Our Friends and Ancestors

"Take nothing but pictures.
Leave nothing but footprints.
Kill nothing but time."
~ Motto of the Baltimore Grotto, a caving society
 

"Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it."  ~ Henry David Thoreau

"Humankind has not woven the web of life.  We are but one thread within it.  Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.  All things are bound together.  All things connect."  ~ Chief Seattle, 1855

"I realized that Eastern thought had somewhat more compassion for all living things.  Man was a form of life that in another reincarnation might possibly be a horsefly or a bird of paradise or a deer.  So a man of such a faith, looking at animals, might be looking at old friends or ancestors.  In the East the wilderness has no evil connotation; it is thought of as an expression of the unity and harmony of the universe."  ~ William O. Douglas, Go East, Young Man, 1974

My Autumn Trip Around The Block

Today I took a trip around the block. See more about my block on today's Spirit Art Blog post.

A Visit To Haines and Haines Cranberry Farm

Holly Haines and her brother, William S. Haines, Jr., are 4th generation growers who own and operate the largest cranberry farm in the state. With over 1,300 cranberry bogs in production, there's lots of work to do year round. The farms' 11,000 acres includes bogs, reservoirs and woodland. You need approximately 10 acres of upland (woodland, etc.) for every acre of bog to act as a buffer and to protect your water sources.The farm has evolved from a one-man operation started in 1890 by Martin L. Haines, to one of the largest privately owned facilities in the world. Over 35 full-time employees, many whose families have also been involved in the business for generations and 50 peak-season workers keep the Pine Island Cranberry business flourishing and expanding. Holly's love of her career, lifestyle and the farm is evident in her knowledge of all aspects of the business. Her enthusiasm for the new technologies of the future and her many intriguing stories of the past make her a fascinating and unique expert in her field. An informative guide and charming hostess, Holly has granted us permission to come back again any time during the harvest to take more photos. How very generous she is and how lucky we are! Here's a few of my photos taken at the bogs.


A an early fall bumper crop of lustrous cranberries are gathered in a flooded brown cedar water bog. This mixed color harvest floats on the surface of dark water after being thrashed up from the vines.


Swirling variegated cranberries make beautiful designs in the water as they are harvested.



After freeing the berries from their vines with walk-behind thrashers, seen here in the background, workers corral the fruit which will be transported via conveyor to waiting trucks.



Once the cranberries are in the corral , they are moved up a conveyor belt to a waiting truck which will be transport them to a packing house, where they will be cleaned. Then tractor trailer trucks will take them to the local processing plant.



Here workers break for lunch as one worker offers a hand to the last man out of the bog.


A walk-behind cranberry thrasher sits abandoned in a flooded bog while workers break for lunch. Big puffy clouds and a beautiful blue sky are mirrored in the water's reflection.

A Perfect Ride

This morning Betsy and I put Rudy and Rita into the trailer and went down to the forest to ride. Things just couldn't have been more perfect! There was a breeze that kept the bugs away and the temperature was most comfortable. There wasn't another soul around, so today we had the whole heavily forested area covering 1.1 million acres called the Pinelands National Reserve to ourselves. And that's just the way Rudy, Rita, Betsy and I like it! A great start to a season of rides in the NJ Pine Barrens.


Rita wasn't in the photo shoot mood. You can see she's pretty well shed out, with just a little fuzz still left on her belly.


Rudy and Betsy are the best buddies. I think Rudy sees her and our rides as just a great big treat event. I see he's licking his lips here in this shot.

Beautiful, Magical Snowfall

I've been looking through some photos I took in February of 2006 with my Nikon CoolPix 880. We had a heavy snow followed by a beautiful clear morning and I was able to get out in the woods early for some really breathtaking views. Although I rarely use it, 4 wheel drive is a real bonus in situations like these.


The snow was so heavy many trees were bent to the ground from the weight.


This is a waterway and cedar swamp a few miles from my home in the Wharton State Forest.


I love the magical, almost surreal feeling I get when I venture into a snow covered wilderness like this.

