Fascinated with Nature and beauty

Syracuse Nationals

2009-08-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

No true lover of old cars would knowingly forgo a visit to the yearly Syracuse Nationals where people from all corners of the US congregate each year to show restored cars from days gone by. I tell you it was a real treat for us to see all those wonderful cars exhibited in one place. Of course I took as many photos as I had memory space and now, without further ado, I will share them with you!

The first photo was taken in one of the many indoor exhibit spaces where all the pin stripers were showing off their skills. There were ongoing competitions where the artists had only a few minutes to come up and execute their designs, which were then auctioned off. From what we saw in the short time we hung out, a lot of money was raised which was then donated to a children's charity.

The young man in the photo has a pin striping business in Bakersfield CA called 'Diablo's House of Style (661-565-6871) and he had only just started on this design when I took this photo. Yes, that is Diablo himself holding the panel.

I hope you will enjoy the photos as much as we enjoyed the show!

As an inveterate lover of hood ornaments I must of course start with this one, though I must say that I was a little disappointed. I expected to see more unusual ones than I was familiar with already. Even so we spent an entire day walking through the exhibits, we barely managed to see even half of the seven thousand cars on show here. So it is entirely possible that all the really good ornaments were in the sections we were unable to visit!

Yep, that is a real Silver Shadow, it was sitting right next to a Bentley, but unfortunately I managed to get that photo all shook up so it ended up blurry (that is why they tell you to use a tripod). I really wanted to show you the cool leather interior with all the blue glowing armature! Oh well!

Btw, if you want to see a larger version of the photos, just click on them. You should be able to read the placards next to some of the cars that way.

Who among us hasn't dreamed of riding in a classy car such as this 1954 Kaiser Darrin? If you have never heard of this car, don't feel bad. This is car #145 of 451 produced. I think this car is just beautiful!

Here are two of Jon Button's race cars. I don't know what make the blue racer is, but the red one is a 1936 Hillegass.

And here is Jon Button himself tipping his cap and holding his old autograph covered helmet

There was just so much color on these restored beauties! If you think about it, most of these car's original paint jobs were much more conservative than what their current owners decided on. Those paint companies must be doing great business these days. I spoke to one owner of a 1970's Mustang and he said that he put over $4,000 into his car in paint alone and he did the painting himself. I understood perfectly why he did not want anyone touch his car!

Just look at this beauty, a 1930 Ford Woodie - that's when they still used real wood!

Someone used this is a car for a funeral - even though it says 'Superior oil Co' on the side. A mighty stylish way for your last ride...

I fell in love with this car, everything is perfect, the color the lines of the grille, the headlights! I have no idea what make this beauty is - any suggestions?

What would a carshow be without at least one stingray? Well this show had several that I saw, this one was the one I liked best.

These next three cars had gleaming spotless engines. I am sure they were transported here on a flatbed, they were in such a pristine condition.

Next comes a more unusual car. This one was built by the owner himself after a concept he saw in a 1965 magazine. On the accompanying panel he tells us how he did it. Just click on the photo of the panel to see a larger readable image open in a new tab.

And here is the finished car! Not bad for a retiree, eh?

I think this was one of my favorite entries. This lovely pickup truck owned and lovingly restored by a middle aged couple who told me that they just loved to take rides into the country and then tour around in their equally lovely and lovingly restored matching bikes, seen here on the back of the truck!

Here is a better look at the bikes. My only regret was that I did not also take a photo of the owners! They were sitting right there next to their truck - my bad!

I hope you have enjoyed the Syracuse Nationals via my little photo essay. Maybe next year you will join us there in person. Think about it!

Rust in Peace Car Cemetary Revisited!

2009-03-09T10:47:00.000-07:00

As promised here is the first update to my recent post about the incredible repository of antique cars and equipment we discovered a few weeks ago. Of course you and I both knew that we were not going to be able to stay away for long, especially since I had only been able to take photos of a few of the countless cars hidden away there. We finally had a few warmer days recently and consequently felt some familiar stirrings commonly called spring fever, which inevitably resulted in the shelving of more menial though necessary chores, to succumb to the lure of discovering the hood ornament to end all hood ornaments or taking the most awesome antique car photo ever!

We found the place much as we had left it and after exchanging some pleasantries with the owner of the premises, we wasted no more time and headed off into a section we had not explored fully during our last visit. Not that we will have the slightest chance to find all the treasures hidden here this time around! There are so many corners just waiting to be explored, but with diligence eventually we will have seen everything. So, without further ado, please enjoy the photos of our latest discoveries!

The first image is of course another hood ornament, this one of a lovely flying lady which looks like she is about to lift off the crusty hood of this old De Soto.

