last skywatch for 2010

it's hard to believe today is the last day of 2010. I wish you all the most blessed new year!
and also, happy skywatching too! if you'd like to gaze at more wondrous skies from all around the world or if you'd like to add your own sky, please visit the skywatch friday meme, thanks to klaus and his team, sandy, wren, and sylvia.

a wall of snow

these mountains of snow are all over the place. we're supposed to have a thaw the next few days. I wonder how long it will be until it's all gone. my sister-in-law said we'll be seeing the snow on the ground until march.

eXtra blizzard photos for abc wednesday...

both of these photos were taken monday when the snow was mostly all fresh and white. by tuesday this was no longer the case as people made their way back to work and their cars dirtied the roads turning them into a slushy black mess.

if you'd like to see other representations of the letter X, or if you'd like to add your own X representation please visit 'abc wednesday'.

priscilla plays in the snow

yesterday after shoveling out the driveway with his dad, ian went into the backyard and shoveled a maze like path in front of the garage for priscilla. as you can see, she loved it. we got sixteen inches of snow in farmingdale starting sunday night continuing into monday morning. the winds were fierce. at one point the weather channel showed the center of the storm directly over farmingdale. that might explain why I felt the house shake not once but twice on sunday night. in fact, as I write this (sometime around midnight on monday evening) it's still fairly windy out.
to share a part of your world or just see more of others, please go to "that's my world tuesday". a big thanks to klaus for hosting with his team of helpers, sandy, wren, and sylvia.   

another angel and mellow yellow monday

known as the general sherman monument, I photographed this as I passed by while riding in a taxi in manhattan the other day. the sun seemed to be illuminating both the figures and what was left of similar colored autumn leaves on the trees in the background, which also happened to create a beautiful backdrop for this sculpture. I thought this could be a perfect mellow yellow way to start the week. 
for more of all things yellow, please stop by drowsey monkey's mellow yellow monday .

jenna's angel

if this image looks familiar to you, you may see why by looking at an old shadow shot sunday post I did back in august 2009. my niece jenna painted the sculpture I photographed in that post and then gave it to me for christmas! besides the fact that I love angels, I know she put a lot of effort into this beautiful painting and I am sure she spent quite some time completing it which makes me all the more honored to be given this generous gift. thank you jenna.
please visit  hey harriet's,  'shadow shot sunday'  meme if you want to join in the fun or if you'd like to see more shadows. & a big thank you to tracy for hosting shadow shot sunday.

merry christmas!

this is one of my favorite photos, and also one not taken by me. a big thank you to my husband anthony who so kindly contributed to this day's post by sharing this beautiful image.
may we all have a blessed peaceful day today.
& merry christmas too!

manhattan skywatching from a taxi cab

as soon as I saw this narrow bit of sky from the taxi I was riding in I knew I had to post this for today's skywatch. it may not be much sky but it is the type of sky you don't often see unless you get the chance to hang out in manhattan. below is another view of the manhattan sky I shot while I was being driven uptown. I couldn't remember where it was exactly but my husband recognized this building as the waldorf astoria. he likes impressing me with his amazing memory.
in other news, it's hard to believe today is christmas eve. if you want to feel some real christmas spirit, you have to read this blog post I came across on twitter. it is a true testament of the power of goodness. tonight I plan on reading the story to my extended family during our christmas eve celebration. I hope I can do so without bawling - it is so touching. to all my friends who celebrate christmas, I hope you have an awesome merry christmas. & everyone else, I hope you have the day off and you spend it in peaceful bliss. 
if you'd like to gaze at more wondrous skies from all around the world or if you'd like to add your own sky, please visit the skywatch friday meme, thanks to klaus and his team, sandy, wren, and sylvia.

blow up snowman

need I say more?

working...

this is how my son ian studies for his trimesters. this is also our kitchen table. so as you may have already guessed, we haven't eaten here much lately. it's ok though, it's for a good cause. 
it really is amazing how much work is required of high school students these days. it's not unusual for most kids to have at least two hours of homework a night. and, in order to do well on his exams, ian must be prepared to answer questions about everything he has learned since the beginning of this school year. plus, his test will account for 30% of his grade. I'd say this qualifies as work!

if you'd like to see other representations of the letter W, or if you'd like to add your own W representation please visit 'abc wednesday'.

we have a mouse in our house! oh, & happy first day of winter too.

and I don't just mean this ornament on our christmas tree either! we never had this problem when our beloved cat sylvia was alive. but there it was - evidence in the warming drawer in our oven. evidence I need not elaborate on, if you get my drift. so now I am dreading getting the traps because to tell you the truth, I really don't want to kill any mice but I also don't want to capture any live mice either. maybe it's time to adopt another cat...
to share a part of your world or just see more of others, please go to "that's my world tuesday". a big thanks to klaus for hosting with his team of helpers, sandy, wren, and sylvia.  

a lost dog for today's mellow yellow monday...

