The last of the Fall colors...and splendid skies

Last weekend's gales and rain have stripped most of the leaves off the trees by now, but some beautiful and resistant reds are still to be seen.

Meanwhile, this season is heightened by the morning flights of huge skeins of geese overhead. They seem to be making short flights between Dryden Lake and the fields of corn stubs... but it is a stirring sight to see them fly by.

The Shug trail this morning was touched by soft mist...

Judy and I have a favorite three mile walk crossing five bridges each way... we can see beaver dams, herons, kingfishers and the endlessly changing creek as we walk.

Nicholas

Fall is here

Fall colors this year took a while to develop, and now with high winds overnight many of the leaves have fallen.
But last Sunday the Shug trail was glorious in golden dawn light...

This beaver dam represents heroic maintenance efforts by the local beavers... some weeks ago a repair crew from DPW knocked it down to alleviate the flooding, but within 3 days the beavers had put it back together!

Nicholas

The Great Blue Heron

This fabulous Great Blue Heron lives in the beaver pond area of the Shug Trail... the other day I watched him stalk some fish...moving incredibly slowly and then pouncing from time to time.

Fall colors are beginning now, and soon be in full swing!
Nicholas

Green Heron and Hummingbirds

A fabulous Green Heron inhabits the beaver ponds on the middle section of the Jim Shug trail.
Standing still as a statue, the birds sits on a log, or at the top of a tree, seemingly unaffected by passers by.

Back here in our garden, four or five  hummingbirds have taken up residence, skitting from Buddleia to Bee Balm and sunflowers.

Nicholas

Some Moments on the Jim Shug Trail, early fall, 2017

The Jim Shug trail runs for 4 miles from the Agway Store in Dryden, southwest towards Dryden Lake...
It is perfect walking... flat and full of interest.
We have spotted Belted Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, Green Herons, scores of other woodland birds, butterflies and more.

There is a project underway to extend this magnificent walk towards Freeville and Ithaca... so much more to come!
Here in the North East we are blessed with sunshine and calm... so our blessing go out to those in Texas, inundated by Hurricane Harvey's floods...
Nicholas

Summer closeups

The field behind our house is becoming a sanctuary of wildflowers, dragonflies, deer, birds and so much more.
Using a Nikkor 105mm macro lens here are some close ups...

The summer has been much wetter than usual resulting in luxurious growth in the garden, which looks incredibly different now after four years!

Its hard to believe that six months ago this was all covered in snow!

Nicholas

Snow Drifts...

After two days non stop snow, we finally have a respite this morning with gorgeous sunshine.
Snow drifts are four or more feet deep and have formed stunning cornices and snow waves...

Winchill is fierce this morning and hands quickly become numb even with gloves on.
Nicholas

Winter sparkles

Cold air settles in over upstate New York.
But when the sun comes out and, later, sets, we are gifted with extraordinary light.
Here is a glimpse of our dragonfly sculpture....

And here, sunshine on the vanes of our double helix wind sculpture.

And the creek at the foot of our garden...

And, the other evening the sun had gone down but had left a glorious afterimage of blues and turning colors late into a gloaming sky.

Nicholas

Dryden Lake in winter

Dryden Lake is frozen over again and some intrepid fishermen have been ice fishing. Misty and I spotted them sat around a few bore holes and, alongside flapped a few small fish.
Shadows cast northwards, leaving blue hues scattered about.

Returning to the car, the red barn looked gorgeous in winter light.

Today I used our snow blower for the second time. A snow joe electric two stage blower it made an easy job of clearing our drive!
Nicholas

Winter Light

Today, we have had windchill temperatures down below zero degrees F, which, I believe is near -20 C. 
But this evening, we were treated to a spectacular sunrise as wintery clouds came by and light to the West was golden.

It is a special time of year this, as the evenings draw longer and the dawn lingers. A time for reflection and recollection.
Nicholas