When I came upon this vehicle my heart nearly stopped, you are looking at late 1917 to 1923 REO, I am not sure exactly which date is correct! It looks rather bedraggled at this point, it's tires are in shreds and it's wheels look rather knock kneed. The chassis behind does not look any better, in fact it is non existent except for the rust encrusted metal supports, the axles and wheel assembly. Below is a picture of the great REO emblem which is still mounted on the front, though it too has seen much better days.

I thought it might be nice to show what is left of the REO armature and the stick shift and gear assembly. Back then they actually used real wood nicely stained and polished to a high gloss, of which only some of very weathered wood is left today. They actually marked the foot pedals so there would be no confusion which was the clutch and which was the brake!

I had to chuckle when I came upon this beauty, a 1954 Buick Century Riviera. Anyone interested in making an offer? This Buick is solidly built, all it takes is new tires, new seats and a paint job. Well, there maybe a few minor adjustments which I haven't mentioned yet. But it will make the old girl's frown turn into a smile guaranteed - and the new owner will be very happy too! They don't make cars like this anymore you know! I think I missed my calling, maybe I should have given car sales a try, eh? Just kidding of course, but if I heard right, the owner is willing to consider any fair offer for any of these vehicles or parts.

Now this is what I call a politically incorrect name for this 1940s truck! But I was told that back in the day there actually was a truck manufacturer named White and I guess he wanted to declare the vehicle's superior might to future owners. I don't know if they sold many of these trucks, but this is the only example I have ever seen.

Wouldn't you love to have a wild paint job just like this for your late 1940s Pontiac? It almost looks glamorous thanks to the help of Photoshop - it's magic makes the ravages of time look almost like an abstract work of art.

I have a great love for these old hood ornaments and I was really looking forward to finding something really special on this trip. When I found this glowing flying lady mounted on a nearly completely rusted 1942 De Soto I was ecstatic! The sun even obliged me and peeked out from behind clouds just to illuminate her properly! Isn't she grand? She is the same lady as the chrome version in the first photo. The Lucite makes her look so ephemeral, but she must have glowed brilliantly at night when she was illuminated!

This wheel with real wooden spokes, which most likely belonged to a Model A or T, is the best preserved part of the entire vehicle, believe it or not. A small tree and a few bushes and even a rosebush have made their home here and have totally intertwined with what is left of the struts and framework of this car. It must have sat here for quite some time!

I have no idea what car this ornament is mounted onto. I have tried to keep a record of the names of the vehicles, but somehow I missed this one! I will have to add it later - a good excuse to pay another visit!

I think this is the most lovely and well preserved vehicle I have discovered so far, I am sure you will agree! I love the turquoise color contrasted by the black wheels and bottom. I think this has been restored at some point and it would not take much to get it into top shape - lovely!

In complete contrast to the above vehicle is this old rusty Nash which is now totally overgrown with weeds, it has lost all of it's windows and grille and has sunken deeply into the ground over the years. But what it has lost in glamor and shiny elegance, it has made up for with character, just look at it!

Another former beauty queen that has sunken into the ground. This 1942 De Soto with the abstract paint job is the vehicle which sports the lovely Lucite hood ornament I showed previously. But despite it's deplorable condition it still looks formidable and solid!

I think this lovely swan hood ornament was on an old Packard if I am not mistaken. It is in great condition and looks so very graceful with it's raised wings and arched neck!

Another De Soto flying lady, this one is of a simpler design but no less striking than those in the previous photos.

In 1947 Pontiac designed and built this massive vehicle with the enormous grille and the predator teeth exposed from the bumper. I think time's ravages artistic and very colorful paint job only enhances the powerful impact of this long abandoned car.

What can I say about this 1937 Plymouth, but that it still has much to tell us about it's glory days as an American icon! Never mind the rust and blind windshield - I would like to see any of the current cars after all the abuse this one has surely suffered at the hands of it's many owners and particularly the elements - on second thought, never mind...

I named this photo "Home, Sweet Home" in honor of the many spiders and other small critters who decided to make this their home. When I approached to take this picture I just saw a small tail disappear below the seats - I had no wish to frighten the little critter so I quietly walked away afterward.

I really like this Dodge hood ornament of a nicely detailed ram. It looks like it was on a fairly recent make of a Dodge truck, but I have no recollection of ever having seen it mounted before.

Many of the windows and bodies of these old cars have interesting designs created by the elements or other destructive forces. This one caught my eye as well, even though I have no idea what might have caused this effect on the rear window of a car whose make I no longer remember. With the yellow discoloration on the bottom it almost gives the impression of fire, doesn't it?

Here is another completely rusted out and overgrown old truck returning back to the elements! From the looks of it, it won't take too much longer! You can barely make out it's outline!

There are many more treasures waiting to be discovered so I want to invite you to please come back to see the latest developments! I know I want to go back there to explore some more and also because I really want to see what the place looks like when everything is lush and green, besides the fact that I would really like to learn more about some of these grand old cars!

See you then...

