The following were on display in Manhattan this summer/ early fall. I was on my way south from Grand Central and it was nice to see this on little strips of land between north and south board lanes. These are all phone photos.
There were others to see. I love the art that is viewable to all. Enjoy the rest of your week!
I do not have the lens for this, but I thought I would try anyways. I made a quick trip up to Ontario, Canada during the Thanksgiving holiday. This is one little town I like to stop in. It is on the lake and has a river that goes downhill emptying into it.
In the late summer or early fall there is a salmon run going up the river. Fishermen line the river hoping to snag one. I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Here’s hoping the coming one is too!
This bird seems to be a big deal in my area. Some have acted like it was a major tick on your bird watching list. We do not seem to be in its breeding or non breeding range, however, there are maps that show in huge swathes of areas that are breeding and non-breeding areas. I am told this is a loggerhead shrike, although it was far away and I could not get a clear picture.
I did see the tell tale signs along the trail. I saw low bushes with pointy branches with impaled insects on them. Oddly this reminds me of the shish kebab I ate last night.
I do not think I would have spotted this bird on my own. I have issues spotting the smaller birds at long distances. Luckily a few others spotted it in the general vicinity of the bushes I found, although not close, and closer to another taller bush with an insect impaled on it. It was quite a distance and I’m not sure my lens is working so great in the past coupl of months.
Regardless of the poor quality of the image I was happy to get the chance to see this bird. Is this bird really that rare to find? I’m sure other bird watchers have seen it.
Some people listen to music while driving. Other people listen to news stations and talk radio. Another option out there for long trips is to listen to podcasts.
For those of you with an iPhone, Podcasts is one of the icons on your phone. You can click on it, then click on the search button on the bottom and type in the name of the podcast. If you look under Browse it gives you ones Apple recommends. I will give you a list of some of the ones I listen to on my long commute to and from work. Many of these can be brought up through multiple platforms, not just Apple.
BBC’s You’re Dead to Me is a History Podcast. Each episode they have the podcaster, an historian, and a comedian to talk about some famous person in history who is no longer living or something of historical significance. They often bring out interesting details you may not have ever heard before. Some episodes include: Ivan the Terrible, PT Barnum, Leonardo Di Vinci, Fredrick Douglass. and Victorian Body Building. If you are into history, this will not disappoint. Available on Apple, Spotify, BBC Sounds and Utube.
If you are into true crime: Pretty Lies and Alibis is a great podcast. I am acquainted the podcaster through my trips to England to see the filming of the TV show Doc Martin. GiGi McKelvey is all about the facts and does not go after the wild theories. She covers the cases with her South Carolina wit and wisdom and advocates for the victims and their families through her coverage. GiGi will bring to attention missing persons cases as well. Law and Crime network (TV) has used her to report on some cases and she has been a guest on various shows. For some cases she was observinf in the courtroom. Some of the cases she is or has covered include: Lori Vallow/Chad Daybell, Bryan Kohberger, Alex Murdaugh, Rex Heuermann and Brian Laundrie/Gabby Petito. Available on Apple, Spotify, Audible, Google, Player F.M. and Utube. Website: https://www.prettyliesandalibis.org
I deal with some people on the spectrum as a part of my job. I listen to Inside the Asperger’s Studio, put out by an American. The podcaster, Reid, is on the spectrum and brings on the show Autism experts as well as other people on the spectrum. Reid got his master’s degree from the University of Kent in England. Some episodes involved interviews with violinist Stuart Carlson, Temple Grandin, and the Assistant Minister of Autism for Australia. Available on Apple, Amazon Music, PodBean, Player FM, and Utube. Website: https://aspergersstudio.com
Do you listen to Podcasts? What are your favourite ones? If you are in the car on a long journey try some variety.
Disclaimer. I lifted the images for the podcasts online to show what icon comes up when you search for these. I do not make money off this blog.
