Posts Tagged ‘g10’

fire and muster parade – milford, ct

January 6th, 2012

It’s the first week of the new year and while everyone else has been busy with recaps and “best of” lists, here in Morningside I am busy cataloging all the posts that never made it up 2011. Revisiting my on-going January resolution, one day I hope to get all my posts online in a timely [...]
 

It’s the first week of the new year and while everyone else has been busy with recaps and “best of” lists, here in Morningside I am busy cataloging all the posts that never made it up 2011. Revisiting my on-going January resolution, one day I hope to get all my posts online in a timely fashion. In the meantime get ready for some randomness, starting with this fortuitous find on a summer-like day back in September. It feels good to see some leafy green trees, now that we’re deep in the heart of winter.

I have a favorite spot for blueberry pancakes, a little dive called Little Lasse’s. Breakfast here involves a drive across town and on this lucky day, we were heading towards Naugatuck Ave when we noticed folks lining up on the sidewalk with flags and lawn chairs. We couldn’t figure out what everyone was expecting in this residential neighborhood (honoring 9/11 anniversary?), but we clued in a few minutes later when we happily put the car in park and watched the 40th Annual Engine 260 Antique Fire Apparatus Show & Muster parade drive by. I had seen signs for the event, but had no idea what went on at a fire muster. D explained show and competition and I so badly wanted to continue on to Eisenhower Park, but in an ironic twist, we had the Danbury fire chief coming to dinner that night and needed to get it together back at the homestead. This year I hope to see the fire fighter team competitions and get a close up look at the fire engines.

When we stumbled across this parade, I didn’t have my dSLR. I dug out my point & shoot camera and since these photos are uneven in quality, I decided to have a little fun and apply a filter effect… kind of like a giant Instagram.  Today’s post is a reminder to never leave home without a camera!

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flying a hawk – manchester, vt

December 27th, 2011

This post goes all the way back to May when we were in Manchester Vermont when I attended a planning session at The Equinox. No one would ever say that I’m an outdoorsy-nature type, but for some inexplicable reason after combing through the activities list at the Equinox, I was filled with one wish. I wanted [...]
 

This post goes all the way back to May when we were in Manchester Vermont when I attended a planning session at The Equinox. No one would ever say that I’m an outdoorsy-nature type, but for some inexplicable reason after combing through the activities list at the Equinox, I was filled with one wish. I wanted to fly a hawk at the British School of Falconry.

Upon arrival the handler will give you a tour of the barn and its inhabitants. You also check the board for weigh-ins (above). This allows the handler to see who’s hungry. A hungry bird is motivated to work in exchange for food. A full bird, not so much.

After a bit of instruction, you’ll be given your glove which is when things start to get real.

Next step, you’ve got a hawk on your hand, with its leather straps secure between your fingers. The birds also have radio transmitters in case they decide to make a break for it, but they ‘re looking for the easy meal and are waiting for the trainer to leave a return reward - a little morsel of meat- on your fist.

You do have a bird of prey that is directly eye-level, occasionally pointing a fierce looking beak right in front of your face. It’s intimidating, but mostly exhilarating to see these birds up close.

As it turns out, D is better at casting hawks.

You’re flying a hawk (not a falcon) for a reason. These Harris hawks are incredibly well-trained. They put up with clueless visitors who have no idea how to cast or communicate with them, inquisitive close-up stares, cameras… Follow the rules and they are not spooked.

The hawk perches on in the side of your hand. You make a fist with your thumb straight out and keep your thumb upwards towards the sky. Every landing is extremely gentle and graceful on your gloved hand.

Towards the end of our session we got a taste of the next class, the hawk walk. In it, the hawk flies along the treeline and follows you, returning (when called) to your gloved fist.

Don’t worry! This is just a decoy used to show how quickly the hawk can strike its prey. You never want to come between a hawk and its lunch!


Photography note: if there are no ‘spectators’ in your group, this is definitely a point and shoot kind of camera gig. I was so thankful to have my G10 because there is no way you can shoot with your dSRL on manual and have a hawk on your other arm. The handler will also take a few photos for you.

Now that I finished writing this post, I remembered what started the whole bird of prey obsession.
Mordecai in The Royal Tenenbaums. I love Wes Anderson.

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studio 8

November 27th, 2011

When you still live close to your high school hometown, the Thanksgiving holiday often brings surprise visitors. Lisa (remember, from New Orleans?) flew back to Connecticut to co-host her parents’ 60th birthday party at Studio 8. Who knew, this party space is right next to Bucks Ice Cream on Pepe’s Farm Road in Milford, CT. [...]

