Life in Crab Meadow

February 5, 2012

2012-02-05T19:24:00.000-05:00

Other things to do on Superbowl Sunday

2012-02-05T19:22:00.000-05:00

a sunset walk on the beach

revisiting favorite spots

the moon making an appearance

in just about every shot

pink halos

sunset over crab meadow

only two months until LaCasa opens again for the season.

The Little Treasures Found Close to Home

2012-02-04T15:19:00.000-05:00

sometimes things just jump out at you

unexpected like, sudden,

little treasures that if you weren't

looking down would be passed by

tiny bits of beauty that fit in the palm of your hand

on the tip of your finger

hidden at the base of the beach grass

between two fingers

or etched into stone.

It was a day for little treasures, found close to home.

Blues

2012-01-31T21:23:00.002-05:00

Hidden Treasures

2012-01-31T21:22:00.000-05:00

Rosehips, shells and icy shores

2012-01-18T20:34:00.000-05:00

Row Row Row Your Boat

2012-01-18T20:22:00.000-05:00

merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily

life is but a dream

Cold Day in Cold Spring Harbor

2012-01-15T17:38:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Pat!

An Early Spring - in January?

2012-01-10T19:52:00.000-05:00

Okay, so maybe I won't make my Crab Meadow pages all that radical, but really, do you think we could just skip winter and head right to spring? This little plant, among others, is doing just fine. Maybe its a sign? I hope.... now watch, tomorrow it will snow.

Another day, another two cents

2012-01-09T12:35:00.000-05:00

New thoughts for 2012...Pendulum Pictures.

http://pendulumpictures.blogspot.com/2012/01/whats-happening-here-short-stories.html

Deserted for the Season - West Hampton Beach, NY

2012-01-04T21:01:00.000-05:00

After narrowly escaping jury duty in Riverhead

I headed to the southshore town of West Hampton

The streets were deserted,
dressed for the dance in burlap,
the only thing lifting the mood were

the locals wandering about in the swank gardens

looking for a bite to eat. They looked pretty well fed.

I guess that's why the shrubs look like

prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

The sea shore on the other hand, looked marvelous.

The water, blue as the sky and, I'm sure, as

cold as the 18 degree air. I didn't dip a toe to find out.

A beautiful, but lonely place this time of year.

Even the long shadows seemed lonesome.

It was cold enough to freeze the

Great South Bay.

Long purple shadows frozen in the current.

Deserted for the season. Only 168 days until summer.

But who's counting? (I am!)

Welcome 2012

2011-12-31T23:59:00.004-05:00

"I am the new year....all that you dreamed but didn’t dare to do, all that you hoped but did not will, all the faith that you claimed but did not have—these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened by the touch of a strong purpose. I am your opportunity to renew your allegiance to Him who said, "Behold, I make all things new."

Happy New Year

2011-12-30T19:28:00.000-05:00

Whenever I think of wishes for the new year, I think back to this store window in a little shop on the coast of Maine. This is what I wish for myself and for you, if you are game, in 2012.

May you find love, excitement, travel, destiny in 2012.

Happy New Year.

