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 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?)

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.)

As found

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

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.

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!

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

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

more here

Crows work too

A crow's work is never done.

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

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!

HALLELUJAH!!

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)

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

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.

Marked

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

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.

No...what was that?

Sign on wall at Wild By Nature

(I turned it so those young perps can read it)

I wouldn't think of it

At the Stony Brook Shopping Center

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.

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.

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.

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

Facing west

Can You Hear the Whistle Blowing?

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!

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?

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?

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.

Curves

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

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!

Predator

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

Happy New Year to all!