2017 in Review - December - Filtration

Branford, CT  2017

I never claimed to be an artist, and todays technology makes it easy to create artistic effects.  This is what one gets using the iPhone 8 Plus camera and the "portrait lighting" setting.  I don't think this is what the engineers at Apple envisioned when creating this setting, but in this case I think it turned out pretty neat.  

2017 in Review - November -

Niantic, CT  2017

2017 in Review - October - PT-17

Groton, CT  2017

He seemed to be well dressed for this PT-17 trainer.

2017 in Review - September - Creamery

New London, CT  2017

2017 in Review - August- Mystic River Bridge

Mystic, CT  2017

No year in review would be complete without at least one picture of the historic Mystic River Bridge, a frequent subject of this blog. 

2017 in Review - July - Persistence

Persistence by Amy Foster

Mystic, CT  2017

I looked at this for quite some time and took numerous pictures, but I'm not sure I entirely happy with any of them.  It is an interesting sculpture, which I came across in a Mystic Art Gallery last summer.

2017 in Review - June- Boardwalk

Niantic, CT  2017

I take a lot of photos along the Niantic Boardwalk.  I think I need to get out a little more and find other venues.

Merry Christmas

Niantic, CT  2017

For all those who visit this blog today, Merry Christmas!  I awoke this morning to a light snow fall, which I think is just perfect for today.  We got a White Christmas, but not so much as to be a problem for those who travel today, at least not for those of use close to the coast here in Connecticut.  I've heard there were larger snowfall amounts farther inland.  I'm sure that by noon today, most of this snow will have melted.  May all your days be merry and bright and thanks for visiting.

2017 in Review - May- Reeds and Trees

Clinton, CT  2017

At first glance, those small trees could be mistaken for large, tropical palm trees.  

2017 in Review - April -Spring Scene

Branford, CT  2017

2017 in Review - March - Bandshell

Tarrytown, NY  2017

On the way back from a weekend with family in New Jersey we stopped at this park as the sun was setting over the new Tappan Zee Bridge, which I think has been officially named the Mario Cuomo Bridge.  After photographing the bridge, I caught this modern version of a bandshell bathed in the warm light of the setting sun.

2017 in Review-February- Harkness Mansion

Harkness State Park, Waterford, CT  2017

The Harkness Mansion is beautiful anytime of the year.  

2017 in Review - January-Boardwalk

Niantic, CT  2017

It's that time of the year when everyone looks back and comes up with the "best of " lists whether it be movies, books, albums, cameras or even photos.   So not to be undone, and also since I've been having a hard time coming up with timely and what I consider quality photos,  I'll be presenting one photo from each month in 2017 for the next 12 days.   They might not be my best photos of the year, but for whatever reason,  they didn't make it into my blog on my first pass. Perhaps some of these photos deserve a second chance.  This was taken in January, after one of our more significant snowfalls in 2017.

My Workspace

Branford, CT  2017

Most of my work is done in this "hood", a ventilated cabinet of sorts, which keeps any potentially noxious fumes from getting into the lab.  Most of the time, my hood looks like this.  Sometimes, it might even be cleaner.  

Tools of the Trade-LCMS

Branford, CT  2017

I've been in the pharmaceutical business now for close to 40 years and have seen many advancements during that time.  This is one of them.  This instrument allows us to analyze small amounts of material and identify the components of the mixture.  Contained on this bench is a high performance liquid chromatograph, which separates components of a mixture, and a mass spectrometer which can identify the components of the mixture by their determining their exact mass.  This instrument didn't exist 40 years ago, but now has become routine, and indispensable to our work.

Extraction

Branford, CT  2017

After a reaction is run chemists need to isolate the desired product from the reaction solvent and by-products.  One way to do this is to partition the reaction mixture between two immiscible solvents, in this case water and ethyl acetate.  You can shake both solvents in this funnel, and allow the layers to separate, much like oil and water separate.   The product of interest is more soluble in ethyl acetate, so it is extracted into that solvent.  Hopefully the water dissolves all the other impurities and is easily removed.  The extract is being dried here to remove some traces of water, before the solvent is evaporated as shown in an earlier post.  Most times my extractions are colorful like above.  When I'm lucky, they look very clean as below.