The Best of 2011 - a year in review

2011-12-28T16:02:00.002-05:00

Cirripedia

Jetty

Remnants

Seeds

Seeds 3

Autumn Lace

Old Montauks

Seed 1

Parrish Sky Over Squirrel River, Crab Meadow

Leopard Moth

Yorktown Onions 2011

Winter Light, Northport, NY

Crab Meadow Snow 2011

Jeannie

January Snow, Fuch's Pond

Bikes in the Snow, FINS

Balance

Skater

Last Days of Summer 2011

Alice, Reflections

Will Barnett, 2011

Philly and the Scallion

Grimm Jack

Billy Kohout

Marilyn

Miss

Wonder Wheel

Mother Nature

End of the Parade

Peek

Lash

Degas Bone

Blue Eyed Octopus

Champions

Fear

Gray Horse Running

Aloe

Rider

Point

Radishes in a Blue Glove

Beans

Seeds

Other Universe - Composition with Dragon Fly

Plattdeutch Conversation

Plattdeutsch Dancers

Caitlin

Other Universe - Lotus

Alice

Rowboat

KY in MA

Summer Reading

Extreme Makeover

Life Guards FINS

Constant Sorrow

Bluegrass Festival, Amityville - on stage

Bluegrass Festival, Amityville, NY

Madman Walking

Hurricane Irene 2011

After the Storm Lewis Oliver Farm

Bee on a Daisy

Seeds 1

Seeds 2

Caitlin at Coney

Pizza

Brave

Praise

Claire and Elizabeth

Spirit of the Dead at Bergdorf's 1

Glamour

Expired

The Silence of the Shore

2011-12-26T16:35:00.000-05:00

the perfect antidote

to the stresses of the season

Nature's Arrangements

2011-12-26T16:30:00.000-05:00

FINS at Christmas

2011-12-25T11:57:00.001-05:00

My brother the photographer and I

took a ride to Fire Island for Chrismas.

Looking for symbols of the holiday.

The sunrise over the sand, that could have been snow, from the look of it (and the chill)

was subtle, but beautiful.

Christmas pines

and a light on the horizon

is sometimes all you need to celebrate a season.

Florida in December

2011-12-16T21:35:00.001-05:00

We spent five days traveling around Florida. West Palm Beach had a showing of the Grinch in an open air theater in the park surrounded by palms and a warm starry sky.

It rained, on and off, while we were there. The rainbows were spectacular.

As were the sand sculpture contests.

And funny gulls with bright orange beaks.

Blueberries on the beach.

Ponce Inlet, where we dined and watched the dolphins and pelicans - neither of which stayed long enough for a photograph.

Tough-guy gulls waiting for a handout that came at the end of the meal.

Seeds and bouquets growing wild.

Even a trip to Legends Field for some holiday shopping.

Hello summer! I've missed you.

Life in a Small House - at Christmas

2011-12-16T21:17:00.000-05:00

These are a few of my favorite things...

Holidays dressed in red and white.

Vintage decorations to light the night.

A fairy god cat, with a sweet silver bird (made by the wonderful fabric artist Dee Mallon)

Merry 10th day of Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Winter Abstractions

2011-12-03T13:24:00.000-05:00

120 days until Spring

2011-11-27T20:54:00.002-05:00

Holiday of trees

2011-11-27T10:16:00.000-05:00

These are from Massachusetts. Royal, regal, elegant, tall.

I am thankful for trees.

Sorrow is a Turkey

2011-11-21T21:08:00.001-05:00

Other Universe Already

2011-11-12T11:44:00.001-05:00

11/16/11 Update:

Thanks to Matt Sclafani, Ph.D., Cornell University Cooperative Extension, and Ranger Eileen Gerle of West Meadow Beach, we now know what this creature is. It is a Mantis Shrimp, aka stomatopod, marine crustacean. They are, according to Matt and Eileen, a common and effective predator with a big bite, so watch out if you see one alive!

You can read more about them on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantis_shrimp

November in the Meadow

2011-11-12T11:42:00.000-05:00

As the Crow Flies

2011-11-10T23:42:00.001-05:00

on a misty Thursday morning in Crab Meadow

Small discoveries

2011-11-06T16:20:00.000-05:00

Inspite of the time change this morning, I was up at seven for a walk by the pond. The clock fell back, but I got up early, early enough to beat the crowds, the shoppers, the Sunday drivers...

the morning glowed in gold and reds against a brilliant blue sky

I wish every day could start with this type of peace

of mind

with the world

with the seasons

even if preparations must be made now for the cold months ahead,

it was nice to just enjoy the moment

and appreciate small discoveries along the way.

