Country idyll

All day I've felt the need for some color to brighten up this white winter day. I found just the thing while digging through some photographs taken a few months back: one of my favorite scenic views dressed up in autumn colors. This particular day was very fine and mild. The world of green wasn't ready to let go even with the oranges, yellows, reds, and browns pushing forth.

Do you see the grazing cows in the second photo? Aww! There are two roads running parallel through this country idyll in rural northwestern Massachusetts. I took these on the higher road behind an orchard that slopes down the hill. Part of the lower road meanders along a brook and posts a very low speed limit, which is fine by me as it allows more time to revel and soak in all the beauty. And not only natural beauty. There are quite a few old Colonial homes to please the gazing eye.

Camera: Nikon FM 10
Film: Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400

Film photos from Chincoteague, Virginia

Assateague/Chincoteague Island vacation photos Part Two (Part One found here)

Chincoteague Island film photos:

While visiting Chincoteague, we climbed to the top of Assateague Lighthouse. This was after we poked around outside a bit admiring the scenery and reading about the island.

I'm not going to lie, I got a little panicked while ascending the stairs. I got through it, though, as I was determined to see the view from the observation deck!

Graceful egrets

Camera: Nikon FM 10
Film: Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400

Chincoteague Island digital photos:

If you're ever in coastal Maryland or Virginia, do yourself a favor and visit Assateague. There's lots to do in terms of recreation, but, above all the awesome ecosystem will really take hold of your heart. I can't wait to return.

The rest of the photos from this vacation can be found here, here, here, here, and here.

Film photos from Assateague, Maryland

Here is the last handful of photos from my September vacation. I'll be splitting this group into two posts. The content is similar, but there's a lot of it.

During our stay in Ocean City, my friends and I took two separate day trips to Assateague Island. One day was spent on the Maryland side, the other on the Virginia side. Assateague Island is well known (famous, really) for its wild ponies. Unfortunately, we didn't see much of the horses during our visit. I caught a quick glimpse of one from the car in Assateague. Then, while we were in Chincoteague (the Virginia side of the island), we did see several grazing in a pasture. Living in the country I see horses almost everyday, so what makes the horses on Assateague/Chincoteague so special? The unparalleled beauty of the island! You're surrounded by it all here: a coastal bay, beaches, salt marshes, and maritime forests. It's stunning. Moreover, the island is a wildlife refuge. The horses and other wildlife are a beautiful bonus to what nature has already provided.

Here are some glimpses in and around Assateague!

Camera: Nikon FM 10
Film: Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400

Remember when I said I went a bit camera crazy on this trip? Well, here are a few digital pictures to round out the trip to Assateague!

Film photos from Ocean City, Maryland Part II

As promised, here is the second batch of film photos from my vacation last month. Now, as much as I express my love for autumn, I wouldn't mind a taste of the warm summer weather in these photos right about now! Just a taste, mind you ;)

On our last full day in Ocean City, we walked the boardwalk again. As people were packed together and scattered about with their varying amusements, I couldn't help but admire a bunch of kites being flown. It was the perfect day for it! I secretly wished I had one, too!

The water as seen from the pier.

We didn't go on any rides, but it was still fun hearing the laughter and cheering of others. The setting sun tried to get in on the fun by glinting prettily through the structures.

These last three were taken the morning of our departure. Unfortunately, the vibrancy of the sunrise was somewhat lost in the digital transfer. The original photos appear closer in color to the photo (from the same morning) shared in this post. While we relished our last few moments of peaceful beach time, a couple of guys headed out to go surfing. I've always admired the toughness and tenacity of those partaking in that sport. At the time, there was a hurricane working its way up the coast, which, I'm assuming provided some good crests.

Camera: Nikon FM 10
Film: Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400

Film photos from Ocean City, Maryland

I've been delayed in sharing my recent vacation photos, but alas, here is a small sampling of photos from the beach on which my friends and I stayed. I was tempted to bring both of my film cameras + my digital, but decided against it. I suspect my friends would have thought me quite nutty for constantly switching back and forth between three cameras. That said, I only switched between two and often had to call out, "Hey, wait for me a minute!" or "I'll catch up with you guys" or "Just a sec, I have to load another roll!" Haha. Anyway.

