Jonquil Joy

Early spring bulbs on Long Island are at their peak this past week as April turns the page.

Sailor In Training

Proud Grandpa Series...Looking like a serious Coast Guard Cadet trainee, Oliver Scott scans the horizon in search of suspicious activity.

Westbury House

The estate of Henry Phipps, "Westbury House", is the anchor of Old Westbury Gardens. Built in 1906, the mansion and the numerous manicured gardens were open to the public in 1959. Old Westbury Gardens is a timeless icon to Long Island's Gold Coast era. For more info:http://www.oldwestburygardens.org/

Linden Allee'

The entrance to Old Westbury Garden is an alley of linden trees. When fully in bloom these trees create a magical tunnel effect as the trees branches grow down to ground level. Spring on Long Island is just about ready to blossum in dramatic fashion!

Beach Day

July in April...The weekend saw Long Islanders enjoying the summer-like weather. Boat owners were rushing to "splash", and beach goers flocked to the area's shoreline. The warm temperatures seemed to put smiles on many faces!

Heading Home

Plenty of company on the water yesterday as we got our first taste of summer weather this weekend. While Alida gets plenty of photo ops while we are underway, this is pretty much my standard view (and with good reason!).

April Morning

Some mornings just seem more peaceful than others. Having the gift of time to appreciate such moments is a true luxury, I think I'll pour myself another cup of coffee!

Goose Stories

"Honest...it was THIS big.." Telling tales to anyone who will listen.

Dockside Fog

I'm just glad that I'm not sitting at the airport staring at a Delayed message. The fog continues to keep us socked in but the weatherman has optimistic things to say about tomorrow.

Pea Soup

The ferry fog horn started early this morning as yesterday's heavy rain became today's thick fog. At times the visibility has been just past the end of the dock, radar is a "must have" on the bay today!

Come On Sunshine...

Reaching for the sun.....

Red Tailed Hawk

The Brookhaven Eco-Center provides a safe haven for injured wildlife. We visited the site yesterday and got this proud raptor to pose for us. We have seen Red Tailed Hawks at our feeders although it's not the seed that they are after!

Opportunist

While having a snack outside I had a visitor. I suspect that his friendship was not genuine as he waited patiently for a handout...

Spring

It's time to look around and appreciate one's own backyard....

Let It Bee

My first macro bee...at 150mm I'm really not all that brave! :-)

The Gourmand

The table was set, the wine poured and the candles lit. Fine Easter dinning with Oliver Scott, it just doesn't get better than this.

Another image from the Proud Grandpa Gallery....

..And just who really lays all those Easter eggs? Best wishes for a joyous Easter.

An Appreciation

It's been a very hectic and very sad week. I think it is time to appreciate life's gifts, both large and small. I thought I would start by getting up close and personal with Spring.

Farewell Dear Friend

Your struggle was long and hard, your rest much deserved.
...And until we meet again, may God hold you gently in the palm of His hand.
p.s. You never could teach me Spanish............

Standing Out In The Crowd

Some people just stand out among the crowd. And some of us are fortunate enough to experience a genuine, sincere and unique friendship once in our lives.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Chico as his spirit prepares to leave this existence. Our appreciation and Thanks are directed towards those caring Hospice workers who are helping with his journey.

Weekend At Bernie's

410 Palm Beach Blvd., formerly Bernie Madoff's "cottage" was seized by the Feds yesterday (I suppose that "we" are now the owners). At any rate, this image was more of a dare than a good shot. In a tabloid journalism fantasy I ventured as far up the driveway as possible without constantly looking over my paranoid shoulder and snapped this shot! Needless to say...we laughed all the way home like college kids after a panty raid.........

Spring Break

The beach near Juno, Florida. Sunny, warm and a great place to escape chilly Northeast temperatures. ( Best in large view)

Coming Soon

April, the month of rebirth, song birds and flowers in bloom. It's also a time when every baseball fan, regardless of age, has hope that maybe...just maybe This is THE year. MLB starts a new season this weekend and that first crack of the bat, the "pop" of leather and the enthusiasm of the crowd will take many of us back to boyhood baseball dreams! Hope springs eternal the first week of April!
This shot was taken at the Mets training facility in Port St. Lucie.

Jupiter Inlet

Still processing some Florida shots. This wider view of Jupiter Light shoes the entrance to Jupiter Inlet...

Dickinson State Park

My visit to Dickinson State park was a day or so after seeing the Ansel Adams exhibit at the Norton Museum. Dickinson Park encompasses several thousand acres of forever wild Florida forest, a landscape that I suspect the great photographer would have recorded with artistic style. Above is my feeble attempt at the stark B&W style. For more on Ansel Adams:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Adams

Celebrating Spring's Arrival

In a botanical garden in Palm Beach it looked like spring had been around for awhile. Something about the vernal equinox that deserves celebration and it seemed like the perfect place to do it!

