Halloween Fun

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Pumpkins, a witch and her cauldron, black cat, bats and a smiling skull, all joining together for a fun Halloween greeting.

Pink and White Dahlias

Two pink and white daisy-shaped dahlias on green. A second post for Breast Cancer Awareness Sunday. For some reason, my initial post is not showing up and it is important to me have something up to remind and encourage everyone to have their mammography done.

Pink Dahlia Blossom Pair

Two beautiful pink dahlias framed against their green leaves. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month with prayers for all those affected by this disease and hopes that more treatment options and early detection will save more lives. Testing is so important, so please do it!!

Orange and Gold Chrysanthemums

A beautiful cluster of vibrantly orange and gold chrysanthemums that seem to be beaming their pleasure in the sunlight.

Rows of Chrysanthemum Beds

A beautiful, wide array of chrysanthemum colors on display in row after row of bright blooms at a flower farm in Central New Jersey.

Chrysanthemum Field

Row after row of variously hued chrysanthemum beds at a flower farm in Central New Jersey topped by a beautiful blue sky..

Swan on Autumn Hued Lake

An added treat to see this beautiful mute swan gliding down the lake as I was getting ready to leave after my very happy photo time there. I have to admit I was close to tears of frustration at not having my long lens with me. Would have been great to be able to get close up shots as the swan moved along the water that was toned by the fall foliage reflections.

Autumn Leaves at Speedwell Dam

The shot that brought me to the lake where I got the autumn reflection images. I had seen similar images published last year and I put the site on my list to visit this autumn season. The waterpower in this watershed area of the Whippany River, in Morris County NJ, was a draw for several ironworks in the early 1800s. This particular location was where the Speedwell Ironworks, owned by Stephen Vail was located. The Ironworks became known for the many innovative products it produced. Vail eventually also purchased and owned a farm homestead nearby where he retired. His son Alfred Vail, and Samuel Morse, made history in the farm building there when they introduced the Morse electromagnetic telegraph to the public for the first time in 1828. The farmstead buildings have been restored and the property is now a public park, although currently closed,, The homestead is listed on the National Registry Historic Places NJ Register of Historic Places, Morris County Heritage Commission.

Heavenly Autumn Reflections

Beautiful lakeside Fall Foliage in peak colors of green, gold, yellow and orange, reflected in gently rippled lake waters along with a white, blue topped cloud bank that hovers on the horizon. Photographed in Morris County New Jersey

Autumn Season Slendor NJ

I wish that there was a word for a visual equivalent of symphony, a way to express the harmony, grace, fluidity, glory in the array of peak Fall season colors such as those seen here. The combination of vertical foliage hues and tones, contrasted with the layers of horizonal sky and clouds, creates a breathtaking "whole" experience to savor and enjoy, yet also lets each type of tree and shrub show it's own unique form and beauty. A true visual sympony that, like an exquisitely performed musical movement, can reach out and touch one's heart and soul and make one feel so very blessed to be there in that place - that moment in time.

Fall Woods and Lake Reflections

My first visit to this lake in Morris Plains New Jersey. I went for one particular photo and saw so much more beauty than I expected. I was lucky to catch the foliage at it's peak color. Went back a few days later to try again and it didn't look like this. Wind rippled the water, so there were no clear reflections and many leaves had blown off the trees.

White and Yellow Mums

A frame full of lovely white chrysanthemums with cheerful yellow centers.

Autumn Lakeside Meditation

A perfect place to sit, meditate and reflect on the blessings of autumn. Pumpkin hued orange leaves that have fallen litter the ground while some remain clinging to the branches above. Across the lake, a palette of greens, yellows and golds transform the landscape and reflect in the still water to create a fairyland of Fall season beauty.

Autumn Lakeside in Gold and Green

A peek through gold, yellow and green autumn foliage to the lake beyond in Morris County, New Jersey.

Lakeside Path in Autumn

It's officially the Fall season here in New Jersey now that the leaves are beginning to turn into their gorgeous autumn foliage colors. Here on a lakeside path in Morris County New Jersey is a view, mostly in a green, yellow and gold pallet of colors. Elsewhere in some locations, there are more vivid colors in rich oranges and crimsons along with the yellow and gold.

