lights on from thesystemis on Vimeo.

Now the grass a luscious green, the plantings haven’t come in yet, but the trees were in full green leaves. We explored a section of the park we hadn’t been to. I can’t wait to go back with my bike, and ride this never ending road.

There is a beautiful stone wall that runs the length of this road on either side. I loved the old trees.

We headed back to the main house to enjoy the sunset from the back porch. There were people playing frisbee and families enjoying the grounds. As the sun started to set, I realized there was this beautiful glow off the windows.

I’m finding it very hard to capture a sunset straight on, I need to read up and experiment more. Before we left I walked up to the big apple tree and noticed the silhouette it’s branches made. I like how the branches resemble a printed pattern.

We walked back to the car in the dusk light, and I snapped this one last shot from the parking lot.

If you live in the area, I can not recommend enough visiting this park.

Several weeks back my photography friend’s, Shanna and Kelly, decided it had been too long since our last photography field class. Sadly enough, Shanna couldn’t make it today, but Kelly and I headed over to Harkness Memorial State Park to shoot photos. I went to college on this side of the state and discovered this park with Craig while driving around and exploring the area. Since that time I love to come over and visit. There’s a mansion on the property, gardens, a long stretch of lawn and ocean front.

We decided to head over a little later and let the morning storm clouds pass. When we arrived it was sunny and a light breeze. Perfect for our photo walk. Craig kindly came along and allowed me to shoot photos of him. I am very happy with how the photos came out today.

Slideshow available here.

The technical:
I shot all of today’s photos with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi, Canon 50mm 1.8f, Canon 100-300mm, Canon 18-55mm kit lense and tripod. I used primarily for the sky photos a graduated neutral density filter. I also shot, but not shown here, 120mm format black and white film with a Diana F+ camera. I’m hoping to work on those soon. I post-processed in Adobe Lightroom 2.0.

Processed with a Lithograph preset in Lightroom.

HDR of the park from the ocean side.

Craig coming to get me.

It was wonderful to see color this past weekend. The grass is starting to go from shades of pale green and brown to lush green. The trees are still bare but I can’t wait for the buds to start coming.

After brunch, we headed over to Squantz Pond to take a walk. The wind had other plans, but we persevered. I took a photo of my in-laws that I really like. I’m going to get it printed and framed and give it to them.

More photos from today available on Flickr.

Craig has been working as a library media specialist for 4 years. He does everything from helping kids pick out books to read to showing them how to use computers for research and furthering their knowledge.

I found this video earlier this week on teacherlibrarian.ning.com. Craig and I watched it couldn’t stop laughing. You may never look at your librarian the same again.

I think the root of the issue is me forgetting that I have all sorts of things to share from the insanely busy past 15 years of my life.

Do you find yourself doing this as well? Is it considered “uncool” to post right away your own story? or am I just being worried for no reason?

I decided to create our own site to log our progress, keep up motivation and keep it semi-private. As you can see from the Archive dates, we’ve had some starts and stops along the way.

This year I decided to record videos of my progress. Also joining in is my sister in law and my mother in law. My best friend Kelly, who is much more on top of nutrition and exercise regimens is writing full blown articles for us and keeping us motivated. Late last year she did the P90X and had great results. Craig and I picked up a copy of Power90, which was more our speed.

I’m already using Digg a lot more.

We got chatting and discovered we only lived one road apart for a few years. I have yet to have a chance to take Ted up on going out for a photo walk, but I am very excited to be able to go see his photography at the Common Ground Caffe in Litchfield.

If your in the area please take some time and go see his beautiful work.

I feel the same. (Illustration by Alex Noriega)

(Via swissmiss.)

I can definitely relate to this and have certainly felt this many a day.

Boston.com’s Big Picture
As always they have incredible photos from events, and the Earth Hour photos are extra special, when you click on a city photo it fades to show you what it looked like after the lights were turned out. Go check it out.

Life’s too short to not enjoy every bit of sunshine I can get, breath fresh air and do it in a body I vaguely remember. I am happy I am able to recall the feeling of being very limber and having done gymnastics when I was younger. I used to be pretty coordinated. I can see myself now doing things in a body that is yet to be discovered.

I’m beginning this journey again, not with a sole focus on the end, but enjoying the trip. Discovering new foods, learning new exercises, pushing my limits and breaking out of the box.

My good friend inspired both Craig and I with her dedicated work doing P90X. She stuck with it for the 90 days and did see great results. Craig and I purchased the Power90 system and did do a few days of it in December but fell out of the routine. We do like the system and are going to start back up, along with bicycle riding.

I’ve got the bike rack on my car, I’ve mapped out several trails on my commute route. My goal is to get 2-5 miles in each night after work. I ride mostly dirt roads or dirt trails. I’ll work that number up as the season goes on.

I’m using LoseIt on the iPhone to track everything I’m eating and when I’m exercising, and when I can, I’ll make a video of the progress.

Let the journey begin!

This is one of several amazing pieces of photography via, Light Art Performance Photography’s website. Their work is beautiful and inspiring. I love long exposure photography. Please go visit their site to see all their incredible work.

On a side note, I liked the music so much I bought it as well. It’s by James D. Stark, called “Ready” [iTunes link].

I found all of this via Colin Devroe’s post.

This year, I ended up getting very sick after only one day up there and spent most of the trip attached to tissues, DayQuil/NyQuil and chapstick.

Craig drove me around and I shot video. We first headed up the Kancamagus Highway out of Lincoln. Oh, I just remembered we also got to see the Venus, Jupiter and Moon alignment very clearly from up in the mountains.

The next day we drove through Franconia Notch, where my parents used to vacation for 20 years. The area feels like a second home to me.

I loved watching these little guys dart around the sand, in and out of their holes. This is from our trip to Cape Cod in 2007.

I love it! Go Steph and team Plaid.

Visit the The Denver Danbury Egotist.

Taken last spring during a field class. Inspired by, Maureen Gallagher’s “Suspended“

I snapped this photo in New York City in 2005. I was shooting with a Canon Powershot G6. We were waiting for the subway to take us to see the Gates installation in Central Park. I found the man standing next to the pillar so still and unaffected by the fast moving train, amazing, since to me this was still a new experience.

The flag being caught as well was not intended but I like it’s addition. I also like how his reflection even showed up in the blurred train.

I am truly looking forward to the next month or so when pictures like these will be more prevalent. I’m waiting patiently for the trails to finish thawing and turn from mud to packed dirt again. My bike is in my office waiting for a prognosis on the fork which has some rust on it, but otherwise just needs a check of all systems.

While the visuals of Spring are amazing in their own respect, I’m looking forward to the scents. Fresh grass, flowers, budding trees, a warm breeze. (I’m choosing to forget pollen which will have me sneezing shortly).

What is your favorite parts of Spring? or is this just that in between season to Summer for you?

Beautiful.

(via noquedanblogs)

“

(Via swissmiss.)

I look forward to this future and all it can offer.

(via SwissMiss)