I passed this sign as I drove down melville road the other day. it was hanging on the fence directly across from beechwood street on melville road. you can see the exact location on google maps right here. apparently the dog was picked up by a man in a car right where this sign is and the owner is asking for information that may lead to finding his lost dog. I really hope this person finds his dog.
a few feet down the road stands a larger picture of the dog that you can see below. 
please stop by drowsey monkey's mellow yellow monday if you are at all interested in the color yellow.

sharing a polar bear cookie after the winter concert

after my niece's winter concert the other night, ian and I stopped for a quick snack on the way home. once we got inside the car, I couldn't help but notice how the streetlight illuminated the cookie as he prepared to break it in two. I should also mention  that it was very tasty.
please visit  hey harriet's,  'shadow shot sunday'  meme if you want to join in the fun or if you'd like to see more shadows. & a big thank you to tracy for hosting shadow shot sunday.

a topiary & its reflections at starbucks

I didn't notice the reflections right away but this whimsical looking topiary caught my eye. if you'd like to see more reflections or add your own to the mix, please check out james of newtown area photo's wonderful 'weekend reflections' meme. thanks james! 

farmingdale village christmas tree

I took this early tuesday morning when it was still snowing. I love how the village keeps the tree lights on through the night. if you'd like to gaze at more wondrous skies from all around the world or if you'd like to add your own sky, please visit the skywatch friday meme, thanks to klaus and his team, sandy, wren, and sylvia.

a little harp music and a neon manger

 I've never been to a high school winter concert where a harp was featured alongside a woman's chorus. the ensemble performed 'tomorrow shall be my dancing day', a traditional english carol arranged by john rutter. on the way home we passed a neon type of manger. please see photo below.
sorry for the late post. things went awry upon my arrival home last night. I found my husband had cut his finger opening a can of tuna fish and required stitches. so, we spent the remainder of an already late evening and today's early morning hours in the emergency ward. don't worry, he's already back at work with eight stitches and a large bandage. afterall, tonight is his office christmas party!

V.I.P. and avanti furniture

I know, she is a dog, but if she wasn't so hairy, she would easily be mistaken for a Very important person. she is so important she doesn't have the time to let the groomer dry her hair or finish cutting it for that matter. only god knows what the poor groomer endured trying to complete her job.
in other news, we had our first snow cover yesterday. this is what it looked like around 7:30am and though it's not noticeable in this photo, it was still flurrying outside. did you notice the V in avanti?

if you'd like to see other representations of the letter V, or if you'd like to add your own V representation please visit 'abc wednesday'.

behold...the russian teacake!

my all time favorite christmas cookie, I bake these every year. I always use half the amount of butter and roll the balls small. I also make sure I bake them for only 10 minutes. but don't be afraid to try the recipe as suggested - I am sure most people would prefer the original russian teacake!

to share a part of your world or just see more of others, please go to "that's my world tuesday". a big thanks to klaus for hosting with his team of helpers, sandy, wren, and sylvia. 


recipe is from the 'betty crocker's picture cookbook'. please click on recipe to see a clearer image.

mellow yellow christmas lights and flying reindeer...

from the archives, this shot was taken last year while out (during a blizzard) looking for our christmas tree. it was a memorable evening to say the least. meanwhile, we have been experiencing a warm front. yesterday it rained buckets here in farmingdale. if it had been just a couple of days earlier we would have probably had tons of snow - just like last year at this time.
please stop by drowsey monkey's mellow yellow monday if you are at all interested in the color yellow.