Beauty on a Wall

A colorful, eye-catching beauty staring down from a wall on a nearby town. While the name of the mural does not imply it, every time I would drive by and see this, it reminded me of a famous Mexican painter and bigger than life personality. Finally I had to stop and take a photograph. This Frida lookalike is quite a wonderful burst of color and culture.

Autumn Scarecrow Doll and Mum Display

One of many fall season scarecrow dolls displayed around the streets of a nearby town, this one seen with a pumpkin ornament and yellow chrysanthemums.

Manasquan Inlet Boat Traffic

A busy few moments on the waterway between Pt Pleasant Beach and Manasquan Beach with boats traveling in and out of the Manasquan Inlet one right after the other. Photographed from the Point Pleasant jetty. The inlet is a busy channel, providing access from the ocean to the Manasquan River and marinas, used by pleasure boats tour boats, and commercial and sport fishing boats of all sizes. This very congested boat scene was a result of the inlet being closed off temporarily for a community event. Boaters that had been waiting for access all rushed to their activities once the inlet reopened.

Sailing the Ocean Blue NJ Shore

A lone sailboat stands out against a blue sky and colorful aquamarine ocean waters. as it is about to sail past a rock jetty and sail into the inlet to the Manasquan River at the New Jersey Shore. The jetty was built, and the inlet opened in 1931. Rock excavated from the NYC Second Avenue Subway project was used for the jetty construction.

Sea, Surf, Jetty and Fishing Time

A beach scene from Point Pleasant, New Jersey that includes a view of the well- known rock jetty, the surf rolling ashore and a fisherman (one of several) on the rocks trying out his skill and luck. Took a road trip on Sunday afternoon to meet up with my daughter, at a halfway point between our homes, and had a wonderful outdoor lunch on the boardwalk and walk on the beach. One of the scenes from out late afternoon walk.

NYC West Side and Hunter Moon

A Sunday night view of th west side of Manhattan midtown with the last of the sundown golden colors reflected on the skyline towers and the Hunter Moon rising from under a bank of clouds. Night 2 of a beautiful moonrise.

Golden NYC and the Full Hunter Moon.

A view of the full Hunter's moon as it rises above the midtown Manhattan skyline, where the city towers are burnished with the last of the deep sundown golds and oranges of the setting sun as the skies and water of the Hudson River deepen to twilight blues.

NYC Sundown and Hunter Moon

The October 'Hunters" full moon rising from under a layer of cloud cover to become visible over the skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan and Hudson River during the sundown golden hour.

Cloud Covered Moonrise NYC

Friday evening during the sundown hour, the moonrise was in a perfect position for a skyline shot. I was set up, ready and waiting but the clouds completely obscured the moon as it came over the skyscraper horizon. In this shot, you can see just a hint of it coming out from under the clouds above the center structures. Luckily there was another chance on Saturday night that worked out just fine.

NYC Prelude to a Storm

Storm clouds moving in over the New York City Skyline and Hudson River on a beautiful blue sky afternoon in early autumn.

Corvette Icon

Came across this beauty parked in the rain at the NJ Shore, apparently in the area for a "Vett" car show in Atlantic City.

Fall Season Display

A cute autumn harvest time doll and pumpkin decoration sit atop a hay wagon filled with pumpkins, gourds and hay in a charming Fall season display.

Orange Chrysanthemums

A frame-filling close-up view of a chrysanthemum plant filled will beautiful orange and gold daisy shaped flowers.

Fall Season Tableau

A grouping of chrysanthemums, pumpkins and gourds arranged in a colorful arrangement of Fall season colors, shapes and textures. A small section of a display in a nearby town square.

Approaching Storm at Sundown NYC Skyline

Dramatic cloud shapes against a sundown sky as a localized rain storm moves over the city in this view of the NYC Skyline and Hudson River during the Golden Hour. . A small section of the Weehawken NJ waterfront is in the foreground.

Fall Festival Fun

Food stands and amusement rides set up and ready to go for a weekend Fall Festival in a neighboring town. Unfortunately storm bands from Ian moved in overnight on Friday and it's been raining since so a disappointment for all those hoping to enjoy this fun, as well as for the musicians and performers scheduled to provide entertainment

Flowering Pink Chrysanthemum

Pink Flowers today in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month. A close up view of a chrysanthemum plant in full flower with pink multi-layered blossoms with yellow centers.