Thriving Nature In Photos

The Contrasts of Iceland

2017-02-05T12:28:00.003-05:00

More Iceland Photos

Iceland is surrounded by water with sharp contrasts. From the seaside to the countryside you will see beautiful nature in many of its forms. (Like the spectacular glaciers) You can see the quiet seaside view from the first photo above. There are many beautiful waterfalls south of the city too.

Along the countryside you see the beautiful horses. The Icelandic horses are small. (They do look like ponies). They are only raised in Iceland and live a long time. (One lived to 56!) If an owner wants to take the horse out of their country, it can never return again via Icelandic laws. Many people over the years have taken the horses to Europe and North America where they remain.

By nature these Icelandic horses have a double coat to withstand the cold country. They rarely get sick since no other horses are in their territory to spread disease. Even the farming equipment must be fully disinfected.

Then you have the city of Reykjavik. Reykjavik is a quaint city by the water. It comes alive at night. We were there in December and the sun did not come up until 11 a.m. and sunset was around 4 pm. People were not on the streets until around 11 am and it was crowded from midnight on.

People who live in this city are not allowed to have dogs. They must get the consent of all their neighbors and go through the city for a license. Then when a dog is imported from outside the country it must be quarantined for a months before coming to the city home. Icelandic people are germ phobic.

There are many restaurants, bars and shops in the city of Reykjavik. If you shop there you are taxed 35% on goods but if you spend over a certain amount (average $10 or more) you can get that tax money back when you go through customs flying back home.

Have you ever visited Iceland or would you want to go?

The Black Sand Beach of Iceland

2017-01-22T06:56:00.000-05:00

Beautiful Black Sand Beaches

This was the beautiful black sand beach that we visited in Iceland. The world-famous Reynisfjara Shore, near the village of Vik in Myrdaulur on Iceland's South Coast, is widely regarded as the most impressive black-sand beach in all of Iceland. It amazed me how strong the waves were and how windy it was there.

Just like at the Glacier Lagoon it felt cold with the whipping winds. We were told it was a very dangerous beach as each year several people get sweeped away by the waves. We were told not to turn out backs on the water. Last year a couple having their picture taken got sweeped right out to sea to never return.

I would have loved to go into that cave but was told that the waves could take you away in there as well. The Halsanefshellier cave was where the movie Noah was filmed.

Have you ever visited a black sand beach?

The Beautiful Glacier Lagoon in Iceland

2016-12-23T07:32:00.000-05:00

The Glacier Lagoon

I recently traveled to Iceland and had to share some photos of this beautiful country. It is only a 5 hour flight from Boston, Ma.

This lagoon in Iceland is a recent one as a result of a warming climate. The surface is at sea level and sea water flows into the lagoon at high tide. You can see that in the photo of the bridge.

Huge blocks of ice constantly break off the glacier, Breiðamerkurjökull, and large icebergs float on the lagoon.

The lagoon is not very wide but it is up to 250 meters deep which makes it the deepest lake in Iceland. Breiðamerkurjökull is an outlet of the Vatnajökull glacier itself.

We were there at this glacier lagoon on a cloudy day in December so you can see the blue color tone to the glaciers.

The ice tastes so clean so if you go it's a must to eat a chunk of it. Our tour guide took a chunk of it back to the hotel and we had it in drinks that evening. The ice from the glacier took much longer to melt that normal ice.

If you go to Iceland in the summertime you can take a boat tour in this glacier lagoon area. If you go in the wintertime be prepared with layered clothing and rain gear.

Have you been to Iceland? It's become quite the tourist spot!

Beautiful Day At The South County Bike Path

2016-05-16T06:14:00.000-04:00

The South County Bike Path in Rhode Island

Saturday was a beautiful day in Rhode Island with temperatues in the 70's. A perfect day for a 7.5 mile walk at the South County Bike Path.

This bike path itself is seven miles long but that would have meant another 7 miles walking back. I'm not quite ready for that. They are in the process of extending it another mile.

It's been quite some time since I posted on this blog but the views along this walk inspired me to do just that. I have been taking pictures since December but just never made the time to post them yet. This walk inspired me back here.

It was a quite place along the train tracks and swarp area. I saw many of nature's creatures along the way and could hear lots of birds chirping away.

