Shadow Shot Sunday - Shadowy Waters

The brilliance of autumn is often in its colors - the foliage is of sharp earth tone hues, the sky and clouds equally dramatic. So for Shadow Shot Sunday 2, I offer a view that Patti captured last week that showcases the season nicely. It is the nearby reservoir at Witek Park in Derby CT, a mere five minute drive from our home. Red, good and blue sit under the blue autumnal sky. I am not certain that all the foliage is still on the trees this week - so it is nice that Patti was there that day!

SOOC - Memorial on the Green

Straight out of the Camera - SOOC takes us back a month to these pics taken for an article by Patti at a memorial service in Derby Connecticut for those firefighter and other emergency personnel killed in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. The memorial has an actual piece of steel from the epicenter of the fallen tower, flanked by 'towers' that remind us of the two 110-story buildings felled that fateful day. The steel is a poignant reminder from a bad day...never forget.

Wordless Wednesday - Historical Naugatuck Valley

This is a train layout at the Derby Historical Society (DHS) that was built to evoke the past with a layout that covers the Shelton, Derby and Ansonia CT communities in the early 1920s. Of course, I also feature our darling daughter and DHS docent Allegra (obvious bias :). Is the detailing accurate? I'm not old enough (yet) to say! See WW 

Ruby Tuesday Too - Fire Apparatus

Ruby Tuesday Too prompts us to find items in an arresting shade of red. So how about a restored early 1950s Chevrolet fire truck. With its ruby hue, this is eye-catching for sure, although its previous home base of Moosehead Lake, Maine made me a bit skeptical (moose residing in Maine? ), but a cursory search reveals there actually is a Moosehead Lake in western Maine, in fact a very large lake (40 miles/64 km Long) and a popular vacation area...at any rate, this cherry red truck is a fine sample of our favorite color...

Whimsical Windows - E Street Gallery

As a member of the local small Valley Arts Council, I like being part of this artist's group - not an artist (actually the organization's Treasurer), but an admirer of art. The gallery just moved one storefront to the left, so for the weekly meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I thought that the unpretentious portals and panes were a perfect subject this week. The new sign shows the name change to E Street, and should you be in the neighborhood of 35 Elizabeth Street in Derby CT, stop in an see the little arts council that holds its own with the fine work of local artisans...

Wordless Wednesday - The Griffin 5K

The annual 5K walk/run for the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT. This lad at age 8 ran the course and actually kept up with running mom and completed the course (Congrats!). Pink tractors and the lovely staff made this fundraiser a success...see WW and WW

Whimsical Windows - Sanctuary Stained Glass

For this week's meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I look again to our house of worship, the First Congregational Church of Derby (CT). In an early 20th Century room addition to the original 1842 sanctuary, there are cool stained glass windows that are odd in this style of church as the original Puritans strove to never adorn their plain churches, which may have been the style in the 1700s - but not in 1901. A style with spiritual overtones...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Spring Cleanup

Pastor Jim is also a gardener...

Parishioners mulch...

Curb appeal enhanced as winter road sand is removed

For the weekly meme Shadow Shot Sunday 2, shadows were aplenty in April as the Spring cleanup at our house of worship, the First Congregational Church of Derby (CT). 

The 1842 building is the classic old white church seen all over New England greens, and after an unusually cold Winter, a cleanup of the winter grunge, new plantings and sand removal is in order. Patti's capture offers us  well defined shadows too. 


Spring indeed has sprung...

WW - Students and Teacher

Our artist friend Rich DiCarlo of Derby CT is also an art teacher, holding a watercolor class recently where the students are creating their artistry... see WW and WW

SOOC - Winter Moon over Derby

Winter is not a favorite season of mine as I am not a fan of the cold. Yet, there is an undeniable beauty of parts of it, such as a fresh white coating of snow and the cold but really blue winter sky. So for Straight out of the Camera - SOOC, I offer a recent pic that Patti took, a daytime moon over the (1889) Sterling Opera House in Neighboring town of Derby CT. Yes it is cold, but a look at space over a local landmark...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Computer vs. Shadows

I am happily back at Shadow Shot Sunday 2! Why my disappearance? I should have consultet our software developer son prior to downloading any app or software…

My #1 resolution for 2015: Ask your software developer son for advice on computer changes First!

