Winding Into Red ...

"Nothing behind me,

Everything ahead of me,

As is ever so on the road." 

                              ~ Jack Kerouac

                                                 ~ 1922-1969

                                            ~ "On The Road"

                                                                     ~ 1957 

Though shorn of snow, it's a chilly December day

as the country road winds through the historic Schlicher Covered Bridge,

North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania.

What lies ahead is the beautiful rural landscape at sunset ...

and endless possibilities.

Schlicher's is an historic wooden covered bridge. It is a 108-foot-long, Burr Truss bridge that crosses the Jordan Creek and was constructed in 1882. It has vertical plank siding and a gable roof. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and was closed for a time for needed renovations.

 

Flight Into Sunset ...

"Softly the evening came ..."

                                     ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

                                                                 ~ 1807-1882 

 

Canadian Geese fly into a fiery sunset as the evening softly

comes to Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania

on the first day of winter in December 2014.

Covered In Christmas ...

"Remembrance, like a candle, burns brightest at Christmastime."

                                                                                                              ~ Charles Dickens

                                   ~ 1812-1870 

                                                               

Festooned in Christmas lights, the historic Wehr's Covered Bridge, Orefield, Pennsylvania sparkles with the joy of Christmastime on a December evening.

Wehr’s Covered Bridge is an historic wooden covered bridge located in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. It is a three span, 117-foot-long, Burr Truss bridge, constructed in 1841. It has horizontal siding and a gable roof. It crosses the Jordan Creek and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The nearby Wehr’s Dam was built in 1904.

This beautiful bridge has seen travelers for 174 Christmastimes, but the true beauty is the reason and meaning of the season - the birth of Christ - which is timeless and remains the same.

Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas everyone!

Christmas Luminance ...

"I will honor Christmas in my heart,

and try to keep it all the year."

                            ~ Charles Dickens

                                            ~ 1812-1870

                                                   "A Christmas Carol"

                                                ~ published December 19, 1843

 

Bedecked in Christmas lights, the historic Wehr's Covered Bridge,

Orefield, Pennsylvania glows with the warmth of Christmas

on a December evening.

Wehr’s Covered Bridge is an historic wooden covered bridge located in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. It is a three span, 117-foot-long, Burr Truss bridge, constructed in 1841. It has horizontal siding and a gable roof. It crosses the Jordan Creek and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The nearby Wehr’s Dam was built in 1904.

 

Christmas Caboose ...

"The bell still rings for me,

as it does for all who truly believe."

                             ~ Chris Van Allsburg

                                                    ~ born 1949

                                 ~"The Polar Express"

                                            ~ published 1985

A red caboose festooned in its Christmas finery

greets train goers on their way to boarding 

The Christmas Train on the Hawk Mountain Line

in early December at WK&S (Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern, Inc.)

Railroad, Kempton, Pennsylvania.

The Hawk Mountain Line is a scenic ride of six-and-a-half

miles on track of the old Reading Railroad, running along

the Ontelaunee Creek, through the farms and woods of

Berks and Lehigh Counties.

The Christmas Wish ...

"For it is good to be children sometimes,

and never better than at Christmas,

when its mighty Founder was a child Himself."

                                            ~ Charles Dickens

                                                                 ~ 1812-1870

                                                                     ~"A Christmas Carol"

                                                          ~published December 19, 1843

Remember thinking about your Christmas wish list for Santa Claus?

This little girl's expression in this candid shot suggests she's doing just that as she rides

the Christmas Train - not to the North Pole, but through the rolling

Pennsylvania countryside.

Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves also

boarded the festive train in early December on the 

WK&S (Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern, Inc.) Railroad, Kempton, Pennsylvania.

The Hawk Mountain Line takes a scenic ride of six-and-a-half miles, on track

of the old Reading  Railroad, running along the Ontelaunee Creek, through

the farms and woods of Berks and Lehigh Counties.

 

 

Mama And Me ...

"A mother's heart is a patchwork of love."
                                            ~ Author Unknown

Beautiful white-tailed deer doe and her button buck
share a sweet moment in the park a few days after
Christmas. 

I've been blessed to photograph this doe and her fawns
for three years, and it's a true joy to me personally and
as a photographer. 

Fording The Jordan ...

"Never give up, for that is just the place and time
that the tide will turn."
                       ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe
                                  ~ 1811-1896

Visitors to the Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania ford the Jordan Creek just before sunset in December.
For more than 50 years kids and kids at heart have enjoyed driving through the creek. 

The Young One ...

Beautiful young white-tailed deer buck pauses in the winter brush
just before a December sunset in the park.

I'll Remember You ...

"I'll remember you ...
To your arms someday I'll return to stay...
Love me always, promise always
Oooh, you'll remember too,
I'll remember you."
                "I'll Remember You"
                   ~ written by Kui Lee, 1964
            ~ recorded by Elvis Presley, 1966

Flares of a December sunset over a field
in Orefield, Pennsylvania echo in my mind
like the beautiful song "I'll Remember You,"
written by Kui Lee in 1964 and recorded by
the great Elvis Presley in 1966.