Happy Halloween!

We had a nice day here yesterday though the threat of rain seemed to loom. Looking out my living room window there still stands one of the only trees left in our yard with leaves attached. Today we’re under a wind advisory so they surely won’t be around much longer!

 Last night, for the first time since before the kids were born, I handed out candy alone.  There was a brief moment of sadness but what a bunch of cute kids we had! One little girl even had a Unicef box, something I collected for as a child as well.

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I also realized as I’m handing out candy that I’d never put up any Halloween decorations! I decorated for Fall but that’s it. At least my older daughter and her boyfriend carved pumpkins before they left. The one on the upper right is supposed to be them. LOL! My daughter made that one and put their initials on it. Young love. Creepy!

After today we will be in full holiday mode! Are you ready? Are we ever ready? If you are I don’t want to hear about it. Blast you organized people!

For now let’s just enjoy this scary day!

* If you’re a regular visitor to my blog than surely you’ve noticed it has a little more pizazz than usual. I hope you like the changes! I’d grown tired of viewing a sea of cream so I strained my brain and switched it up. The new format is more exciting to my eye and hopefully to yours too! Let me know what you think!

Sharon

Newmarket Water Works

Located in the town of Newmarket, NH is this wonderful old building, complimented with a gracious waterfall. Dating back to 1830, you can see on the plaque this factory building has been used for several different businesses. It's always great when a town buys and preserves such an gracious piece of history.

A perfect spot for a picnic or painting or to take a little 'me' time




In the above photo new windows have been retro fitted to the original openings. For as old as the building is, it still looks to be in excellent condition. I'd sure like to see the inside.

The pond on the other side of the bridge that feeds the waterfall. I was so fortunate to be there on a day with brilliant blue skies!

Our tree's are quickly losing their bold colors. Friday is supposed to be a windy day so by Saturday there probably won't be much left. Trying to capture the beauty of Fall is like a race against the clock!

Severance Monument

Shot this morning

Mockingbird

I had a some time to myself yesterday so I took a drive up through York, Maine. Had hoped for some sun and warm temps but that didn't happen. It didn't seem to bother this Mockingbird though, whom I found in York Harbor. All he cared about was singing his little heart out! I think he knew every song in the book too!

I thought for sure as soon as he saw me he'd take off so I shot the video from behind. When I finished I walked around front and took a few regular shots and he just kept on singing away. There were 3 different kinds of berries in the bushes below so somehow I'd guess he was staying put!

The Mrs looks good in red!

Do you remember my post, 'The Mrs'? On my way home from Mom's yesterday I stopped in to see how she was doing. It appears she's fine, though I imagine with the colder weather coming on she will soon be heading for the bay where there is less chance of ice. Maybe there she'll find a mate for next Spring.

Waaaay off in the distance she swam, back and forth, in and out of the vibrant red shadows. These are the moments when I wish I had a better lens, or a better camera, or a better something!

She left a beautiful red wake

Until next time my dear lady friend . . .


A shot of where the Mrs. actually was (she's hiding behind the reeds in this shot). It's is a prime example of our foliage this year ... a bright tree here and there but in general, due to all the rain we had earlier this summer, the leaves on most tree's are turning a goldish-brown and then falling. Thank goodness for those few brilliant beauties!

* Mom update: I wanted to let you all know my mother is still hanging in there. She had a cortisone injection in her spine on Monday morning which has helped to ease some of her sciatica pain. Yesterday was the best I'd seen her in a while. Hopefully it will hold out until she see's the surgeon!

Time elapsed Fall foliage

The following slideshow is a collection of images shot last year over the span of about a month.

Adjacent to our house sit's several large Maple tree's. Each year the tree's burst out with spectacular colors in the Fall. Even this year when the foliage isn't all that great on the seacoast the Maple's are putting on a glorious show!

All images were again taken with my previous camera during different times of day, different lighting, different views ... there's not a lot of rhyme or reason as I didn't plan it out that well ahead of time. Each shot was a spur of the moment thing, but it's still kind of interesting. Enjoy!

*These are also the tree's the Pileated Woodpeckers love and nested in!

Autumn Views

Since I haven't had much time for photography this Fall I thought I'd post something from last year. These shots were taken in a local cemetary with my old camera the Fujifilm s700.

And though I published these 'Murder of Crows' images last year I thought I'd publish them again for anyone who missed them

Both of these Crow shots were taken out behind an old, boarded up local High School just before dusk. It was really cool to see so many at once!

* I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who left such kind and thoughtful messages for my Mom. It's been a tough week and I spent all day Thursday and Friday at the hospital with her while they tried to manage her pain. She's back at home now but the pain is still debilitating. Her appointment with a back surgeon is on the 27th. It can't come soon enough!

In the sandwich

Someone recently told me I am part of the 'sandwich' generation. The one that takes care of their parents and kids at the same time. The kids, yes, all the time, my parents, well let's just say that things are changing.

