Reading the Nikon Manual

Fun Foto Friday

I've been having a grand time photographing my camera buddies. Here is Scout, he is a Webkinz Cocker Spaniel and the very first toy I started using as a model.

In this picture he is reviewing the Nikon D40 Guide to Photography, pointing out the use of manual settings to improve my pictures.

Fountain...

I've been meaning to get a shot of this fountain for quite some time and tonight on the ride home from the office I took advantage of the red light!

One of the things I've noticed since I started following some other blogs is surburbia is far less interesting than either city or country. It lacks the character of the city and the charm of country, or maybe I'm just bored...

Darth Vader Peeks...

Friday was the media launch of the 27th Annual Quick Chek NJ Festival of Ballooning. This event was open to the media and photographers and began at 6:30 am. The day was not the greatest (seems to be the case quite a bit this summer :p), it was cloudy and humid. But I did get a couple of shots in. My favorite was Darth Vader, although he was a bit shy...

(click to enlarge)

I'm looking forward to attending another Balloon Festival, perhaps when the weather is better!

Road Trip - Part 4

The Hollingsworth Family Settlement was just the beginning, Old Town Winchester was a real treat. We left the Shenandoah Tourism Center armed with a "Brand New" Self Guided Walking Tour pamphlet. Please click on the photos to enlarge.

(My photo buddy Rosie at the Daily Grind)

The walking tour was comprised of 29 locations, some of my favorites are what I've added to this page to share.



George Washington's Office Museum, built around 1748 and presently operated by the Winchester-Fredrick Ccounty Historical Society served as Colonel George Washington's headquarters from 1755 t0 1756 during the French and Indian attacks.




The canon above was used by George Washington to protect Fort Loudoun in 1756.


Washington's political career also began in Winchester. At the age of 23 he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses where he represented Fredick County for two terms. According to the tour guide his career began at Old Fredick County Courthouse on July 24, 1756.





Old Town also has a Pedestrian Mall on Loudoun Street, with many shops and buildings with historical architecture highlights.

We were entertained by local artists and musicians as we enjoyed coffee at the Daily Grind.

Needless to say we a great time, there are tons more sites to see http://www.flickr.com/photos/maggie_gem/sets/72157620477803465/ and I'm hoping we can make another trip in the fall when the leaves are changing color and the apples are being harvested!

Until next time - Live, Love, Laugh

Road Trip - Part 3

Shenandoah University's History and Tourism Center is a great place to get acquainted with the history of the area and find some points of interest. The center is located on the land of one of the first settlers in the Shenandoan Valley, Abraham Hollingsworth. The Hollingsworth Family Settlement consists of Abram's Delight, built in 1754 it is the oldest house in Winchester.


The house was built by Abraham Hollingsworth's son Issac near the stream that Abraham is said to have commented was "a delight to behold". The stream is the main reason Abraham purchased the land for his family home.

Abraham's great-grandson built the stone mill building on the grounds in 1833. This building replaced an earlier mill that was worked by the Hollingsworth family since the mid eighteenth century.


The nearby pond looks like a nice place for ducks to enjoy the surroundings too.


Until next time - Live, Love, Laugh

Road Trip - Part 2

On day 2 of our jaunt we made a short trip through Front Royal to the north entrance of the Shenandoah Nation Park

One of the highlights of this area is the Skyline Drive (those AAA Guide are very useful!), a 105 mile highway that runs the entire length of the park along the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are many overlooks on both the South and North bond sides, we stopped at overlooks on the South bound side between the North Entrance and Thorton Gap which is the first exit point at about 32 miles. The highest point we reached was about 3,385 ft. , the highest point in the park is Hawksbill, 4,051 ft located off the drive to the west at about 46 miles. The day was like the majority of June, overcast and rainy.

Our first glimpse of the Shenandoah Valley

I must admit, I did not like this over look point because that was some drop! Not the best time to remember you're afraid of height! :-0

A tiny break in the clouds gives a bit better view of the valley

Road Trip - Part 1

Now the 4th is behind us and I've been thinking it's time to share what's been going on over the last few weeks. I've shared that we took a short 4 day road trip in June and I'll be posting pictures from the trip over the next several posts.

Steve and I had a great time. It was nice to just get away from the routine of the day to day and spend some time together, despite the weather that covered the entire Eastern US over a very long period. Including during our trip.

Our first stop on the journey was Charles Town, WV (more like the main event). Great place, they have a HUGH casino along with the racetrack. Seems like everyone is competing with Atlantic City these days and adding slots to the racetrack. Anyway, the night was fun but pretty wet as you can see from these photos.

A shot of the track from the field level



The horses were beautiful and ran their races despite the muddy track. (I thought they were pretty sloppy, but Steve said "No, just muddy.")

The casino was also where we had dinner. They had many places to choose from but we just went to the buffet. We enjoyed!

Until next time - Live, Love, Laugh

Fireworks!

Edison put on a very nice fireworks display this year. While the event was a bit toned down compared to the last three years, no concerts or other activities, the display was very good. It's wonderful we still had the opportunity to continue this annual event while other towns cancelled due to the economic times.


I also had an opportunity to take some photos while watching the fireworks. It's the first time I've done that, so while their not a great photographic display I'm pretty happy with how they came out. I've made a mosaic with some of my faves from the night.

Until next time Live, Love, Laugh

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!

The History Channel has a video of the History of July 4th, if you missed the skinny in school or just want a quick reminder check out the video.

Has Summer Arrived?

Just one day before the fireworks, finally some blue can be seen in the sky!

Steve saw this cloud formation and came in to get me to take a picture, I'm glad he did. Maybe the gray cloud cover that seems like it's been here since mid-May is finally leaving and letting the summer sky been seen.

