Petunia

In an effort to attract hummingbirds to the yard I bought some red flowers yesterday.  Here's a close up of a Petunia.  I haven't had any hummers this year so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Friday at the Feeder

This little guy was sitting on the concrete post in the yard.  I thought it was so odd that he was there and not on the ground foraging for food.  He was just enjoying the sun.  I opened the screen door and even went outside so that I was only about three feet away from him, still didn't move.  So I snapped away as he posed for me and when we were through he flew away.

Homes Sweet Homes

This painted bird house was painted by the kids at the Orange Congregational Nursery School

 Our friends the gypsy moths.

This guy carries his home on his back.  He was sleeping when I saw him and inside a tank which is why the resolution is blurred.

American Oystercatcher

I spotted this at the Coastal Audubon Center at Milford Point.  It's an Americal Oystercatcher feeding in shellfish.  Read about them HERE.  Below is the actual distance I was standing from him.

Plover

At the Coastal Audubon Center in Milford, CT.  There were quite a few Plovers and a protected area for their nests.

I love how they are so camouflaged in the sand, rocks and shells.

Osprey nest

I know this doesn't look like much but this is an Osprey nest.  Inside the center you can watch the osprey sitting vigil on the osprey cam.  Click HERE to watch a few minutes.

Purple Martin Majesty

I spent yesterday morning at the Audubon Costal Nature Center at Milford Point.  It was an 'out of the park' day weather wise.  This Purple Martin cluster of gourd homes were donated to the center by Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas when they moved out of Westport.  Tried as I did I just couldn't get the purple sheen to appear.

INCOMING!

Friday at the Feeder

Mask, Yaka peoples.  Democratic Republic of Congo, 20th Century

Love the purple wings!

This was part of an installation at the Neuberger Art Museum at SUNY, Purchase.

Sleeping Giant

Here are some photos that I took from on the hike up on Sleeping Giant in Hamden, CT.  The day was a grey one but we didn't get too hot because of it.

 Friends!

 Skipping school???

 New Haven in distance

Look out on top of Sleeping Giant

Varini

This is a piece by Felice Verini and it was installed back in 2010.  The optical illusion makes you think that it is a hologram or something but the fact is is that it is painted on the two buildings and the parking garage and you need to stand in just the right spot to see the art in perspective.  It was installed when I was living in New Haven and I blogged about it back in the day.  To see it in its unfinished state CLICK HERE.

Let them eat cupcakes

A recent trip to Claire's in New Haven brought my camera to tears.  I didn't partake of one of these little delicacies but I should have.

Powder House Day - April 25, 2015

Before Benedict Arnold became a bad guy he was a pretty good guy.  From New Haven, CT he demanded that the mayor of New Haven give him the keys to the powder house that held ammo so that his troops could march up to Lexington and jump in hastening the American Revolution.  Click here to read more about him and the revolt.  I attended this commemoration the years I was living in New Haven and went back this year to have another look.  Here is the 240th Observance of The Charter Grant to the Second Company Governor's Foot Guard of Connecticut and the Departure to the Command to Cambridge, MA in April of 1775.  Above it all began at Center Church on the Green with a service, taps and hymns.

Then they march around and to the other side of the green to the Courthouse.

Demanding the keys

Going in to get the mayor.

Michael Smart filled in for New Haven's mayor that day.  Michael was (is still???) the Alderman of the Wooster Square district where I lived.

Finally getting the KEYS!!!!!!!!

Mr. John Hyde

At Center Church, UCC on the Green in New Haven there is a crypt below the sanctuary.  I showed this back in 2010 or so when I was living in New Haven in Wooster Square.  It's fun to take visitors there.  

There are many notables buried in the crypt, among them is Mr. John Hyde.  You can read about him here!!!!

Sterling Library at Yale

 Remember these?

This is just a beautiful building on the campus at Yale.  It's been recently renovated.  Of course I couldn't get into the stacks since I'm not a student.  But who wants to read when there is so much beauty around you?

A nice day at Yale

Now I know that I am stereotyping when I saw these dudes and thought, "Yalies???"

Let the Little Squirrel Come Unto Me

Inside of Trinity Episcopal Church in New Haven.  Very gothic but beautiful.  I guess the ancients were troubled by squirrels also but the hand in the right appears to be saying, "Let the little squirrels come unto me..." albeit large ears.

Carefree Sunday

Table the bells

Glass Bell with Devil Handle, France, 19th Century
Below are some interesting table bells

This will be the last entry on bells!