Paddy's Day Blizzard

HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY !!

(UPDATE March 18, '07 - Pictures of crystallized trees in sunlight added!! See bottom. )

We in New England have had a March Madness Nor'easter last night. It rained and this morning I looked out my bedroom window to see these gorgeous crystallized trees.

I love the ethereal feel of this tree covered with icicles.

The huge willow tree in my yard has been losing big branches due to the weight of the ice. The sound when they break and fall to the ground is very loud. I was surprised. I am watching a big bough that is right over to garden sheds in the yard of that yellow house next door, hoping it does not break and crush the sheds.

( see pics below)

This tree really looks stunning. If the sun were out and shining, the icicles would shine like diamonds! The photo does not do any justice to how dramatic the view is.

On March 21st is the Vernal Equinox! I can't wait to see crocus, daffodils and tulips come up. Spring trees and bushes flowering in the yellow, pinks and peaches of apple and cherry trees, and quince and forsythia bushes. Soon the boats will be in the water, warm spring days will turn to simmering summer nights with the sound of crickets and peep frogs. After the 21st, the days start becoming longer than the nights. The beach beckons, the sound of a sail snapping, a hoot owl in the night and moths bumping against the screen door. What a sweet dream after a very cold, but beautiful winter.

Looking right on my street. The

snow is wet and dense and melting rather rapidly so it's rather wet everywhere. I shoveled a lot so got a pretty good workout. A friend came by to help me out, but I managed to do a pretty good job. He finished removing the snow in front of my garage where the plow pushes it against due to my narrow driveway. The weather is mild, not bitter cold, so it was rather nice to be outside shovelling.

Looking left down my street. The street I live on hugs the beautiful Merrimac River. The other day I was going over Chain Bridge and slowed down to see if I could spot any Bald Eagles who are now a very special feature around here. Sure enough, on a tall, naked branch was an adult male! He was stunning! People are always on the bridge and on the banks of the river eagle watching. I saw two young males sitting near each other a few days ago. The Bald Eagle has been rehabilitated by the Audubon Society in recent years and now they are off the endangered list.

The view behind my house. I really enjoy this view so typical of a New England village. This is my view from my home office and my bathroom. In the summer, all the trees are full and you cannot see these houses at all. My yard is a beautiful, private, shady spot in the summer. The willow tree is beautiful so I hope it doesn't lose too many of it's branches.

The willow tree embellished in ice, creating stress on it because of the weight of the ice.


This branch is huge! The noise it made when it broke and fell to the ground was amazingly loud. Later that day, another branch broke and went over the fence into the yellow house's yard, but did no damage to the fence or the sheds. Also, when I just went out to check it, the air had dried up and all I could hear was all this crackling noises all around me. It was all the ice on the trees cracking as a wind gently rocked the branches. It was kind of eerie. If the wind kicks up during the night, the willow tree may be in danger. The good news is that the sky is clear and light on the western horizon, so hopefully the sun will be out tomorrow and melt the ice. If the trees still have ice on them with the sun out, I will try to get a picture as crystallized trees are amazingly surreal, but magical !!


Anyway, Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

NEW PICS!!

These were taken the following day, March 18, with the morning sun shining on them. Good thing I went out early as it id melting swiftly and the sky is now greying up. Below is looking North East, with my house in the foreground. The second pic is zoomed on some branches. I then took a walk around the neighboorhod to the river and the grasses and bullrushes were stunning, all incapsulated in shells of icecicles! The sun was glistening off the ice, making a magical landcape of glittering diamonds. I an grateful to be able to witness the beauty of nature. PS, The willow tree did well during the night. No more branches came down! :)

Christmas In Newburyport

I have not really started my holiday gift shopping yet, but decided to poke around a few shops in town last night to get a few ideas. The town looked pretty all decorated, with shoppers and the shops all done up, looking festive with twinkly lights and red bows on wreaths. I live in a town that Hollywood couldn't design any better as the perfect New England town. It looked like a movie set last night as I walked around the shops admiring all the windows, each an art work unto itself. All the shops were decorated beautifully, and the shop keepers were smiling, giving out samples of fudge or cookies. The tree in Market Square is beautiful and surrounded by shops nestled in gorgeous Federal brick buildings. Last weekend they had the tree lighting and Santa comes by Coast Guard boat ( it was established here), and then there were carolers and it was so petty. It's gorgeous when it snows here, too! On the weekends, no matter the weather, people are always flocking downtown to eat in the restaurants and to shop in the many quaint boutiques and antique shops that bound a plenty here! I do have a page about Newburyport that will be more factual about what it's all about. Some history and some photos. It's in draft now.