Isn't dune grass pretty? I love the way it's cast upon the blue sky and how it sways in the salty wind. Its slender shadows exude an elegance reserved only for those shoots springing forth from the sand. It is the envy of all other grasses.

I took quite a fancy to both photographing and collecting seashells on this trip. I had a few projects in mind and will share more on one of them another time.

Sandpipers! These cute little sea-faring foragers always make me laugh. The way they scurry about! I tried to get some photos of them running, but was unsuccessful. I am pleased with this stationary shot, though!

I'll be sharing more photos from my vacation within the upcoming week. I have another batch of photos from Ocean City as well as some from a few day trips we embarked on.

Camera: Nikon FM 10
Film: Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400

Violet amour

Oftentimes I wish that violets lasted the duration of the warm and mild months. How lovely it would be to always see a carpet of grass interspersed with dainty shapes of purple and white. I suppose as with all other flowers it is the violet's ephemeral nature that makes it so exquisitely charming.

Let's take a walk down memory lane: prior affection for these darling little buds can be seen in this post.

Tell me, is there any one flower whose loveliness you wish lasted just a bit longer?

Before I call it a day here on the blog, I just wanted to extend a thank you to the kind birthday wishes left for me last week (thank you!) and to share a glimpse of the delightful little parcel that arrived for me on my birthday morning. Lynnette has been in the US for a few weeks visiting with family & sightseeing and sweetly sent over these chocolates from Seattle. We've been corresponding for well over six months now and always seem to include candies of some sort for each other with our letters. Thank you again, Lynnette!

A certain sweetness

Spring is such a magnificent and delicious time of year. The correlation to a time of rebirth -- of youth, when things are new and fresh, surpasses the becoming qualities of all the other seasons combined. Or so it's nice to think. This spring, perhaps to appease once again the fancies of my thirteen year old self, I have been rereading a favorite series of books from childhood. There's no doubt my musings on this blog make it easy to detect my admiration for the stories of Lucy Maud Montgomery. Like happy carefree memories of girlhood, they make me feel safe in those moments when my eyes hungrily read from one page to the next. In the midst of this feverish reading, I came across a line in Emily Climbs that leaped off the page to be nestled snugly into my collection of favorite quotes henceforth: "For spring is just around the corner and I have forgotten everything but gladness."


How beautiful this semblance of words is to me! I marveled briefly over how I hadn't remembered this little morsel these last 12 some-odd years. Yet, delighted all the same in the thought that it remained on my bookshelf all this time waiting for me to rediscover and appreciate its sentiment. To be perfectly honest, a part of me cannot wait until next winter when I can dwell on these words and dream. But for now, spring is here and I am glad.

Country roads take me home

"I sometimes think that the other months were constituted mainly as a fitting interlude between Octobers." - Aldo Leopold, from A Sand County Almanac

The quiet country road that our family home is nestled on is perfect for taking walks. After enduring a pre-winter onslaught of unseasonably cold weather, the sun finally began warming my little neck of the woods to temperatures that don't result in chattering teeth, and so, I slipped on my sneakers and skipped out the door. Today's walk took me where it always does - up the hill where I stop and wander before making my descent back down. My senses took account of the abundant details of the season from the rustling wind through the lattice of intertwined tree branches to the earthen, woodsy smell of dead leaves and fallen crab apples. My presence frightened a small chipmunk whose pitter-patter through the crinkled leaves made me chuckle. I never tire of this walk and always return home recharged, refreshed, and rejuvenated.

♥ "There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October." ♥
- Nathaniel Hawthorne

Late Summer Sunset

Under the waning days of late Summer, I have begun preparing my senses for Autumn. A quick peek back at my Autumn-labeled posts from last year serve me as a small reminder of how much I love the upcoming season. Not that I necessarily need electronic documentation of my autumn ardor, but I think it nice to recollect how the season's inspiring intensity has made me feel in the past. The days are cooler and the green countryside is starting to take on yellow, gold, and orange hues. Autumn is a beautiful time for the senses to be re-awoken. Let me tell you now that I revel in it! With a only few more days to go on the calendar, here is one last late Summer adventure. Let's call it a traipse through the trees/in the garden at twilight.

Cardigan and shirt: H&M, Necklace: self made
Shorts: self made from old Levi's, Moccasins: Minnetonka

Of buttonholes and violets