Fall Seeds

2011-10-24T22:58:00.000-04:00

perfectly positioned seeds

on an early autumn leaf

on a found sound brick

on a cool, crisp day

perfect for finding treasures

hidden in the grass

mysterious seeds on a dry green leaf

who return to the same place every year

in time for planting

next years sprouts

except for these that found their way into my pocket

and then in front of my camera

who knows maybe into a show

about extraordinary ordinary objects

Farming with Goats

2011-10-10T19:43:00.000-04:00

Today, instead of the cleaning that was scheduled to be done at home, I took a drive to the Northfork of Long Island to look for Catapano Goat Farm. I wanted to check out an actual, working, successful, farming business to see what it might look like if I do venture there on my own.

Their goats, mostly white, with a few tawny thrown in, were very sweet, smiling creatures.

I interrupted their daily chore of eating to say hello.

They seemed happy to take a break to talk about the goating business.

Petite, dainty, immaculate, except for a smudge on the knees they were the ballerinas of the animal kingdom.

Curious ballerinas.

and very outgoing, to say the least.

Even those, taken by surprised, seemed eager to say hello.

I purchased some cranberry goat cheese, and some herb goat cheese to take home with me. As well as a small jar of Delicate Doe moisturizer. I was very glad to hear from the girl in the shop that no goats are harmed in the course of the farming. Thank god for that! I would hate to think that these fine ladies would turn up as an entree somewhere west of their home.

If I only had $2.5 million dollars, I might just buy this little piece of paradise...

http://www.catapanodairyfarm.com/

Autumn Arrivals

2011-09-30T18:20:00.000-04:00

This has not been a good year for my garden. Besides too much rain and to little mowing, things have gotten way out of control.

I have no idea what these things are growing in my new rose garden turned weed amazon. I know what they look like, and it ain't good.

They seem to be sprouting up everywhere. I suppose I will have to break down (soon) and buy a new mower/weed wacker to bring things back in line.

October is also the time for "itchy balls". For some reason they seem to go well with the above.

Prickly, painful, but quite pretty in the close up. Could it be an omen of sorts, coming through the green?

Who knows, I guess only time will tell.

Greenlawn Pickle Festival

2011-09-25T01:30:00.000-04:00

Today we traveled west one town,

to Greenlawn, for the Pickle Festival.

Besides tasty pickles, there was a farm to explore.

We were led straight to the potato field

for an opportunity to pick our own

tatters growing in very robust dirt.

Even though their "hay-day" had past

the sunflowers bowing heads were beautiful

as was a vintage red tractor

and radiant pumpkins

The homestead's charm

lies in pickles and traditions.

A taste of the past

in the present

and a great way to start a

Saturday morning.

Friday Night

2011-09-16T23:47:00.000-04:00

I needed a smile so I brought back my friend the goat from the Lewis Oliver Farm for a worrysome Friday night in Northport.

I don't think I will try counting sheep, I will count shy little goats instead.

Sleep tight.

God Bless America

2011-09-11T09:07:00.000-04:00

End of Summer - Robert Moses State Park FINS

2011-09-05T21:32:00.000-04:00

A Day in the Rockaways

2011-09-04T21:07:00.000-04:00

Calm

2011-09-03T21:16:00.001-04:00

The storm long gone,

everything is back to normal at Crab Meadow.

Maybe I will keep the candles around, just in case.

Goodbye Irene, Goodbye!

2011-08-29T12:28:00.000-04:00

Here are a series of post-hurricane photos.

They were tossed around a bit in the download

so they are not in any kind of order.

I suppose that is what a hurricane does.

We all survived no worse for the wear and tear.

I hope you did too.

What hurricane? What's to eat??

Asharoken under water

Crab Meadow after the storm.

Old cherrys bite the dust.

Business as usual.

Candlelight Diner, breakfast as usual.

Closed indefinitely.

Playground at Crab Meadow.

Old roots run deep, thank god!

Another casualty.

The (love) birds.

(right) after the storm.

Lobstermen are back.

Park lot and harbor collide.

In the middle of the storm.

Tall trees and a small shed.

Purrkins keeping watch.

I agree.

Sentinel

The marsh at high tide.

