunrise this morning.

I took these from my bedroom window.