Hello Friends

Hello Friends,

It's been longer than intended since my last post. A lot has happened in the interim, which prevented me from posting these pictures earlier.

Mom had a series of small strokes, but has now recovered. She just celebrated her 89th birthday. She doesn't get out anymore, and needs a lot of assistance.

Oddly enough, the larger news was about me. I managed to burn my mouth and the result was an injury to my seventh cranial nerve, which left half my face paralyzed with Bell's Palsy.

It's been over forty days now. My smile is about 80% back, but my eye doesn't blink or produce tears, my vision and hearing are off, my tongue is numb and food doesn't taste like much. I have a lot of ear to jaw pain, but even so, all being said, I'm doing fine, although frustrated at times, wanting to be back to normal. Usually this condition is temporary. I hope I'll be among those who have full recovery.

Summer passed by and a beautiful autumn followed. The leaf colors were magnificent this year.

We managed to take a week off to do some daytripping. We took a drive into Vermont, another over the border into New York, and still another to Massachusetts. The weather cooperated and we enjoyed being tourists in our own surroundings.

We enjoyed some beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

We took a boat ride out to the Thimble Islands. A series of small rock outcroppings, where people have built some lovely homes. Some of the rocks are only large enough for one small cottage.

But then, there are others where the homes are far more than small cottages, too.

An interesting place, and though we both grew up here, we had never been to this area, so we were excited to find a "new place."

While on the boat trip, we spotted this egret. Do I ever go out without looking for "my" nature and wildlife? ;-)

On another day, we drove along shore and explored some parks we hadn't visited before.

Some of the scenery was lovely.

And good fortune was with me when I spotted these brants alongside this kayaker.

A gull flew overhead with a treat in its bill

At another place, I spotted this couple. What a pretty place to relax

Some lovely homes there too. Some swans swimming off in the distance and there were some geese there, too.

Another sunset. Caught this one as the sun slipped below the horizon

Standing on cliff, looking down at some colorful foliage

A lovely view from a popular place in Meriden

Walking in the woods, a lone leaf stands out against a tree trunk

As dark as the woods were, sunlight filtered down and highlighted these leaves, showing off the beautiful golden color

A cormorant at the beach

This artist had the right idea

A squirrel in the path enjoying a treat

Berries

Sunlight made the leaves glow

Along one of my favorite trails. I was there yesterday and the snow was so deep that I couldn't approach it.

Mockingbird

Butterfly on Goldenrod


There are a lot of farms in this area of the state, so drives into the country can offer off some picturesque rural scenes

And that's about it, for now. We are buried in a couple of feet of snow now. Another nor'easter is on its way. Time will tell how much snow that one will leave. I'm getting weary of winter, but I have to admit it's truly beautiful.

I hope all of you are doing well. Thank you for your continued visits and your kind comments.