Right after the storm.

Still a little nervous.

The End.

Trees

2011-08-27T18:36:00.000-04:00

"Give me a land of boughs in leaf,

A land of trees that stand;

Where trees are fallen there is grief;

I love no leafless land."

from a poem by - A.E. Housman

Waiting for Irene

2011-08-27T17:31:00.001-04:00

Hurricane Irene is expected to hit Long Island in about 15 hours. They're saying she will land in Fire Island, which is very conveniently directly across the island from us. Hopefully that 20 miles or so is a good enough buffer to slow her down.

I'm not worried about the flooding, since we are up on the bluffs.

Our neighbors are preparing the best they can.

And it is starting to get a little damp.

In the meantime, after putting away ALL the garden tchockies, I took a drive to the south shore to see what was up. I was hoping to get some good wave shots, but they turned me away a the door.

The Robert Moses Water Tower

Feeling the breeze.

The Fire Island Light House engulfed in the outer fringes of Irene.

View of the bridge.

The hatches are battened

and the timbers were shivered.

The only thing left to do is wait.

In the meantime, the cats are glad we are here today

to let them out, and in, and out, and in.

It is starting to feel a bit crowded in the cottage.

The only thing that stopped Victor in his tracks

was the appearance of the garden in the dining room.

Time to recharge the batteries and get ready for the

next round of photos when the guest of honor arrives....

till then it is just another rainy day at the beach.

a universe of wildflowers

Forest's feather finds a friend.

A beautiful spot, no matter the weather.

Rushing home ahead of the storm.

A poor blowfish

poor, poor blowfish

the dock

the fishermen

the coast

the calm before the storm

the price of GAS!!!

the shanty

the anticipation

the beauty

The long walk off a short pier....

The End.

Reminiscing

2011-08-24T22:28:00.000-04:00

pink

azure

ochre

If I ruled the world

2011-08-21T18:33:00.001-04:00

I would live here on the shores of a golden beach

home, whispering my name across the grassy plains

clear blue water rushing past the reeds

stepping stones to paradise

hidden from plain sight

frayed and chipped, perhaps

perfection is only a few feet away.

The other side of the Island

2011-08-21T12:40:00.000-04:00

I often think about what is on the other side....

That holds true for the other side of LI

Tanner Park is pretty much opposite Crab Meadow on the south shore.

It is beautiful.

But not as friendly.

And has way too many geese, their poop is everywhere.

Bowing to the Rain

2011-08-17T22:50:00.000-04:00

Sunflowers bowing to the rain.

Skull in the Weeds

2011-08-13T20:05:00.000-04:00

a macabre find today while trying to remove the weed amazon in the front of the house

tucked under the vines choking the hydrangea and crabgrass carpet, there was a perfect tiny skull

I suppose only Sonny Purrkins, Victor Laszlo or Little Richie

can tell me what happened to the rest of him

but they're not talking.

Cross Pollination Tomatoes, Sunflowers and a Garden Troll

2011-08-13T15:40:00.001-04:00

Cross pollination from Waiting for the Singing Bird

Ghost Dog

2011-08-08T21:06:00.002-04:00

Camouflage

2011-08-02T21:57:00.001-04:00

The fiddler crabs were marching this evening.

They wear their purple and blue camouflage very well.

Jeannie Celebrates the Stick

2011-07-31T20:52:00.000-04:00

Everything in life should be as simple as a big stick.

What I did on my summer vacation....

2011-07-31T09:54:00.000-04:00

Now back to the grind....

The End

2011-07-31T09:31:00.000-04:00

This last day in July signals the end of so many things for me. It is the end of vacation, freedom from the rat race, and brings to a close my own 50th year (even though that happened on the 22nd). It brings to a halt two manic weeks of vacation, mom and inlaw kids in tow, that included new places like Cape Anne, the White Mountains of New Hampshire and York, Maine.