Bridges

2009-02-26T13:59:00.001-08:00

Living in an area where water is literally everywhere, be it lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks or small rivulets, there will also have to be many bridges for people to get across them. This post is about some of these bridges.

The first two images are of the same bridge - one of my most favorite - a very graceful stone bridge which spans Fall Creek as it empties into Bebe Lake. Bebe Lake is barely visible on the other side of the bridge in both photos. I shot them recently from opposite sides of Fall Creek early in the morning when the area was shrouded in fog.

Fortunately this lovely spot is very close to where I live, so I am able to come here quite often. I have posted several photos taken nearby already (look at the entry 'Snow' from 2008) and I am quite certain that there will be more in the future!

This is Fall Creek again, but now it is the bridge just below Ithaca Falls, right after the creek has plunged down several dramatic falls while bisecting Cornell Campus. Of course there are many more interesting bridges crossing it between this bridge and the lovely stone bridge above, most with awesome views either of the different falls and the gorge the creek has cut through the rocks, or of breathtaking birds eye views of Ithaca and Lake Cayuga. I will of course post photos of most of those bridges as I take them. In the photo above, the creek is about to pass through part of Ithaca before it will finally empty into Lake Cayuga.

Now here is a completely different kind of bridge which is a considerable distance from the last one showcased. This photo was taken where Rte 96 crosses Taughannock Creek. It is a modern, very minimal looking bridge, but I like the clean lines contrasting the lovely view below. Taughannock Creek here still has some remnants of ice left. It was taken on a nice warm day, nearly 50 degrees F, most certainly the first harbinger of Spring! Of course we are not out of the woods yet, last year we had another snow storm end of March, but usually it will warm up very quickly after that.

Another interesting bridge near where I live, this one is a wooden footbridge which sways with every step as you cross over Fall Creek to the hiking paths on the other side. This bridge is located above the stone bridge shown at the very beginning of this blog entry. Cornell Plantation and Botanical Gardens are just across the road which meanders alongside the creek, Forest Home begins just a few hundred feet further down the creek from here.

Forest Home is a small enchanted community first settled in 1797 and it really looks like it belongs in a book of fairytale illustrations. Just on the other side of the footbridge is a small waterfall and below that is an area called Flat Rock, named for the numerous flat rocks found on either side and even in the middle of the creek, which make for an ideal sunning spots for the many bathers who come to enjoy the cool waters on hot Summer days.

In this photo, which was taken several weeks earlier just after the last snow storm, you can look across the footbridge while someone is taking a photo of the still frozen Fall Creek below.

For the sake of being thorough I must also include a very different kind of bridge into this photo essay, one provided by nature itself - a log which fell quite conveniently to assist some brave soul to cross to the other side of this narrow gorge in Buttermilk Falls Park at the southern entrance of Ithaca! My guess is that squirrels and other small critters probably have taken advantage of nature's largess, I am not so courageous and therefore must pay for it by having to take the long way around - so be it!

While I am on the subject of different kinds of bridges, I would like to include my attempt to depict a metaphorical bridge. I created it from two photos I took, one of a bridge spanning Cascadilla Gorge and another of the view from my office window in Manhattan. I combined them to illustrate my feelings after moving from NYC to Ithaca nearly two years ago.

It juxtaposes the verdant vibrant natural landscape of Cascadilla Gorge with Manhattan's wintery concrete canyons. I was very happy to have a window near my desk, many workers here were not so fortunate as they work cooped up in their highrise office building cubicles!

On this particular day there was a fire in the smaller building just to the left of center. You might be able to see the flames reach out to the fire escape about 10 floors up if you look closely. The small fire was put out promptly of course - this being the jewelry district where torches and dangerous chemicals are in use daily and such small fires occur often!

Next comes a small footbridge which enables people to cross a rather swampy area in Sapsucker Woods Bird Sanctuary and Ornithological Lab of Cornell. I am delighted to have this in my greater backyard as well, only a mere 5 minute ride from my house! I have spent many happy hours enjoying the peace and quiet here, while eavesdropping on numerous herons, red tailed hawks, owls, cardinals, finches and even bullfrogs. There are many interesting birds that nest and feed here - if you just sit quietly you can easily observe them in their own habitat. Unfortunately my little old digital camera is not up to the task of recording what my eyes are witnessing - maybe some day!

This interesting preserve boasts about 4 miles of walkways, most of them looking much like the one above, bridging a wonderful wetland with richly varied vegetation, then meandering through a small stand of deciduous trees and finally circling a pond, all of which provide endless opportunities for the inveterate photographer and nature connoisseur!

One of the many graceful stone bridges which cross some of the creeks here, this one is also in Cascadilla Gorge. There is a hiker relaxing on its generous ledges in the bright sun after the climb up the gorge. Most of these stone bridges were built in the 30's and 40's and have been lovingly repaired and maintained as the climate is a bit rough on things here, especially during winter.

