Shadow Shot Sunday - Opening

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back, the theme is simply shadows and we happily comply! 

Last Saturday was an opening of Steampunk (Victorian era futuristic fantasy art) at our favorite venue, Gallery@37 in Derby. For a small gallery, it was packed with visitors - happily the unpretentious gallery was full. Patti even had two photo entries on the wall :)

The outdoor sign for the venue over the tent placed there for the overflow of patrons - nighttime shadows are cool as I don't always associate night and shadows. The view inside was taken during a lull, and shadows are inside too.

An unpretentious gallery, art for the masses...see shadowy art from all about at the fun shadowy SSS2! 

Tina's WW - Bored

When the family party occurs, much of the action is between the grown-ups outside. Which might be boring to children in attendance. I assume the TV inside offers no more excitement than the big person party outside...see Tina's WW!

Tina's Pic Story - Along the fence

Kalmus Beach, Nantucket Sound, Cape Cod MA

Tina's Pic Story is back - she kindly provides the weekly theme, we provide the picture. Today it is "Along the Fence'. The beach is subject to erosion, so often as it is here, the grasses and storm fence are planted beyond the beach so that sand is not returned to the sea during a storm - it keeps the sand on the beach (and more of it between our toes :)

Ruby Tuesday - Cupcakes

Ruby Tuesday 2 reappears and sweet treats are depicted on the walls...Patti and fellow blogger Linda went to a bakery in East Haven CT called Sugar Bakery and Sweet Shop whose business is cakes and cupcakes (I liked the S'mores cupcake that I had :). The always lovely Patti reviewed it here, and okayed my use of the photo. Linda liked it too! The ruby Red indicates a reason for special sugary cupcakes (as if we really need a reason.... Follow the world of ruby treats at RT2!

Whimsical Windows - Stuffy service

Toby hosts the fun weekly meme, Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors. In this, we look at portals of style, elegance or maybe even mirth.

This is the pâtisserie  La Petite France on Cape Cod. At the door, there is the stereotypical and stuffy maître d’hôtel, nose in air.

However, skip the pretense and enter for a crusty baguette, warm, crusty and fresh. A breakfast to enjoy. Despite the haughty host, we are intrigued. The nose in the air is merely an act...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Commercial shadows

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back! Shadows allow for artistry, their imaginative shapes often like their exotic subjects. Yet, in our lives, shadows of all types are part of the everyday scene. Although the ordinary can be attractive as well. The subject here is in our neighboring small city of Derby CT (13,000) on the downtown commercial Elizabeth Street, and on a nice late winter day. 

Earlier in the day, few people are out and parking is available and a worker in the lift 'bucket' truck is supervising roof repairs; the Sterling Opera House on the left majestic as ever. And, shadows are all over, especially on and under the awning–although the shade is less important now but welcome relief on a hot summer day. Never let a shadow escape our digital grasp in any season…

Tina's Pic Story - Finally

Tina's Pic Story is back. We post the pictures, she provides the weekly theme, which today is 'finally'.

At a summer gathering, the day is hot and the boys would like some relief from the heat. The sprinkler is finally turned on and finally, a cooling treat for the boys...

Ruby Tuesday 2 - Startup

Ruby Tuesday 2 is back! My entry is of many colors, yet the brightest is red. I turn the electronic key to start and this is what I see. As long as the lights turn off right after the ignition start, I am safe. 

If they stay on much longer, I fear an expensive fix for the Dodge. I however choose to remain an optimist!

Whimsical Windows - L.O.B.

Toby most graciously hosts the fun meme Whimsical Windows - Delirious Doors. We look for openings and portals of style and class, but never too seriously...We are viewing the interior of the Connecticut Legislative Office Building (L.O.B.) in Hartford.
The look inside is amazing, the skylights that illumine the atrium  are massive, and on a sunny day with blue skies, the view upstairs outstanding, the reflections and window panes many.

In the second view, we are inside the building under a rotunda that covers the doorways leading to the adjacent state Capitol building. The window glazing up there is most impressive, with nary a water leak onto the lobby below...thanks for this fun weekly meme!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Spring like shadows

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back on a great nearly Spring day!

Last Sunday the always lovely Patti and I undertook a trip to IKEA in New Haven. It was a delightful day, with blue skies and a breeze of Long Island Sound allowing for a chilly 48°F (9°C), But the sun is moving northerly at this time, so shadows are abundant.