Moving to this town has done much for my mental health. The first year here I did think I made a mistake as I didn't want to leave Boston, the very center of my universe..hehe. I didn't really enjoy it here then. This past summer I made a point to take advantage of Newburyport. Many people come here for vacations and day trips, so instead of me traveling to Europe ( I wanted to go to Italy), I decided to go on "vacation" here!! There was the beach, the state park, sailing, bike riding on Plum Island, garden and house tours, antique shopping, just walking around the boadwalk along the river, listening to buskers, going to a classical concert in the park, drinking cosmos al fresco while watching the boats float by on the Merrimac River! There is something happening all the time, all year long that I always feel the positive energy of people having a great time coming into town. I wanted to live in a place that people were happy to come too and enjoy themselves! I wanted to be near the sea and the beach, the forest, the White Mountains of New Hampshire ( 1.5 hours drive), The beautiful Maine coast, and still be close to Boston. You can walk or ride a bike anywhere here at any time of day or night and feel safe. Most folks here are very nice and say "hello" when passing by, and many are staunchly proud and would not give up Newburyport for anything! Even I was getting a little possessive of it when I'd drive through town and see the tourists!! I started thinking..." Go home, Newburyport is mine, now.." haha! But to me, they are part of why this little city has such good energy for me, so I usually say it in jest.

Newburyport is home right now. I am content, if not in this house, but in this area for the time being. I really have no interest to be anywhere where else in the world right now, which is really a new thing for me! London, Paris, Stockholm, Dublin, Zurich, Florence, New York City....They will have to wait right now as I savor a little place on the globe that holds my loyalty and attention at the moment!!


For More Info and Photos about Newburyport


H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S !!

Plum Island

Welcome to Plum Island.

Plum Island is an eleven mile barrier island off the coast of Massachusetts. A barrier island is a detached linear islands of sand that run parallel to the shore and backed by a bay, marsh or tidal marsh. It is an eclectic coastal community with miles of beautiful sandy beaches with nothing but a view of the great Atlantic Ocean! On the southern two thirds of the island there is a 4,662 acre wild life refuge where bird watchers from all over the world come to see plovers, cranes, egrets, heron, and bald eagles among hundreds of species of birds. There are nature walks and a great places to ride a bike or just to sit on the beach all day. I live 2 miles from this great spot!

On the southern two-thirds of the island is the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. All the beaches are assessable by foot and some nice boardwalks over beautiful dunes. Almost all of the ocean front is public beach about 8 miles long, so even in the height of tourist season, this beach feels remote and uncrowded!

The northern tip of PI is a densely populated area of summer cottages and year round mansions. It has narrow streets with names like downtown Manhattan; 55th, 56th, 57th Streets. PI is about 3 miles from my house in Newburyport, but when you are out there, it feels so remote, wild, peaceful and extraordinary!

This Snowy Egret is a common bird to see on PI in the salt marsh and on the Merrimac River. The are magnificent to behold when they take to wing as they look so graceful. Another bird showing it's beak around here is the magnificent Bald Eagle! I have seen a couple of these magestic birds flying along the river, and a couple of times over my head! Hard to believe that they were on the endangered list, but the Audubon Society had helped rehabilitate them along the Merrimac River.


Here is a photo of a Bald Eagle in Amesbury, Mass, just up river from PI and Newburyport, taken by a New England Nature photographer. Gorgeous to see them! Check out his many wonderful photos of animals and birds taken in this area I now call home!

NEW ENGLAND WILD LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

Plum Island is named for the wild plum bushes about 4 to 5 feet high, that grow everywhere, and can be used to make jellies and jams if the picking is good. While ripening, the fruit changes from green to pink to red to a lovely deep purple. They like to grow on the rugged shore up and down the east coast from New Jersey to Maine. Here is a recipe for Beach Plum Jam.