Two different views of another stone bridge follow, this one is located in Buttermilk Falls Park just on the outskirts of Ithaca. Buttermilk Falls Park is a great place to go for a hike, there are countless waterfalls on every twist and turn of the creek as it makes it's way down the highlands to the big falls. It is a favorite haunt of photographers since everywhere you turn you can find gorgeous views!

I hope you enjoyed my little excursion visiting some of the numerous bridges in Ithaca! There are so many different styles of bridges here, from the examples of wood and stone bridges you have seen here, to others made of steel, concrete, old fashioned or modern ones. You guessed it - there is more material for future additions and you will be able to enjoy them if you revisit this essay from time to time!

Promise kept today for the first time, March 9th 2009, with a few new bridge additions - more coming in the future!

Rust in Peace Car Cemetery

2009-02-24T20:30:00.001-08:00

What better time for nostalgia than late winter, when much of the fun and excitement about snow and wintery things has begun to wear a little thin and the longing for warmer days, greener fields and fragrant blooms is getting stronger every day!

Feeling a bit stir crazy yesterday we decided to go for a ride exploring some of the lovely back roads in the area and after many twists and turns we finally ended up at a magical place - an old car cemetery! It was a very blustery day with overcast skies, low racing clouds and distant landscape features all but obscured by myriad snow flakes driven by icy wind gusts.

The first hint of the treasures of bygone days hiding here surprised us when, coming around a tight curve in the narrow road, we were given the once over by this old rusty GMC truck (pictured below) sitting by the roadside, scrutinizing us with baleful, rusty eyes in tandem with a lone ancient Chevy front end (pictured above) - all that was left of a once racy vehicle long since returned to the elements or fallen victim to the ever hungry scrap dealer, hunkered down on what used to be the GMC truck's flat bed, both apparently in charge of deciding our worthiness to enter these realms as if they were the guardians of this hallowed place!

As we passed by them slowly we saw on both sides of the road countless vehicles of all kinds, cars, trucks, rusty tractors and other farm equipment, even a few cranes came to rest in between anything from Model A and Ts, Studebakers, Packards, Nash and DeSotos and many more to mention by name. We parked near a building and after getting permission from the owner of the premises we started walking around, camera ready, totally in awe of all of these beautiful old vehicles just sitting here by the roadside.

The wind was blowing pretty hard by now and even I, who am never cold, had finally buttoned up my coat, donned my gloves and turned up the insulated hood over my hat, thankful to have dressed warm enough to now be comfortable walking around admiring all this bygone glory. But after taking some shots and the weather quickly getting worse we had to admit that it really was getting too dark and uncomfortable for photographing, so we regretfully decided to come back on a brighter day.

But we did not have to wait very long, the weather being much more favorable the following morning we did not waste any time to make our way back. It seemed much warmer since the wind had finally died down and the sun was actually peeking out from behind the clouds every now and then! We really feasted our eyes passing by endless snowy cornfields circled by hawks, vineyards interrupted by small patches of forest, the still frozen landscape dotted here and there with picturesque Greek revival farmhouses lovingly attended by great mature trees.

We almost missed the place, but after a few wrong turns and the kind assistance of a rural mail carrier we finally arrived. So, without further ado, here are a few of the highlights of my meanderings among the greatest collection of old cars and trucks I have seen in a long time!

I really love the grandiose and elegant designs of these wonderful old cars and I very much appreciate all of the little special touches, such as the interesting hood ornaments some of them still sport after all of these years. They hail of a more innocent time, albeit a more ignorant time as we know now.

Back then we still thought the party would last forever, there would not be a bill down the line for all of this largess to be paid in full by future generations. The artist in me sees the beautiful lines, the dramatic ornaments and loves them for their beauty. Even time's ravages, the countless pits marring once smooth chrome finishes, the rust eating away the metal patiently and inexorably, turning once smooth finishes into abstract landscapes, their many colors holding a deep fascination for me in their endless variety.

Here are two views of George Petty's daring (for it's time) hood ornament for the 53/54 Nash - what great lines! This ornament really reminds me of the beautifully carved women gracing the bows of the grand old sailing ships before there were engines to facilitate ocean travel. Come to think of it, these massive old cars remind me of ships too, remember the slang term ' land yacht'?

The lucky owner of all this faded glory - who by the way is extremely knowledgeable about his treasures - looked in on us from time to time and regaled us with tantalizing tidbits, such as who designed this lovely hood ornament. He definitely is someone you might want to know more about, so maybe there will be another blog entry to be written down the line - provided of course that he is amenable to share a bit of his life with us!

