Tuesday, December 29, 2009

new camera



I got a new camera today, thanks to gifts of Amazon gift certificates and money. I still couldn't afford a DSLR, or even the fancy point-and-shoot that I wanted, but this little beauty has a lot of features and was a really good price. It's a Nikon Coolpix L20. Isn't it purty?

It takes great pictures too, right out of the camera. I'm going to have a lot of fun exploring what it can do!

gargoyle

Sunday, December 27, 2009

symmetry


symmetry, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.


Today was absolutely gorgeous out! The perfect ending to the long holiday weekend.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

holly jolly


holly jolly, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.


Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

magnificent


magnificent, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.


Yesterday's sunset was a particularly nice one.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

SnowFire


bonfire, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.


Westfield's Dickens Days held its annual SnowFire festival last night to celebrate the winter solstice. There was a good turnout despite the frigid weather, and the bonfire was nice and toasty warm.

100_5444

100_5451

100_5442

100_5452

It was a nice way to celebrate the return of the light, under the moon and stars.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Solstice


splatter, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. From now until the Summer Solstice next June, the days grow longer and the light returns.

We got gypped over the weekend when the huge snowstorm barreling up the east coast bypassed us, leaving just a dusting here in Westfield. I felt a little left out yesterday morning, watching the news report record snowfalls in D.C. and the surrounding area. I was hoping to get some nice photos of the Snowpocalypse; I had to settle for ordinary snow pictures. I do like these bright red berries against the white ground though, at Grandmothers' Garden.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

birches


five, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

I found a nice stand of birches in Heritage Park this afternoon. They stand out nicely against the grey and brown of the winter woods.

angular

radiate

Monday, December 14, 2009

last rose post of the year, I promise


rosy, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

I walked down to Stanley Park yesterday in what turned out to be freezing rain, and found frozen roses still clinging onto the bushes there. This is definitely the latest in the year I have ever photographed roses in the wild!

frozen

crisp

yellowed

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

great white north


great white north, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.


We had our first big snowstorm today here in western Massachusetts. Several inches of snow, followed by little ice pellets, and then rain. Fun, fun. But pretty.

stony

cover

sliding

Friday, December 04, 2009

swans


I pose for you nao, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

Though not quite as nice as yesterday, today was still pretty nice for December, so I headed down to Heritage Park in East Longmeadow at lunchtime today. The swan was more than willing to pose for me.

shine

glowy

Unfortunately, the sun was right behind him, but it made his feathers glow, so a bit of glare on the water isn't too much to put up with.

I also took a video of him with my iPod Nano, in which he comes right out of the water and follows me, making me giggle.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

on comments

I've been getting a lot of spam comments recently, so I have reluctantly changed the settings to have all comments moderated. I apologize to all of the actual human beings who comment for creating the extra step, and I hope you understand. Perhaps the spammers will get bored with me and go away, and I can go back to unmoderated commenting.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. *g*

impressionist


impressionist, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

The trees along the pond at Stanley Park make an impressionist painting while reflected in the rippled water.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

remember the sun


sweep, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

It's been dreary and grey all week, so I thought I'd post a little something to remind us that the sun does sometimes shine here in New England. ;)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

skitter


skitter, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

Yellow maple leaves skitter across a stone monument in Pine Hill Cemetery.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

bare


bare, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.


Today's sunset was an especially nice one, wasn't it?

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

bittersweet


bittersweet, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.


Another sign of autumn is clumps of bittersweet hanging in the bare branches; a bright spot in a landscape growing more drab by the day.

Monday, November 09, 2009

outlandish


outlandish, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.


Can you stand more roses? I'm just astonished that we still have them this late in the season. Truly a gift from Mother Nature.

twirl

stillness

chance

forever

painterly

These were all taken yesterday at Stanley Park.

Sunday, November 01, 2009

possible


possible, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.


It was unexpectedly warm yesterday, even though it wasn't sunny. There are quite a few trees that are already bare, but there is plenty of foliage left to enjoy nonetheless. This scene is in Stanley Park, heading toward the Carillon Tower and the rose garden.

There are even a few roses left!

appearance

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

both sides


other side, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.


I took this picture the other day at Stanley Park, up by the little pavilion above the blacksmith shop (whose roof is in the foreground).

I took this pic last week from across the pond, near the center of the above pic:

patchwork

You can just see the columned edge of the pavilion in the middle right of the second pic.

I like getting different points of view. :)

Monday, October 26, 2009

foliage report


opulent, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.


Everywhere you look, bright colors adorn the trees. Even after a couple of windy, stormy days, there are still trees full of gorgeous leaves. I love this time of year!

miasma

serve

tingle

paint

perfect

hot seat

fiery

Saturday, October 24, 2009

October roses


fancy, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.


The lovely, warm weather we had on Thursday was perfect for roses. So nice to still see them this late in the season!

Cherry Parfait

effect

triad

unfold

Even the bees were taking advantage of the nice weather.

getting the good stuff