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When you still live close to your high school hometown, the Thanksgiving holiday often brings surprise visitors. Lisa (remember, from New Orleans?) flew back to Connecticut to co-host her parents’ 60th birthday party at Studio 8. Who knew, this party space is right next to Bucks Ice Cream on Pepe’s Farm Road in Milford, CT.

Mr & Mrs B.

We stopped in briefly to say hello and to see some dance moves that would do James Brown proud. I was shooting with my G10, so I grabbed a little video for you.

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lower east side breakfast

August 16th, 2011

In order to impart how completely un-hip we can be: I will now admit we stayed in a Comfort Inn in the Lower East Side. My cousin Alan didn’t believe that one exists, but it does… right on Ludlow, only a few blocks from where Pony Express was performing. Our hotel room was small, but [...]
 

In order to impart how completely un-hip we can be: I will now admit we stayed in a Comfort Inn in the Lower East Side. My cousin Alan didn’t believe that one exists, but it does… right on Ludlow, only a few blocks from where Pony Express was performing. Our hotel room was small, but clean and quiet with functioning A/C. On a summer night, with sky high NYC prices, that’s about all I need. A convenient, decent place to crash. This was my first overnight in LES and of course, there were a few food stops on my morning agenda.

I asked Michele about the Lower East Side and the first mandatory spot was Russ & Daughters. She’s been trying to get me to go to their herring pairing for the past 2 years! This store was impeccably clean and cool. Of course the food is high quality, but the service behind the counter is also remarkable. Friendly, knowledgeable, extremely patient (when dealing with first-timers who dish out complicated orders and waiver while asking for advice). In contrast to the somewhat grungy streets of the Lower East Side, this long-time NYC institution earns every bit of its impeccable reputation in my book!

We came home with the herring and onions in cream sauce.

A class act. Behind this counter: truly great service.

Scallion cream cheese on a plain bagel with tomato and New Zealand salmon.

I’ve been hearing about the Doughnut Plant for years. You don’t go there and forget to mention it to via FB/Twitter/Foursquare. Basically you work every social media channel you’ve got. Your goal? To make everyone you know *immediately* jealous.  On Saturday at 10 AM there was barely a line. I was already a bit disappointed to see Kossar’s Bialys and Pickle Guys weren’t open ( it was Saturday in this historically Jewish neighborhood).  My initial plan was to try the creme brulee doughnut, but after second thoughts, I finally settled on a PB &J donut.  It was the delicate, yet chunky exterior glaze that held the peanut butter flavor and the jelly ran through the sides of the square donut, instead of the usual gelatinous glop in the middle. That is some brilliant doughnut engineering!! I was in love.
On the right, you’ll see the doughnut-shaped ceramic tiles from inside the shop window.

It’s a fact. Doughnuts make people happy.
Take my Aunt Grace Anne, with her 2 glazed beauties. She did share with my uncle. Though I don’t think anyone would blame her if she ate both.

The “next time” list for LES:

Cocoron for soba
Prosperity Dumpling for sesame pancakes and dumplings
Kossar’s for bialys
Meatball Shop

The other day Nathan asked if I still use my point and shoot camera. And the answer is yes, but barely. I always have it in my bag, but if I have any inkling I might want to take photographs, I also carry my dSLR. Here’s a day when I was saddled with both, but when you’re busy eating, you only have one free hand to operate the camera. For those one-handed days: the G10 is the best! All of the photos in this post were taken with my point and shoot camera.

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pony express

August 8th, 2011

My take on the Lower East Side in Manhattan? I’m too old to hangout there. But the neighborhood is chock-full of amazing chow (more about that later) and my cousin’s band, Pony Express, had a midnight (!) gig at the Cake Shop last weekend.  As I said, with a start time like like that… I’m WAY [...]

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My take on the Lower East Side in Manhattan?
I’m too old to hangout there.

But the neighborhood is chock-full of amazing chow (more about that later) and my cousin’s band, Pony Express, had a midnight (!) gig at the Cake Shop last weekend.  As I said, with a start time like like that... I’m WAY too old to be hanging out in LES, but it was pretty awesome to see Rob on lead vocals.

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emma

August 5th, 2011

Let’s take a quick break from the usual scheduled programming for some cute kid photos. The more I shoot, the more I’m aware that the camera seems to love certain people.  This most certainly applies to 4 yr old Emma. Here’s she’s living it up at her dad’s birthday celebration. Is that a great party [...]

