If you saw the film, ‘Naked City,’ you saw this historic bridge – the Williamsburg Bridge in New York City. Even when the bridge worked overtime as the locale for a movie shoot, it still continued to carry 100,000 cars and 90,000 subway riders across the East River every weekday.
The movie depicted the murder of a pretty, but thieving young model, and then detailed the efforts of the cops to sniff out her killers. Eventually they unraveled the case, culminating with a chase sequence across this bridge from Manhattan’s Lower East Side into Brooklyn.
Photographed from the East River, tour boat circumnavigating Manhattan.
July 5, 2006
To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. ~ George Santayana
On the Prairie Path in Owen Conservation Park, Madison, Wisconsin, as the last autumn leaves hold fast to the tree limbs amidst the first of winter’s snow flurries.
In my October 31, 2007 post, I noted large construction machinery leveling land in the southwest corner of this conservation park. I left a message with my alderman complaining about infringement in our conservation parks, but did not follow-up as I should have. I now discover that the City of Madison has not succumbed to the pressures of outside development, but is instead improving the site. I do acknowledge that Madison is one of the most environmentally-conscious and progressive larger cities (well, 200,000 city population, 500,000 metro) I have ever lived in (or read about for that matter) so I should have given it the benefit of doubt until I checked the facts.
I recently found out that the city is constructing three storm-water/wildlife ponds in the park to replace an eroded channel to Lake Mendota. This water way currently carries tons of sediment to our largest downtown lake (9842 acres) every year. Soon, Owen Park will have three new wildlife ponds to primarily attract the aviation population. Sorry, Madison. I jumped to a wrong conclusion when I should have checked my facts first. Kudos to Madison instead. I will follow up as the project moves forward.
Be a gentle friend to trees and they will give you back beauty,
cool and fragrant shade, and many birds, singing. Anon.
Door County, Wisconsin on a sunny day in June with a lovely breeze and temperatures in the mid-70s F˚. Just taking a brief trip back in time to remind me to remember and be thankful of all the gifts we receive from nature’s beauty.
A note to other photographers: Another attempt at a B/W shot, my second. I like the way the contrasts play, but my eye is untrained and I am never quite sure if it is the best I can make it with the simple post processing software I have in my camera. Am I missing out by not investing in Photoshop Elements or something else?
And another note: Also is there a way to get a line around the photo to give it a framed look against all the black background. I’m thinking of getting a simple web design specifically to address the problems (not only the framing) I have with the templates offered at WordPress, but as always, I’m not quite sure what I’m doing. I just know what I want. That’s probably a bad combination! 
Pope Farms in Madison, Wisconsin
Be thankful…
That you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.
~ Author Unknown ~
Thanksgiving Day, 2007
Our senses are indeed our doors and windows on this world, in a very real sense the key to the unlocking of meaning and the wellspring of creativity.
Jean Houston
Southwest of Madison, Wisconsin
Fillet of a Fenny Snake,
In the Cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of Newt, and Toe of Frogge,
Wool of Bat, and Tongue of Dogge,
Adder’s Fork, and Blind-worm’s Sting,
Lizard’s leg, and Howlet’s wing,
For a Charm of powerful trouble
Like a Hell-broth boil and bubble.
Double, double toyle and trouble,
Fire burn and Cauldron bubble.
Three Witches in ‘Macbeth’ ~ William Shakespeare
Backyard
Madison, Wisconsin
November 1, 2007
“When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky” ~ Buddha
Owen Conservation Park
Madison, Wisconsin
first of November, 2007
Exploding pods, the gifts come forth
Of silken parachutes and seeds in flight.
The milkweed plant offers a lovely show when it disperses its seeds for the next season. Photographed at Governor Nelson State Park near Westport, Wisconsin (Madison) in October, 2007.
To see an earlier set of photos of the life cycle of the milkweed plant – spring, summer and fall – go to http://gardengrow.wordpress.com/2007/09/06/milkweed-life-cycle/