One year ago this was my Mom . . . .

Working everyday, climbing ladders or staging, taking care of the house and my Dad, doing all the shopping and about anything else that needed to be done around the house. Today mom can barely walk. The summer of 2008 Sciatica began to plague her, not to bad, some days were worse than others but Ibuprofen seemed to control it. As time passed the sciatica became worse and worse and she found herself being tossed around from doctor to doctor with no results.

In the past couple months the pain has become at times unbearable. She is unable to even leave the house except for doctors appointments and even then has to use a wheelchair once she arrives.

Though my husband and I had planned a day trip to Salem, MA or northern NH it hasn't happened. It's not looking to promising either but all that doesn't even matter. There will be other Falls, and other trips, other times for photography. Right now I'm just hoping the surgeon will do something, and quick, when she goes for her appointment on the 27th!

Today I bought her some pajama bottoms to wear (since that's all she can manage these days), called the Dr. for more pain meds, vacuumed her floors and bought her some groceries. So if I'm a little scarce these days you'll know why . . . kids or parents . . . I'm in the sandwich!

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Thought I would share a small thrill with you all. Seriously, it's not a big deal.

The above photo was in the local magazine, Accent Home & Garden, the Fall edition! (pg. 22)

My daughters close friends Mom was the Editor and had seen this photo on my blog. She asked if she could use it and I said sure. Unfortunately the Fall issue was also the final issue so that's the end of that. LOL!

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful week-end!

Lunch at Petey's

Except for a couple previously taken shots (the first one below, and a couple others) the rest are from my lunch with my Texas friend, Nancy, last Monday afternoon.

Several of the images are pretty poor quality but taking great photos wasn't really my aim. Enjoying my brief time with Nancy was all that was really on my mind. That said, let's go to Petey's!!

www.peteys.com

Blurry, but as you can see it's a pretty basic interior with booths all around.

When we arrived the restaurant had just opened so it was still very quiet. By the time we left the parking lot and most of the seats were filled. And it was a Monday. In October.


Walking through the door to be seated you go right past this boat. The first booth on the right after the boat is where Nancy and I sat. I just realized something, in all the times I've eaten at Petey's I've never had a view looking out over the marsh. What's up with that?




We didn't order lobster but one placemat fits all



The view from our table ... the parking lot. Across the street and behind the houses is the beach/ocean

Looking up and out our window

An overhead view

The reason we came ... the food! Both of us had the fresh Haddock sandwich with fries and a pickle. I believe it was $7.99. The fish fillets were large, fresh, and delicious! For an appetizer Nancy ordered fried Zucchini strips. They were quite good but a bit too much for us to finish. It was a Texas sized portion!

There we are! Nancy ate like a bird. Me, I was hungry!

Stairs and lobster buoys going up to the outside deck, which is now closed until next summer

Walking past the side of the building heading outback towards this . . .

We really had such a nice, relaxing day. First we went to New Castle, then Petey's, and finally Target (for an emergency curling iron), before it was off to the train station. Since the Boston bound Downeaster came through at 2:06 we didn't have much time to waste, and for a moment I thought she actually might miss it! No such luck.

Hopefully I'll get to see you again next year Nancy!

Harvest Moon

Early Sunday evening I went to the train station to pick up my friend Nancy. She had arrived from Boston and was spending the night at my house before making a quick exit the next afternoon (it always goes so quickly) back to Beantown.

On our way home from the train I decided to take the back way, driving by Chapmans Landing. As we came over the bridge ... WOW! The Harvest moon had just risen over the bay and was a soft pink color.

These aren't exactly close up shots because I didn't think my camera would be able to get them without a tripod. I should have at least tried though. The moon was rising so fast I knew time was limited.


And then just like that, it started going behind clouds

Looking up river was just as pink, just as foggy, and just as pretty.

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*Life has been a very busy lately and it's next to impossible for me to keep up with everyone's blogs, so I want to publicly thank all those who stop by and leave comments. Thank you all very much!

Sharon

The chosen ones

It was tough trying to choose which pumpkins I liked the best and in the end I'm not sure I did, but I'm happy with what I have.

I know, 'that's it?' Yes it is.

I really wanted one of the orange varigated varieties but $20 was enough to spend on 3 pumpkins. The specialty ones cost a little more. The three of them look nice with my planter and should last quite a while.

This is the first year I've purchased the rose colored decorative kale. Aren't they beautiful! I put them in all 3 planters around the house.

Phineas sat looking out the door, watching and waiting for me to come back inside. Usually the dogs will sit with him but this time they were outside with me.

A couple parting shots of the gourds and sugar pumpkins.

Some of these funky gourds now sit in a decorative container on my kitchen table

I do love you Fall. If only you could stick around a little longer *sigh*