Magnolia skies

Good Sunday morning all! It's set to be a beautiful day here in the Northeast and I am so looking forward to it!

Yesterday I was out and about trying to find some pretty pictures to shoot for you. Right now that's not to difficult considering so many trees are in full bloom. Flowers are everywhere and I love it!

Magnolia's are so mag-nificent.

I find it odd that as soon as they bloom the petals start turning brown. Is that a New England thing because we have cold nights? Not to mention they have the oddest smell. A bit repulsive and yet rather intoxicating at the same time. 

Yesterday afternoon was such a delightful surprise to see that the Bluebird eggs have hatched! There's a bunch of little black, fuzzy, brand new babies in the nest. Although I'd love to take a picture I don't think its possible. She built the nest so tall in the bird box that it's hard to even see the babies! 

Last week when I checked there were 6 perfect little blue eggs all lined up in two rows. Counting down the days I knew they were due to hatch by this past Friday or Saturday. Mom and dad seem quite busy now foraging for bugs. I've provided mealworms but their interest in them has suddenly dropped off. As the babies get larger I imagine it will pick back up again.

I wanted to let you know how I processed these images. Just for fun I used PicMonkey on all of them! 

In order, here is what I did:

Sepia, faded to somewhere around 50% (I washed it off the pink flowers on my bottom image)

Tranquil, faded to around 50% (or so)

Added a little Focal Soften where I thought it was needed, and adjusted to my taste

Under Exposure I upped the highlights to brighten the photos

Burned the Magnolia flower a bit to make it stand out

And finally added Rounded Corners

Usually I use PSE10 on my photos but I really wanted to try out PicMonkey and I have to say I'm very pleased with the results. It's such a fun program to play around with for everyday photos. After Picnik went under, people were scrambling to find something else. PicMonkey is developed by the same people who made Picnik, only I think it's better. More modern, organized, and with better options. Once its up and running 100% I'm sure it will be amazing. It's also a very easy program for my teenage daughter to use. She of course loves the Touch Up/Make Up options.

Isn't this the prettiest archway

Time to get started on my day. Much to do like make the bed, pick up the morning dishes, take a shower, and finish hanging the valances in the kitchen. Hopefully work in the garden a bit too. Oh I just love saying I'm going to work in the garden : )

Have a great day!

*Thank you all for the kind and helpful words, and personal emails concerning my back. It's hard to believe so many people have bulging discs!

 Two days before I had my MRI I started wearing a back brace. Every day, all day I wear it and I will tell you nothing has helped the pain like the brace has. My back is not 100% but the difference is dramatic! Tomorrow morning I go for the results of my MRI and fortunately I don't feel the dread I felt a week ago when I went in for the tests. Phew!

Spring in Newburyport

All these photos were taken a week ago while I was in Newburyport, Mass. The rain had just let up and the sun was dancing in and out of the clouds. Perfect for photography.












Heavy rain pulled down blossoms that were already hanging by a thread







I such a sucker for a white picket fence

It's been raining here for days. I'm anxious to get out and take pictures but between work and this miserable weather the odds aren't in my favor. From what I understand many other bloggers are dealing with endless rain too. Here's hoping we all get a bit of sunshine soon!

New Hampshire beauty

Today while I was out and about I decided to take a few back roads to see what I could come across to photograph. After all, that's how I usually find the best stuff!

A wonderful old gem sitting in someones yard, up on a hill. Love this.

Autumn's colors are coming along slowly but most tree's are still green. Because it was such a dry summer many leaves are turning brown and dropping. This was an awfully pretty tree at the end of someones driveway. If you look closely you'll see a red reflector sticking up so the plow guy doesn't hit the rock wall in the winter.

Wouldn't you love to sit on the front porch of this house and watch the world go by on a warm summers day? The house, barn and property are like a little piece of New England heaven. I want to live there.

The barn that goes with the house is fantastic! On the left portion you'll notice they actually have a shoppe, but it didn't appear to be open today or I definitely would have stopped. And who knows, maybe it hasn't been open in years.

The red sign says Dow Farm Shoppe

Out in back, around the corner from the white flowers, on the left, is a chicken coup built onto the side of the barn. It can only be seen after you drive by. Even the coup looked immaculate! Lucky chickens!

So there you go, a few random photos. And speaking of random, thank you all for the wonderful and sincere words of encouragement you left me yesterday. It lifted my spirits and was just what I needed! Who knows, maybe Random Thoughts will be a regular addition to my blog.

Stillness

This beautiful snow is all but a memory. We've had rain and warmer temperatures the past couple days causing much of it to disappear.

Normally I don't take many pictures of park benchs but I know people enjoy seeing them, and this seemed like a scenic shot, so I took it. I don't like it though. The bench and tree should be more to the left and it irritates me that I didn't have the foresight when I shot the bench to know that. I've taken enough photos that I really should have known that.