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Let’s take a quick break from the usual scheduled programming for some cute kid photos.

The more I shoot, the more I’m aware that the camera seems to love certain people.  This most certainly applies to 4 yr old Emma. Here’s she’s living it up at her dad’s birthday celebration.

Is that a great party dress or what?

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in bloom: may

May 18th, 2011

This week has been nothing but gray skies and rain drops.  Earlier in May I managed to take a few photos and present to you an allergy-free way to enjoy the beauty in bloom here in Connecticut. These photos were taken with my G10 point and shoot, which hasn’t been getting much use lately. I’m either [...]
 

This week has been nothing but gray skies and rain drops.  Earlier in May I managed to take a few photos and present to you an allergy-free way to enjoy the beauty in bloom here in Connecticut. These photos were taken with my G10 point and shoot, which hasn’t been getting much use lately. I’m either using my Droid Incredible phone camera, uploading straight to my twitpic account or pulling out the dSLR.

White azalea was outside the Westport Library

I work across from Noelle Salon. Every year, the wisteria puts on a wild, magnificent display above the main entrance.

I wish the wisteria would bloom a little later so the hanging flowers would still be visible around Memorial Day when the salon hangs a giant American flag from the arbor trellis.


I love the delicate lily of the valley. I haven’t seen much of them since my childhood years in Trumbull, but these were lining the pathway at Noelle.

Now I’m counting down the days until my peonies bloom.

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Happy Birthday George

February 17th, 2011

My stepfather is probably the person who has most influenced my love of food and travel. Tonight we celebrate with family, but George has never dined at Schoolhouse at Cannondale so we plan to remedy that shortly. I always hear rave reviews for Chef LeBant’s food, I don’t know why it’s been over a year [...]

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My stepfather is probably the person who has most influenced my love of food and travel.
Tonight we celebrate with family, but George has never dined at Schoolhouse at Cannondale so we plan to remedy that shortly. I always hear rave reviews for Chef LeBant’s food, I don’t know why it’s been over a year since our last visit!

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digging out. again.

January 27th, 2011

Here in Morningside we’ve been buried under another foot of white powder. This morning I read that Connecticut’s snow accumulation nears 50 inches.  Enough’s enough Old Man Winter, how about taking it easy on us for the next 2 months? It’s hard to remember how beautiful the snow can be… when you’re out there shoveling [...]

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Here in Morningside we’ve been buried under another foot of white powder. This morning I read that Connecticut’s snow accumulation nears 50 inches.  Enough’s enough Old Man Winter, how about taking it easy on us for the next 2 months?

It’s hard to remember how beautiful the snow can be… when you’re out there shoveling over a 5′ high snow bank. Be safe and stay warm!

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bright college days

October 4th, 2010

This post is for all of you who have never been to a college football game.  You’ll get a taste of game day on campus, without giving up your whole Saturday! I went to a women’s college. There was no game day parade, no football team and certainly no tailgating.  Brent, my cousin from Hawaii studying at Boston University, [...]

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This post is for all of you who have never been to a college football game.  You’ll get a taste of game day on campus, without giving up your whole Saturday!

I went to a women’s college. There was no game day parade, no football team and certainly no tailgating.  Brent, my cousin from Hawaii studying at Boston University, had never been to a Division 1 college game either. And that was how my crafty husband convinced me to attend yet another football game: Virginia Tech vs Boston College  We arrive on campus early enough to watch the pre-game parade.Go Eagles!We spent our pre-game time drinking bloody marys and visiting other tailgates. Our neighbors introduced us to Pete Cronan, an announcer for the game.
This former Eagle and NFL player kindly let us anchor around his tailgate setup.We met Morningside neighbors Grace and Steve, who were at Boston College for Parents Weekend. They are below with their daughter Laura, class of 2011.Alumni stadium holds over 40,000 fans and somehow we managed to run right into D’s Uncle Mike as we headed to our seats. Uncle Mike is a Double Eagle (Boston College and BC Law School)I had envisioned a crisp Fall day to visit campus. Unfortunately, it was more like summer with Boston temps topping out at 88 degrees! Above right, Brent and I are enjoying our stadium popcorn and baking in the sun.The stadium does not allow cameras with detachable lenses (I always check first after learning my lesson at a UCONN/UT basketball game).
This whole post was shot my point & shoot G10.

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