The place to park was on the fringes of the massive (1200 space) parking lot (car park). As shadows come in many shapes, the subject would be the lot itself. Patti, the intrepid photo huntress, took the views. Our entry to IKEA was near the old Armstrong Rubber headquarters. Shadows are all over the structure, the flags waving in the wind accordingly. Upon our exit from the retailer, and given our far-flung location, shadows instead of card were all over. From the cart return to the rental U-Haul vehicles, the shadows are slight (tree, tubular steel) to bigger (the U-Haul van). I am partial to parking area shadows... 

Nearer our vehicle, the photographer and myself are evident on either side of the Dodge. Shadows surround the scenes well, so the usual subjects define the theme today. Shadowy artistry surround us all, so be sure to see more at the fun SSS2!

Tina's WW - Happy 3rd Birthday

By her look, is she surprised? Our firstborn's third birthday was happy in the purple party dress and pink party hat as we look back at this 1991 scan...See Tina's WW! 

Tina's Pic Story - Black and White

Tina’s Pic Story returns, we provide the photos and she provides the weekly theme, which today is Black and White. I attach a scan of a photo taken by my grandfather in the Kodak exhibit at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City.

I think this is a photo of a photo in the exhibit. Kodak was a very important company in those days of film instead of today’s digital. I like old pictures in this classic monochrome, and here, we can almost feel the impact of the baseball.

And the shattering glass…see more monochrome madness at Tina’s fun meme!

Ruby Tuesday - Smoke and..

For Ruby Tuesday 2, I refer to our dinner out last Friday. The low-and-slow BBQ smoke house restaurant Smoke and Bones in Derby was our destination.

There is more ruby red in the cool sign that meets the max requirement for RT. Less red may be found in the rusty railroad bridge that sits behind this rustic eatery. For even less red, how about Allegra's brisket sandwich - a hint of pink. I should have taken a picture of the red BBQ sauce, but forgot...see more ruby delights at RT2!

Whimsical Windows - Smokin' Bones

Toby most graciously hosts the weekly architectural meme Whimsical Windows Delirious Doors. In this, we look for portals of interest.

Friday, Patti, Allegra and Itravelled two miles from our Ansonia home to neighboring town Derby to a delightful new BBQ restaurant, Smoke and Bones. It is about the only traditional low-and-slow barbecue in southern Connecticut.

The building dates back to around 1900, sits next to railroad tracks, and was a packing plant for the Armour meat company. The striped awnings add a bit of whimsical chic to the brick edifice.

Inside, diners are treated to this heavy steel door. Not pretty, yet its function is what defined its looks. As we know, the building is next to the RR tracks, so this door opened up to a dock where the beef were offloaded from a rail car all those years ago...

The food was smoked perfectly, I had sausage but the brisket looked divine. Great meals, great doors too!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Les œufs

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back, and we endeavour to locate shadows in any venue, outside and inside. On a cold day outside, the changing lighting was pursued inside.

Sometimes shadows are big and bold - or for one dinner last week, very slight...I like eggs cooked a certain way, and that is full of things that mask the egg taste says Patti - no doubt. One way of preparation we rarely do is the frittata. Instead of the usual egg scramble cooked on the range, this finished cooking under the broiler. 

The EB egg and half-and-half texture is fluffy, the potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and onions soft, the mozzarella melted perfectly. Paired with an inexpensive ($3.99) Portuguese red, an elegant meal, complete with shadows from apéritif to desert...

Tina's WW - Dinner to follow

Something is about to be made for dinner - the random ingredients on the plate suggest something - so we guess and guess (a frittata actually)...see Tina's WW

Tina's Pic Story - Captivating Capitol 'C"

The Connecticut state capitol in Hartford (1879).  It is covered with New England marble and granite

Tina's Pic Story is back! The simple procedure here is that we provide a photo per the weekly theme provided by her, which this week is the letter 'C'. The chosen subject is full of those: This is the Capitol Building, sited in the capitol city of Hartford, located in the state of Connecticut, also referred to as the Constitution State, the structure considerable size. A very captivating place - hopefully the theme has been met!

Ruby Tuesday 2 - Eggsactly

Ruby Tuesday 2 arrives this week, with a tantalizing, terrific and tasty
ruby. 

We like eggs in this house. Patti and Allegra prefer theirs fried. I do not...

Instead, I prefer to make scrambles with potatoes, tomatoes, cheese and so on. (Patti notes that I add all the rest to mask the egg flavor...she knows me pretty well :)

That said, we all agree that we cook the brand that is stamped with the famous (in the US) EB, is the best basis for cooked eggs. Of course, the initials 'EB' stand for Eggland’s Best - the Pennsylvania company eggs that taste better. The company touts, and hey, we agree!

On Saturday, we used five of these to make a dinner frittata. Naturally, the red plate and macro red egg stamp were perfect rubies for today!