Quite often I look back at the photos I took and think the same things ...'why didn't I shoot it differently? Lower, more to the right, left, more sky .... yadda, yadda, yadda'

Let's try this one instead:

Hmmm ... I think I like the second one best. What do you think?

Both images have the Rapture texture applied, provided by Shadowhouse Creations

*******

After publishing this post earlier today I went back and recropped the top photo. I could crop it much though or I would lose the house or part of the bench. A little better?

String Bridge views on a Winters day

About the time I took these photos I was supposed to be at a doctors appointment. Needless to say I forgot. Oops!



String Bridge is located in the heart of Exeter. It's just a small, old bridge built in 1935 and the view is pure and simple small town New Hampshire.

(looking up river towards the dam)

Settled in 1638 Exeter became a busy mill town. Though most of the mills have since disappeared, many of the colonial homes remain.

(below photos are looking down river)





Some prefer an afternoon dip ....

others would rather go with a nap

The sign below provides a little more information about the historic gold building that resides in the middle of String bridge.

The Inn by the Bandstand

On December 3rd my girls and I went to the Festival of Trees in downtown Exeter, a wonderful annual event organized to raise money for the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce Children's Fund. Fifty trees are decorated, set up on display in the town hall, and auctioned off. All proceeds go towards warm clothing and bedding vouchers for area children in need.

This was the first year I've attended. It was such a beautiful night with warm temps, I just couldn't resist, and my girls had to go because their friends would be there also. In addition to the tree auction there was a horse drawn hay ride, Santa, all the shops were open, AND there was good food to be had.

I noticed The Inn by the Bandstand, located smack dab in the center of town, was having an open house (and I've always wanted to see what it looked like inside) so I made a B line straight there. This was my chance, and I was amazed by just how beautiful it actually was!

Let me tell you straight away, some of these photos are dark or blurry. Photo opportunities without people in them, or without being in someone's way, were limited so I did what I could, and quickly.

Living room just off the front entry. Blurry but very beautiful

Dining room also located just off the front entry


The holiday decorations throughout the inn were incredible. Victoria, one of the owners, has impeccable taste. Wouldn't you love to have breakfast here on a snowy New England morning?


I just loved this tree. I loved the whole Inn!

Looking out onto the town center and bandstand area

The Cambridge Room

The Windsor Suite (my favorite)

The Kensington Room

The Lakeheath Lodge

A view through a window on the top floor. The lines were long to see Santa and view the trees.

And lastly, located in the hall upstairs, a painting of the downtown area in 1982. The grey building behind the bandstand is actually the Inn which has since been painted yellow.

Though these photos aren't the greatest I felt it was important to post them. Recently a budget hotel opened in the area and another one will be opening in the spring, both of which will only prove to take customers from this family owned business. I know if I had the choice I would definitely stay at the Inn over any budget hotel!

To see much more of this beautiful place and what they have to offer (as well as better daytime photos) please check out their website:

The Inn by the Bandstand

Moon over Exeter

Coming home through Exeter on Sunday night I was yearning to capture the moon. We haven't had a lot of clear skies lately so when it the clouds have finally parted, and the moon has come out, it's a beautiful sight.

Although this wasn't the image I had hoped for at the time, the double chimneys, old brick facade, winding vines and green shutters can't be denied in New England. The setting sun lent a helping hand with a golden glow.

I need to show off Exeter a little more often. It's a small city, but charm and history abound.

The sun sets on the largest Oak Tree in the County

Last week while at my parents house I looked out the back door and caught sight of a spectacular cotton candy sky.

Usually it's a better view from out in front of the house so that's where I went next.

I looked around and around ... where am I going to capture this? Everywhere I looked were lines, poles, traffic.


Sometimes you have to just go with what you have, like it or not



In my parents front yard sits the largest Oak tree in the county and I believe the 2nd largest Oak tree in the state. Each year they are very blessed with about a million acorns. So are the squirrels!

Mom and Dad's home dates back to the 1800's though it has been completely renovated top to bottom, inside and out. The only original part of the structure still remaining are the main beams that run through the center of the home. When they first bought it the plans were to renovate it, but not to the extent they did. The more Dad tore out, the more he found needed to be replaced. He tried to stay as true to the original home as possible, while making it into modern structure.

How much longer they'll stay there I don't know. It's a big home, too big for two people, but dad can't bare the thought of giving up his barn!

* I wanted to add a brief update about my mom. Every few days she seems to be making a little progress. Yesterday she and dad made supper together, which gave her a sense of accomplishment. The day before she was able to go upstairs, with assistance, to take her first real shower in a week. Finally healing can be seen. I never dreamed her back surgery would be so difficult to recover from. Neither did she. Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts, and kind words. It has meant the world to me.