It was fun, but now that it is just about over, I have to deal with the remorse - that I didn't carve out enough time for things that I needed to do - like figure out next steps in art, writing and career. Heck, I didn't even manage to weed the garden - something I have been trying to do for months.

So the future as blurry as the horizon line, the yard overrun by weed amazon, the laundry piled high, I choose this morning to look to the future, not over my shoulder with regret. Too late now to worry about what wasn't done, I have decided to look ahead to the new year. I suppose a day or two won't matter all that much.

2011-07-28T22:58:00.000-04:00

As beautiful as any tropical island

a small strip of beach in Port Jefferson Harbor.

Lewis-Oliver Farm Friends on a Muggy Sunday in July

2011-07-24T23:11:00.000-04:00

Greetings from Mr. Rooster

and his girlfriends

the turkeys

who are prone to a hairy eye-ball if you arrive without chips

sprinklers

flowers

and new growth...sunflowers of the future

Local Summer Scenes

2011-07-24T09:35:00.000-04:00

The Northshore of Long Island is perfect

for summer photos

flowers

vineyards

fields of sunflowers

secluded shorelines

stairways to paradise (on the way down anyway)

golden sunshine.

Travels in New England

2011-07-21T22:33:00.000-04:00

Mid-summer day blooms

2011-07-21T21:44:00.002-04:00

Mid-Summer Sunset

2011-07-21T06:22:00.001-04:00

Tree Donut Time

2011-07-10T22:01:00.001-04:00

Don't Bug Me...

2011-07-07T22:26:00.000-04:00

It is early for cicadas. I am not sure what type of bug this one is...usually we get the red-eyed variety here in Crab Meadow.

The only reason I have these close up shots is because he is dead. Alive, these creatures freak me out...

big time. Eeeeeek!

Where the crabs are....

2011-07-06T22:48:00.000-04:00

Another Urban Farmer!

2011-07-05T20:25:00.001-04:00

Who knew there were so many talented farmers in Huntington?

Look at these glorious sunflowers!

and zucchinis...

and kale.

Asharoken Fireworks from Crab Meadow Beach

2011-07-04T22:12:00.000-04:00

Happy Fourth of July

2011

from Crab Meadow Beach

Orange Mushrooms and Yellow Birds on a Crab Meadow 4th of July

2011-07-04T19:49:00.001-04:00

You just never know what will catch your eye on a holiday weekend....

Last night of Horseshoe Crabbing

2011-07-02T11:36:00.000-04:00

Ten males

Three females

Five meter visability

No waves

GAZILLION bugs

and an interesting piece of trash washed up on shore.

Egrets and Mushrooms

2011-06-29T22:01:00.002-04:00

These shy boys are always out of reach of my camera lens.

If I try to get closer, they fly away, and from this distance, I just can't get the detail I want.

I did find some mysterious mushrooms growing in the dark around Blanchard Lake.

And these Disney like mushrooms that remind me of Bambi.

Fawn colored spots, hidden in the green.

Crab Meadow Horseshoe Crabs - finally!

2011-06-28T23:39:00.000-04:00

These three are our best hope for next season's crabs! A buggy and crabby night at Crab Meadow.

Happy Summer

2011-06-21T09:45:00.000-04:00

I began celebrating summer a few days early this year.

First with the Coney Island Mermaid Parade

(more pics on the Mermaid Parade on the Human Mein)

Then a behind the scenes tour of the track at Belmont

(more pics to come, stay tuned)

Then a visit to the Planting Fields,

the Arboretum, to stop and smell the roses.

(and even more to come from this beautiful spot on LI)

Happy First Day of Summer 2011!

Return to Yorktown

2011-06-19T09:18:00.001-04:00

June 13th Horseshoe Crab Search

2011-06-13T23:04:00.001-04:00

There wasn't much in the way of crabs on tonight's high tide.

Ghost dog and I were out looking, but came up empty handed...

The recently deceased made for a good sniff, but that was it.

This one, not so recent, by the looks of her.

We did tag one lone male, and sent him on his way.

