Double vision

double stream, originally uploaded by jahansell.

As far as I can tell, this really is two separate streams, merging into one. Everything looks sort of soft and misty these days, as the leaves are starting to emerge and creating a green haze everywhere you look.

Spring dusk

fields with cows, originally uploaded by jahansell.

You have to look closely at this one (if I do say so myself) - the colors and details are soft. See the cows in the middle? This field is about 2 miles into the 5 mile course I'm running next weekend for the Sharon Classic. I'm about to head out there again for my last long training run - see ya when I get back!

Last year's hay

Last year's hay, originally uploaded by jahansell.

It's been cloudy and chilly the last few days - that warm sun from last weekend was just a tease. These haybales are from last summer, I suppose.

Woodland stream

stream, originally uploaded by jahansell.

I've shown you farms and fields, lakes and ponds, the occasional house or public event, but rarely the lovely woodlands we also have much of... this stream rambles along Indian Mountain Road near the border of Lakeville.

Launched

An out-of-town post: You know how you never see baby pigeons? Well I was walking down 34th street in Manhattan yesterday when something whizzed past my ear. I heard a crack, looked down, and quickly up again, to see a pigeon disappearing over a ledge about 10 feet above my head. I suppose it was nesting up there, and this was no longer needed! If you like this shot, come visit it on Flickr and make it a fave!

TV Turn Off Week

library night, originally uploaded by jahansell.

It's TV Turn Off Week and Sharon observes it with a week of evening activities for kids. Last night the school librarian invited everyone to come in PJ's and slippers for some stories (she wore her nightie too.) Tonight was Bingo night (I wasn't there, so no pictures, but the kids had fun) and more to come as the week goes on. The kids were a bit grouchy at first and I didn't quite realize how much extra work it would be for me to make sure they had something to do - during the after-school hour when they're plopped in front of Spongebob, I have time to tidy up, make dinner and blog a bit. But not this week - blogging and blog-visiting must happen late at night, like now!

A new species sighting!

Otters, originally uploaded by jahansell.

At first I thought these were beavers, which I've often seen in ponds around Sharon, though never this one. But they were too small and swift and when they dove there was no flip of a giant tail. So I conclude that they are otters MUSKRATS! Thanks, Anonymous!, which I"ve heard are around but have never seen. This pair was chasing each other around Mudge Pond (aka Silver Lake, aka Crystal Lake, right, Rick?) on Sunday morning.

Having been corrected, I did some quick research on Muskrats (with that old song - is it by Captain and Tenille? going through my head...muskrat, muskrat, candlelight, doing the town and doing it right...) ... and found, among other things, muskrat recipes. Let me know if you are interested.

Turtles of spring

turtle, originally uploaded by jahansell.

This fellow let me get pretty close before he plopped into the water. It's the first I've seen this year. With the lovely warm sun we've had the last two days, I stretched out and soaked it up too! (In between gardening, cleaning the basement and the closets, and running most of a triathlon yesterday and 5 miles today! Something about that spring air is magic!)

vulture moon

vulture moon, originally uploaded by jahansell.

Out and about today - took lots of pictures which I'll share over the next few days. Meanwhile this was a cool catch!

Reaching for the sun

Reaching for the sun, originally uploaded by jahansell.

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
(doot n doo doo)
Here comes the sun and I say
It's alright

It's like your whole body just breathes a big soft sigh and opens up!

Strange phenomenon

sunny landscape, originally uploaded by jahansell.

The weirdest thing happened today. I went outside and everything was sort of...bright. There were all kinds of unfamiliar colors - blue, yellow, red... I knew if I really thought hard, I could remember what this was all about and finally it came to me: SUN! The sun had come out! That sensation on my face was called warmth! That blue color was what the sky is supposed to look like in spring!

Unfolding

Herb garden, originally uploaded by jahansell.

With spring just around the corner (we're due for warm and sunny weather at last after weeks of cloudy, rainy and cold - and a flooded basement!) it's time to start the seeds!

pine warbler at the feeder

pine warbler at the feeder, originally uploaded by jahansell.

This guy is so cute - if spring would ever come to Connecticut he could find something else to eat besides birdseed! I know it's a bit grainy - shot on lo-res, cloudy evening, through a window etc. - but I wanted to share it anyway! If you haven't read the post from yesterday, please scroll down!

