The Garden is about to Explode

The peonies are budding and bursting and I cant wait to see what things are going to look like when the sun comes out.

 

 

Dianthus is in bloom and the Heuchera leaves are red  

 

After this rain things have to start looking up.  Ya, I was way down low, shooting up at the honesuckle.   Sure hope it is a sweet draw for the hummers.

Look for the Light Find Kalidealight

A little over a year ago, when asked the question, "What is the best advice you can give to a budding photographer", I answered, "Look for the light".  That person quickly learned and has blossomed.
Here on the river the light is soft and muted today.    She might like the mood of the grey cloud cover. Maybe Ill be inspired to go out and shoot in it.....maybe not.  I'm looking for the light. 
BIG BANG BURST A COLOR KALIDEALIGHT.

 

 

Rain Rain go Away

 Had a nice night at the local Inn on Friday.  Warm and happy.  The bartending blondes where having fun too. Amanda was shaking it up for the camera. 

The fire roasted shrimp was YUMMY

 

Clouds and rain came early Saturday morning and are still here now...even after a fist to the sky.  HAHAHAH  Working on my cut and paste in Photoshop.

 

 

 

Moo Is Not Just For Cows

Time to get serious.  I looked at MOO and Vista too.  Both had lots to consider. 

In the end, I submitted to Moo for stickers to adhere to the back of my images

and greeting cards. 

 

 

 

 

Delaware Chews: The OY of Cooking and Photography

I was looking for Orange and found some in the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

Later, I found the RED OY of Cooking.

 

Orange was still on my mind when I added an egg wash to my crust. 

I wanted to make an orange sky topping on my

Turkey Pot Pie Delicious.

 I usually prepare my own crusts and tend to press rather than roll....that sounds funny. For the innards, I combine  leftover cooked turkey chopped with  fresh mushrooms, celery, carrots, onion,and dry thyme. To bring it all home stir in Campbell's Mushroom Soup.  Scoop into baking dish and drop on the crust.  Pierce with a knife so steam can escape, unless you want to put your blackbird to function. 

 Mine just flew over for the pic. 

 

Happy Home Cooking

Take a Cruise to.... CRUISE NIGHT

Hopped on the GTL and headed to ....

 

 

 

 

I had never been to an event like this. The little town was jam packed with people and lots of fancy cars with fancy paint jobs....

 

We headed on over to the Lotus Dealer when we were told that they were GIVING

away BEER

 

 

Free food too was a big draw...too bad no free cars.

 

 

Furman worked many years at Malek Chevrolet on Broad Street the main drag through town.   It was mind boggling to see the BRICK FARM MARKET open its doors in the restyled building. Can't wait until they stock the place.  

 

They already had some cheese and honey in stock but lots of empty food cases.

 

 

 

We took our meal at an old standby the Hopewell Inn.

 

Another Year of Life Behind Me

Wish I knew where the fountain of youth was. 

 

 

Columbine and Creation

 

Columbine is a beautiful native plant to Pennsylvania.  I have it growing in pink...

 

 

 

and red?  It looked lovely in the back yard beds as the sun set. 

 

Wouldn't look like this today as the sky looks like someone used a paint bucket and made it grey.

 

 

I don't know what I was thinking when I tried to create some of my own.

Although fun to make and look at, I think they are perfect

in their natural state. 

 

Trenton Kennel Club and How Does One Ever Choose.

 

It did me good to go see, smell, and pet the critters...Even got to hold the leash to this beautiful Border Collie.  Yup...his handler was heading into the Rally Course to do a walk through and she asked me if I would take the leash ...."Will he want to be with you?" I asked.  She said "just pet him"...Well that was NO PROBLEM.

What a nice boy.

 

 

Walked over to see the Flat Coats because they were pretty too.

 

Could not leave without looking at the Westies.  Turns out they were the largest group to come out for the show.  111 in all.  Sooooooooooooooooooo cute.

What big white teeth you have!

 

 

I know...Im cute. I got it like that!

