Moonset on Cadillac Mountain, and a Moose

Although we were only in the Bar Harbor/Acadia area for 2-1/2 days I made sure to see the sun come up and the moon go down each day. 

The photos below were taken from Cadillac mountain. How lucky am I that it just happened to be a full moon! Sometimes I'm not sure which is more impressive, the moonrise or the moonset. At about 6:15 in the morning this happened to be a moonset.

Looking out over the other side of the mountain towards Bar Harbor, the sunrise behind the clouds cast a colorful glow. The Summit cruise ship heads into port on what would be another perfect day in Maine.

Although this image doesn't really tie in with the moon or sun I just think it's a cool view. If you've been to Bar Harbor you surely recognize the moose! 

Moonset on the bay

Lately I'm not good at getting up and shooting the sunrise or sunset. Instead I prefer to stay in where it's cozy and warm, walking on the treadmill and doing my exercises for my back. However, Tuesday morning I could see the moon waning in the sky and thought it might be pretty to capture it as it set on the bay. So here we go.

Mind you I had no tripod with me

Looking right, opposite the moon

Geese were flying in repeatedly, that is until the sky started to lighten up a bit. It seems they prefer to travel in low light. Hmm... don't they know I'm trying to get a picturesque shot here?

And in a moments notice the moon slipped below the clouds on the horizon

Silly I know but this was my favorite shot. Just a simple gull flying through the air with an added texture

I've been trying to add work to my Redbubble and Society 6 websites. It takes a lot of time to set up photography websites, work on images and then post them, all the while trying to figure out if you're charging to much, to little, or what. Both sites seem to be quite good, though I suspect Society 6 has product that is a bit higher quality. I know they charge enough for their services! Holy cow! But, I guess that's the way it goes if you want someone else to do all the work, right?

  

I keep thinking about going back to Etsy

We had snow yesterday and rain this morning, which turned everything to ice. Seeing as how we are in the northeast though school was ON both days. We're hardy folk here in NH. Or stubborn. Could be a combination of both. Yes, I believe that's what it is. Ha haa!!!


Happy Friday all!

Sunset ~ Moonrise

Yesterday afternoon I told my husband the only thing I wanted to do was watch the moon rise over the ocean. After dinner we headed to New Castle for an ice cream at the Ice House, with the intent of watching the moon come up by the Portsmouth Harbor lighthouse. Looking at the compass on my iPhone my husband didn't think we'd have an optimal view so he suggested we head down toward the beach.

Driving over the bridge next to the Wentworth by the Sea marina, I looked out towards Portsmouth to catch a spectacular sunset over the water. Just to the left of the sunset (I know it's hard to see the yellow house) sits the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion. A beautiful place to visit on a warm day.




Within a few minutes we were on Rt. 1a parked near Pebble Cove motel. From this beach you can walk along next to the ocean over to Odiorne Point. I thought it would be a great place to see the moon rise!



Looking south towards Rye











You can expect to see a lot more Queen Anne's Lace in coming posts. It cannot be helped.




Slowly but surely the sky was getting darker. Moonrise was supposed to be at 9:02 so we knew we'd have to wait a little bit longer.







8:30 . . . the mosquitos started attacking. My husband seemed to be the object of their affection too! With 1/2 an hour to go we just couldn't wait. The bugs were brutal.



Just another shot looking toward Odiorne state park on the left. Portsmouth Harbor lighthouse is on the right, identified by the little green light on the horizon.

Now we had to book it back to the car and try for the third time to find a place to view the moon!

As luck would have it we made it to Jenness beach in the nick of time. I jumped out of the car and started shooting. Most of my shots were pretty poor seeing as how it was now dark outside but I managed to get a few decent images. Here's one . . .






And yes, it really was that orange!

Thanks for coming along with us! I hope you enjoyed Saturday night all over again. The evening was so relaxing for my husband and I, and we needed a little 'us' time.

Did you see the full moon this week-end? I hope so!

This and That

Oh my goodness, I did NOT expect the response I had to my most recent post! Thank you all so much! I have resolved not to put so much pressure on myself or my photography. Just try to enjoy blogging and work around life's daily issues.

So nice that you all enjoyed the little Sugar Shack. I never mentioned where it's located and I know someone asked. It's in Stratham, NH. Sugaring is coming to and end though as we are nearing the end of March.

A couple weeks or so ago I brought in some Forsythia branches to force. At first I wasn't sure they would bloom but low and behold they look gorgeous. The Double Flowering Cherry branches I cut haven't been nearly as cooperative. They still look like sticks.

On Sunday the girls and I went over to my parents to see the stray cat they just took in. Lucy is absolutely adorable but unfortunately she's pregnant. They've been feeding her for a year and have never been able to get close, but finally she relented and came in their house. Not a moment to soon either seeing as how she's due in 3 weeks. Sweetest thing ever. Luckily she is finally getting the vet care she needs, along with a warm place to sleep at night. I swear I don't know how she made it through the winter.

While we were there I walked down through the back field just to get out. This picture was taken from about half way down to the woods. If I walked far enough I could go to the local reservoir but it was to muddy.

In the vegetable garden is a huge Curly Willow. My mom took a small piece from an arrangement delivered to their house years ago when my uncle died. That cutting took off, big time!

The rhubarb is coming up! I can hardly wait for strawberry-rhubarb pie!

Sunday into Monday we had an inch or so of snow. The next morning it was melting fast with water dripping off all the trees and bushes.

If we had just one decently warm day I'm sure this Daffodil would bloom! Instead we're expecting a bit more snow tonight with cold temps in the 30's tomorrow. Where are you Spring???

I missed shooting the supermoon this past week-end but I caught a bit of it Monday morning.

Just a little this and that of my life in the past few days.