ginger bread house and shadows

I love the colored shadows the decorative bulbs throw onto the 'snow' on this cute little gingerbread house. please visit  hey harriet's,  'shadow shot sunday'  meme if you want to join in the fun or if you'd like to see more shadows. & a big thank you to tracy for hosting shadow shot sunday.

window shopping at night in northport

remember my post about the leg lamp in the hardware store in northport? I also spotted this nice little shop just down the street. I love this big picture window. in the daylight there is a beautiful view of the northport harbor. seems like an ideal place to spend one's work day, doesn't it? I'm sorry I can't remember the name of this place. does anyone know?
if you'd like to see more reflections or add your own to the mix, please check out james of newtown area photo's wonderful 'weekend reflections' meme. thanks james!  

sunset over bethpage golf course

I remember thinking that it seemed way too early for the sun to be going down as I drove along round swamp road. funny name for a road eh? then the trees and their bare branches forming this wintry silhouette against this blazing sunset caught my eye and all was forgiven.
if you'd like to gaze at more wondrous skies from all around the world or if you'd like to add your own sky, please visit the skywatch friday meme, thanks to klaus and his team, sandy, wren, and sylvia.

last day of chanukah

I took this yesterday while having a very late lunch at the wonderful munday's in huntington. this place specializes in comfort food and they don't mince on the holiday decorations either. check out the photo below for a full view of this fine establishment. happy chanukah friends!

have no fear , underdog is here...

does anyone remember the 'underdog' cartoon?  the very short youtube video below might jar your memory - the theme music alone makes it worth watching. a big thanks to my hubby anthony for contributing today's picture as well as my son ian who magically thought of a way to make it work with today's letter 'U'!

if you'd like to see other representations of the letter U, or if you'd like to add your own U representation please visit 'abc wednesday'.

Fashion, Sex and Death at Left Bank Books

ian and I cracked up when we saw this label on the shelf at left bank books in greenwich village. we wondered if the shopkeeper meant the words to be in that order, telling a small story. I've posted about this bookstore before when it was at another venue. luckily we found them at their new location while walking through the village. there isn't a boring book in the place.
to share a part of your world or just see more of others, please go to "that's my world tuesday". a big thanks to klaus for hosting with his team of helpers, sandy, wren, and sylvia.

a mellow yellow morning at the farmingdale train station

there's only a tiny bit of yellow in this picture, but as soon as I saw the golden light the sun was shining on the station, I immediately thought of mellow yellow monday.
another week has begun, have a good one everyone.
please stop by drowsey monkey's mellow yellow monday if you are at all interested in the color yellow.

bridge into brooklyn

it was a small bridge and I don't even know the name of it but it was on grand avenue. when I looked it up on google maps I could see that it crossed over a waterway that led out to the east river.
this post is dedicated to 'sunday bridges'  thanks to louis la vache from san francisco bay daily photo.
please visit louis if you'd like to join in the fun.

reflections inside waldbaums

if you look closely, you can see the holiday lights hanging up outside over main street along with the reflection of the fruits on the shelves inside the store.
if you'd like to see more reflections or add your own to the mix, please check out james of newtown area photo's wonderful 'weekend reflections' meme. thanks james!  

a brooklyn sky

this was one of my first glimpses of brooklyn as we drove towards metropolitan avenue last weekend. I love the old fashioned garland used to decorate the town for the holidays.
if you'd like to gaze at more wondrous skies from all around the world or if you'd like to add your own sky, please visit the skywatch friday meme, thanks to klaus and his team, sandy, wren, and sylvia.

giant candy cane appears in sky

at the end of a very grey tuesday, the sun started to set turning the sky a beautiful blue. I noticed the candy cane as I waited at the traffic light. yesterday we had torrential rains most of the day. at one point I waited half an hour before leaving my car. finally I couldn't wait any longer and pretty much got soaked as I ran into the village hall to pay this years water bill. is it just me, or would you describe that last sentence as a bit ironic?

tasty thanksgiving cake

what is it about this cake that makes it a thanksgiving cake might you ask? it may look like a simple cake, but it is far from ordinary. it looks and tastes like chocolate but it is actually made with pumpkin too. & the frosting is made with cream cheese, what turns out to be a perfect combination, thanks mom! the best part was I didn't feel too guilty eating it - though I guess I didn't really need that second slice.

if you'd like to see other representations of the letter T, or if you'd like to add your own T representation please visit 'abc wednesday'.