I have seen art displayed outside via murals on sides of building in NYC. I have seen poetry on mailboxes. I was surprised to find artwork on the sidewalk. This street art is by Goat. As their website says they are the first street artist to blend AI with street art.
This piece is called Gym Rat.
Goat or Go4tart’s Instagram is at the link below:
https://www.instagram.com/go4tart/
You can see other work by this artist at their shop by going to the link below:
https://www.shop4goat.com/we-love-nyc
I hope I can find more of their work in the future. Sometimes you find interesting things by looking down instead of up.
Always take the scenic route, you never know what adventures you will find.
Unknown
Deciding to travel on some more rural roads on a trip I came across a cool little farm stand in a trailer. I decided to stop and check it out.
Hardeman Orchards is located west of the Village of Red Hook in New York on Route 199.
They had different varieties of apples for sale including my favourite: JonaMac. JonaMac is a cross between a Jonathan and a Macintosh. They also had pumpkins, other vegetables, apple cider and donuts.
This was the highlight of my stop. I believe the farm stand worker said it was apple cider mixed with vanilla ice cream. It was surprisingly light for a milkshake. It did not taste very sweet either, which is a plus in my book.
If you are in the Red Hook area check out the Hardeman Farm Stand on Route 199. Eat the donuts, get a milkshake or buy some fresh picked apples. The village also has some quaint little shops and restaurants that are worth checking out.
Some signs of autumn include the changing colours of the leaves, cooler temperatures, and birds flying south for the winter. In Saugerties, N.Y. another sign of autumn includes the Rimington’s new Minions Hay Bale display presented during the start of the Garlic Festival.
This year I finally got to meet the couple behind this display. This is my fourth year documenting it. The Rimingtons told me this is their sixth year putting it up. This year’s theme is hip hop music. This year they incorporated some artwork in the form of banners as well as a few skeletons. RIMS Driving School is their business.
As I was talking to the Rimingtons, people were showing their appreciation by yelling thank you for the display from their passing cars.
This display is across from Dunkin Donuts as you are heading into the village from the Thruway exit. It is on 127 Ulster Avenue. I recommend pulling into the shopping area across the street and parking. You can view it from that side of the street or cross over. Ulster Avenue in Saugerties is a very busy road and there is no parking street side in that area.
If you are leaf peeping in the Catskills and in the area of Saugerties head into town. Besides this display there are a variety of businesses in the village to stop for a bite, go antiquing, or walk to the Lighthouse from the parking area on Lighthouse Drive.
What a fun way to celebrate the start of autumn and Halloween. Thank you to the Rimington Family!
Just another loon picture from earlier in the summer. I am really busy at work, but hope to get somewhere on an upcoming holiday if it works out time-wise and health-wise.
Enjoy these last days of summer. Fall is closing in.
Lessons from a Loon
Spend time at the lake.
Go for a long swim.
Surround yourself with beauty.
Don’t be afraid to dive deep.
Unknown Author
These were on display in a store in Lake Placid. Raccoons are seen as a nuisance to some in New York. I do not know the history of these animals, whether they were trapped or road kill. My understanding from one store owner I asked a few years ago some of these displays are old.
The only place I have seen displays like this is in the Adirondacks. There is a long history of trapping in the Adirondacks beginning with the Native Americans with the Europeans entering the region with metal traps in the 16th century. Trapping still exists today in New York with a designated season to do so.
I have not seen a lot of chipmunks this year. The population of hawks and owls is increasing. They both have it on their menu. One place I usually hike a lot in chipmunks are more rare to see this year. It has owls, and at least three different kinds of hawks claiming it as their hunting ground. I think the squirrel and chipmunk populations were decimated over the winter.
This one I saw this spring at a different hiking location. It had less hawks and owl per acre. Oddly this one was in an area near a great horned owl’s nest. It may have been far enough away to stay out of trouble, but hopefully he has been on the lookout. I had to put up a shorter post in between thunderstorms. Continue to your weekend!
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