Clara

Toms River, NJ  2017

I'm always disappointed when I try to photograph people. I rarely get shots with which I'm truly satisfied.  However one can look past my shortcomings as a portrait photographer when the subject just happens to to be cutest granddaughter in the world.  Of course, I'm just a little bit biased.

Third Childhood Home

Maplewood, NJ  2017

This is the last stop on my trip back to my childhood haunts.  This is the home I left for college, marriage, a job, and to start my own family.  I was able to return an a number of occasions with my own children.  Now we have all moved on and there is a new family with new memories being made here.  

Second Childhood Home

Maplewood, NJ  2017

This is the second home I remember.  I moved here with two younger brothers and one younger sister.  When the family moved out, I had three additional younger sisters and one more younger brother.  It looks like the house is being renovated and on the market.  I was very tempted to peek inside to see what might have changed since the mid 60's.  

Childhood Home

Maplewood, NJ  2017

This is the first house I can remember living in as a child.  It is a duplex and my family occupied the residence on the right.  It's comforting to know the house is still standing after 60 years.  

Hudson River

Tarrytown, NY  2017

Tappan Zee Bridges

Tarrytown, NY  2017

There's a major construction project underway to replace the original Tappan Zee Bridge which is the cantilever bridge shown in the background here.  The original bridge opened in 1955 and cost a mere $81 million dollars in 1950's dollars.  The new bridge is scheduled to open in 2018 and features the 419 foot tall Chamfered Towers which will support 8 lanes of traffic across the Hudson River.  It is designed to last over a century without major structural modifications and will cost $3.98 billion dollars.  It has been a long time in coming.

Otto

Chester, CT  2017

One of the many restaurants in Chester,  this one specializing in wood-fired pizzas.  

Samuel Colt

Chester, CT  2017

The name Samuel Colt was evident on a number of buildings in Chester, CT.  I'm pretty sure this particular Colt is not related to Samuel Colt, the inventor of the revolver and founder of the Colt's Manufacturing Company.  The latter Colt was born in 1814 and from what I can find has no other Samuel's in his immediate ancestry.

Elle Design

Chester, CT  2017

Lark

Chester, CT  2017

Street Scene

Chester, CT  2017

Cummings and Good

Chester, CT

On a recent Sunday drive my wife and I discovered the small town of Chester, CT which borders on the Connecticut River.  The town has a long history and today boasts a number of restaurants, boutique shops, artists and art galleries.  It was voted best small town in Connecticut by Connecticut Magazine, and after spending an afternoon there, I would agree.   I was impressed with the architecture and how well all the historic buildings were maintained.  I'm not sure what this building once was but it appears that at one time it might have been a bank.  Today it houses Cummings and Good, a graphic arts/design firm, boutique and gallery.  

Texting

Mystic, CT  2017

Whiskey Tasting

Mystic, CT  2017

I didn't stick around to taste any whiskey.  

Water and West Main

Mystic, CT  2017

Alley with Lamp

Mystic, CT  2017

Faux Barn

Mystic, CT  2017

I'm not sure if this barn is real, or a replica made to look like it's from the 1700's.  My guess is it's a reproduction.

Once a Wagon

Mystic, CT  2017

The Chowder Crowd

Mystic, CT  2017

I don't believe I've ever seen Olde Mistick Village this crowded, especially at this time of the year.  The temperatures  were in the 60's on this day which brought a lot of people out.  As I post this today, two weeks later, the temperatures are in the teens, and we're expecting a blizzard this week on Tuesday.  That's winter in New England. 

Antique Wagon

Mystic, CT  2017

Olde Mistick Village is a unique shopping area right off of I-95 and serves as an "unofficial" gateway to Mystic and the other historic attractions in the area.  The Village consists of 60 shops and restaurants and was designed to resemble a New England town from the 1720's.  Scattered throughout the village are antiques such as this wagon which add to the charm of shopping here. 

Boardwalk

Mystic, CT  2017

Munson Exclusive

Mystic, CT  2017

For those people who don't like chowder, or had more than their fill......

Charity Chowder

Mystic, CT  2017

It has been a strange winter for weather here in Connecticut.  Temperatures have been fairly mild, and we only had one real significant snowfall.  This particular Saturday the temperatures reached the mid 60's which brought out a lot of people for the Annual Charity Chowder Cook Off at Olde Mistick Village.  For a small fee, one could sample any number of the fine chowders offered up by local restaurants with all proceeds going to a local food bank.

People could vote for their favorite chowder and I'll admit there were some pretty interesting variations available.   After sampling about 6 varieties of the 15 or so available,  I was full.  It was hard to pick a favorite, but I definitely did not care for a Pumpkin Corn Chowder offered by a local Asian cuisine restaurant. 

Seaside Sanatarium

Waterford, CT  2017

Located just down the beach from Harkness Memorial State Park is the site of the old Seaside Sanatarium, one of the first facilities of its kind to treat children with tuberculosis.  The site is listed on the National Registry of Historic places and if our governor has his way, will soon become a new state park 

Untitled

Harkness Memorial State Park,

Waterford, CT  2017

Beach Goers

Harkness Memorial State Park,

Waterford, CT  2017

The recent stretch of unseasonably warm weather brought out a number of hearty beach combers.  Some braved the cold temperatures of Long Island sound by wading in the tidal pools, while others played the flute.  

Beach Scene

Harkness Memorial State Park,

Waterford, CT  2017

Sound View

Harkness Memorial State Park

Waterford, CT  2017

Garden View

Harkness Memorial State Park

Waterford, CT  2017

Back Porch

Harkness Memorial State Park

Waterford, CT  2017

The term "back porch" is hardly a fitting term for this part the the mansion.  I'm sure there must a be a much more elegant architectural term for such a room.  Even "sunroom" doesn't do this room justice. 

Portico

Harkness Memorial State Park

Waterford, CT  2017

This portico overlooks one of the two gardens on the property next to the mansion, Eolia, pictured a few days ago.  It's much prettier in the summer time.