Treadway Mountain
(late post for Thursday)

Drive north on the beautiful NY Northway to exit 28. Turn left onto route 74, go several miles to the Putnam Pond Campground. Drive around in circles several times looking for the Treadway Mt. trailhead. Finally stop and ask...

Put on the hiking boots, grab the backpacks and walking sticks and get ready...

Stop for lunch at the foot of a small waterfall, listen to the sweet sounds of the woods and the fall of the water....

Start hiking again through the beautiful woods

Scratch your head when you come across this scene of two arrows with no directions written on the sign...

And finally arrive at the summit. Hike distance: almost 8 miles. Ascent: 900 feet. Trail: one of the prettiest so far this summer. Weather conditions: PERFECT, sandwiched in between two miserable, rainy days.

Pharaoh Lake in the distance.

It RAINED.......AGAIN!!!

After having a nice lunch with Trish at the Whistling Kettle in Ballston Spa, during which, I might add, the sun actually shone for a while, we headed back to the car to get our cameras in the hopes that we could wander around town and grab some images.

Nope, not gonna happen.

It started to rain, so we got in the car and headed back to Amsterdam.

After taking Trish to her car and running an errand, I began my drive home.

I don't think these photos need any further explanation--aaarrghhhhh!

Tomorrow is hike day. Wonder what the trail will be like??

Another Trip to the Plotter Kill

Our MVP group finally got to do the fieldtrip to the Plotter Kill this afternoon. The "chance of rain" didn't materialize, so off we went. There was not as much water flowing as there had been the last time I was there, but it was still beautiful, and, because of less water, it was a lot easier to navigate along the stream bed.

I'm not thrilled with my images, but at least it was a day out with friends. There was good conversation, and we all learned a little more about our cameras and computer programs. We ate dinner at Ruby Tuesday's. It was a good day.

Not totally focused (the image, not Steve) because it was low light and just a grab shot--didn't want to take the time to set up the tripod.

Bridget studying her camera after getting some help from Trish.

Early Again

I had to go to the bank this morning on my way to town. I got there a little early (reminded me of the day I got to the library too early). So, grab the point n shoot again. It occupied the 10 minutes or so I had to wait for the bank to open. What fun!

My Perspective

I, too, was at Old Fort Johnson today. Trish and I were there at the same time. I know I took somewhere near 150 shots and I'm sure Trish took a good amount. So it's interesting to see how our perspectives differ. (I chose the photos I wanted to post before I looked at Trish's post). If you want to see her post, click on her thumbnail--center, bottom row.

You've Come A Long Way, Baby

"The first typerwriter proven to have worked was built by the Italian Pellegrino Turri in 1808 for his blind friend, Countess Carolina Fantoni da Furzzono." The Writing Machine, by Michael Adler, 1973

In the US successful commercial production began with "writing ball" of Danish pastor Malling Hansen. (1870)

see http://site.xavier.ded/polt/typerwriters/tw-history.html for further information if interested.

This morning I had to stop at Conover-Seeley Office Supply. While I was waiting for my credit card to be swiped, I noticed a display case that contained some old typewriters. I've never seen anything like this first one. Notice that there are only 3 rows of keys. (If you go to the website mentioned, you'll see a really primative typewriter that looks like a pin cushion)

Technology certainly has "come a long way, baby"--which is an extreme understatement when you think about the ipods used to communicate today.

This next gadget is also in the office supply store. It's a paper-cutter, still being used by the employees.

This evening I visited a friend whose daughter, Erika, son-in-law and new baby girl were visiting from Savannah. I haven't seen Erika in many years--somehow in the interim she grew up and started a family of her own. Her family is just one of several who we used to camp with when the kids were little.

This is my friend Lori, who takes advantage of any/every opportunity to hold a baby.

(I think I didn't do a very good job of color correcting these people images, but it's late and I don't feel like working on them right now.)

Buttons on Thursday

Well, our Thursday assignment is buttons. When I heard what the assignment was I started thinking of how I would do this. I have a tin full of buttons, some I inherited from my mother, but most I collected during the years when the children were young and I used to sew a lot.

As I started looking for that tin, it occurred to me that my life is full of buttons that have nothing to do with clothing. So here are some of them.

"Boom Box"

Coffee Maker

Stove

The ever-growing collection of remote controls.

And last, but not least, clothing.

Straightforward

Earlier today an elderly woman here in town contacted me and asked me to come to her house to take photos of her beautiful lilies. I went over around 6:30, hoping the sun would be low enough to make some pretty light. Sure enough, it worked nicely. But some of the flowers were not in the shade yet, so I had to make the shade with my body. I didn't have my tripod with me--big mistake, and because I had to use my body to create the shade, I didn't have the luxury of moving around and getting different angles. So these are all straightforward shots--BUT, the flowers are sooooo beautiful I hope that compensates a little for the lack of creative angles.

These Were Supposed to Be Waterfall Pictures!

Our group, MVP, had a fieldtrip scheduled today. We were planning on going to the Plotter Kill Preserve to spend some quality time in the great-outdoors and practice our slow shutter -speed-for-waterfalls techniques.

Ah!! but nature had something else planned for us. RAIN!! As if we need more right now. It held off for most of the day, but then it reared it's ugly little head in mid-afternoon. I'm thinking that maybe we should be investing in waterproof cameras, what do you think?

Anyway, on my way to work this morning, I took a road I don't usually travel on. There was, I must admit, a sign saying that there was "road work ahead". I blew it off and went down that road anyway. Not too smart, you say? Well, you're right, it wasn't too smart. When I got to within .1-.2 miles before the end of the road, the traffic came to a complete stop--you know, one of those guys (or gals) standing there with the red sign that says STOP on one side and SLOW on the other.

Well, for some reason the SLOW sign didn't show up for a veeerrrrry, very long time. As I was sitting there, wondering why my brain hadn't been in gear when I turned onto this road, it suddenly occurred to me to get out the trusty point and shoot. (I also haven't been able to figure out why it took me so long to come to that conclusion).

So instead of photos of beautiful, dreamy, cascading waterfalls surrounded by luxurious foliage on all sides, you get this today--construction, the inside of my car, and another funky license plate.

Maybe someday next week we'll make it to the Plotter Kill. Who knows, we might be able to get here by boat if this weather keeps up!