Sunrise in Goshen

 I traveled to the wilds of Torrington this morning to have automobile warranty work done at the dealer. I knew I'd be back late in the morning, so I took my camera along for the ride, and I was glad I did. Obviously, I was running to meet an appointment (7:30 in T-town) so I couldn't look for a special location but this one "on the run" turned out fairly decently. The cold blue January morning sky, with clouds and early morning vapor trails were just so bold. The golden sunrise was gorgeous. Plain and simple. The snow piled high reminded me I was in Goshen, but I must admit, I think there is just as much in Sharon. More snow is forecast, beginning in just a few hours. I do hope everyone stays safe during the next 48 or more hours, and that all of our houses and dwellings all stay safe and dry....Hope to hear from you all on the other side of this pending storm that you're all okay.....

walled sidewalk..

for my long-distance friends out there in Seattle and down on some island off of Florida coast ( no I haven't gotten that invitation yet...you SURE you mailed it?) (and Arizona, that goes for you too!) who were wondering how things are looking, I thought I'd send this one along....my sidewalk to my front door is getting some nice walls. Word has it the walls may grow some more later this week.....oh joy.

Things I am thankful for....

my pickup truck, with a snowplow. Because of it, I am able to maintain my own five hundred plus foot long driveway in the wintertime.

Yes, I am thankful.

Now, on another note. I am getting a bit tired of these weekly significant snowfalls. Guess it's making up for the last few winters where we had only a few....

good ol' homemade mac-n-cheese

I've been suffering with a sore lower back (uggh). A new chiropractor to me has helped me incredibly this week so things are getting better. Today I was on my own at the store, giving Marsh the day off. She really bailed me out this week in my time of need, and I really appreciated her helping me each day. Tonight was a coffee house at The Sharon Methodist Church, with a small praise and worship group made up with three members of my church (Sharon Congregational) and one for SUMC. I was there to run their sound board for them so I had a busy day, just getting home after nine. I tell you all of that to tell you this. I didn't take any pic's today. So, I am pulling one from last week. 


Sometimes in life, you just need a quick simple meal. One night last week we had a favorite of my daughters, though she wasn't home to enjoy it (college). Clare's homemade mac-n-cheese. A nice bowl of that, with a good tall glass of cold, skim milk. Mmm-mmm good!

A January thaw...

about now would do us ALL a lot of good. But, according to the weatherman, that's not going to happen too soon. Saw these guys "hanging out" down on Cemetery Hill Road. Wow! I sure hope they don't do any damage. I was told the key to not having icicles has mostly to do with two things. Number one is insulation. You need plenty to keep heat in and cold out. Number two is to have a cold attic, or air space. You MUST have plenty of vents to let that cold air in ind out. Many houses today have vents on the ridge-lines now. When they cover with 24 inches of snow, it's hard for air to get thru, thus trapping, thus enabling things to start to warm, thus enabling things to start to melt. Thus....icicles. I hope your houses are okay. If you look at the far right corner of the roof, you can see the ice is starting to cover the lines. This cannot be a good thing. I hope they come through this well....

can you tell me how to get to the Post Office?

I've been in my current place of business for thirteen years now. It is amazing how many times I have been asked where the post office is. Well, I think that those numbers are sure to drop now that the sign seen below has been added. It certainly should clear up any confusion as to which building is the post office. Guess all I can say is.....Wow!

Sunset---Jan. 25, 2011

“Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer the goal.”

Elbert Hubbard; American editor, publisher and writer, 1856-1915

Hey, what's your excuse?

Not you. The tree below. Obviously, he (or she) didn't get the message last fall. You know the message...it's fall, like in, the season..... let your leaves...fall. I mean, all of your friends all dropped their leaves. Just ask all the people who have to clean up when they did. But nooooo, you are still hanging on to yours. It's January! Mind if I ask why? They aren't too pretty to look at, don't keep you warm, so what's up? And another thing, aren't you some special big and mighty oak? I don't get why the mighty oak continues to hang on to their leaves. Kinda makes me think your not so mighty after all. So fess up. Why you still hanging on to your leaves?

Sharon Green- South.
Jan 24, 2011

if horses could talk...

"where's that guy who turned us out here this morning?"

      
         "I dunno, but if he's smart, he won't be around when it's time to come back in..."


"if he were to come out here now, I kick him like a football....outta here!....."

    
      "dang, it's cold out here....and by the way..how come she gets a blanket and we don't?......"

Two today...

Made a late afternoon good delivery to Lakeville today with the help of my good friend Tim Marks. Tim came to my rescue as I tweaked my back for the first time in a long time. As I write at this moment, the ice pack is freezing away on my lower back....uggh.