While in the field, I really had the feeling that summer had finally decided to make an entrance. The rain we've had over the last month has certainly done wonders for the landscape of the township field.

The green of the grass and the trees was spectacular, and Maddox was loving every minute of his brief spin around field.

July, but where's summer?

Already the July 4th holiday is looming around the corner, but it sure hasn't felt much like summer yet. The weather report seems to be a consistent "Mostly cloudy, Showers, and below normal temperature". Just make it seem more like the 4th has snuck up us!

However, Sunday at the beach gave a brief encounter with the season!

Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

(click here to enlarge photo)

Back in the groove

Three weeks have passed and this blog has been very lonely. Well that trip was planned, booked and taken! Where does the time go?

The trip was great, we had a wonderful time exploring Virginia; Winchester was full of history, Old Town Winchester was very quaint and the Skyline Drive was fantasic. I want to go back in the fall when the colors are at their peak, I'm sure it will be simply breath-taking!

The nights, well they were mostly spent in West Virginia at Charles Town Races and Slots. Steve had a great time, he loves to watch the horses. One thing I can be sure of: I can go anywhere in the world, as long as there's a race track!

This statue of George Washington is located at the George Washington Office Museum in Winchester, VA.

More updates to come, come back soon!

Trip Planning Day

Sorry to say I didn't have a chance to take any pictures today. It was very busy in the office and I spent the evening planning a short get-away to West Virginia and Virginia, it should be a fun trip, I've never been to either place!


But, I did have to time to pick this oldie out of the computer!

View from Central Park (June 2006)

A View From the Garden Gate

This a view of the Cross Estate from the garden gate.

We took a ride to Morristown and visited the Ford Mansion. Morristown is the location of the George Washington's Headquarters during the "Harsh Winter" of 1779 -1780.

The day included a trip to the Cross Estate Gardens and downtown Morristown. My husband travels through this area frequently and says the town is really pretty during the holidays. We'll just have to go back and check it out!

Cold Spring Day

Today was a cold and rainy day here in Central NJ. It felt more like November than June; where is the spring weather?

I decided to just take a quick shot of a few memories left from yesterday

Have a great Saturday!

Tourist Day

We made it, living a day as a tourist and we had a great time! Katie and I celebrated our birthday by going to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. I've always lived within 40 miles of these national treasures and finally made my first visit today!

The "Great Hall" in b&W manhattan in the background

Katie, who loved the Museum, getting a shot of an exhibit. This was really pretty cool, from one angle it was a collage of people and from the other it was an American flag.

Jess, Cindy and Katie and the Wall of Names

A collage made with Picasa

Fresh Beginnings/Sweet Endings

Here we go starting a brand new "Trip Around the Sun"

There's a story behind the choices made for today's post, one I'll probably share in great detail another time, but my daughter Kate and I share the same birthday and this Jimmy Buffett song has a special meaning to us.

We went out to dinner to celebrate last night and today we're taking a day trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. A day we've been looking forward to for a couple of weeks. I'm really excited to spend the day with her and my brother Ed.

Kate got her birthday gift, a new camera, early so she wanted me post this picture she took of Maddox wishing us both Happy Birthday!

Isn't he cute? He sure keeps us all entertained!

A very heated race is being run in Edison, NJ today. With 3 people on the ballot, one a complete newbie, with no political background; one incumbent, who has made many enemies; and one long time resident that has served on council under several administrations.

In a town where the average income of the working class resident is less than $50K and civil servants are earning twice that amount, does it really matter how we vote? Unions and civil servants are the only voices heard in town hall. Like most of what is going on through out the state and country; the inmates are running the asylum!

Updated 6/3 @ 9:29 am
Mayor Edison Dem - Primary -- 0 of 78 precincts reporting (0%)
William Araujo 1%
Jun Choi (i) 47%

And the Winner is Antonia Ricigliano 52%

God bless the tax payers; what's left of them!

Month's End

It's hard to believe that May just flew right by, time seems to get more fleeting with each passing year. I haven't posted to the blog in over three weeks, something that I need to fix in the coming days.

Sure I've been busy, but so has everyone else. As June brings with it the end of another "Trip Around the Sun" for me (and my daughter too) I will try to do a daily update along with a 365 on Flicker. Making that public announcement is scary, it's making an open commitment to start a project and complete it.

I've enjoyed reading many blogs since I started this one up again in January. Many are like-minded photography enthusiasts, but most are much better writers. More insightful observers of the world around them, willing to share their thoughts with the blogosphere. Committed to those that are following their blogs, and sharing their thoughts by bravely posting comments on what they've had the pleasure to view.

I'll finish this month with some of my favorites from this past weekend, watching Maddox sleep-in Sunday, he loves to cuddle up with whomever is sleeping latest and moves from person to person as they arise from their slumber!



Feeling oh so sleepy...





Is it wake-up time?





Oh, never mind!

Memorial Day Parade

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! ~Maya Angelou

While Memorial Day weekend is celebrated as the "unofficial" start of summer and celebrated with BBQ's and trips to the shore, let us not forget the true meaning of the day and take some time to remember those who have given the greatest gift, their lives, for our freedom to partake in these celebrations. And may all keep prayers in our hearts that all of our troops stay safe as they continue acts of heroism necessary to keep us that way.

A day of remembrance, proudly exhibited by the participants in Metuchen's Memorial Day Parade. There was a nice crowd lining Main Street anxiously awaiting the beginning of the parade

All-American "Coke and a Flag" family waiting...

First up, the Color Guard representing the Armed Forces

The all but forgotten Viet Nam Veterans

The Coast Guard

The young and ambitious from Lincoln HS JROTC

A great showing by the Fire Department

Even Bagpipers from Keyport, NJ were marching in this parade

And of course, those adorable young ones that just take your heart away