Farewell Party for 2020.

Well!!! My naughty little Christmas Elf and friend decided to start the party early to celebrate the end of 2020. They put together quite a collection of sweets and seem to be ready to sample their favorites. At least they didn't pop the cork of the bubbly yet - they are waiting for me to do that tonight I guess. They deserve a New Year treat for helping to brighten my holiday season, before they go into hibernation until next Christmas.

Sunrise Sky Show NYC

Yesterday's sunrise in this last week of December and last days of the year 2020. I do hope that just as the orange, gold and yellow hued clouds seem to be chasing away the dark storm clouds, the New Year will also be a time for replacing some of our stress, anxiety and gloomy moods with cheerful news and happier times.

Weathered Wall Abstract Art Series 1

A natural abstract art piece - a photography of a section of an old, weathered cement wall in neutral greys, white and black.

An Extraordinary Sundown NYC

An out of the ordinary sundown display by Mother Nature as the skyline of the west side of New York city is bathed in a lemon yellow glow with apricot hued skies behind and clearing dark storm clouds above. Viewed from New Jersey across the Hudson River in mid-December.

Skyscraper and Sky Colors Reflected

An abstract architectural image of a close up of the exterior of a NYC skyscraper with the blue sky and cloud colors refected.

NYC-Sunrise Reflections

A sunrise view of the New York Skyline reflected in the Hudson River.

Christmas Tree with a Heart

Merry Christmas!! May the beacons of Faith, Hope and Love brighten and warm your holiday season and their light be aconstant guideon your paththrough the New Year. Have a wonderful day.

Christmas Eve Nativity

Several figures of a Christmas Nativity scene and the empty creche waiting for the Baby Jesus to arrive. Photographed at an outdoor display in a church yard in a neighboring town.

Santa's On the Move

An over-the-top image filled with as much of the fun of the Christmas holidays as I could fit in the frame. I created this card for one of my granddaughters because this is how she lives her holidays - as filled with joy and fun as she can make happen. Wish I had half of her holiday spirit and energy. A composited of numerous clips of my photographs combined with available clip art.

Christmas Tree with a Heart

Loved seeing this Christmas Tree, displayed in a local town. It was filled with children's home made ornaments. I was especially drawn to the red heart with text "Home is where the heart is." The tree brought back so many memories of Christmases when my children were young and the time we would spend making ornaments and decorating the tree. Precious times!!!

Frosty the Un-Snowman

Found this cute little creation standing in front of a holly bush at a town holiday display. How perfect!!. If it doesn't snow - he is perfeclty adorable and cheer inducing without it. If it does snow, he'll just get an extra white coating to add to his charm.

Santa's Workshop

A view of the front of Santa's Workshop all decorated to bring on the Christmas Spirit.

December Sundown over New York Harbor

A view of the Hudson River coastline of Hoboken New Jersey, and across the river, the skyline of Lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center as sundown colors transform the colors and light/shadows on the skyscrapers, sky and river.

Snowstorm Peregrine Visitor

Looking outside, in early morning after the Wednesday night snowtorm, I was surprised to discover this Peregrine Falcon perched on a window ledge on a top floor of my high rise apartment builidng as the last snowflakes were falling. I don't know if the wind/snow blew it off course or if it was exhauated from the storm but this beauty sat for a few minutes while I grabbed my camera and long telephone and handheld to get shots through the window with snow drops still clinging to it. Surprisingly, managed to get a couple of clear shots.

Red Poinsettia Portrait

A close up view of a section of a poinsettia plant with its vivid red leaves blooming for the holidays. A popular plant used in Christmas displays, it is native to Mexico and parts of Central America. It got it's English name from the first U.S Minister to Mexico, named Joel Roberts Poinsett, who first brought the plant to the U.S. The red 'flowers' are actually plant leaves.

Sundown Colors - Lower Manhattan NYC

A beautiful array of jewel-toned December sundown colors across the sky and reflected in the skyscrapers of lower Manhattan with (One World Trade Center (aka Freedom Tower) the centerpiece, standing tall and proud far above the other structures.

NY Skyscrapers-Orange Glow at Sunrise

New Yoek skyscrapers in silhouette against a glowing orange sky as the sun rises over the Manhattan skyline horizon. Many of the famous old beloved buildings that until recently had defined the New York City skyline are now hard to find in the view as they are obscured by the new construction. In this scene, two old favorites are still visible . The two triangular shaped buildings are the New York Life and the Metropolitan Life Insurance Buildings. On the left, the New York Life Building is well know for its gilded roof. The building was constructed in 1927–1928. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark in 1978 and was designated a city landmark in 2000. The Met Life Building, well known by its clock tower, was designated as a city landmark in 1989, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It was also made a National Historic Landmark in 1978.

Clinton Red Mill Holiday Finery

A view of the historic and loved Red Mill Museum of Clinton New Jersey with the windows decorated in holiday greenery and red bows.

Here Comes the Sun NYC

A colorful December sunrise over the New York City skyline and the Hudson River as seen from New Jersey. Orange and gold hued cloud layers hover over the city skyscrapers with dark blue-grey skies topping them off as a bright sun shows itself. Within moments the sun went behind the clouds and the colors disappeared leaving a cloudy day. ,

Rudolph's Reaction to 2020

Not sure whether poor Rudolph is simply worn out and exhausted from the events of 2020 or if he is so stressed that he hit the holiday eggnog early. But one can see that he is not his energy-filled, eager to take off into the air, filled with the spirit of Christmas self. Gosh - hope he recovers in time. One look at this Rudolph, spread out on the ground in a neighboring town, and I burst out laughing. Hope he brings a smile to your face.

Holiday Guardians of the Town

A view as one enters the town of Clinton New Jersey over the historic Main Street Bridge. Here an array of hand-painted wooden soldiers lines the bridge which goes over the South Branch of the Raritan River. In the background a view of the river Falls and the old stone mill which has been converted to the Hunterdon Art Museum.

NYC Hazy Morning Sunrise

A view of the New York City skyline, including the Hudson Yards towers, and the Hudson River on a hazy December morning as the sun appears over the city horizon.

Clinton New Jersey Reflected

A view of the historic Stone Mill, now the Hunterdon County Art Museum, and other Main Street town buildings as the structures and cloud filled blue sky are reflected in the waters of the South Branch of the Raritan River. Clinton was incorporated as a town in 1965. The town is most well known for its two historic mills that are located across the river from each other. The Stone Mill in this scene was formerly a gristmill, constructed in 1836 and operated continuously until 1936. In 1952, a group of local residents converted the historic building into an art museum. The famous Red Mill Museum (not in this view) dates back to 1810 . It was used for wool processing primarily.