Maybe they were hiding out under the sea weed, very abundant this season.

Ghost dog matched the eerie glow of the gazebo in the background, as we called it a night.

Following the circles in the parking lot back to our ride home.

Fly Away Home

2011-06-11T13:39:00.000-04:00

End of the Rope

2011-06-11T13:38:00.002-04:00

Gray Water and a Black Bird

2011-06-11T13:37:00.000-04:00

sentinel

2011-06-11T13:34:00.000-04:00

Mothra Returns!

2011-06-08T21:58:00.002-04:00

Giant Leopard Moth on My Windowsill

2011-06-07T09:31:00.000-04:00

I don't know if it is an omen...

or a reminder of the beautiful combination of black and white.

Swan Lake at Makamaha Beach

2011-06-05T21:23:00.000-04:00

High Tide 1:13 am/High Seaweed

2011-06-04T02:18:00.001-04:00

On tonight's horseshoe crab survey there were only two crabs but there was a wall of seaweed that we've never seen before.

It was a roll of weed at least a foot and a half high.

The town beach was covered in a roll of green.

Ankle deep, and full of itchy bugs.

Not surprising, the crabs were a no-show.

New Gardens Thanks to Alice

2011-06-01T21:56:00.000-04:00

Snowing cherry blossoms....

on the smallest house

with crescent gardens

and orange cats

The Mood is Right

2011-05-30T23:40:00.000-04:00

Horseshoe Crab season has begun...

Wild Cherry

2011-05-29T00:44:00.001-04:00

Mushrooms 2011

2011-05-24T18:35:00.000-04:00

It's not Crab Meadow, but with all this rain, mushrooms rule the world.....

Moonlight over Crab Meadow

2011-05-20T02:26:00.000-04:00

Horseshoe Crab Survey

2011-05-20T02:23:00.000-04:00

Another lonely night for the horseshoe crabs at Crab Meadow.

besides one mating pair 4 meters out, we only found shells...

and more shells....

and more shells of crab.

The spotlight tonight was the sad remains of crabs.

Full Moon Horseshoe Crab Session

2011-05-16T20:08:00.000-04:00

I haven't written much about this year's horseshoe crab survey.

We were out, armed with gear, ready to count....

We saw alot of beach grass washed up on the shore...

A stick that looked like a horse head, a seahorse head, if you twisted your neck and squinted....

Signs of Piping Plover parents....

An unusually high dune...

More beach grass....

A stick in the water, that looked like a sculpture....

A couple of bricks....

He was looking....

I was writing....

Where are all the crabs!?!?!?!

We saw two connected pairs and one lone male. I hope it is not a (bad) sign of things to come. ~~Crab~~ Meadow Beach just doesn't sound the same.

Last of the Peonies

2011-05-16T19:53:00.000-04:00

Peonies III

2011-05-13T19:55:00.001-04:00

Peonies II

2011-05-11T22:18:00.000-04:00

Peonies Season

2011-05-10T22:20:00.001-04:00

Night Shots

2011-05-02T20:29:00.002-04:00

Washed Up

2011-05-02T20:12:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, during a stroll on the beach with a HSC pal, we came across a mysterious animal on the beach. We couldn't figure out what it was...deer... dog...sheep..goat. I am glad I saw it early in the day instead of at night during the HSC survey.

I did a little research, and I think it is probably a deer.

The above skull is a white-tailed deer.

I think that is what this is too.

Poor deer.

May 1st - Day One, Horseshoe Crab Survey 2011

2011-05-02T00:24:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the 2011 Horseshoe Crab Survey!

We met at the beach at 11:00 pm EDT, and saw one submerged crab right at the start, but that was it for the rest of the night. No crabs, but always something unusual at the beach. We spotted a skull of an animal on the shore, type still tbd. Any ideas? I think maybe a deer or a goat.

We had our eyes peeled for more crabs but it was a slow start to the 2011 season.

We called it a wrap at 1142 pm.

Good luck to the rest of the counters!

Ginny