The parking lots were full and I had to use the 3rd lot. But there were not many people that I saw along the way either. Everyone must have been scattered along the 7 mile path.

Do you have a bike path in your area?

Is it surrounded by nature like this one?

Sedona Is Beautiful In December And Is Sure Quiet

2015-12-19T14:24:00.001-05:00

Sedona, Arizona in December

It had been a while since my last visit to Arizona and I wanted to see Sedona once again. I only saw it one time many years ago for a few hours in a pink jeep tour. This time I stayed overnight and saw the sunset and sunrise as in the top photograph here on this post.

I didn't realize how quiet it was but it was December too. Everything seemed to close at 7 p.m. in Sedona except for a bar and a few local restaurants. Even the stores closed at 7 p.m and this was during the Christmas shopping season.

Of course if you go to Sedona you must really do a pink jeep tour. It's a great way to explore the area and learn about it's trees and plant life. Some plants there were edible and are on the menus at the local Sedona restaurants. It's well worth the time and money to do a Pink Jeep Tour while you are in Sedona.

Have you ever been to Sedona, Arizona and seen the beautiful red rocks?

More Photographs of Block Island in September

2015-10-08T04:58:00.000-04:00

More of Block Island Photographs

Block Island at sunset is just spectacular! The first photo captures that one. It also was amazing how the sky was so clear once it got dark. You could see many more stars from the island than the mainland. I was so in awe of the nighttime sky that I never even took a photograph. My eyes wanted to capture it all.

The rest of the island during the day is spectacular as well. The views are all picture perfect. The last image is taken from the Block Island Ferry leaving the island. It is the only way to get there unless you fly in.

Have you been to an island?

Were the views spectacular if you have?

Settlers Rock on Block Island

2015-09-28T20:38:00.004-04:00

Settlers Rock at Cow Cove

Labor Day Weekend I had the pleasure of being on Block Island with friends. It was my first overnight on the island. The sunset was beautiful and the stars were oh so bright. It reminded me of the sky from out West.

This little spot on Block Island that you see above is where the settlers landed and swam to shore bringing the first cows to the island. There are many farms still on the island today. You can drive or bike around and see that most properties are surrounded by old stone walls. It's really breathtaking to see.

Do you have anything as old as 1661 near you?

Cape Cod at End of Summer Season

2015-09-23T06:14:00.001-04:00

Cape Cod at the End of August

These photos were taken on Chatham Lighthouse Beach a few weeks ago. It was a beautiful spot on Cape Cod and not too crowded for the last weekend of August. It was built in 1877.

This spot is still an active Coast Guard Station though the lighthouse is not open to the public. (Only by special open house dates). You can walk up the lighthouse.

It was amazing to see so much traffic leaving the Cape on a Sunday afternoon around noon but it wasn't too busy after 6 pm.

Have you been to Cape Cod off the Massachusetts coast?

Post Sunset Views Along the Narragansett Bay

2015-07-31T05:16:00.001-04:00

Post Sunset Views

A few weeks ago I met some friends along the Narragansett Bay in Warwick, RI. It was mid July and the skies were beautiful after the sunset.

We sat and ate some doughboys from Iggys - one of the oldest beach stands in RI that started in 1924. It was a typical beautiful warm summer night in southern New England. It reminded me of that warm evening in November we had last year.

You can see some of the lights across the bay coming from the Newport and Jamestown Bridges. It's a great way to see the coastline of Rhode Island without having to drive far and avoiding traffic too.

Do you enjoy the sunsets more in the summertime?

New Hampshire in the Summertime

2015-06-25T20:32:00.002-04:00

The New Hampshire Mountains in the Summer

You may remember the pictures last December of the mountains covered in snow up in New Hampshire. It was about 60 degrees warmer last week than it was in December.

Last week I visited there as summertime was upon this New England state. The mountains were breathtaking to see against the blue summer skies. I'm not sure which I prefer, the ocean or the mountains. They both leave you in awe of mother nature.

There are lot of fun things to do up in New Hampshire in the summertime. From amusement parks to fishing, horseback riding and beaches you can find almost anything to do outdoors in the fresh New Hampshire air.

Do you prefer being near the mountains or the ocean?