 

 

Trenton Kennel Club has been holding their event at Mercer County Park for years.   

My long lens came in handy.

 

 

 

 

Spring for Wildlife at Baldpate Mountain

This week really zipped buy.  The weather has been cool and crisp and the sky blue. Yesterday was a great day to be outside supporting the Mercer County Wildlife Center at the Spring for Wildlife Festival, way atop Baldpate Mountain.  Finally, I would get inside the house I have been snooping around and peering into the windows for the last few years.  And wouldnt you  know, I did not take one picture of it inside or out.

It is amazing what has been going on  there.  From what I learned the old Kuser estate on Baldpate Mountain is now owned by Mercer County Parks.  They have added a magnificent patio to the back of what I still think might have been the original kitchens and a sort of mess hall.  It looked really nice.  Fresh new bathrooms are working.   Still there is much to do.  Of the many buildings on the property that I know of, and I dont know them all, this is the worst of the ones I've seen.  Somehow beautiful in its disrepair.

I was able to grab a few good images of the eagle and owl on display with their handlers.  I had taken several of these two and was not that happy with one of them...this was the best one, but their was a third peg.  Do you see the pegs coming out of the wall.  The third one looked like it was coming out of her mouth, so I removed it in Photoshop Elements 8 and added some hair to finish covering it up.  hehehehehehe I cant believe last year I was Photoshop Phobic.

 

The Eagle, having fallen WITH her nest, out of a tree broke her wing and the ultimate damage to it would keep her from hunting, thus surviving.  She is now in the care of the Wildlife Center.  Hard to believe but she only weighs 12 pounds.

 

 

The view from the patio goes down the mountain all the way to the River. 

Phillips in Stockton, provided wines for tasting.

 

 

There was soft music as the guests made their way around the tables of food. 

The sun was shining warm.

 I was delighted to see Doreen, from Inn of the Hawk in Lambertville. 

Revere was there to show support and Marcillios too.  A few places I never heard of like

TRENTON SOCIAL sounded worth investigating.

 

 

 

 

I wondered about the eagle and decided to go have another look from outside, using the window as a sort of frame.  She did me the honor of looking out as I looked in.  It was a rather odd sensation I felt having her look at me, from in there.

 

 

Wednesdays and NYC

I'm not really sure how many years Patti and I have been getting together on Wednesdays for

either a movie and dinner or an all day event to enjoy the culture and arts around us.

Yesterday we went into NYC to see ONCE.

 

 

We arrived early and went to St. Malachy's The Actors Chapel and I learned there is a

Patron St. of Artists.

 

When we arrived at the theatre the stage was full of musicians jamming and ticket holders.  I did not realize it was part of the show until I snapped and got a finger wagging from the lady in red.

 

It was a great show! 

Sister, if you are reading we had lunch at the Bangkok House and this time I ordered

the Chicken Coconut Soup.  It came with 2 pieces of Chicken. HA! 

We had the prix fix and with tip it was 10 bucks a piece. 

Can't beat that price for lunch in NYC.  Keep in mind after the theatre we went for a drink.

THAT DRINK WAS $9.

I LOVE NYC

 

Washington Crossing State Park, Young Soldiers, Bluebirds and A Soaring Eagle

With my guest, Pat, visiting this past weekend  it seemed to make a lot of sense to take her to the Sheep Shearing event right down the road at  Washington Crossing State Park.

I have never been and it was very interesting.  The kids that came by the busloads were very well behaved.  They learned what it was like to be a soldier during the REVOLUTION.

 

 

They watched demonstrations.

Sheep Shearing and Bread Making

 

 

 

 

We got lucky and were given a private tour of the Thompson-Neely House

 

Our luck continued when we walked over to the Soldiers Graves along the canal

and bluebirds were staking out there home.

Then WE REALLY GOT LUCKY.

  As we sat on a bench chatting and eating our peanut butter and jelly

sandwiches I felt a shadow cross over my body...

.I looked up to the sky and saw the flared out white feathers of a......

 

 

YUP AN EAGLE.....it was a beautiful thing.