Thanksgiving II and the "Garden Aglow"

 On Saturday following Thanksgiving, Scott, Chery, Alex, Carter, and Cheryl's parents, Rigo and Carol Mazzoli came to our house for another feast, and then we went down to Heritage Gardens in Sandwich for their annual light show.  Another great meal, and the Gardens Aglow was the best we have seen yet. 

Here we go again!

Scott, Susan

Alex, Carol

Carol, Rigo, Cheryl

Carter, Scott, Susan

Time for the pies!
Cheryl, Rigo, Scott, Alex, Carol, Susan

I had a pile of random legos, and I challenged the boys to see what they could build in 
15 minutes, and here is the results. 

Gardens Aglow

And a photo taken 10 minutes ago, Susan and Princess.

Thanksgiving I

 Susan and I travelled up to Newburyport to join Ken, Erin, Jackson and Oliver for Thanksgiving.  We left the day before, visited Erin's new beautiful shop "Shine" in a perfect location downtown, and then spent Thursday eating the splendid meal, mostly prepared ahead of time by Susan. 

Susan and I arrived early in Newburyport, so naturally I drove out to Plum Island to see what might be 
around, and fantastically, there was a Peregrine Falcon hunting in the marshes.  This is only the second
time I have photographed a Peregrine.  And what a beauty!

Also, a Bald Eagle, clutching a duck

And here is Erin's new shop.

Oliver and Susan browsing. 

Erin and customers. 

Early Thanksgiving morning I drove back out to Plum Island, and what a beautiful morning 
it was.  I brought only my 800mm lens with me (and my I-phone) on the trip, and was delighted with the results. 

Although I have had almost no luck with the lens in capturing birds in flight (a very slow- 
focusing lens) (the Bald Eagle aside), this was pretty lucky.  The lens had a very bright morning to 
work with.  My best Mallard shot ever. 

The Bill Forward Bird Blind.  

A Mockingbird, around all winter.

And on to the feast. 

Figs wrapped in bacon. 

Ken carving, Erin and Susan

Doug, Susan, Jackson Oliver, Ken Erin.

What a delightful trip. I am so thankful that Susan and I are in good health, and that we can
enjoy our children and grandchildren so much.  And so proud!
Tomorrow Scott, Cheryl, Alex, Carter, and Cheryl's parents, Rigo and Carol Mazzoli
are at our house for dinner. 

Last of the Color, migrations, and Oliver at National Honor Society Induction

 What a treat to see Oliver inducted into the National Honor Society at St. John's Prep.  Here are also some late Nov. shots of our remaining foliage, and a few birds migrating south.   I drove to Plymouth with just my 800mm lens and shot what I could. 

Least Sandpipers (?)

Still a lot of birds moving through

Pretty good BIF with that 800 mm lens.

At High Tea at the Daniel Webster House, Marshfield
Martha DeFabio, R-lene Gilgan, Susan, Doug, Bob Gilgan

At St. John's Prep, Susan, Ken, Erin

A marvelous moment for Oliver.

Oliver with friend Dan Pawlyk.  Congratulations, gentlemen. 

Fort Phoenix, Fort Rodman, and New Bedford

 On Tuesday of this week I had to get out and try to find some fall color.  I was unsuccessful with finding color, but I did find a beautiful little park in Fairhaven, Fort Phoenix, and so the next day I had Susan join me for the same trip, adding Fort Rodman in New Bedford for the trip.  A glorious sunny day, chilly, but really rewarding. 

Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven, MA.

Overlooking the tiny fort, with New Bedford in the distance. 

This is a British naval gun, captured in the Revolutionary war. 

24 Pounders. 

Looking over the Hurricane wall, stretching across the entire harbor, from Fairhaven to New Bedford

A spectacular gothic church in Fairhaven.

In New Bedford

At the small, but very interesting military museum near Fort Rodman

At Knuckleheads Diner for a Portuguese Lunch.

A little color on Rt.105 in Lakeville

And back to Fairhaven and Fort Phoenix with Susan

New Bedford sights. 

At Fort Rodman.  Parapets next to the fort. 

Fort Rodman.  

The fort is sealed up, no visitors, which is a shame. 

There was a hole in the massive main door, and I shot this view of the inside. 

A descriptive plaque showing the Rodman 12-inch smoothbore canon. 

Inside the military museum, small, but impressive collection.

A photograph of Fort Rodman.  The first two pictures above were taken from the 
two parapets closest to the bottom of the picture. 

A model of the USS Maine

And a model of the infamous USS Alabama, a Confederate raider that
was the scourge of New Bedford's whaling fleet, and one of the reasons for 
Fort Rodman's construction. 

A wonderful area, New Bedford is a very enjoyable visit, with the world famous 
Whaling Museum, good restaurants, and plenty of metered parking. 
I'll be going back.