Next is my favorite, an illuminated amber chieftain hood ornament! I think this was for a 1950 or even older Pontiac. Time sure left its mark on the finish, but I think if anything it looks more striking than the original smooth glossy sheen. The passage of time always leaves it's marks, whether it is on an old car or the face of a loved one. The pits and the rust tell their story just like every wrinkle in your longtime lover's face - there is no shame in that, only strange tales and many interesting adventures one hopes!

I love these old streamlined and very dramatic car designs of the early days of motorized travel if only for their artistic and historic value, even though some of their decorations and icons are considered politically incorrect today in many quarters, which I am more or less in agreement with as far as that is concerned. History is what it is, we can't change things once done, the best we can do is learn from our mistakes and do better in the future!

When one looks at this next ornament in particular, but also many of the others I am showing here as well, one really gets a sense of the speed and power which these vehicles represented. The amber chieftain's face is extended forward, as if to part the elements to allow the car to move forward more easily, his face shows unrelenting determination and forward movement even when resting, which is accentuated and mirrored by the still gleaming chrome which curves away gracefully beneath it. Just wonderful! Imagine it lit up, unwaveringly guiding the car and its occupants down the dark roads back to the warmth and comfort of home! So much drama - how could you not love this?

Speaking of political correctness - there is no argument coming from me as to the thoughtless exploitation of indigenous people here and elsewhere and the gross injustice of them being relegated to the status of icons and mascots while the real people whose images we use so mindlessly languish in poverty, denied their culture, their ancestral lands and their way of life!

To my understanding, finding myself living in this culture of planned obsolescence, mindless over consumption, devoid of a spiritual connection to what truly nourishes our minds, bodies and souls - this planet, our mother, the Earth! Might we not do well to reconsider our past maladjustment and misconceptions of what is really important in our all too short lives by taking another look at those same indigenous people's ways, whose lands we now occupy and have fouled so carelessly and greedily, to finally learn what we must if we wish to survive, if we want to leave a world worth living in to ALL of our children and creatures and finally honor those cultures by honoring the mother of all and finally cleaning the mess we have made of things?

This is what that strong pitted face of the chieftain represents to me as he calls on us to hear him speak over the expanse of time, to let his culture's ways guide us back home into harmony with nature - might we not heed what he represents and allow him to lead us?

This old car cemetery has caused me to think of not only beautiful designs and historic reminiscences, but also what this all means in the context of our present technologies which admittedly have made things easier in many ways, but whose hidden bills are now coming overdue, as we are becoming aware of the environmental damage the petrochemical industries are causing and especially since we are now also fighting wars over the resources necessary to power these technologies, when it should be easily possible for our innate ingenuity to create a better way!

Be that as it may, there is much food for thought here, no doubt, but I will return to sharing more of our adventure in the Rust in Peace Car Cemetery! Below is another even older Pontiac chieftain ornament, this time in chrome. It too has some of the feeling of the amber chieftain above, but without it's dramatic expression and powerful forward motion in my opinion.

Now this is what I call a car! I love the smooth curving lines here and the bared teeth of the grille look positively menacing. "Get out of my way or you shall be devoured just as I devour the miles!" What an experience it must have been to drive down the highways in such a vehicle!

Of course I would not want to have to pay the gas bill for this guzzler, especially at today's prices, nor could anyone be able to justify today using up so much resources simply to drive in style, but this is what nostalgia is all about, we wish that we were still back in the days when we were ignorant of the consequences of our choices - able to abandon ourselves without reservations to the enjoyment of the moment!

Next is a photo of an old Packard - I don't know which year. The car has lost all of the shine of it's finish but none of its elegance, there is rust in many places, but to me this just adds to the texture, like a pretty patina. Notice the white walled tires and the placing of the rear view mirrors! There is a close-up of the hood ornament as well, though it must keep for the next installment of the Rust in Peace saga!

Another beautiful car - lovingly embraced by feathery weeds, as my poetic friend Anne so poignantly noted when she visited me this afternoon and I showed her these photos! This is an old Nash and actually it is still in fairly good condition considering that it has been sitting here, exposed to the elements, for years!

There is so much still to see and write about here, I haven't even begun to scratch the surface, but for now this is enough of a sampling of bygone day's treasures. I hope you enjoyed coming along for this day's adventures, there will be more posted about this in the days ahead, so stay tuned!

More Nightime Adventures

2009-02-09T16:44:00.000-08:00

Last night we took some friends home after a nice evening at another friend's art show opening in Ithaca's ABC Cafe. Our friends live in Dryden, a small nearby community and as usual we took the back roads through the fields. It was a lovely night and the moon was almost full illuminating the snowy landscape beautifully! On the way I noticed a small creek and I saw the reflection of the moon in the water as we passed over the bridge. When we returned we stopped by that bridge and I quickly took a photograph. I still had the highest ISO setting on my camera so I was hoping that something registered enough for me to be able to coax it out.