The Light At Jupiter Inlet

It's all about the light...and as we were having dinner at Jupiter Inlet the "Light" was well lit. So, like two crazy people we left our table and started clicking away at the scene accross the inlet!

Here's lookin' At You

Roadside in Dickinson Park, this guy was just trying to get a little sun. I remember hearing as a kid that alligators were endangerered, today they are Florida's proof that conservation works as they seem to be very prolific throughout the state. Many locals seem to pass "gators" without a second glance, this Long Islander however remains in awe.

Heavy Surf

The Florida rain stopped but the wind intensified. The beaches at Jupiter and Juno were closed to swimmers although a few fool hearty surfers kept the faith!

Mets In March

Spring training in the Grapefruit League. Saw the Mets bat around in the 7th inning to beat the Braves 11-1 in today's pre-season action at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie. After the last two seasons, the Mets may want to save a few of those runs for next September!

Cloudy Beach

Beach day in the sunshine state, sans sunshine. I'm told that when the sun shines

Egret

White egrets are rather prolific in this part of Florida and it's not uncommon to see them in public areas. The environmentalists must be doing something right!

Stormy

Dramatic sky over Palm Beach as the rain continues to get our attention!

In The Rain

Ran to Florida for a week in the sun only to find myself ankle deep in Florida's drought ending two day downpour. Well, at least it's a warm rain!

May the road rise up to meet you...

May the wind always be at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
and the rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again'
May God hold you in the palm of His hand

St. Patrick's Day and Spring is just ahead....!

Oliver Scott

Time for some more of those "proud grandpa" shots. Oliver Scott at 15 months is most likely puzzled as to why his grandparents always have that thing that makes a flash in front of their faces. Oliver does not sit still for long and therefore a challenge to photograph without a fast shutter speed!

Ready and Waiting

With St. Patty's Day on the radar screen, the annual ritual of getting the boat ready for the season is already underway. The marine catalogues have arrived, the boat shows are over and people are stocking up on cleaners, deck brushes and carnuba wax. For me, the removal of the shrink wrap from the boat is a Spring ritual that always puts a smile on my face and fills me with child-like anticipation.
This empty winter-scape of a marina already has a few hardy/early boaters claiming thier slips for the season!

Cute Couple

...just enjoying the view!

Montauk Point

The eastern most terminus of Long Island and one of the Island's most recognized icons, Montauk Light. Lately a popular tee shirt refers to Montauk as "The End" although I would think that depends a great deal upon one's point of view. For an east-ender it just may be "The Beginning"!

Cod Fish

The fishing reports tell us that the Montauk cod bite is the best that it has been in thirty years. Cod fishing has always been for the heartiest of anglers. The season runs February through April and the fishing is done several miles out in open ocean waters. The conditions are often harsh. (As in bitterly cold and windy!)
Lucky me when I spotted this commercial trawler heading to the dock with a load of fresh codfish. "Sure, I'll sell you some fish!" At two dollars a pound I almost felt guilty and headed home with several meals of fish that just does not come any fresher!

Exuberance

The promise of Spring brings out the inner child in most of us!

2 Sea Sons

Montauk Harbor basking in 68 degrees on the first weekend of march. While every day is a gift, some gifts can be just a tad better than others!

Former Fish Trap

Fort Pond Bay, Montauk...In past years this has been an active fish trap. It seems somewhat sad that it has been neglected and abandoned, yet another indicator of the health of Long Island's commercial fishing industry.

Montauk In March

What a difference a day makes (a 40 degree rise in the temperature helps as well..)...with very Spring-like temps in the 60's ,Long Islanders headed outdoors in droves. We found ourselves in Montauk with plenty of company on the beach where even the bravest of the surfers hit the waves! (Best in large view)

Bored And Cold

It's been a long tough winter for all involved. The weatherman claims that we are due for the much needed "big thaw" this weekend!

How To Handle A Snowstorm

Hey...it worked for me.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Brrr...the calendar says March, next weekend is Daylight Savings Time..and yet it is Very Cold out there!

The Snow Family

Yesterday's major snow storm brought most activities to a stand still. Neighborhood school kids, celebrating the oft-maligned "snow day", show off the fact that time away from algebra class can be productive.

Ready for Florida

Geez...Marching in like a lion. This would have been cute on Christmas Eve but in early March a foot of cold wet snow is just annoying.

Lone Gull

Huntington Harbor...A lone gull looking for a handout. I imagine that dining opportunities for seagull will be improving in the weeks ahead.