Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Monday, June 28, 2010

Language Police

[commentary below...]
So, let's think of some other ways this sign could have been worded...
Ladies/Gentlemen
Ladies'/Gentlemen's
Lady's/Gentleman's
Women/Men
Womens'/Mens'
Ladieses/Mens
What am I missing?

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Bluebird Box on the NYS Thruway

Many years ago Thruway workers put up 6 or 8 bluebird boxes, or maybe more, along the westbound lanes 3-4 miles before exit 29A.
When you enlarge this one you can see the Thruway emblem.
I imagine some guy building them either at home in his spare time or in the shop at the Thruway during the winter, and putting them up to add interest to the drive along this flat stretch of highway. Not to mention homes for bluebirds.
I haven't seen any being replaced, and the only one I could find to photograph is missing its roof. I believe there are 2 or 3 more remaining that are hidden by foliage right now. They are easier to see in the winter.
I hope this Thruway worker his enjoying retirement. He deserves it.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Friday, June 25, 2010

Strawberries

Short sweet season...and so many ways to enjoy them.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

O'Brien & Gere's New Building in Downtown Syracuse

The title about sums it up for me: someone willing to take a chance on downtown.
Welcome!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Monday, June 21, 2010

Green Lakes: Walk for Southern Sudan

Water, precious water. 
How easily I take it for granted. 
We were recently surrounded by it as we traveled along the Gaspe peninsula. 
Today we are walking at Green Lakes, where the water is clear and appears green.
We are challenged by those who would forever risk the pure water in the aquifers between here and West Virginia by hydrofracking. How, I ask, can we consider compromising the safety of the fresh water with which this planet is blessed? How can we? Money is at the heart of the matter, and that has made many people willing to take the risk, which I regard as an unacceptable risk.
And then, here at Green Lakes, I find this sign along the way, left from over the weekend when there was a walk for aid for southern Sudan, which has very little water, and for which people must walk many miles.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Gaspe: Sculptures in the Sea at Sainte-Flavie

Credit for these extremely affecting sculptures, collectively called Le Grand Rassemblement, or The Grand Gathering, goes to Marcel Gagnon. They rise out of the constantly changing sea that is the St. Lawrence River at Ste-Flavie in Gaspesie, Quebec.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Gaspe: Perce To le Gite du Mont-Albert Via Baie des Chaleurs

[commentary below...]
Gannets painted on Adirondack-style chair; 

church and detail of its steeple; 

Connecticut [we saw the car] fly fisherman with guide in sport jacket and fedora, plus two paddlers on Cascapedia River, total package:  $1000 per day 
distance from Wall Street:  priceless; 

moose alert;

snow on Mont-Albert;

two desserts from the gite at Mont-Albert; 

tiny purple violets on walk to lac aux Americains; 

lac aux Americains, huge glacial cirque, named for early American botanizers; 

the table top of Mont-Albert;

riviere Sainte Anne, one of many pristine salmon rivers.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Gaspe: Forillon continued











The harlequin duck is teaching its young to dive for food.
Except for the first photo taken at Anse-Blanchette, these are all taken from cap Bon-Ami on the exposed north side of the end of the Gaspe Peninsula where the Appalachian Mountains stop being above ground on North America. 
The chain continues on to cross Northern Ireland, Scotland and into Norway. There is geologic evidence that this is a continuous formation, including similar six-sided rock columns such as are easily seen at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.