Yesterday's Snow Photos From The NJ Pines

This is a stream that crosses the road by my house.

I took over 150 photos with my new Big Boy D2x. I actually think I am finally making some headway and starting to get the hang of it. This is my favorite shot of the day of Nancy Louie, aka, NanoLou on the bridge, taken from the middle of the stream.

Here's a rear view photo of me (outstanding in my stream) taken by my friend, photographer extraordinaire, Nancy Louie. I love this shot as this person looks so connected, peaceful and "one" with nature.

Another photo taken by Nano of yours truly with my new obsession, only this time front view.

A Day In The Snow

Today I spent most of the day out in the cold in Wharton State Forest photographing the snow. It was nice sharing the experience with friends, Carolyn and Nan. My favorite shot is of Nano on a snow covered bridge. I'll post it here if she approves. I don't want to get the W.A.W.A. (Wild Asian Woman w/ Attitude) angry. LOL! I wore my rubber riding boots and actually got into the stream with my tripod. What fun! After coming back here for a hearty lunch of my homemade Chicken Corn Chowder, the girls left and I went back out here and took some more photos including this shot.

The Beauty of Snow

We just got dumped on here in Southern NJ! I am thrilled. The last time we had a snow like this was in February of 2006. It's been gray and snowing all day here, so I haven't had a chance to get out with my new camera yet, but I will! These shots were taken by me three years ago out in my neck of the woods. I was using a Cool Pix 880 digital at the time. I'm planning on getting out in the next few days to get some fresh new snow shots with my d2x. I'm chomping at the bit! I put together an album of photos taken this morning with my point and shoot, Cannon A590. It's a great little camera for capturing the moment. If you are a friend on Facebook, please check them out. If you are not on Facebook or we are not friends there yet, what are you waiting for? :-D

Fun In The Snow

I took my new Nikon camera out in the snow and took some photos in the back of my property today. The light was less than ideal, but I had fun and hopefully learned a thing or two. I'm so grateful to have my very own photography guru, Ms. Nanolou. I've emailed her several high res. shots and enlisted her expert eyes and immensely constructive input and opinions once again. This is my favorite shot of the day. In the high resolution image, the details in the near edge of the water are amazing. What a camera!

Opportunities and Goals

For the past week I have been concentrating on another goal for my art career. With the help of my friend, Nancy Louie, I've been learning the technical side of shooting and post processing high resolution digital photographs. My objective is to commercially license some of my artwork and possibly eventually even photos. Here is a picture of my big new (second hand) d2x. Although a very complicated piece of equipment and a huge technical challenge for me, I'm already falling in love with it.


Here's my favorite scenic shot so far. See more about my photography endeavors on my Spirit Art Blog. Also see this week's Inspiration Everyday quotes on GOALS.

A good goal is like a strenuous exercise, it makes you stretch." ~ Mary Kay Ash

More Fall Pictures

The bog at the end of my road looks serene any time of the year.


Some of Jerry's "Yard Art" watches over our property.

FALL IN THE NJ PINES

What a beautiful time of year this is!

Here in the northeast, my environment changes dramatically.


As the foliage of our mixed deciduous forest changes hues, the results can be breathtaking. Everything outdoors seems to reflect a special warmth.


I must make time to savor this ultimately fragile, fleeting brilliance. It may be gone tomorrow.



The next rain and wind storm will most likely dramatically change the physical view of my world!

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

There's something to be said for taking the "road less traveled". I took these pictures yesterday on my 20 mile trip "around the block".


The fall colors were simply beautiful and I knew they wouldn't last.


I'm glad I ventured out because today we've got high winds and pounding rain so the fall foliage may be down sooner than expected.

FALL IN THE NJ PINES

Fall has finally come to Southern NJ. We just got our first real frost this past week. I'm not complaining. I held off turning on our heater as long as possible. Here are a few photos from around my neighborhood.

The blueberry bushes are now a red cranberry color.


Here some discarded boxes from picking time are piled up and forgotten in the field.

The dark cedar water reflects the varied colors of the season.