Have you ever visited New Hampshire?

More Photos off the Newort Cliff Walk

2015-06-15T11:04:00.002-04:00

Beautiful Newport Cliff Walk

It wasn't a sunny day in Newport but it made for easier walking without the heat of the sun. Each year the cliff walk looks a little different as they have built more walls as you can see near the cave. There were 2 caves on the walk, one you need a flashlight and the other was short enough you did not.

There is also an area of rocks you have to climb over to get to the cave areas so be sure to have something comfortable to walk in if you visit the area. The whole walk is approximately 3.5 miles long. (7 miles if you do both ways).

You may remember from the previous post the beautiful flowers that surrounded the area too. It is so picturesque as you walk along the cliff walk. You can see the back of many of the mansions along the ocean.

Do you have walk anything like this along an ocean near you?

See June Flowers Along the Newport Cliff Walk

2015-06-05T19:57:00.000-04:00

Beautiful June Flowers of Newport

June is a pretty time to visit the Newport Cliff Walk in Newport, RI. The flowers look different than July as you can see from a previous post on this area.

Each year I visit this area of the state as it has spectacular views. Each year they do upgrades around the cliff walk. This year there were more garbage cans along the path and more fencing.

There are still areas that are rocky and can be a little dangerous if one is not careful. It is a National Recreation Trail in a National Historic District. Sadly almost every year there is at least one story of a person losing their life along the cliff walk.

Have you ever visited Newport or have a cliff walk in your area like this one?

The Pink Spring Flowers in New England

2015-06-01T15:24:00.003-04:00

Pink Rhododenrons and Peonies in Bloom

May has come and gone. June is upon us. The spring flowers have finally blossomed. The rhododendrons popped really well this year. The peony just came out on the last day of May and I got to take a picture this morning in the rain. You may remember the peony is my favorite flower. They have a wonderful scent and the blooms not last long.

The peony is a perennial plant which makes it easy to keep for years. This one came from my dad's yard many years ago. They also come in white and yellow. Beware that peonies do attract ants though I haven't seen many myself.

Peonies are named after the Greek God Paeon meaning medicine and healing. They are also very popular in China where they are used in their art often.

Do you have peonies or rhododendrons in your area?

Fort Wetherill in Graffiti with Breathtaking Views

2015-05-13T07:58:00.002-04:00

Fort Wetherill State Park in Graffiti by the Ocean

I took my first drive since the accident in February to visit Fort Wetherill State Park in Jamestown, a small island near Newport, RI. It was a beautiful May day but some fog was still around as you see in the pictures above.

It is an old artillery fort similar to Fort Adams in Newport but this one is abandoned with graffiti throughout the old fort. You can walk around the enclosed fence and find broken fence to get into the historical old forts throughout the 61 acre park.

This old military site dates back to the American Revolution. The fort was built to protect Newport from British attacks. During the revolution for a short time the French fleet occupied Jamestown.

Fort Wetherill is right off the Atlantic ocean and there are breathtaking ocean views atop this historic fort.

Do you have historic military forts near you?

(If you ever visit be sure to take along bug spray and don't go alone. The day I visited there was someone attacked - it may have been a fight but police were around to walk everyone out until they could find the person.)

Springtime in the Northeast after a Long Snowy Winter

2015-04-22T07:27:00.002-04:00

Spring Has Finally Sprung!

It was so nice to walk around this past weekend without a jacket. The temperatures rose into the 70's and all the snow from the past winter season melted.

It was even nicer to be able to walk around after the winter accident. How I wished I could rake or do more around the yard, but my left arm is not yet ready for it.

It was the warmest weather in Rhode Island we had here since last November. All of a sudden everything is starting to bloom and the grass is turning green everywhere.

You can now hear the birds chirping away starting in the early morning. They must be so happy Spring has finally arrived once again. The birds are one of the top 10 signs of Spring.

Has Spring sprung in your area yet?

What is your favorite sign that Spring has arrived?

Snowmobiling in the Mountains Before the Accident

2015-03-07T13:10:00.000-05:00

Last Stop Before The Accident

Last Stop

2nd to last stop

Icicles abound this winter in Southern New England

A young child we saw at lunch prior shoveling for an hour

The first image was the last stop before what I thought was finishing up a couple of hours of my 2nd day of snowmobiling 3 weeks ago on my birthday. It was so pretty to be in the woods on a snowmobile and it was a lot of fun riding.

