11-23-12 Mass Moca Museum and Natural Bridge State Park

During the course of a wonderful Thanksgiving with the folks I going my friend Mike and his girlfriend. We went down to North Adams to Mass Moca, a surprisingly awesome modern art museum.  They always have good shows and it has been a bit since I have been there.

 It only seem right to start out with an abstract picture I took of the floor.

 Nothing is more appropriate that joking around in front of serious art.

 See?  Me too.

 Just a certain kind of beautiful.  And the colors were proper shades.

 Augmented by the windows, truly nice.

 Mike diving into the deeps of geometric depths.

 And documented for prosperity.

 Mike was proud of the museum, and did not hesitate to show it.

 Them...

 And them...

 We then went to the Natural Bridge Park, this is the marble quarry part of it.

 When I showed this picture to Mike, he said, "Where was my hand?"  It was innocent.

 Ravines and rocks.

 Looking under the natural bridge.  So many years of stone getting worn down.

 And the dam is made of marble.  Really.  Vermont styling.

 Mike, contemplating the world with deepness.

11-18-12 Sterling Fall Gorge

Again another old haunt, Sterling Forest always a good place for wandering and running.  And there was snow.

 Again, active hunting area, so everyone was in orange.  I saw hunters in the parking lot getting ready so I was cautious.

 See?  Orange....

 There was a bit of a dusting, but the ground was not entirely frozen.

 But there was ice on the river though.  It was pretty.

 On the road in there is a small graveyard that I have never stopped.  I finally did.  It was an old place, as the stones show.

 And lots of children, too many.

A hard time to live I imagine.

11-11-12 Little River VAST

This is yet another section of the Little River area.

 This was the VAST trails so active hunting, even dressed in orange I kept eyes out for hunters.

 A small damn, bit of a climb to get to it.

 Someone was doing target practice out in the parking lot.  Creepy deer target too,

 This is the crossing over the river, the locks are rusted shut so not sure how long until it was used.

 Right down the crossing there was a small dam.

Which lead to this.  I have been driving past this for years and did not know of the ravine.  Never assume.

11-10-12 Bottling the Cider

10 gallons of hard cider, two batches, one made with added honey, one with added molasses.  

 This is how many bottles it takes for 10 gallons, the larger ones are 22 ozs.

 Bottles, bottles everywhere.

 After three hours of bottling.  All capped and ready.

And the nightcap of fresh hard cider.  Completely awesome.

11-4-12 Little River State Park

Another place I like returning to, Little River.  I spend the day walking and running through the trails.  And dress in orange as the sound of shotguns echoed in the distance.

 Such a cool little spot, will need to camp there at some point.

 Sal enjoying the cold waters of Little River.

 There are tons of foundations through the grounds of old farms.  This was just one.

 Just so green, gotta love it.  Even when the leaves fall.

Cottonbrook...brook? River?  I have always enjoyed rock skipping over rivers.

10-30-12 Hurricane Sandy

So Northern Vermont escaped Hurricane Sandy for the most part, in fact we had two days of almost 70 degree weather but it did produce some notable clouds.  Caught this going into aikido early in the morning.

10-27-12 VAST in Bolton Valley

There is a large snowmobile network throughout Vermont.  In the failing light I decided to explore some of the VAST network off of Bolton Valley.  Nothing notable but still...

11-26-12 Shelburne Museum

Like I said in the previous post my friend Charlotte came out from Mississippi to visit me and we went to the Shelburne Museum.

 The special exhibit was snowmobiles, this was notable.  A proper schoolbus.

 This one was just classy.  The style is so indicative of the times.  It was actually quite a cool exhibit.

 That is right, a snowmobile motorcycle.  Made for the military, able to be broken down, and very, very dangerous.  And yet I want one.

 She is a cat person, even the big ones made out of wood...stone...stuff

 The train that is kept there.

 I just liked this shot of the signals.

 Although I do have an affection for rusted things.

 The Ticonderoga, I have many fond memories of this as a kid.  Still is cool.

 The inside of its boilers.  Just fascinating that these things really did what they did.  Mechanics.

 And the interior is just beautiful.  Not the worse way to cross Lake Champlain.

 The pilot house.  It was open for the first time in my visits.  I am such a dork.

 Just some nice image of multiples.  These held medications and herbs.

 And of course the straight razors which I had so much more an appreciation for this time than when I was younger given I use them to shave.

 I just like this.  It is my desktop on my phone.

 Seriously.  I didn't know there was a cure.

 From the print shop.  I do have sets of movable type so it always has fascinated me.

 Because it was that kind of day, a bit cold but amazing light.

 And robot sculptures.

 Because why not!

The stairs in the lighthouse.  Such a unique buildings with huge iron bolts throughout the walls but still stylish.

 Charlotte rocking it next to the lighthouse lens.  It was an awesome visit and we had a lot of fun.