Well, I was able to make the scenery appear, albeit much too grainy for my taste. So I had a bright idea! I had been reading about HDR images and I really liked that effect, but since I don't have the full Photoshop software (only Photoshop Elements) I am not able to do HDR. But it gave me an idea - why not take a picture in the daytime and then combine them using photoshop's clone tool set at a low percentage!

Here is the daytime photo I took today:

It was such a gorgeous day, the sun was shining and making the snow melt everywhere. Most of the creeks around here were still frozen a few days ago! I really like the way this photo looks, the water is clear and you can see the rocks in the bottom, but the snow is still covering the banks.

Back at home I got right to work and you can see the result above! This is what I saw as we passed that creek last night, including the stars which I took the liberty to add - my eyes saw them even if my camera did not!

Taking photos at night without flash

2009-02-05T16:56:00.000-08:00

For some reason I have never liked to take pictures with the flash on, not when I had my SLR Minolta and certainly not with the digital camera I now have. A few evenings ago I was playing around with my camera and discovered I could make some adjustments to the ISO settings so I pushed it as high as it would go and took a few photos. I began my experiment with a few photos in my kitchen, of which you see the above photo of my green man wall sculpture. I only had the small neon light on underneath my upper cabinets. I really like the result!

The adjacent dining room is one of my favorite places at home. It has two smaller windows, one facing east the other to the west and a large north facing bay window which I tiled and where I keep some of my plants. I love having my morning coffee here or my afternoon tea and at night I like to light up the lamp in the bay window and sit and read. So what better place than that for my little experiment! I even lit a candle holder I keep on the table in case I want to create a festive atmosphere. I took quite a few photos and this one above was my favorite of the bunch.

Opposite the bay window I have a small antique cabinet where I keep napkins and table cloths. It has a nice oval gold leaf mirror on the wall above it. I took my candle holder and placed it in front of the mirror and started shooting some self portraits. I have never done this, so it took quite a few shots to get some that I could actually use. The one above did not come out too bad, but I think I will try and do this again soon to see if I can't get a perfect shot! The only lighting for these shots was from the candle holder - I had turned off the lamp in the bay window.

This last one is actually a crop from another shot but I sort of liked it even though half of my face is cut off. I did a bit of photoshop to give it more of a painterly effect in the texture. Who knows, maybe I will paint an actual self portrait one of these days!

Snow and sunshine!

2009-02-05T14:12:00.000-08:00

Today was a cold, windy, but still very lovely winter day, mainly because the sun was shining! So it was no wonder that I was eager to head out to see what lovely sights awaited me out there. Above is a photo I had taken a few weeks ago, but I thought I should include it here just for contrast, because I love this house and because we drove by it today. This is one of the many great Greek revival homes in the area. I think it is even a landmark building but I have no idea yet what it's historical significance might be. Maybe I will report on this later on.

Then we headed off to nearby Fall Creek where I took this photo of footprints (two and four legged ones) leading down to the creek.

There was nothing much exciting going on over at Fall Creek, so we decided to drive around for a bit. Well, we found this interesting area where the wind has made all these great snow dunes and I decided to take a lot of photos.

Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho! the holly!
This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
Thou dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remember'd not.
Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho! the holly!
This life is most jolly.

William Shakespeare, from "As you like it"

Winter Wind

Rolling, sliding comes the long silver serpent,
His breath frost crystals on the air.
He glides between the trees and nips at the feathers
Of twittering birds who huddle there.

He blows a snowstorm through the woods, and
Leaves a sheen upon the lake,
He slips a freeze into the burrows,
And hidden animals shudder and shake.

And as he slithers sinuously onward
Leaving in his path a wake of frost.
The grey forest whispers, “There goes Winter,”
“For Spring would come , but Spring is lost.”

Madeleine Bennett, age 14, Epping, New Hampshire, Phillips Exeter Academy

Oh thou whose face hath felt the Winter's wind

by John Keats (1795 – 1821)

Oh thou whose face hath felt the Winter's wind,
Whose eye has seen the snow-clouds hung in mist,
And the black elm tops, 'mong the freezing stars,
To thee the spring will be a harvest-time.
O thou, whose only book has been the light,
Of supreme darkness which thou feddest on
Night after night when Phoebus was away,
To thee the Spring shall be a triple morn.
O fret not after knowledge - I have none,
And yet my song comes native with the warmth.
O fret not after knowledge - I have none,
And yet the Evening listens. He who saddens
At thought of idleness cannot be idle,
And he's awake who thinks himself asleep.

Art, art and more art - second installment!

2009-01-26T16:49:00.001-08:00

This second installment finally brings me to the present and our latest show which just opened last Friday, this time at the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca in their lovely gallery space. The ladies from the church did an excellent job of hanging our art!

Above are Gilbert and Frank getting the space ready for the opening reception.

I had two paintings in this show and several of my photographs. Above is a painting of a male nude I did years ago, displayed in an antique frame an artist friend of mine graciously gifted me with.