Today my husband and I went to Portland, Maine. First we visited the Apple store (it was a rather intoxicating and I wanted one of everything!), lunch at Panera (always a good meal), next up, Whole Foods (pricey but we liked the variety), and finally Trader Joe's (great prices). It was a good day and it gave us a chance to feel like 'us' instead of parents. That doesn't happen to often it seems.

I hope you had a good Wednesday. It will be Friday before you know it!

My day in pictures

Yesterday (Thursday, 1/20/11) was the date of my daughters Tonsillectomy. As per the norm the animals all woke me up at 5:45 am because they wanted to eat. I came out in the kitchen, started the coffee, and let the dogs out, only to see the moon sinking low in the sky.

If only I could drive down to the bay, or to a field, to photograph it. Instead I stood on my back deck and watched it sink rapidly out of sight below the tree line.

We had to be at the hospital by 8:15, and I had yet to take a shower. In the mean time my husband was driving my younger daughter to school when she starts texting me . . .

her: you should see the moon!
me: I know it's beautiful
her: go photograph it!
me: I can't. We have to go to the hospital
her: go, go go!!!
me: I really wish I could but I have to get ready. There will be other moons. Maybe next month

(Speaking of texting, have you seen this site? When Parents Text Love it!)

It was such an incredible morning for photography, with fresh snow and a beautiful blue sky and a brilliant sun. Some things are more important than others though.

The surgery went well. It was quick and the doctor was pleased with how the tonsils looked. He said they were large, but spongy, and they didn't appear suspect. However, he sent them off to be tested anyway. We'll know the results in about a week.

We were only at the hospital a few hours before they sent us home. Andria was anxious to get into her own bed.

I had been eying the Hydrangeas, wanting to photograph them early in the morning with the sun shining on the snow. They still looked pretty in the early afternoon so I grabbed a few shots. This was my favorite.

Shortly after we arrived home I had to go pick up meds. Here we are at the grocery store parking lot. Seriously. I tell you, you just never know where your next shots will come from! These tree's sticking up out of the snowbanks were to pretty not to photograph.

Our regular pharmacy didn't have enough Roxicet (liquid percocet) so I had to go someplace else. The other pharmacy had the meds but wouldn't take our insurance so I ended up paying cash. My daughter couldn't wait any longer while I ran to yet a 3rd pharmacy. Needless to say my husband was a little ticked off after he had already called our insurance co and was told the second place WOULD take our insurance.

Looking out from our back deck once again at the end of the day.

My daughter seemed to be doing really well, but around 8:30 she became very sick to her stomach and felt awful the rest of the night into this morning. Finally, this afternoon she is showing signs of improvement. Hopefully she is almost through the worst of it.

And that was my day in pictures! I appreciate all the incredibly kind words you all left for me and my older daughter on the last post. It was of great encouragement for this nervous mom!

Today we had another big snow storm. Again, no time for photography as I had to take care of things in the house. Maybe tomorrow I'll get out and about if I can leave the girls alone for a bit. It's supposed to bitter cold though, which does not exactly inspire the photographer inside of me.

*I can't lie, I did take pictures of my daughter at the hospital. It wasn't pretty. We'll leave those out for now, okay? Especially since she's being so nice to me, and with a teenager you don't want to rock that boat ; )

Full moon rising over York Beach

Below is a time elapsed Full Beaver moon (aka Frosty Moon) rising over Long Sands in York, Maine on November 21st of this year.

Nubble Lighthouse

After moving down the beach . . .

This woman was actually out there doing yoga in the moonlight, and it was bitterly cold. Oh but what a moment to live in.

Unexpected

With the weather we're having right now I had no expectations of seeing the full Blue Moon last night, so as I left the house just before 6 PM to pick up my daughter from work I was a surprised to see a partial clear sky with that glorious moon right there sliding across the sky. I almost think it's Cosmos moon!

I couldn't get home quick enough to grab this shot. Already clouds were starting to filter in causing a haze which is why the moon looks the way it does.

I took this photo at the end of my street under the street light. After that I felt such a sense of satisfaction that it was my last shot of the year. Bring it on 2010. 2009 ended on a good note.

A Blue Moon for the New Year

Sometimes the picture you want isn't always the one you get. Especially if your about half an hour too late, as I was yesterday with the Blue Moon. I had hoped to be at the coast in time to see it rise above the trees on the horizon, which is when it appears largest, but I didn't make it. I still had some nice photo opportunities so I took them.

On the way home I drove down a side street just to check out the view when I saw this ...

It turned out to be a decent shot and a beautiful sight. I often wonder what it's like to live in a place like that on the water. Not necessarily someplace fancy but just a place with a view of life, coming and going, ever changing.

The moon was still a bit white but as it continued to rise it turned a golden yellow like in the photo below.

Last night was my only chance to capture the elusive Blue Moon since we are on track for storms the next few days.

I want wish you all a very happy but above of all safe New Year! My husband and I plan on staying in for the evening while both of the girls have plans with friends. We're just so boring these days.

Snowy Morning Moon

Okay, I have a serious affair going on with the moon lately.

When I woke up this morning at 6:10 AM and let the dogs out this was what I saw:

Full Cold Moon

Yesterday MORNING (Wednesday) as I drove my daughter to the bus stop at 6:45 AM, I was floored by how beautiful the moon was. Big and golden, just amazing.

I didn't have a lot of time before it would be gone so I grabbed my camera, and Lily, and off we went to Great Bay, the only place I could think of with a wide open view.

Sure enough, there it was with no obstructions.

As the moon sunk down to the horizon it began to lose it's golden shine, but still, my goodness it was a sight to see.

Did you know if there are two full moons in a month the second one is called a Blue Moon? It doesn't happen very often though, hense the saying, 'Once in a blue moon'