The temperatures were below 0 and it was around 4:30 before dusk. There was a fresh foot of snow from the previous evening. A bit different since the last New Hampshire trip.

All I had to do was cross a little street and be done in 10 minutes. When I began the cross another sled was headed my way and I did not make the trail.

My friend, an expert snowmobiler told me to push the throttle to make it over a small snowbank. The throttle was harder on this machine from the prior day so I pushed it really hard.

Within seconds I knew I had gone airborne and there wasn't anything I could do. I remember thinking "Oh shit" and then before I knew it I was up about 30 ft. before falling into a ravine near a rock.

I do not remember the fall or trees I hit coming down. I just remember the numbing sounds of silence and wondering if I would be found and started to scream for help.

My friend found me within 5 minutes after flagging people passing by for help. I knew my left arm was broken and that I could at least move my legs. It took over 30 minutes to be lifted out on board in basket as hyperthermia and shock began.

I could not believe the results at the first hospital as they had to transfer me to a trauma center an hour away. Not only did I break the arm - but the shoulder blade, wrist and 10 ribs along with a few other injuries.

3 weeks have passed and I feel lucky to be alive. I saw the jacket and pants last night for the first time since and the tree marks are on them mostly on the left side where the injuries are.

People ask if I would do it again. I quickly answer yes. I learned last year how quickly lives passes us by and since have wanted to live life fully.

One of the doctors at the trauma center commented how many people come in with injuries or death by doing mundane things and how much better it is if you are doing something you enjoy or are having fun. I think he's right.

Did you do anything fun this year in the snow?

Would you go again if you were me?

The Mountains of New Hampshire in Snow

2015-01-17T10:04:00.002-05:00

New Hampshire Covered in Snow in December

We haven't much now this winter in New England like last year's winter season. I had the opportunity to go to New Hampshire in December and see the mountains covered in snow.
It was very pretty and the air was crisp and cold. Most of New Hampshire tends to get over 50" of snow each winter season and areas in Northern New Hampshire get well over a 100" of fresh snow.

Have you had much snow in your region this winter so far? If not are you missing it?

A Warm November Day At Misquamicut Beach

2014-11-30T07:57:00.001-05:00

Misquamicut Beach in November

A few weeks ago on a warm November Sunday I took a drive to see the beach one more time before winter sets in. The temperature's were in the mid 60's and I got there right at sunset. There were very few people around except for someone walking their dog.

Misquamicut Beach is in Westerly, Rhode Island - almost on the Connecticut border. The beach has over 1/2 mile of of beach front to enjoy. During the summer this beach area is usually packed with crowds of people.

Have you been able to enjoy any warm days this past month before winter comes to stay?

Sunrises and Sunsets at Niagara Falls

2014-11-11T15:46:00.000-05:00

The beauty of the sunrise and sunset at the Falls

Aside from the other pictures of the falls, and the power of the water, the sunrises / sunsets were spectacular to see there. The fog from the 3 waterfalls added more dimensions to the photographs.

The view can really take your breath away watching the sunrise at Niagara Falls. It's a must see if you do go there - which I highly recommend you see at least once in your lifetime.

I'd love to when it either snows or freezes. Last year (2014) the falls did freeze and many visited to see the frozen spectacle.

Have you seen Niagara Falls in the fog or when it froze over?

If you haven't been there is it on your bucket list to visit?

A Day at Niagara Falls Canada

2014-10-20T05:59:00.000-04:00

Niagra Falls, Canada

I had the chance a few weeks ago spend some time in Canada by Niagara Falls. This was one of the places on my bucket list to visit. It was a little further than my day trip to Griswold.

It was about an eight hour car ride to get to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. It was amazing to see so much farmland and rural areas through New York. Often when you think of New York you think of the hustle and bustle of the city.

The views from the Canadian side of the falls are beautiful just as everyone had said and recommended.

The cave in picture #4 was fun to explore on the other side. It's called the Cave of the Winds. You get to walk through the caves and see the water coming from the inside.

