Victorian Charm

"What I like about black and white photographs  
is that they're more like reading the book then seeing the movie."
                                                           ~Author Unknown

The historic Hotel Belvidere, built in 1831, is located in the quaint, scenic town of Belvidere, New Jersey. Belvidere is a charming Victorian town I visited this weekend, located on the banks of the Pequest and Delaware Rivers.

George Washington traveled through Belvidere at 10 a.m. July 26, 1872 when he camped at Morristown.

The Snapshot ...

"So gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life?"
                                        ~ "Times of Your Life"
                                                              ~ Paul Anka

When I snapped this candid shot recently at Trexler Memorial Park,
Allentown, Pennsylvania, it reminded me of Paul Anka's 1975 song
used as the theme of Kodak commercials.
 






                      

Wingsong ...

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away."
                                        ~ Author Unknown

Beautiful Monarch butterfly feels the wind beneath its wings on a
summer day at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Rouge On The Rue ...

  "Loving him was red ..."
                                 ~ "Red"
                               ~ Taylor Swift
                                              ~2012 
A whimsical view of this charming flower shop, Designs by Maria Anastasia, bedecked for Valentine's Day on Nineteenth Street in the quaint West End Theatre District, Allentown, Pennsylvania on a recent winter afternoon. 

Frosted Sugar ...

"If winter comes, can spring be far behind?"
                   ~ Percy Bysshe Shelley,
                                                          1792-1822

                               "Ode to the West Wind"

The pond at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania looks as 
if it's been frosted with sugar on a recent winter day.

On Frozen Pond

Canadian geese gather before sunset recently on the frozen pond
at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Hues On The Rue ...

 

"Painting is something that takes place among the colors ..."

                                            ~ Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)

A painterly view of Nineteenth Street in the West End Theatre District,Allentown, Pennsylvania yesterday. This block reminds me of a slice of Paris in Allentown. 

Hope In Winter

"Stay, little cheerful robin ..."
                                    ~ William Wordsworth, "To A Redbreast"

I was happily surprised to see this sweet robin in the snow last week
at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. A sure sign of hope in winter! 

Fire Of The Frost ...

"It is the life of the crystal,
 the architect of the flake, 
 the fire of the frost,
 the soul of the sunbeam, 
This crisp winter air is full of it."
                             ~ John Burroughs
                                   ~ 1837-1921
                               ~ "Winter Sunshine"
                                                    ~ 1875                        
                                     

An artistic view of leaves frozen in a chunk of ice in January at Wehr's Covered Bridge Park, Orefield, Pennsylvania reminded me of the line penned by John Burroughs.

Log Cabin In The Snow

 

"When snow falls, nature listens."

~ Antoinette Van Kleeff

The springhouse in Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania is 

surrounded by winter's quiet beauty on a recent afternoon.

The log cabin was part of the summer estate of General Harry C. Trexler (1854-1933),

an Allentown industrialist who built a business empire in Allentown. 

The park is his namesake.  

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.

Softly, As I Leave You ...

"Softly, I will leave you softly
For my heart would break
if you should wake
and see me go..."
                                ~ "Softly, As I Leave You"

The image of a man walking yesterday in the freshly fallen snow at
Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania brought to mind
the lyrics to the beautiful 1960s song made popular by singers
such as Bobby Darin.

"Softly, As I Leave You" is a popular Italian song composed by
Giorgio Calabrese and Tony Da Vita translated into
English by Al Shaper. 

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.

Winter At Robin Hood Dell

"On earth, there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it."
                                                                                      ~ Jules Renard

Robin Hood Dell, one of my favorite spots in Lehigh Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania,
after a fresh snowfall last week.

The Doe In Winter

"How can a deer tell when a leaf falls silent in the forest?
She hears it breathing differently."
                                                                   ~ Richard Bach

Beautiful white-tailed deer doe seemingly poses for a portrait on a winter's day in the park last week. There is snow on her face after eating an apple, a wonderful sight to see!

Solitude With A Friend

"Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.
Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.
Just walk beside me and be my friend."
                  ~ Albert Camus
                                 ~1913-1960


A man and his dog walking recently in the freshly fallen snow at Lehigh Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania speaks volumes about
friendship on a quiet winter day.

A Winter's Trail ...

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
                  ~ "The Road Not Taken," 
                                                      ~ Robert Frost

Walking the wintry trail today at Lehigh Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania
brought to mind the famous words of Robert Frost in "The Road Not Taken." 

                                                                   

Crystal Blue Persuasion ...

"Better get ready to see the light,
Love, love is the answer,
Ooh, ooh and that's all right."
                                        ~ "Crystal Blue Persuasion"

Leaves frozen in this chunk of ice recently at Wehr's Covered Bridge Park,
Orefield, Pennsylvania brought to mind the 1969 song originally recorded
by Tommy James and the Shondells, composed by Eddie Gray, 
Tommy James and Mike Vale. 

 

A Journey Begins ...

"He whose face gives no light, shall never become a star."
                                                             ~ William Blake

Awash in the December sunlight, a leaf reflects as it begins its journey
down the Jordan Creek at Wehr's Covered Bridge Park,
Orefield, Pennsylvania. 

The Nearness Of You ...

This domestic white duck and white-crested duck share a moment in the
Monocacy Creek, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania this week. Perhaps they
were thinking of the 1938 song "The Nearness Of You," written by
Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Ned Washington.

I Dream Of Winter ...

"Faith is the bird that feels the light
when the dawn is still dark." 
               ~ Rabindranath Tagore
                     ~    1861-1941

This Black-capped chickadee was perched on a winter's afternoon today at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Softly Comes The Winter ...

" The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
                                   ~ Robert Frost

The springhouse in Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania 
isn't exactly in the woods but looks like it could be on this
December afternoon. 
This log cabin was part of the summer estate of General Harry C. Trexler
(1854-1933), an American industrialist who built a business empire
in Allentown. The park is his namesake. 

A Taste of Snow

 

This male mallard duck seems to taste some December snow with the seeds he ate
atop one of the small bridges at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Painter's Box ...

"In nature, light creates the color.
In the picture, color creates the light." 
                                  ~ Hans Hofmann
                                            ~ 1880-1966
A window in the historic Bogert's  Covered Bridge, Lehigh Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania frames a view of the Little Lehigh Creek flowing beneath the bridge today.

Sugared Canvas

 

"Snow on one side of the canvas, silence on the other.
I'd call that a perfect painting." ~ Jarod Kintz

The snow covered pond at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania looks
as if it were dusted with sugar on a December afternoon. 

Painting Autumn ... Video

Norah Jones' wistful "Painter Song" colors my original video, "Painting Autumn," a celebration of nature's beauty in this colorful season.

Gold Paint

"The substance of painting is light." ~ Andre Derain

The melted snow paints itself across the path in the afternoon sunshine this
week at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

 

Come December ...

"Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a 
sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour." ~ John Boswell

Nestled in the snow, the springhouse at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania, 
is warmed by the afternoon December sun today. This log cabin was part of the summer
estate of General Harry C. Trexler (1854-1933) an American industrialist who built a 
business empire in Allentown. The park is his namesake. 

Little Shed In The Snow

"Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again." 
                                                      ~ Bill Morgan Jr.

This wooden shed looked so picturesque to me near the
Monocacy Creek, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on a winter's afternoon.

Painting The Chill ...

"December's wintry breath is already clouding the pond, frosting the pane,

obscuring summer's memory..."

 ~ John Geddes

The chilly waters of the Jordan Creek spill over Wehr's Dam, Orefield, Pennsylvania

 after this season's first snowfall.