Well, anyways, we got the delivery off-loaded, and on the way back, the sky at Long Pond Road was remarkable! So, I grabbed a few more shots for the memory. Winter skies can be truly beautiful around here, but the weather that goes with it........well, some of that I can live without!

Hope this looks as good to you as it did to me. (Tim too!)

Thanks again Tim!

"Look intelligent.....

there's a guy over there with a camera. If he had a bale of hay, I'd moo and wag my tail for him. But, since he doesn't, I'm not even going to smile....."

Boland Road Beef.
Sharon, CT.

OK--get those thinking caps on....

I just was thinking the other day.....Ski areas added picnics and sightseeing to produce income in the summer. "Five State View"....."Spend an afternoon in the great outdoors". And those things have worked, depending upon the area. And in recent years they have added rope courses and toboggan-slide rides. Also helping cash flow where there didn't use to be any.

So what about golf courses? Surely there is something that could be done to get more use out of the land, producing some income. How about we as a town come up with an idea, patent it, and reduce the tax burden on the folks of Sharon? Hmmm? What do you say?

I stopped by The Sharon Country Club yesterday morning to have a few shots to help us with the thinking process.

There has to be something.......

In Sharon's case, nine holes worth of open land. Bigger courses, eighteen or more holes.....

There has to be something........Snowshoe races? Cross-county ski courses? Winter frisbee football games? Come on people....get to thinking!!

having a problem.....

So, we're in America. It's a free land and all. Free choice. I know all that. But I'm just having a problem with this little matter. Paid emergency medical technicians and paramedics who smoke. And particularly..... while on duty!

Numerous times this winter I watch a paid professional paramedic pull his ambulance vehicle into the plaza, get out of his ambulance, leaving the drivers door open. Then, standing next to the ambulance door, he lights up a cigarette. Huh? And he thinks the smoke is not going in, as he stands directly next to the rig? And how his clothes smell? And breath?

And today I saw another professional service pull in the plaza and park. Out climbed two female employees, who walked around to the front of their vehicle, and they both lit up cigarettes. Is it me? I mean, I suppose they didn't get out and have a beer.....

I know this is probably a case of me sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. But, to me it's all about ability and about your image. Your abilities are hindered if you smoke, and the image you present, in the healthcare field, when and where people are really counting on you..... I don't know, but to me its just bad judgement. They should know better.

Black on white...day two..

Yesterday's post was black trees on the snow, in an evening time-lapse exposure. Todays is just a photo looking south towards Sharon from Long Pond Road in Lakeville. No touch up. No cropping. Just snow in the air and Sharon. More black on white......

Black on white

I did a time-lapse the other evening out an upstairs window. First attempt at that. I like it!

10:15pm, looking a little-bit southwest. The glowing light spot is up on the hill over in Amenia, at Kildonan School.

Sharon Sights

I actually got a few hours off this afternoon. Whoa! Couple of sights I ran across...

Guess we needed to get some folks to let up on the pedal a bit....

-this one was at 37mph in a 30..






















It would be so nice to have a coffee shop/diner in Sharon. The "Now Open" Cafe has been closed since before Thanksgiving. The more gas prices rise, the more we'll all be staying in town, and wouldn't a local place be nice?

Been a while since we've had so much snow pile up on roofs. When that happens it only takes a few days to see what buildings have good insulation (no icicles) and what ones ,well, need a little more insulation.....

J-E-T-S !

As long as Mr. Kraft lost,  I am a happy camper! He used Connecticut. I will not forget.

Gates of Andaron...hardly..

So one day last week I was out and about before work and I saw a possible picture and pulled over to take a look and it turned into another which I didn't count on. I walked off the edge of the highway and into some rough (brush, thicket and typical underbrush) and I captured the first shot (actually a series). As I turned around, this object jumped out at me, with the morning sun shining on it. What it is, if you don't know, is a part of an old fence gate. I am guessing it might be at least fifty or sixty years old. Little of the gate remains, having fallen to mother nature's years of fury. But this part was still there, and I just found it to be a neat bit of history. I hope to remember to go back in the spring or summer and take another look. Very cool indeed.

Huge snowballs?

     Earlier this week, just prior to the "big snow", I was out and about and came upon this strange sight. Now, being a native, I knew what they were, but I did find it neat to see how organized they were at this one location. For someone whom might not know what they are, I was thinking up some possible guesses:

1. dental fillings for dinosaurs
2. cotton balls for a really big doctors office glass jar
3. marshmallows for a really big cup of hot chocolate
4. stuffing for a giant pillow
5. packing shells for a really big UPS box or how about roadside protector balls to protect drivers from being hurt?

midday sighting....

