Impressionistic Traffic

We are on the way to Massachusetts for a couple of days before Thanksgiving, and then back to Connecticut for Thanksgiving day. So we started by driving from home to Joan's home in Milford. I thought we were leaving early enough at 3 PM, but I guessed wrong. The 90 minute trip took 2 hours and 15 minutes! I was doing the "forbidden thing" again, of course, shooting pictures while driving in traffic. Thus the blurry image. So I am calling it "impressionistic" as an excuse.

The New Towers

The huge power plant on the harbor, about a mile away, has been shut down, and will be demolished in the near future. About 6 months ago, they started digging two giant holes in the parking lot across the street from the plant. Then they put some giant rings joined by reinforcing steel in the holes, and poured concrete around them. I wondered what it was all for. Then one day a huge crane showed up, and started installing tapered sections of galvanized steel tower. They kept adding and adding sections, until each of the towers was well over one hundred feet tall. Apparently they needed the towers that tall, because the transmission lines connected to them were strung for a long distance over the harbor to identical towers on the other side. I rode by these one afternoon, and the setting sun lit them with orange light, and they became a lot more interesting to photograph.

From My Pillow

When I woke this morning, this is the first thing I saw. I am not sure what made the light different, but I had left the the white translucent window shade down in the bathroom, the sun was shining directly on it, and I think the light from that window shade is what is illuminating the photograph hanging in the upstairs hall. So then I had to go find my Nikon, and then get back in bed, and put my head back on the pillow, and then shoot this photograph. Crazy, huh? I just love the sense of light in this photo - it's as if a spotlight is lighting up the picture.

I Have Photographed This Before, of Course

This is the other Japanese maple on the property. It is behind the garage in the back. I was beginning to think that we wouldn't have fall color this year. I am not sure why, except that I haven't seen much color up to now. But this morning I looked out the bathroom window and saw this! Perhaps it was because of a few days of relatively cold weather that we had that finally got the color started. Although, in truth, it is said that the color is already IN the leaves, but it is blocked by the green chlorophy that we see in the summer. For whatever reason, the color blossomed almost overnight, it seems, and I for one, am thrilled.

Textures

This is a photo left over from my walking around town after the nor'easter snowstorm, which came after "superstorm Sandy." I was attracted by the textures of snow, and rock and of the vines. I have no idea what plant that is, but of course you all know that I wouldn't have a clue. I just liked the color, and the design. Oh, and the color pallet, which is almost monochromatic - browns and greens.

Astronomy Project

I am involved in an astronomy project where, as an amateur astronomer, I team up with a science teacher at a local school, and we work together to add another level of experience to about three classes during the year. I will be bringing some telescopes to the classes and talk about how they work. We may do some observing of the sun with special telescopes. I am not sure exactly what we will do together, but I am excited about the prospect of the coming school year. Today was the training program for both teachers and astronomers, and we got to meet each other. This is my partner, and in the background another teacher, who are all part of the program. They are both intently watching a presentation by the woman who runs the program. It is an exciting project that we are embarking on.

The Old Wallet

Funny thing about wallets. You buy a new one, and it is hard and sharp-edged, and you feel it in your pocket all the time. After a year or so, the leather softens, and you become less aware it is there. After a while, it picks up a lovely patina, and then a certain character because of the first signs of wear. Later on, it begins to show more severe wear. And then one day you realize that it has worn so much that it is beginning to fall apart and time to buy a new wallet and start the process all over again. And I find it difficult to part with a "friend" who has traveled so many miles with me.