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.