The next painting, 'Candles and Bare Branches', I painted specifically for this show after a photo I took during an art gathering at Frank's home this past fall.

The multi-talented (she is also a biologist and she paints beautiful silk scarves) Paulina Melechkina recently created another gorgeous painting titled 'From the Distance'. It shows a Middle Eastern woman, head covered in a scarf and seated before a brilliant blue paisley wall design holding out her freshly hennaed hands.

A call maybe to learn more about a to us very foreign culture we have had all too negative impact on before really understanding it! It was hung next to her portrait of Benazir Bhutto - very appropriately in my opinion! Well, maybe we have a chance to have a more positive effect under the current administration - we can only hope!

Anne Parker Bloom exhibited a series of paintings representing the progression of the numbers 1-6 as expressed by groups of people she painted during her journeys in New Mexico and South America. Here is 'Four in Olde Towne', 4 older gents relaxing in the shade of a park bench in Albuquerque NM.

Incidentally, Anne has had a solo show some time ago in this same space. She has done many beautiful paintings I hope to show here in the future - maybe even with some of her wonderful poetry, if she permits me!

Sheri D'elia, one of our founders who is a very talented digital artist as well as a painter showed several of her digital works. Here is my favorite, it is titled 'Whole' and it has always had a deep effect on me.

Frank Muller, also one of our founders, is an accomplished photographer and here are two of the many beautiful nature scenes he is famous for. Above is one image from his series of "The ever changing moods of Lake Cayuga" and below is a lovely digitally enhanced winter scene.

Frank does not like to name his images as he does not want to influence his viewers in any way. He has a deep interest in nature and his images are often very lyrical in their expression. This winter scene is one of my favorites!

Above is a view of the gallery space with some of our visitors. Though we were not mobbed quite like at our opening debut in October the show was very well attended and seemed well received. It will be open for about 6 weeks.

Now you know what has kept me from blogging recently. I promise I will be good and post more regularly in the future as I have promised myself to make more art as well. I will keep you posted on my progress in both areas!

Art, art and more art!

2009-01-26T15:47:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have had time to post here and I must apologize though I have a very good reason. I belong to a recently (this past summer) formed art group here in Ithaca and by last October we began showing our creative efforts around town. Our debut show went rather well, in fact we were literally mobbed. I suspect the nice wines and delectable gourmet refreshments our members whipped up for the occasion had much to do with the enthusiastic reception, but in no way do I wish to take away from the artistic talent of our members as a drawing force!

Our works were displayed in the Owl Cafe which is in a rather large, split level space upstairs from a centrally located used book store. A local guitarist charmed the crowd with classical guitar music and the place was abuzz with excited conversation. It turned out to be a great evening for all!

Here is Sage from the Owl Cafe smiling for the camera while Frank and Sheri talk with a visitor. Sheri and Frank are the founders of our little group. We now have 14 members and I have only covered a few of them in today's post. I will showcase some of the others in future postings here. Some of us are painters, some work in mixed media, digital artists, photographers and poets. So there will be much to cover - I am looking forward to sharing their talents with you!

Anne and Paulina look at the artist's bios while Matthew looks on and Melanie samples the refreshments.

Our accomplished guitarist lost in one of the many intricate classical guitar pieces he shared with us.

Yours truly contributed this painting on gold leaf, painted after a nearly 20 year hiatus. I was afraid I had forgotten how, but thankfully it came all back to me!

Anne Parker Bloom's lovely oil painting of a gazebo in the forest in the Adirondacks.

Benazir Bhutto's assassination caused Paulina Melechkina to paint this awesome portrait of the slain leader.

Next is a small sampling of the art quilts of one of our members, Ruth White, whose quilts reflect her work as a microbiologist as well as her interest in astronomy. Her work has been exhibited widely and she has won numerous awards. Unfortunately these images don't really do her work justice! A shortcoming I will make up for in a future post - as soon as I get better photos!

Looking towards the upper level of the Cafe, you can see some of our work displayed above the bookcases.

I think that our first show was very well received and all of us enjoyed meeting the many people who showed up for our debut. All in all a wonderful evening and well worth all the effort put into it!

Snow!

2008-12-16T12:40:00.000-08:00

This is Ludlowville Falls at the end of last winter and I wanted to include it here.

Majestic trees!

This path meanders along Fall Creek.

Ah, the falls! You can just see at the bottom where the creek begins to be covered in ice.

Snow!

2008-12-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

Woke up on December 12th to find everything covered with a thick cover of snow!

A perfect day to go out and shoot some pictures we got ready quickly. There is nothing more beautiful than a thick icing of snow on bare branches, but it is quite delicate. Any strong gust of wind can destroy it in a minute, so time was of the essence.

