Saturday, January 31, 2009

Surf's up!





Long Island Sound is usually calm as a lake, but look at West Meadow Beach on the last day of January a little after noon. Wind chill terrible. Hands nearly frozen after two minutes. Ran for the car, from which refuge #2 and #3 were taken. The four stacks are the LIPA plant in Northport. The gulls just hunkered down.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Friday footprints

Now who would go walking on the beach with a different shoe on each foot? Silly question.

(You think I'm going out in this weather to get another and better pic?)

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Puzzling




A few questions: (1) Where did this straw come from? Old Field? Connecticut? (2) How did the snowbank get between the water and the high tide indicators (lines of straw)? It looks like fresh snow. Blown by the wind? (3) Why does this unplowed snow remain when everywhere else snow has melted? (Pictures taken on 1/26/09.)

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

As found



Compositions of sand, pebbles, wood, straw, and snow, untouched by human hands. Taken 2 days ago before the snow.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Little birds


Tiny birds ("peeps") scurry up and down the water's edge finding their food. I tried to show the contrast in size between the gulls and the peeps, especially with the Greater Black-backed Gull (middle picture). The Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutilla, is the smallest shorebird in the world. That's what I thought they were at first. However these may have been Semipalmated Sandpipers, Calidris pusilla, which are similar but (says the book) have more gray on the back, are less marked on the chest, and have black legs. These seemed to have black legs and white chests. I didn't have binoculars with me, so couldn't be sure. They may have been on their way to South America.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Back to the beach

No waiting for a free table.
This week's theme is THE BEACH. There's no reason to limit our enjoyment of the beach to the warmer months. Twenty-two degrees out? Stay home? Piffle!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

North Shore Jewish Center





Located on the corner of Old Town Road and Norwood Avenue in Port Jefferson Station, this congregation has roots that go back more than 100 years in the area. This building was completed in 1971.
Read their history

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Outdoor art

Spring, summer, fall, and winter, this mural at Aboff's Paint Store softens the commercial atmosphere along 25A in East Setauket. Hans Gabali was the artist. Why don't we have more outdoor art around here?
Some info on Hans Gabali

Friday, January 23, 2009

Crows work too

A crow's work is never done.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Greeters




These two dolphins were hired to pose there and greet people at the door of Danfords Hotel and Marina in Port Jefferson. Somehow they don't look as if they are enjoying themselves.
About 110 A.D Pliny the Younger told a sad tale about a dolphin

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

You wouldn't think it but ...

This guy is primarily interested in keeping the sidewalk clean. That's all he cares about ... really. Even if he has to EAT the stuff!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

Working animal

This week's theme is Working Animals. We start out on a national holiday with this energetic red bull.
(Theme pix resume on Wednesday)

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Messiah Lutheran Church

This church on Pond Path has always fascinated me with its breathtaking architecture. Couldn't find out when it was built. 60s? 70s?Their website proclaims "Three pastors, No Waiting!" I like that.
Messiah Lutheran Church

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Iced over





At Stony Brook Harbor the tide comes in and recedes even as the low temps keep everything iced over. Those things seem to be growing, pushing up toward the light, breaking out of their coating of ice. Nature is never entirely still. Pix taken a little before noon.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Marked


Very old trees on Old Coach Road. Are they marked for preservation or for destruction?

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Members Only

I'm glad the Red-Breasted and Hooded Mergansers pay no attention to this sign as they float through the empty slips during the quiet months.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

No...what was that?

Sign on wall at Wild By Nature
(I turned it so those young perps can read it)

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

I wouldn't think of it


At the Stony Brook Shopping Center

Monday, January 12, 2009

There's a reason for this sign

It's a perfect turn-around place right there on Main Street where people stop for their mail at the Setauket Post Office.


This week's theme is "No-No" and I'm sure I'll have no difficulty in finding material.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

All Souls Episcopal Church






A small church in the heart of Old Stony Brook. It was designed by the architect Stanford White in 1889. For more information click here.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Ending the week with a flourish

As you drive through the pickup/dropoff area a much appreciated touch of natural beauty softens the winter drabscape.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Station and bikes

This is actually the back of the station facing the tracks. Students from the University leave their bikes here and take the train to Nassau County, Queens, Manhattan, or other places. Trains leave about every 90 minutes, more frequently during rush hour.

You can see more photos of the Stony Brook train station on Jeremiah Cox's website called Subway Nut

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Facing west


Can You Hear the Whistle Blowing?

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

All very well, but

I have a better idea. Why don't they just FIX the gap?
In the long run that would be cheaper than all the law suits, wouldn't it? And more humane. And don't tell me American ingenuity is not up to the task!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

A jolly giant hands you the ticket

I've decided to have a theme all week long, and this week it's the Stony Brook Railroad Station, our link to the Big Apple. (This picture should have been first, as you don't go to the platform without a ticket in your hand.)
It's been a few years since a real live person dispensed the tickets. I wonder if there's any place in the country where the old way prevails?

Monday, January 5, 2009

At the train station


A time warp? Are we back in 1949? No, it's a revival. The original production ran for five years and had 1,925 performances. Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin...remember those names?

Sunday, January 4, 2009

The Bethel AME Church

The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church on Christian Avenue was organized in 1848 and remains a vigorous and positive presence in our area.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Curves

Uh-oh, just when we need you .....

Friday, January 2, 2009

Phone Booth

Hey gov, how'd one of our bally phone booths get over here to Port Jefferson? An' ere's anovver one roun' the block!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Predator

Oh, you don't look all that dangerous to me. You look, well, all washed up, like 2008.

Happy New Year to all!