Showing posts with label serene. Show all posts
Showing posts with label serene. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Shadowing Serenity ...


"Plant faith, grow hope, harvest love."

The light of sunset serenely shadow dances in October, harvesting a beautiful autumn scene at Hopewell Furnace.

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in southeastern Berks County near Elverson, Pennsylvania is an example of an American 19th century rural “iron plantation.” The buildings include a blast furnace, the ironmaster’s house and auxiliary structures including a blacksmith’s shop, a company store and several worker’s houses.

Hopewell Furnace was founded in 1771 by ironmaster Mark Bird for whom Birdsboro was named. The site’s most prosperous time was during the 1820–1840 period with a brief boom in production during the American Civil War. In the mid-19th century changes in iron making, including a shift from charcoal to anthracite rendered smaller furnaces like Hopewell obsolete. The site discontinued operations in 1883.
  
Today, Hopewell Furnace consists of 14 restored structures in the core historic area, 52 features on the List of Classified Structures, and a total of 848 mostly wooded acres. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is located in the Hopewell Big Woods and surrounded by French Creek State Park on three sides and the State Game Lands to the south which preserves the lands the furnace utilized for its natural resources.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Leave Nothing But Footprints ...




“Bring nothing but silence
Show nothing but grace
Seek nothing but shelter
From the great human race
Take nothing but pictures
Kill nothing but time
Leave nothing but footprints
To show you came by.”
                                    
            ~ “Nothing But”
               ~ words & music by John Kay

A portion of the Kittattiny Ridge, also called Blue Mountain, seamlessly slopes into the landscape on a serene summer evening at Lehigh Gap in this high contrast monochrome shot.

The Lehigh Gap in Slatington, Pennsylvania, is a crossroads where the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s trails connect two historic trails – the Appalachian Trail and the Delaware and Lehigh Heritage Corridor Trail (D&L Trail).

The Appalachian Trail, a foot path, follows the ridge on both sides of the Lehigh Gap, running 1,245 miles south to Georgia and 930 miles north to Maine. Running from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, the D&L Trail passes through the Lehigh and Delaware rivers and their canals in Pennsylvania.

The Lehigh Gap Bridge, slightly seen at right, was built in 1930 and rehabilitated in 1984, and spans the Lehigh River.

This scene echoes the beautiful chorus of the John Kay song “Nothing But.” The words “Leave Nothing But Footprints” are often seen placed on hiking trails, and in fact can be seen along the Walnutport Canal Towpath Trail a few miles to the south.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Path To Remembrance...



"When it hurts to look back,
And you are afraid to look forward,
Look beside you ...
I will be there."
                             ~ Anonymous

Sentimental thoughts swirl amidst
a fresh March snowfall on my favorite path
at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Monday, March 2, 2015

The Frosting ...


"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art."
              ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
                          ~ 1803-1882

In the shadow of the northern Blue Mountain Ridge, a frosted, frozen
and snow covered Leaser Lake glistens with winter's artistry. 
I really enjoyed being able to actually walk on the lake and take photos!

The lake in New Tripoli, Pennsylvania is named for 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. 

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Brisk Beauty ...


"The leaves fall, the wind blows,
and the farm country slowly changes 
from the summer cottons into
its winter wools."
                        ~ Henry Beston
                                ~ 1888-1968

Chilly November winds whip the waters this weekend at Leaser Lake, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania, but that doesn't detract from the beauty of this autumn day at the lake in the shadow of the northern Blue Mountain Ridge.

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.

 

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Mist Of The Autumn Morn ...


"I saw old autumn in
the misty morn
stand, shadowless like silence,
listening to silence."
                     ~ Thomas Hood
                                  ~ 1799-1845

There is something so very special about the early morning, the
serenity, the quiet beauty. This feeling of a fresh new day is palpable
as the mist rises just after sunrise on a beautiful, chilly October
morning at Wehr's Dam, Orefield, Pennsylvania.

The historic dam, awash with the waters of the Jordan Creek, was built in 1904 
and is the perfect complement  next to Wehr's Covered Bridge, built in 1841. 

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Good Morning, Robin Hood Dell


"For in the dew of little things
the heart finds morning 
and is refreshed."
                          ~ Kahlil Gibran

A beautiful April morning at Robin Hood Dell, Lehigh Parkway,
Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

October At Robin Hood Dell



"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."
                                                        ~ L.M. Montgomery, "Anne of Green Gables"

 October's golden light touches Robin Hood Dell at Lehigh Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania  just before sunset today.