Tools of the Trade - Rota-Vap

Branford, CT  2017

No synthetic organic chemistry lab would be complete without one of these.  The Rota-Vap is used to remove solvents under  a reduced pressure, or vacuum.  This lowers the boiling point of the solvents we use and allows them to be removed at reasonable temperatures under mild conditions.  The smoke you see in the bath is for effect only.  I accidentally spilled some dry ice in the water bath creating the classic chemistry lab/mad scientist scene portrayed in many movies.  

New Sculpture

New London, CT  2017

I've noticed that new sculptures are appearing in public places around New London.  

First Snow II

Niantic, CT  2017

Another picture of our first snow of the year in southeast Connecticut.

First Snow

Niantic, CT  2017

It isn't officially winter here yet, but we had our first measurable accumulation of snow yesterday into last evening.  Some parts of Connecticut saw up to 5", but here near the coast, we only had a couple of inches.   Most of the snow had melted by noon.

McCook Point

Niantic, CT  2017

Cabin

Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam, CT  2017

Although this cabin is on the grounds of Gillette Castle State Park, it's a good brisk hike from here up  to the castle itself.

St. Nick

Niantic, CT  2017

He's a comin'......  Can't believe it's December already.

Chester Hadlyme Ferry

Hadlyme, CT  2017

This ferry operates seasonally and crosses the Connecticut River between the towns of Chester on the west and Hadlyme on the east.  There has been a ferry operating at this site for over 200 years.

Vintage Boutique

Niantic, CT  2017

Bandshell

Niantic, CT  2017

This is new to McCook Point Park in Niantic this past summer.   

Niantic Bay View

Niantic, CT  2017

Wigwam Rock

Niantic, CT  2017

I'm sure there must be a story about this rock in Niantic Bay, but I could find no information except for its name on a map. 

Rock Pile

Niantic, CT  2017

I think this is what is left after the last glaciers melted from Connecticut, over 15,000 years ago.  

Rocky Shoreline

Niantic, CT  2017

Coming and Going

New London, CT  2017

Posting to my blog won't be too regular in the coming weeks.  I haven't had much time to get out to photograph, and I have some other projects going on making demands on my time.  I hope to resume a more regular schedule in a couple of weeks.  Thanks for looking.

Fox Farm Brewery

Salem, CT  2017

Located in Salem, CT, Fox Farm Brewery converted an old dairy barn which had fallen into disrepair into a nice brewery.  Their beers are pretty good.

Fountain with Fall Flowers

Middletown, CT  2017

Guinness

Middletown, CT  2017

Sale

Middletown, CT  2017

Looking Down Main Street

Middletown, CT  2017

Smoke 911

Middletown, CT  2017

Not something I've ever done, but if you enjoy smoking, this looks like your place.  

Pythian Building

Middletown, CT  2017

I was attracted to the black and green marble facade on this building.  First built around 1874 the building served as a hotel until purchased in 1905 by the Pythian Company.  The building then housed retail space on the first floor, offices on the second, and had meeting hall on the third floor for the Knights of Pythias.  The building was remodeled in 1938, adding the marble facade and large windows.  It's nice to see these older buildings getting good use today. 

Irreplaceable Artifacts

Middletown, CT  2017

Mums

Middletown, CT  2017

Ferrari

Middletown, CT  2017

No, it's not mine.  Mine is the blue Mazda 3 next to this Ferrari.   

Keagan's

Middletown, CT  2017

Sweet Harmony

Middletown, CT  2017

Political Art

Middletown, CT

Firehouse

Middletown, CT

This is a classic looking firehouse.  They don't build them like this anymore. 

Barber Shop

Middletown, CT  2017

There's not doubting that this place is a barbershop.  It's probably the most colorful barbershop I've seen recently. 

Cigar Store Indian

Middletown, CT  2017

There wasn't a cigar store be found nearby this Indian, only a restaurant. 

Fall Family

Mystic, CT  2017