I haven't been on my Mac recently...I thought it would be a good idea to turn on the File Vault to encrypt my hard drive. Bad move! The 2009 hard drive was on for five days on with no way to turn off the app. Our son Cameron, home for Christmas, found a way to reverse the process...

It has been Decrypting for five days so far, status bar moving really slow, but happily it is 89% complete. I an not a fan of typing on an iPad. But I cannot stay away from SSS, and Patti needs her computer for work. too. So we wait for the decrypting to end and use the tablet as needed…

For today's post, Patti captured a nice set of subtle shadows on Pickett's Pond at Osbornedale State Park in neighboring Derby. They are seagulls either flying, frolicking or floating on the pond, with reflections of said fowl. The day may be cold, but art and nature play well in any season - thanks M’lady!

Wordless Wednesday - Family 5K

We are at last Saturday’s 6th Annual 5K Walk/Run to for the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital. Survivor spouse Patti’s team included an adorable family ready for walk to begin...see WW and WW

Shadow Shot Sunday - Trestle

For Shadow Shot Sunday 2 we are looking at an old train trestle that spans the Housatonic River between the old downtowns of Derby and Shelton CCT. The lovely Patti (who is taller than me :) captured this iron bridge on an August day from the footbridge along the Derby Greenway. The trains rarely cross these days, so its usefulness is better as classical industrial design that allows for shadowy art... 

Whimsical Windows - Veterans Memorial, Derby

Toby hosts the architectural meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, and we look for interesting subjects. Today, it is the Veterans Memorial Building in our neighboring town of Derby CT, the photos taken about four hours ago on a stunningly beautiful day of blue skies, low humidity and pleasant temperature of 80°F / 27°C . I do not know when it was built, but believe it was early 20th century. Since 2002, It hosts local veterans organizations such as the VFW and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Whatever its history, it remains a good looking building that helps to remind us of those who served...

Ruby Tuesday Too - Steel-y Smile

Ruby Tuesday Too encourages the use of red in any shade, a lot or a little. On Saturday, we attended the first Ecofest in neighboing Derby highlighted a green theme and included a 'Trashformation' contest where items were recycled/repurposed into new items, including a robot created by our artist friend Rich Dicarlo. I find this fellow to be rather disarming, not really tough but as winsome as a steel robot can look - a personality that is happy-go-lucky, with 'hands' made out of Romex electrical cable. Reuse, recycle, repurpose - a ruby robot...

Ruby Tuesday - Eatery signage

Ruby Tuesday Too compels us to look for red highlights here and there, grand or less so. Thus, I use the latter consideration as I offer the signage for the unassuming Altamari's Little Italy deli in Derby. Nothing fancy in style as the lower floors for two houses that were knitted together to make one eatery. No style, but offer good espresso, cappuccino, soup sandwiches and ruby details for desert...

Ruby Tuesday Too - Sterling Opera House, Stately and Stout

Patti captures the Sterling Opera House on a cold day...

Ruby Tuesday Too returns, and on a winter's day, Patti and I took a ride around our neighboring town of Derby, CT. A landmark that towers over the downtown thoroughfare of Elizabeth Street is the oft posted and photographed (by us) and impressive Sterling Opera House, opened in 1889. It is a stately edifice, artistic in its restored exterior. Alas, interior restoration is still needed and its costs are so great that many angels are needed to complete the insides, which will require lots of $. Angels wanted!

Shadow Shot Sunday - More Happy Birthday

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 returns this week the day before the birthday of my two favorite ladies, Patti and Allegra. That the daughter and mom celebrate their birth on the same day is amazing, the firstborn had a due date of December 22 but chose to wait a week for Patti's birthday. As I see it :)

The photos may have been posted before. However, I like them, especially the mom and newborn just from the hospital on 1 January 1989, and the Paris school trip. Happy Birthday ladies, and a happy two years for SSS2!