Another fun thing to do is take the boat ride up to the falls. The boat ride in the mist was amazing to both see and hear the falls up close.

The roar of the water rushing down was really unbelievable. You can hear and see it in this video below.

Have you been to Niagara Falls?

If so did you visit the U.S. or Canadian side?

If you have never been to the Falls I highly recommend you put it on your list of places to see!

Views on the Lake from a September Day

2014-09-02T04:01:00.000-04:00

A Day at the Lake

August did not feel much like summer but September came in hot! I took advantage of an invitation to go on a friend's boat at a local lake. It was even hot on the lake in the sun. In the shade you could cool off some. That's what this turtle appears to be doing in the last photo.

Several years ago on this date we were dealing with Hurricane Irene. It seems none are heading this way this year.

How has September started where you live?

The Beauty of Nature Around Griswold

2014-07-31T06:15:00.004-04:00

Beautiful Views Around the Sunflower Farm

The recent Sunflowers for Wishes post featured all of the beautiful sunflowers from my visit there last weekend. As I walked around the sunflower farm the views were awesome of other surrounding farms in the town of Griswold.

You can see it was a beautiful day with blue skies and puffy white clouds. The pretty walls separated many of the farms from one another. It was such a peaceful area to visit.

Griswold, CT was originally owned by the Mohegan Indians and the Colony of Connecticut. In later years it became a mill town. The town is now inhibited by over 15,000 residents.

Have you ever visited Griswold, CT?

Do you like the views around the sunflowers or do you prefer the sunflowers themselves?

Visiting Sunflowers For Wishes in Griswold

2014-07-26T14:45:00.000-04:00

The Uplifting Sunflower Photos

I had heard about this place (Sunflowers For Wishes) from friends who visited last week. It wasn't a long ride so I wanted to check it out and view the sunflowers. It is on the Button Farm in Griswold, CT.
Tomorrow (July 27, 2014) is the last day of their season. So if you want to go you have one more day.

All purchases of their sunflowers and items in the small gift shop go to the Make A Wish Foundation.

They have rides for kids (as in the above picture) around the sunflower maze and a 3/4 mile hayride for all.

The area surrounding this sunflower farm is really beautiful and be sure to check back as I'll be sharing more from there.

It's been a long time since I had sunflowers growing in the yard and this place inspired me to plant some next year.

Have you ever visited a place like this in your area?

And do you know the scientific name for this flower?

June Blooms Around Southern New England in Photos

2014-06-22T08:57:00.000-04:00

Can you name the flowers above that are in bloom this June?
A hint about these first beautiful flowers via a tweet I received yesterday:

@Lisapatb poisonous, digitalis is a heart med, handling the plant can interfere with heart, very bad if pets eat the plant.
— Cynthia Toti (@CynthiaToti) June 21, 2014

The first photo flowers were given by an aunt of mine for my mother before she passed away. I was raking leaves through some of her garden yesterday when I spotted them. The second of course is my all time favorite peony plants. Not only are they a pretty flowering plant but they smell wonderful. It's too bad they don't blossom for long.

What are you favorite flowers during the month of June?

Colt State Park - Walking Through for Huntington's Disease

2014-06-07T15:08:00.000-04:00

Beautiful Colt State Park in Bristol, RI

The Start of the Walk for Huntington's Disease

Walking Through the Park

The Pretty Bushes Around Colt State Park

Nature At It's Best

What is Huntington's Disease?

The Cutest Little Kids on the Walk

The Cutest Little Dog on the Walk

My Friends and I (L-R: Karen, Myself and Lori)

It was a beautiful day for the Annual Huntington's Disease Walk in Rhode Island with Team Hope. Temperatures reached near 80 degrees. Even though we walked the coastline it got quite hot in the sunshine.

The first attempt at building this park was in 1908 and later in 1968 the lands were dedicated as Colt State Park by the RI State Governor John Chafee. (Father of the current governor). The park contains over 400 acres.

What is Huntington's Disease? As you can see from the sign it is a heredity brain disorder. There are approximately 200,000 Americans at risk for this gene. It is much more common in those of Western Europe descent. It can affect both men and women.

Do you have many parks in your area and
are their many fundraiser walks through them?

The last walk the 3 of us did was in Roger Williams Park for Breast Cancer back in October.