I like that.

The next day...

The day after a major snowfall can be beautiful, but it can also be a day of a lot of work. Roads, driveways, sidewalks all need clearing. Roof's frequently need cleaning as well, to relieve stress on buildings. This morning here were just a few of the sights I ran across in just a few moments down on the "green".....

Town Hall looked good, but I think the wreaths can come down pretty soon..

I caught up with Eric O'dell out doing drives and walks on his customer list for his employer, Brian Murtagh, owner of New Images Landscaping of Sharon.

The Sharon Congregational Church certainly had the "postcard" thing going on today....





















This afternoon it was teaching time though.

I heard the spokesperson for the Connecticut State Police say this morning that there was something like a $156.00 fine if you were caught driving your car with snow on your roof. The reason being, it could fly back and hit the vehicle behind you in their windshield, thereby blinding that driver and potentially causing a serious accident. Look what pulled into the plaza this afternoon! I warned the driver, and they were totally unaware of such a possibility and thanked me. They lived very near-bye, and left immediately to go clean it off. They were extremely grateful to learn from me of this rule...

January 12th...Sharon,Ct.

Oh my how it did snow! Went to bed @ 10:45pm Tuesday evening and there were a few flakes in the air. Walked out the front door ten hours later and there was at least two feet of snow! No school of course, and I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't closed tomorrow too. Cars are still buried. Driveways still plugged, and town roads extremely narrow. I hope all my friends and neighbors made it through okay. That was quite a snowfall!

Spring starts when?

GROWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

doesn't this remind you of a character in a recent Pixar character? It did me....

An incredible view, which could be gone in heartbeat....

For all the square miles of area that there are in Sharon, there are very few places which offer really great views. There are numerous ones that give you an angle here or a partial view there, but as far as big skies and distant mountain top views, there are few that ALL citizens can enjoy. One of the ones that there are is this one from Austin Jackson's old farm land. I always take this way to work on clear days to get a moment or two to just admire our part of the country. Special. Very, very special. I sure wish the Sharon Land Trust could consider acquiring this field. It would be such a shame to have it filled up with a house or houses. Just a few years ago there was threats of many housing units here, which for one reason or another did not happen. But nothing has been done since to help prevent that or more from occurring again. The land is for sale. It could sell tomorrow. The view could be gone by late spring. Come take a look, while you can.

The Sharon-West Cornnwall Covered Bridge

Found myself over on the east side of Sharon this afternoon, and realized I had never taken a picture of our bridge. You say, it's not our bridge, it's West Cornwall's. Well, I was once told that one our former selectman, a number of years ago, in a meeting with Cornwall selectman who were looking for funds to do repairs of some sort to the bridge or purchase new signage, something....whatever....this selectman said to the folks from Cornwall, that this bridge makes nothing financially and means nothing to the Town of Sharon, why don't you just take it all over? Make it your bridge. You reap all the good for your town, why not have it all be your bridge, and not The Sharon-West Cornwall Bridge? They thought about it, said ok, shook hands and it became The West Cornwall Covered Bridge. Now, this selectman swore this to be true, and who am I to doubt him?


Another little known fact to chew on.......

Same Lake, Different Names

Here was Mudge Pond, Silver Lake or Crystal Lake on Sept 20th of 2010...

Here was Mudge Pond, Silver Lake or Crystal lake on Jan. 8th, 2011...

Liked this one today as well, catching the snow before it all was knocked off...

frosty morning

 Winter mornings always can amaze me how, when driving along, everything can just look real normal and then, poof, it's like you drive into a winter wonderland, and then right out of it again. I did that yesterday morning on a local road. There was just a normal, wintry look and then right into Ice-land. Not sure if anyone else saw this as it wasn't really covering a very large area. But it sure was impressive through the lens...

Spelling 101

From a press conference today:
"My cards say Dannel. I insisted that we go back to my formal name, as opposed to Dan. I like Dannel. I'm hopeful that more people will spell it correctly in the future," he said. "I like the name that my mother gave me. She was fond of it. I've become attached to it."


I was very surprised this morning. I was out and about for a few moments before going to work, and I was, well, shocked, to see that the sign as one enters Sharon on 343 had the new governor's name fastened to the big "Welcome to Connecticut " sign. He was just sworn in yesterday!

 And his name is Dannel! Not Daniel. Get it straight now!

Now that we've got his name, number, and email, I think we're looking good.  I hope he is successful. Connecticut sure has room for some good leadership.

freezing.................

