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Category: Beautiful Places Close By

February Outtakes

The shortest month, though a little longer this year, has come and gone. To follow some of the misplaced pieces of its path. The moon. This was from the driveway. I shot as long as I could before frozen fingers put me back inside. With some finally clear skies, more Read more…


Fire & Ice
Eternal Flame Falls

Another place I couldn’t wait to return to once winter came, Eternal Flame Falls. This naturally-fueled eternal flame is thought to be caused by potent gas seepage from the ancient shale bedrock, however some researchers believe this to be an incorrect hypothesis given the temperature of the rock relative to Read more…


πŸ’˜Valentine’s Day Photo DumpπŸ’˜

Though Valentine’s Day is a bit, you know, trite, I am of the philosophy of the 1994 Built to Spill album “There’s Nothing Wrong With Love.” So some of the red happenings of Love’s official holiday. Red Velvet cupcake again, because it is mind-blowing Sugar cookies mostly for the kids. Read more…


Home is Where the ❀️ Is

Just a lot of pictures of this adorable house in the area. This is not a Valentine’s Day display… this is their house all year. I kind of love it.


A Visit to Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge {Pictorial}


Birthday Fun in Riverhead

It was my good friend’s birthday (and my brother’s birthday) that had me driving back to Long Island at the start of February! This cake has become a tradition. And rightfully so. It is so dreamy! I used butterfly pea flower powder to color the frosting as it is my Read more…


January ’24 Outtakes

Month 1 of 2024 took its sweet time–the pace of ordinary, the pace of feeling things out. Here are some outtakes. The late 1900’s. A really yummy mac and cheese I made with that cheese sauce you make from potatoes and carrot. It is so damn good. I had a Read more…


Taughannock FallsΒ State Park in the Winter

Stepping in front of the majesty of Taughannock Falls in the winter is pretty magical. The ice-coated land, the air’s motion, the sounds–all feel otherworldly, like a ice fairy could emerge to recline on your shoulder at any instance. The ice a gorgeous shade of pale blue-green at its thickest, Read more…


A Thin Blanket of White ❄️

Though wafts of snow land in Buffalo, Rochester is somehow protected by Lake Ontario. So just a thin sprinkling to enjoy. The temperatures are very low, like many parts of the country. This is the kitchen window. Headed to Highland Park for sledding Love the pops of color against the Read more…


The Victory Fairy Trail at Springdale Farm 🧚
{Pictorial}


Winter at Green Lakes State Park

With the first significant snowfall, I knew I had to return to Green Lakes State Park. I knew its emerald lake would look beautiful next to a soft white. Some quick shots before the wandering rabid emaciated raccoon attacks me or one of the many dog walkers. Some playful visitors Read more…


Hello, Brooklyn

Being in Brooklyn again had a refreshing familiarity. This is Daphne; I stayed at her place for a couple of days while I celebrated an extended holiday of all-me time. I made her pose for pictures in the beautiful light of Kensington. The Comet. I wanted to drive it home… Read more…


Backyard Birding, A Quick Look 🐦

Since winter’s chill has come, the search for food is bringing all the birds to the backyard. I set up the tripod across the way, looking like a true bird stalker. Here are some of my favorites. My favorite is the brightly hued cardinal. The Sparrows hitting up the suet… Read more…


Watching the Stars & Light Painting At Chimney Bluffs State Park

With a finally clear night, we headed to the dark. But the effect of what amounts to a small ocean continues to alter forecasts. Though it is frustrating, we made the best of the clouds, manaing to capture plenty of stars and playing with his daughter’s Fisher Price red and Read more…


Leaf Peepin’ 🍁 Rochester, New York

I didn’t know so many kinds of plants shed their green for a vibrant yellow, orange or red hue until I experienced my first autumn in Rochester! To follow some of my foliage discoveries. Rose bush leaves change color, but each leaf at its own pace… The Japanese Maple (we Read more…


Austin Dam Memorial Park &
Bayless Paper Mill Ruins

Austin Dam Memorial Park In all its spectacular color, and in spite of the persistent rain, we went to see the sights at Austin Dam Memorial Park in Austin, Pennsylvania. The ruins of the dam are in it of itself cause for a stop in… but in autumn, the surrounding Read more…


Leaf Peepin’ 🍁 On My Birthday
Camping in Potter County, Pennsylvania

To celebrate my birth so long ago, we headed south to Pennsylvania’s Potter County for a stay in a cabin in the mountains. I chose this location for a few reasons. For one, it is very near to the dark sky park Cherry Springs State Park. In the unlikely event Read more…


Leaf Peepin’ 🍁
Allegany State Park

Officially obsessed, I head to Allegany State Park in spite of some humdrum weather in hopes of capturing more gorgeous foliage. Though some of my favorite shops were on the way near Gillies Hill State Forest, the trip was quick recon to see what the park had in store for Read more…


Leaf Peepin’ 🍁
Letchworth State Park

This autumn I was bit by the leaf peeping bug early on. Perhaps because I was finally closer to nature as I had hoped I’d be for quite some time. Here is to the beauty that is now so close to home. I hope you are finding the place you Read more…


Perhaps the Most Beautiful Place in New York
Green Lakes State Park {Pictorial}

Here, look at how beautiful this place is, one of my new favorite places in New York.


Second Summer πŸ–οΈ
Ontario Beach Park

With an unseasonable heatwave hitting us for several days, a spontaneous trip to Ontario Beach Park would prove to usher back all that indescribable summer magic. First a walk down the long pier to work up a sweat. We saw tremendous fish off the side of the pier! Into Lake Read more…


Where’s the Fire? πŸ”₯
Eternal Flame Falls

Since moving out of New York City, I have been surrounding myself with the beauty of Western New York, with fervor. Perhaps in an attempt to undo all the unnaturalness of my physical existence in one of the largest cities in the country, I hunt for landmarks of a different Read more…


Hello October! 🍁
{Pictorial}

Now that I can so easily access peak foliage in the great outdoors, unobstructed by manmade distractions, a photo dump of some gorgeous autumn color. I can’t believe how beautiful my life is now.


Happy Autumn!
🍎 Apple Picking at Wickham Farms 🍎

What is Fall without apple picking? Now that I am not stuck in a grimy metropolis, it would be easier to embrace this autumn tradition. So we packed the gang to pick a massive haul of apples from Wickham Farms. Don’t waste time with the low hanging fruit! The Gala Read more…


Rochester Parks Exploration, Part 1

Seeking beauty, I am diving into exploring Rochester’s parks in a big way. To follow, pieces of beauty found and frolicked in. Ellison Park The word “lush” comes to mind. No not someone who drinks too much but teeming with green. Ellison Park is a gorgeous park. In a tree Read more…


New York Renaissance Faire (2023)
Pirate Weekend πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈ

It was time for the annual Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo, New York. This tradition bookends a season of mermaiding that starts with the preparations for Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade in the Spring. This season has been tremendously busy. But I am happy to report that I have all kinds of Read more…