A special message

You may have noticed that there's a new "widget" on my blog - I'm raising money to replace the aging car we use at the North East Community Center to drive senior citizens to doctor appointments. Some of you have been visiting my other blog, jennys-tri-di-blogspot.com, and know that I've been working hard for nearly a year now to get into shape and prepare for the Pawling Triathlon on June 2.

Why? Because it's there, and because it's the kind of thing that was on my "I could NEVER do that!" list. Physical challenges have never come easily to me. But hitting ones' 40's does funny things - for me it made me wake up and realize that either everything would keep going downhill (i.e. body parts) or I'd have to make some serious changes. No longer could I say "I'm not a morning person" and feel like that gave me a free pass not to take care of myself.

I was inspired by many factors: a friend who suddenly went from looking like a nice normal attractive person to a greyhound, and when I asked her how she did it, she said " eat less, exercise more." Oh yeah, I've heard of that!

And by pictures of me taken by my daughter Abbey on our trip to Paris last year. I had NO IDEA how bad 225 pounds looked!

And by friends I've gotten to know ithrough this blog, who have surmounted much greater obstacles than being middle aged and a little blue.

And by Triathlon Goddess Tina, my spinning teacher, who has been endlessly encouraging, even offering to come back and finish the run with me after she blisters through it in 7 minute miles!

By Jayne Williamson, the author of "Slow Fat Triathlete -- living your athletic dreams in the body you have now." Her book is hilarious and helpful, and her message was spot-on.

So here I am, almost a year after I started this quest (still slow, not nearly as fat, and almost a triathlete!) preparing to swim a third of a mile, bike 12 miles, and run 3 miles. (Oh, the run - that is the hard part! But I will finish with a smile on my face, I promise you that! So - please support me, cheer me on, and help me buy NECC a new car so we can continue driving the elderly in our community to the doctor, the grocery store, even the hair salon!

Meanwhile...

No photo today - I have bid a sad and fond farewell to my valiant Canon G3, which has taken tens of thousands of photos in the last four years, including all the pictures on this blog. It died in the line of duty - I was holding it up to the window to get a picture of the chipping sparrow at my bird feeder when I dropped it, knocking the lens off-kilter. In a few weeks, I'll be acquiring a Nikon D70, a gift from my mom, and have also just bought a small Panasonic point-and-shoot, which should arrive tomorrow. (It will also be my companion during the rest of my triathlon training, since the G3 was too large for that.) So, the camera is dead, long live the camera.

Waiting

Waiting, originally uploaded by jahansell.

It's been just way too cold for anyone to actually sit in these benches on the green! Today it's rained slush all day - the famed and feared Nor'easter, though it hasn't been especially windy. This crummy weather is supposed to finally end by mid-week - by next Saturday it's supposed to be 60 and sunny. I think I can make it til then!

Think Pink!

Long bike shadow, originally uploaded by jahansell.

My daughter got a new bike today - in fact both of them did, but only my younger daughter wanted to give hers a try, late this afternoon. She's on a pink kick lately - can you tell? Took her a few minutes to get the hang of the bike - it's quite a big bigger than the toddler model she'd been sporting. But it really goes! Over the summer we'll take the training wheels off.

Not much going on these days...

white crocus, originally uploaded by jahansell.

Notice the snow? It's gone now (this photo was from yesterday) but it's still cold and Sunday we're getting a big nor'easter. Tomorrow, at least, it's supposed to be pleasant. For a while. Relatively speaking. Sigh. I need some sun!

Working farm

I visited Pine Hill Farm last year, just to take a picture or two - I never thought to find out about the eggs, lambs and pullets they sell. But a friend told me the eggs are the freshest you've ever tasted, so I stopped by to buy some last night. It's amazing, the difference between supermarket eggs and the ones laid fresh by hens that spend their days pecking grubs in an open area. The whipped honey is pretty yummy too.

Red springtime

Have you ever noticed that things turn red in spring before they turn green? I haven't seen a green leaf on a tree or bush yet, but these are about to burst! Of course we're supposed to get snow tonight. White snow on red twigs - that would be a pretty picture if it wasn't so sad! Last year, we had snow in April too - but in general if you look back to last April we're way behind. (We had daffodils on the green by April 8 and fully-blooming forsythia by the 16th - we are nowhere close to either this year!)

Moon doors

Just a lovely old building - another shot of the Taghannick grange, from the side.

Sunset House

sunset house, originally uploaded by jahansell.

I go by this house every day and rarely notice it - but one evening it was lit so softly in the evening sun, it really struck me.

Naptime

Naptime, originally uploaded by jahansell.

This barn seems to be settling down for a nice long nap.