Beach Plum Jam

5 Cups beach plums

5 Cups of sugar

( use purple, red and green ones for high pectin)

Sterilize the jelly jars and lids in boiling water. Pit the plums, by hand or with a cherry picker. Leave the skins on but chop them finely. Put plums and sugar in a large pot and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, test by putting a spoonful on a refrigerated saucer, then put back into fridge. Check after a few minutes to see if the jam wrinkles when pushed back by your finger. If it does, then it's done and can be removed from the heat. Spoon into the the sterilized jars, seal, and boil in a hot bath for 10 minutes. It's a lot of work but well worth the effort! Serve it with meat or breakfast foods, on muffins, pancakes, scones...beach plum jam has a lovely tartness.

ENJOY!

Plum Island is very accessible from my house by bike, car and even taxi! I like to walk along the beach in every seaon and sit on the sand and watch the waves on summer afternoons. Also seeing the beach from a sail boat is cool! I like to ride my bike in the quaint neigborhoods and on the nature preserve. It's a great thing to have PI literally out my back door.

I this photo of the Plum Island light house on my October 05 bike ride.


A sand dune path to the beach.

This photo is looking toward the mouth of the majestic Merrimac River.

I hope you have enjoyed your tour of Plum Island. I will be adding more photos and write ups, so check in periodically. My blog is a work in progress.

Sailing..the Rolf Tour to the Isle of Shoals

October 9, 2005 The Rolf Tour to Isle of Shoals! My stomach is still feeling the effects of this one, let me tell you! I rolfed all over the Atlantic as it rocked and rolled the Bella Donna for the 8 hours it took from Newburyport to the Isle of Shoals and back. Oh well, give me one sailor who has not felt the effects of sea sickness and I'll give you $1,000.00!!

The day started of really well. Met Ed on the dock in downtown Newburyport. He took the boat from the mooring to the dock, which, believe me, is the more dignified and preferred method of getting onto a sailboat. I hate hate hate getting on the boat from the dingy! My legs are too short and it's hard to hoist my self up without severely hurting my knees. It doesn't look very pretty or attractive, either. So much for a dignified sport. huh? Perhaps I should take up golf or knitting at this point!!

JC came running down the dock, and off we sailed for the day. The river was nice and smooth and we even saw a cutie- pie seal bobbing around gleefully at the mouth of the river. The harbor patrol guys said that there were sunfish sightings at the mouth, and whale sightings about 6 miles out.

From what I understand about whale watching is that they really don't come up when the water is choppy, plus if they did, it's hard to see them. I always look for blowhole spouts. I have not seen any whales this year, and now they are probably heading down to their vacation homes in the Bahamas.

Out at sea was really nice. I did leave the dock this morning feeling a little bit nauseous, but assumed that JC had sea sick meds the last time we sailed...but, she didn't :( Oh well, going to buy the extra large bottle of XXXX-tra strength pills the next time I take to the high seas! I sailed pretty good and feel more confident on the helm. I am starting to feel things naturally, and today sailing on a rougher sea was a real learning curve for me! It was exciting and intimidating at the same time. When the sails catch the wind at fast speeds, the boat naturally pitches over. It will not tip over because of center of gravity principles, but it sure feels like it could! It takes some time to get used to that when I am actually sailing the boat. When someone else is on the helm, the pitch does not bother me and it is a very exciting part of sailing! Next time I meet large swells and a strong wind, I will be more confident in handling the boat.

My sailing course went well. My weak points are charting as I do get confused when numbers are involved, so I must work through that as I did for drafting and become good at it. I would also like to become more knowledgeable on the GPS system as it really is an excellent device...cool too!

Ed, JC and I seem to have a good rapport with each other and that is excellent! We know how to joke around and feed off eachh other's sense of humour. They are witty and fun, so getting tossed overboard will not be a problem! Actually, Ed is a wonderful, confident captain who teaches with ease and care. he is very hands on and I felt learning to sail is best this way. Sailing, like horseback riding or playing the flute cannot be taught without getting physically into it! I'm glad to have had the chance to learn how to sail a real boat the real way this summer!! I can't wait till next summer....sans the rolfing !!
For more photos, please see Irish Rose link on bottom of main page!!