     Did you ever have one of those moments during a long winter where it may not be the coldest day or time, but yet you are really cold? I was fine all day at work at my store, coming and going to the bank and post office and to the market. But coming out in the cold to come home this evening just chilled me and I am yet to warm up.
     So, with that said, I needed a warm shot, or a warm memory to help me out for the rest of this day. I flipped back a few months to early August, and a shot from our annual vacation to the coast of Maine. This is out the front door on our rental house, looking at our sizable private lawn which looks on the sound and out to the Atlantic. Seated are my family and friends, enjoying the sun, the view, and maybe even a cold sarsaparilla or two.
     Ahhhhhhh. I feel better now. Hope this perhaps gives you a shot of warmth too!

Playing with plates.....

I do get a kick out of license plates on cars that are "personalized". I know Connecticut does have some, but it seems to me (personal opinion) Maine and other states sure do a lot more. Here are a couple I come across in recent months.....

The "Riley" plate above, from Connecticut, seems like a natural for around these parts.
 I saw in in Maine. I think there is money to be made with the personalization plates for the states. Perhaps Connecticut's rates are too high. Maybe if they were lower, more folks would do the plates, and help with a few sheckles for the state till. I think New Hampshire allows more letters as well, allowing for more choices.

 Anybody got any connections to the state to suggest this??

country classic

We found ourselves in near-bye Stockbridge, Mass., on our way to a wedding reception this past Sunday evening.  Stockbridge to me has always been about four different things: The town you went thru to get to the Lion's Gate at Tanglewood. The town you went thru to get to the Mass Pike. The town from Alice's Restaurant Massacree. And the town with The Red Lion Inn and all the other storefronts found in Norman Rockwell's famous Main Street Christmas Scene, of which we have a print over our mantle.

On Sunday, we had time to kill before the reception (the wedding was in July in Utah) so we stopped and I had my camera in hand, looking for a shot that meant something to me. Below you see my choice of what I captured that day. The christmas tree in the upstairs window is just, well, the glue of the whole scene that Rockwell portrayed in his art.

Stockbridge is user-friendly. I need to visit again sometime soon, and take a look around, for there is much to see. We went to the new Rockwell museum a few years back. Need to go there again too....So much to do. So little time.

Sledding anyone?

Sure would have been easier last week. What a difference a week makes! Last week, it was howling and snowing and just goin' it big time about now. Today. Forty-eight degrees. Sprinkles early. Sunny mid-day. Grey the rest of the afternoon. Snowbanks disappearing everywhere. Typical southern New England weather. Can't seem to decide what to do.....

Sharon Person of The Year---2010

I thought a few weeks back about naming a person or persons whom I felt made a difference in Sharon this past year. It could have been as a coach, or as a nurse, or a doctor maybe. Perhaps as a bus driver or town road crew employee. I had numerous "possibles", and isn't that the great thing about our town? That many people do make a difference to ALL of our lives. It speaks volumes, that we all should be proud of.


Enough delay. To my pick. This year, my pick for Person of the Year in Sharon is


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none other than Chris Choe, owner and the man behind The Sharon Farm Market! Chris and his wife Annie, and their children came to Sharon, saw an opportunity, saw the need, came up with a plan and step by step they put together an incredible FRESH, CLEAN and FRIENDLY place to shop. They moved from Long Island, and have just been so welcomed into the community. Chris oversaw the whole transition from a closed, worn-out and ugly storefront to the extremely active place we have today. They started their renovation in March and said they thought they would be open by Memorial Day. Then late June. Then by the 4th of July. But the more they dug into the former market, the larger their renovation nightmare increased. Next to nothing was fixable, and things that were promised to work, didn't. It was enough to have crushed many a strong businessman. But Chris just kept digging in, and kept his "eye on the prize". He had a vision, and he wasn't blinking. October 4th, the wait was over. The "Soon" we were all waiting for finally got here. The SFM opened for business! And what business they did! And that was just their "soft" opening. Two weeks later they did their Grand Opening..........Holy Smokes! It was amazing the way people turned out. And continue to turn out to this day!


SFM has been off and running for almost two full months and all of Sharon, for the most part is smiling. We have a store. And it's also become a destination store too, with shoppers coming from all directions and miles away. And those shoppers are breathing new life into other businesses here in Sharon. My business has increased, and the pharmacy, and Becky's are all seeing new customers, for the first time in years!


So, for his vision, his commitment, and his perseverance, and for all the other things that he is plain and simple, just doing right, I salute Chris Choe. He is my Person of the Year for Sharon! Great job Chris, and continued success to you and all the gang at Sharon Farm Market!