For Ruth

under the oak, originally uploaded by jahansell.

Over the last few months, thanks to the blogosphere, I've gotten to know Ruth and her husband Mick, who live in a small town in England. Her warmth, humor and boundless love during extremely difficult times have been inspiring to me and many others who may never have the chance to meet her in real life. For her, and to honor Mick's memory, I chose this photo, which I took and posted last summer, because it seems peaceful, and perhaps looks a bit like English countryside as well.

Skyward, tailing away

Recent evening walk on the Sharon Green, looking up, down and all around.

Fence me in

Fence me in, originally uploaded by jahansell.

Snaking into the distance (of Pine Plains, NY) ...

History 101

townofsharon, originally uploaded by jahansell.

This plaque is on the Sharon Green - it gives a nice concise history of our town. Did you know mousetraps were once one of the major products made here? Now my house mice have to get caught in imported traps!

Rough road ahead

Did I mention it is mud season? I drove down this road today - it was kind of fun!

Yellow Crocuses

Spring is truly here! We are planting peas outside and starting all kinds of flowers inside under lights - we went a little wild at the garden center today! (Ruth, I know you understand!)

Country Mailbox - April 1 Theme Day

This photo is from last summer - one of my favorites for the color and the great old country look. I confess it's not in Sharon, though - it's in our neighboring town of Millerton, on Mill Road.

At last count 67 of the Daily Photo Blogs were participating in the Monthly Theme Day. Of course due to differences in time zones, some photos may not appear til later in the day, your time, or may be gone early (but you will find them in the previous day's post, of course.) So mail yourself around the world!
1 (London (UK) ) -2 (Grenoble (France) ) -3 (Rotterdam (Netherlands) ) -4 (Greenville SC (USA) ) -5 (Hyde (UK) ) -6 (Villigen (Switzerland) ) -7 (Albuquerque NM (USA) ) -8 (Mazatlan (Mexico) ) -9 (Montréal (Canada) ) -10 (Stayton OR (USA) ) -11 (Shanghai (China) -Jing ) -12 (Arradon (France) ) -13 (Sequim WA (USA) ) -14 (Newcastle upon Tyne (England) ) -15 (Seattle WA (USA) -Kim ) -16 (Bastia (Corse) ) -17 (Minneapolis MN (USA) ) -18 (Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) ) -19 (Joplin MO (USA) ) -20 (Sharon, CT (USA) ) -21 (Cottage Grove MN [USA] ) -22 (Houston, TX (USA) -Candice & Megan ) -23 (Singapore - by Keropokman. ) -24 (Guelph, ON (Canada) ) -25 (Menton (France) ) -26 (Monte Carlo, Monaco ) -27 (Naples, FL (USA) ) -28 (Kyoto (Japan) ) -29 (Tokyo (Japan) ) -30 (Aliso Viejo, CA (USA) ) -31 (Cape Town (South Africa) ) -32 ( Jakarta (Indonesia) ) -33 (Kitakami (Japan) ) -34 (Tel Aviv (Israel) ) -35 (Vantaa(Finland) ) -36 (Guadalajara (Mexico) ) -37 (Auckland (New Zealand) ) -38 (Nelson (New Zealand) ) -39 (Tuzla (B&H) ) -40 (Brussels (Belgium) ) -41 (Anderson, SC (USA) ) -42 (Lubbock, TX (USA) ) -43 (John, Melbourne, (Australia) ) -44 (Stavanger (Norway) ) -45 (Tenerife (Spain) ) -46 (Stockholm (Sweden) ) -47 (Boston, MA (USA) ) -48 (Not Strictly Seattle, Susan ) -49 (New York City, (USA), Ming the Merciless ) -50 (Paris [Eric], (France) ) -51 (Ampang (Selangor) ) -52 (Sydney (Nathalie) Australia ) -53 (ailea , HI (USA) ) -54 (Manila (Philippines) ) -55 (Sydney (Sally) Australia ) -56 (Cork (Ireland) ) -57 (Saarbrücken (Germany) ) -58 (Saint Paul MN (USA) by Carol ) -59 (San Diego, CA (USA) ) -60 (Mexico [POLY], (Mexico) ) -61 (Budapest (Hungary) ) -62 (Singapore (Singapore by Zannnie) ) -63 (Madrid [Dsole] (Spain) ) -64 (Nottingham (England) ) -65 (Bandung (Indonesia) ) -66 (London - Jonemo (UK)) -
67 Seoul (Korea by Han)