Early Spring On Leaser Lake ...

“I saw that my life was a vast glowing page and I could do anything I wanted.”

                       ~ Jack Kerouac

                               ~ 1922-1969

A man paddles his canoe amidst the vast beauty of early spring on Leaser Lake, in the shadow of the northern Blue Mountain Ridge, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania.

Spring is the time of new beginnings, and boundless possibilities lie ahead as he charts his course while a late March sunset waits in the wings.

I shot this scene on the day before Easter, and the nearby church bells were chiming “I Love to Tell the Story,” the wonderful Gospel hymn written as a poem by English evangelist Katherine Hankey in 1866. It was set to music by William G. Fischer in 1869. The refrain, always appropriate but especially at Easter, is, “I love to tell the story, ‘twill be my theme in glory, To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.” It was wonderful to hear that as I walked the trail looping around the lake on this warm evening.

Leaser Lake’s namesake is Frederick Leaser, an American patriot who in September 1777 with his farm team hauled The Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to Allentown where it was concealed in Zion Reformed Church for protection during the Revolutionary War. His homestead is located one mile north of the lake.

Leaser Lake was built by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for water-oriented recreation and opened for public use in 1971. Lehigh County leases this area from the state and operates and maintains the park. The land north of the lake was purchased by the county in the early 1970s. It is entirely wooded and is used for nature study and as an addition to the State Game Lands No. 217.

Frost Fire ...

“If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars.”

                  ~ Rabindranath Tagore

                                     ~ 1861-1941

The brilliance of a fiery February sunset glimmers across a frozen Leaser Lake in the shadow of the northern Blue Mountain Ridge, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania.

I captured this shot of shimmering winter beauty on a quiet, chilly evening at the lake.

Leaser Lake’s namesake is Frederick Leaser, who in September 1777 with his farm team hauled The Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to Allentown where it was concealed in Zion Reformed Church. His homestead is located one mile north of the lake.

Halcyon Summer ...

“Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well.”

                  ~ George R.R. Martin,

                      ~ born 1948

The innocence of childhood meets the sweetness of a summer afternoon as this little girl, wearing a shirt splashed with the American flag, casts her fishing pole into Leaser Lake, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania, in a scene that paints the essence of halcyon summer days.

Leaser Lake’s namesake is Frederick Leaser, who in Sept 1777 with his farm team hauled The Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to Allentown where it was concealed in Zion Reformed Church. His homestead is located one mile north of the lake.

The lake is in the shadow of the northern Blue Mountain Ridge.