It's A Great Day For The Irish ...

“It’s a great day for the Irish, it’s a great day for fair …

It’s a great day for the Shamrock, for the flags in full array

We’re feeling so inspirish, shure because for all the Irish

It’s a great, great day …

And as we go a-swinging, every Irish heart is singing

It’s a great, great day.”

               ~ “It’s A Great Day For The Irish”

                          ~ Irish-American song

             Written by Roger Edens in 1940

              for inclusion in the film version of the

                 George M. Cohan 1922 
     Broadway show “Little Nellie Kelly”

The Irish flag waves proudly on a windy St. Patrick’s Day under bright blue skies in Allentown, Pennsylvania after the flag of the Republic of Ireland was raised March 17, 2017 at City Hall Plaza.

The flag raising event was to commemorate the contributions of those of Irish heritage who helped form and grow Allentown and the greater Allentown area. 

As someone of Irish-German heritage, my green Irish eyes were smiling seeing the flag billowing downtown in the late winter breeze.

Irish Blessings ...

"An Irish Prayer"

May God give you ...

For every storm, a rainbow

For every tear, a smile

For every care, a promise

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share

For every sigh a sweet song

And an answer for each prayer.

 

The autumn sunshine of a gorgeous Indian Summer day

smiles on St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Belvidere, New Jersey.

The shamrock windows give a touch of an Irish blessing, with a

beautiful statue of Jesus Christ with his arms outstretched above them.

The cornerstone of this quaint, picturesque church at

327 Greenwich Street was laid in 1891.

Belvidere, one of my very favorite places,

is a charming Victorian town on 

the banks of the Pequest and Delaware Rivers. 

 

Magnolia By Morning ...

"Despite the forecast, live like it's spring."
                                        ~ Lilly Pulitzer
                                                  ~ 1931-2013

The sunlight of an April morning whispers softly as a dream around the magnolia tree at my favorite spot at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Red-Tail In The Sunset ...

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience."                     
                       ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
                                     ~ 1803-1882

Regal red-tailed hawk peers from a high perch, his gaze looming over the landscape in search of prey at an April sunset at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

The Winter's Day ...

  "Land really is the best art."
                     ~ Andy Warhol
                            ~ 1928-1987

The day all winters dream to be paints itself around the Springhouse at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Icicles fringe the roof of the log cabin surrounded by a fresh March snowfall, blazing blue skies and bright sunshine.

It's one of my very favorite places to be and to photograph. 

The log  cabin was part of Springhouse, the summer home of General Harry C. Trexler (1854-1933), an American industrialist who  built a business empire in Allentown. The park is his namesake.



 

The Country Church...

"I like the silent church before the service begins,
better than any preaching."
                                        ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
                                                       1803-1882

I always love photographing country churches such as
Frieden's Evangelical Lutheran Church, which dates
back to 1793. The Sunday afternoon sunlight
streams on the church nestled in rural
Center Valley, Pennsylvania on a summer's day. 

Close To You ...

"Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me they long to be
close to you."
                    "Close To You"
                            ~ Burt Bacharach & Hal David
                                                   1963


Perhaps these mourning doves were thinking
of the song made popular by the Carpenters as they
shared a spot on the wire on a summer afternoon
in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

At The Twilight's Last Gleaming ...

"Oh say can you see
by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed
at the twilight's last gleaming ..."
                    ~ "The Star Spangled Banner"
                                       ~ Francis Scott Key
                                                       1814

The waning evening sunlight illuminates
The Star Spangled Banner this spring at
Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY AMERICA!
         

I'll Follow The Sun ...

 

"One day you'll look to see I've gone
For tommorrow may rain,
so I'll follow the sun ..."
                  "I'll Follow The Sun"
                             ~ The Beatles
                                     Lennon & McCartney, 1964

This rock dove (rock pigeon)  is poised to follow
the evening sun in June atop the historic
Wehr's Covered Bridge, Orefield, Pennsylvania. 

Patriotism ...

"Patriotism! There is magic in the word.
It is bliss to repeat it."
                          ~ Archbishop John Ireland
                                              1838-1918

The American flag waves proudly in the
evening sun in May at 
Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Grand Old Flag...

"You're the emblem of the land I love,
the home of the free and the brave ..."
                           ~ "You're A Grand Old Flag,"  ~ George M. Cohan

Old Glory waves proudly in the wind in the May breeze
at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.  

With honor and gratitude on Memorial Day to those members of 
the armed forces who died serving our great country. 

In The Pink ...

"I believe in pink ... I believe that tommorrow is another day,
and most importantly, I believe in miracles."
                                                 ~ Audrey Hepburn

Nothing says spring like a flowering cherry tree on an 
April day at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Happiness On Wings ...

"Now think of the happiest things. 
It's the same as having wings."
                              ~ Peter Pan

When I saw this cute black-capped chickadee on an April afternoon in Trexler Memorial Park, 
Allentown, Pennsylvania, it reminded me
of this sweet and happy quote of Peter Pan. 

Spanning ...

 

"Winter makes a bridge between one year and another
and, in this case, one century and the next."
                                                        ~ Andy Goldsworthy

A recent view of the historic Northampton Street Bridge, commonly called
The Free Bridge, looking toward Phillipsburg, New Jersey. The bridge
spans the Delaware River between Phillipsburg and Easton, Pennsylvania.
The Free Bridge was completed in 1896 and survived the massive flooding
of Hurricane Diane in 1955. It underwent a thorough restoration in 1990. 

Winter Inspiration

"Even if I knew that tommorrow the world would go to pieces, 
I would still plant my apple tree."
                                         ~ Martin Luther 

Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church, Allentown, Pennsylvania, is an
inspiring sight in the late day sun on a recent winter afternoon. This
quintessential country church was founded in 1741.

A Winter Peace

"Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth
plants something in his soul."
                                                          ~ Thomas Merton

I always the sight of a picturesque country church, especially in the snow.
This is Jordan Evangelical Lutheran Church, Orefield, Pennsylvania
on a recent winter afternoon. The church was established in 1734.

Faith Of Gold

A Festing We Will Go

A view of Musikfest 2013, Bethlehem, PA

My Blue Heaven

Blue Skies Smile on Mourning Dove