Monday, November 30, 2015

Wordless Wednesday - Derby Time Capsule

A time capsule from 1915 was opened on Friday at the Derby CT Elks. A great look at life a century ago was unearthed! Patti was there and besides getting pictures, wrote a unique story...see NC Sue

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Ruby Tuesday Too - Christmas Rubies, 1964

For Ruby Tuesday Too, where red is showcased, I recently scanned this print from Christmas Eve 1964. It is all seven Villers children in our at our East Hartford Connecticut.  Aside from the degraded print offering a reddish hue overall, there are wrapped presents in red paper, the padded railing on the playpen, red lights on the tree and sister Suzanne in her red nightwear.  Plenty of ruby red accents here!

Saturday, November 28, 2015

SOOC - Grand Opening








Straight out of he Camera - SOOC takes us this week across the Housatonic River to a new restaurant, GROW, a farm-to-table eatery in Shelton, CT. This eatery grew from the ashes of the downtown fixture (since 2004) Liquid Lunch, damaged in a fire last year. 

The restaurant will support local farms (Stone Gardens Farm, Beardsley Orchard, Jones Family Farm, and Farmers Cow Dairy) in its retro cool and stylish interior. Need another visit!



Friday, November 27, 2015

Shadow Shot Sunday - Giving Thanks (and Giving)


Shadow Shot Sunday 2 returns just after the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA, and we look for appropriate shadows. So we look to a week ago Friday where the always lovely Patti captured 
these.

This was the 29th Thanksgiving food drive, hosted by Dr. Bruce Sofferman. He and his family dressed as Pilgrims, a Native American and a 'Turkey' mascot were strategically placed along Route 34 East in Derby CT, looking to attract food and turkeys to be donated to Spooner House for distribution

This corner is a great spot to get the attention - an average of 5,000 cars per day passing by during the hours of 7:00-10:00 AM. For those in the know at this time of the year, they are ready to donate to this worthy cause that helps to make the eating holiday available to many more. The sentiments, crisp fall morning and shadows prove this a worthy giving event...

Monday, November 23, 2015

Wordless Wednesday - Resort Relaxin'

Our software developer son decided to spend five days in Cancun, a long deserved vacation in a warm place. His phone pics show a very relaxed guy standing around Yucatan ruins - and a hotel dwelling peacock. Looks like a vacation and a lot warmer than here...see NC Sue for more wordless captures

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Ruby Tuesday Too - Today's Spectacular Sunset

Ruby Tuesday Too allows us to locate and post that arresting color red. Although it was a gray day, the clouds broke just before sunset, and the dappled gray sky allowed the residual moisture to add its prism drops into a fiery ruby sky. The always lovely Patti saw this spectacular sight in our back yard and captured this stunning way to end the day...

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Shadow Shot Sunday - Autumnal Scenes


The sights of Autumn are lovely, although the sky is grayer, the temps colder - but the colors on the Derby CT green were pretty lively two weeks ago. The church is the Second Congregational Church of Derby, whose peaked steeple was toppled during Hurricane Gloria in 1985. The small-town scene contains a shadow or two, and we look at the red and gold foliage knowing that is no more on the trees. Nice views while they lasted...

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Watery Songlines - Humble Headwaters


This week's Watery Songlines takes us back to August 1983, and the headwaters of the long (2340 miles/3770 km) Mighty Mississippi River at Lake Itasca State Park Minnesota. At 2552 miles/4110 km in length, it is hard to believe one can even cross it by foot - not likely in say St. Louis, but here anyone can. And that is me at ankle depth in my walking days, and for those who are unaware, there is a large stone marker to show the beginnings. Minnesota is a beautiful state full of calm waters like here at Itasca...

Monday, November 16, 2015

Wordless Wednesday - Beach Babies

The kids are grown these days, but they were younger once. Such as a family vacation at Nauset Beach in Orleans on Cape Cod, August 2001. With mom Patti, the feeling of togetherness and love are readily apparent...see NC Sue at WW


Saturday, November 14, 2015

SOOC - Allied Solidarity


For Straight out of the Camera - SOOC, we have to acknowledge that the news is not always good, evil exists as we know. Paris is a beautiful city I am told,  and Patti and Allegra have many a picture to prove just that. From an April 2005 school trip, the took this wonderful capture of a Statue of Liberty on ÃŽle aux Cygnes with the iconic Eiffel Tower just upriver on the Seine. Solidarity, friendship, allied - this is what I see on a lovely Spring day a decade ago...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Iconic Paris

We know that the world can be bad place - witness the events in Paris. Given the bad in the capitol city of France, there is beauty too. So for today's Shadow Shot Sunday 2, I showcase a picture of the famous Eiffel Tower / Tour Eiffel that was captured by Patti (with Allegra) when on a school trip there in 2004. The lighting underneath the intricate wrought iron structure throws equally intricate shadows all around. Lovely shadows from a historic icon...

Monday, November 9, 2015

Ruby Tuesday Too - Giveback

Giving is what we look forward to, especially for those who serve the nation and whose needs are not always met. Thus for Ruby Tuesday Too, we are looking at the "Mission: Give Back" event on October 31 at Nolan Field in Ansonia. Lots of red from the flag to the volunteers...

U.S. Army veteran Adam J. Avenia and Alyssa Antonucci with volunteers and the American Legion Post 50 in Ansonia all joined together to make this event happen.

Antonucci notes: “When he was away it was eye-opening. There are so many things (that happen) that the average American doesn’t realize.” Antonucci said. The troops didn’t receive breakfast and the bases didn’t have heat in the cold weather.

So Antonucci sent Avenia boxes of food, blankets, socks, and more when he was deployed. Thus the idea was formed. “They should have everything they need.” Red white and blue abound here!

Saturday, November 7, 2015

SOOC - Bomba Farm

Autumn in New England can be pretty, so for Straight Out of the Camera - SOOC, we are at the over 100-year-old Bomba Farm in nearby Seymour. Two views stand out: On the top, this farm is on the Great Hill, high enough to see Long Island Sound and New York's Long Island over some of the Fall foliage; and, the barn and dairy cows on the rocky and hilly New England landscape. Pastoral autumnal views abound...

Friday, November 6, 2015

Shadow Shot Sunday - Barnyard Shadows


Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back, and I offer country farm shadows from Bomba's Farm in Seymour CT. We live in a suburban/urban small city, but here 'country' means a mere 15 minute drive from home. This over 100-year-old farm offers not only an autumnal look at the past, but also at a working farm in an era where fewer and fewer of these are still around...

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Watery Songlines - The Land of Blue Waters


To me, the magic of water seems alive in Minnesota, the Land of Blue Waters. Thus for Watery Songlines, I showcase a picture taken in August 1983 from Big Stony Lake, a four-hour drive northwest of the Twin Cities. This is an early morning view of this state's typically beautiful lake in Minnesota - the water is so clear it acts as a blue mirror to the heavens. But do go in the summer,as the Winter is very cold...

Monday, November 2, 2015

Wordless Wednesday - Thrift Shop / Food Bank

The needs of the community are met by many a non-profit - so the expanded St. Vincent de Paul Helping Hands of the Valley in Derby CT is there to help. The classy interior decor makes this a place that is fun to shop too...see NC Sue at WW

Ruby Tuesday Too - School Crossing

For the fun meme Ruby Tuesday Too, I am offering a prosaic look at daily life in the nearby town of Derby CT. It is near the end of the school day at the Irving elementary School , the reds we see on this showery day are the STOP sign held by the crossing guard, the stop lights on the school bus and the United States flag in front of the Derby Public Library. These are not precious ruby gems, but the gems we see all over our daily lives...