I will just post some of the photos I took for your enjoyment and save comments for another time other than to say that we visited Fall Creek near Forest Home, a small picturesque community close to where we live. It abuts Cornell Campus and there is a small lake and forested parkland crisscrossed by many trails frequented by hikers, joggers and nature lovers.

My favorite places

2008-12-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

Due to the varied geological history of the area it has become a geologists and paleontologists paradise, there are many opportunities to study the past as it lays before you, revealing it’s secrets in countless gorges and embankments along creeks and roadways. I recently read about someone nearby actually finding prehistoric animal bones when excavating for a swimming pool!

In eon's past, this region was covered by an inland see (the source of many of the fossils found here today), at another time it was covered with a thick sheet of ice which at one point extended as far south as New York City, where you can still see the deep gouges carved by rocks (in the Bronx Botanical Garden as well as in Central Park in Manhattan) trapped beneath the ice as it expanded and receded!

There are even clubs for interested amateurs who would like to learn more about the region's geology. You can actually go on field trips with knowledgeable people and learn to interpret the geological and paleontological evidence time's passing has left for us to discover! To participate on an adventure such as this is very high on my to do list as you can imagine - I promise to file a detailed report when I go!

In the meantime I keep my eyes open to what is beneath my feet. To date I have a very interesting collection of fossil imprints on rocks, one of which actually spells out the name of my partner! How magical is that! Most of my forays have been to Hoxcie Gorge near Cortland on Route 38 just underneath the Hoxcie Gorge Bridge of Highway 81.

Hoxcie Gorge is a lovely place to visit in any season. There are a few enchanting homes along the creek as it meanders through the gorge. The road leading into it is rather narrow, barely able to accommodate two way traffic and it comes to an end rather abruptly. It is near that end that I have made most of my fossil finds, the creek bed is littered with them wherever you look!

The photo accompanying this blog entry was taken at the end of last winter, in April 2008. In fact snow had long since departed from the region, only in this gorge there were a few remnants visible much to my surprised delight! There was a delicate mist giving the gorge a very mysterious aura, smoke billowing from blazing hearth fires warming the lucky inhabitants of the enchanted nearby cottages, while the creek had swollen tremendously with the snow melted off the surrounding highlands. I hope my picture above is able to convey the flavor of that magical day to you!

Ithaca the Beautiful

2008-12-09T06:37:00.000-08:00

Taughannock Falls on a rainy fall morning

Misty early winter sunrise above Taughannock Falls gorge

After having lived for way too long in the bustling, chaotic concrete jungles of New York City, I finally was fortunate to be able to escape to the serene, nature lover's paradise of Ithaca NY and its countless waterfalls, many natural rock gorges, verdant meadows, forests and vineyards. The past year and a half have been spent making my home cozy and comfortable, exploring some of the natural wonders of this area, meeting new people and most of all, calming down from the all too hectic pace of life of NYC.

Ithaca is home to two colleges, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College plus the Ivy League Cornell University and they have contributed international flavor, creative and intellectual stimulation to this 'centrally isolated' (as my neighbor fondly calls it) town. In the heart of the city is a wonderful traffic free (except for foot traffic that is) zone called 'The Commons' which has become the cultural and creative hub of the city. It is dotted with islands of greenery, inviting benches for resting or reading, tables and chairs inviting you to enjoy the offerings of nearby restaurants and catch up on recent goings on with friends, elevated areas for soap boxing, musical or poetic recitals, semi-private niches for intimate conversations and easy pedestrian access to the many interesting shops which line the streets.

Ithaca proper is located at the southernmost end of Lake Cayuga, the longest of all the finger lakes. It is situated in a valley bisected by the run-off from Lake Cayuga and over time it has gradually expanded up onto the highlands which run from North to South along both shores of the lake. Near town these highlands have been named simply West Hill, South Hill or East Hill depending on their location. Cornell straddles the top of East Hill and Ithaca College nestles near the top of South Hill. Both command breathtaking views of Lake Cayuga, Ithaca and surroundings.

Ithaca was founded in 1789, chartered in 1888 and has a permanent population of about 30,000 people. It was blessed with a rugged beauty carved by long ago glaciers, which left behind awesome stream and waterfall carved gorges, fertile soils which today produce delicious wines and many healthy fruits, nuts and vegetables. Ithaca, due to it's beautiful surroundings, rich heritage, progressive atmosphere and sophisticated cultural life, has attracted more than it's share of artistic and creative individuals. Living here one can enjoy the best of all worlds, natural beauty, peaceful ambiance, creative and intellectual stimulation, all in a small town setting.

I would like to share some of my explorations and adventures in this wonderful region with you, through my art, my photographs, my words - to allow you to share in my tremendous appreciation for all it has to offer - it's people, the many feathered and furry inhabitants sharing their space with me, it's thundering waterfalls, the whisperings of softly gurgling streams, the ever changing seasons!

Enjoy!