The Old Tree at Dusk

I parked my car at the Vanderbilt Museum and as I was taking my computer and other things out of the trunk for the meeting, I happened to look over to my right and saw this tree off to the right.  My sense is that the tree is really old, based on its shape and the condition of its branches.  I have no idea what kind of tree this is  - maybe in daylight when it is leafed out I might hazard a guess.  What made the photograph as well are the high overcast clouds that silhouette the tree. Against a plain sky I am thinking that the photograph would not be as strong. Please click on this to see more detail.

 

As Far As The Eye Can See

I was riding back up Laurel avenue at the end of my bike ride today and I passed this patch of flowers.  I turned around and put my bike down and got my iPhone out.  When I got down close to the ground I put my iPhone just above the closest flowers and shot this view.  Flowers as far as the eye can see.  I had to do a Google Image search and this is what I found out about these flowers:  "Scilla siberica, the Siberian squill or wood squill, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to southwestern Russia, the Caucasus, and Turkey. Despite its name, it is not native to Siberia.Many parts of the plant such as the flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap, seeds, and stem are poisonous to eat for some animals."  Wow!

 

The Branches are so Delicate!

It was such a nice day today that we went up to the top of the back yard where we have two white Adirondack chairs, thanks to my sister Joan.  The two chairs are lovely to see up there, seen from the street.  And when we sit in them we can oversee our house, garage and side yard.  Well today it was nice and warm and we sat.  And then I looked up and saw all these delicate branches overhead, from the other Japanese maple tree.  That tree is in our neighbor's yard, just over the fence from our yard.  It is impossible to describe the delicacy of these branches which are so very thin, and which will soon be filled with leaves.  I am posting a larger photo so if you click on it you may be able to see some of the finer branches.

 

Tools of the Trade

Dude, wow, that is one ugly looking coffee cup!  You need to either wash that or toss it. Wait, is that a Sandra Boynton cup?  It looks like her drawings.  Yes, it is a Sandra Boynton cup.  I photographed her at her home and farm many years ago up in Massachusetts, and she gave the writer and I some cups to take home.  But this is not a coffee cup.  It is used for something else, and has been for years.

Look at this!  It is immaculate inside.  There is not a speck of dust inside.  It is my varnish cup.  When I am varnishing a table top that I am refinishing or a telescope I have built or a wood telescope mount, I use this cup to hold varnish. I keep it clean as a whistle inside but don't worry about the outside.  But it is so interesting with all the layers of dripped varnish on the outside that it has collected over the years.  Just one of my tools of the trade.

 

Happy Birthday, Karen!

We drove to Connecticut today to have lunch with my three sisters.  The celebration was for my older sister Karen, because it was her 80th birthday!  It was nice to get together and spend time with all my sisters.  Because we are hours away from each other, we don't get to see each other that often.  We were lucky that traffic was light and our trip both ways to Milford was relatively easy.  A wonderful way to spend a Saturday, with family!

 

The Remains of Fall

I have watched this pot and the grasses, all winter long.  The pot is on one of the back steps so I pass it each day.  I keep looking at it and love the monochromatic tan colors. I have photographed it but was never satisfied until on this day.  I think the colors have changed in subtle ways during the winter.  I like the two different textures, between the plant and the grasses.  Spring will soon be here and all this will change, which will be welcome.

 

A Table Setting

On my walk each time I pass a marina and storage yard that has all kinds of stuff up on the land in storage. Boats, an old crane, cars, a truck and who knows what else.  One time there were tables set up out on the sidewalk and they were selling all kinds of stuff, including this stuff.  I remember all these plates and silverware.  Clearly, when it was over they just put this piece of plywood with all this stuff on the ground and I bet it has been here for 5 years.  I always look through the fence to see if there are things I want to photograph and I saw this the other day.  "A Table Setting."  Well, not exactly, but what an interesting collection of stuff!  I did have to shoot through a chain link fence so this photograph is not as clear and sharp as it should be.  Please click on this image - there is so much stuff to see here!