Frosted Magnolia ...

"In the depth of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."
                              ~ Albert Camus
A bud on my favorite magnolia tree at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania is frosted with a hint of winter magic during a light January snowfall. 

Still December ...

“All human beings are dream beings. Dreaming ties all men together.”

                  ~ Jack Kerouac

                                 ~ 1922-1969

The stillness of a late December day standing by a partially frosted Lehigh River at Lehigh Gap is the perfect place for dreaming and reflecting. Always take time to dream!

I captured this high contrast monochrome shot near the Lehigh Gap Bridge, which spans the river in the shadow of the Kittatiny Ridge, also called Blue Mountain.

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 (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 was built in 1930 and rehabilitated in 1984.

Lighting Up The Nightstand ...

“…I fell in love with you

 and then you went away

But now you’re coming home to stay

Hot dog, soon everything will be all right

Hot dog, we’re gonna have a ball tonight

I’ve got a pocketful of dimes

It’s gonna be just like old times, hot dog …”

                          ~ “Hot Dog”

              ~written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

           ~ recorded by the great Elvis Presley

            on the 1957 album “Loving You”

  
Hot dog! It's a rare warm February evening when the iconic Jimmy's Doggie Stand lights up a winter night on the corner of Union Square in historic Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

Sugaring The Kittatinny ...

“He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter.”

                    ~ John Burroughs

                         ~1837-1921

A sugar dusted portion of the Kittattiny Ridge, also called Blue Mountain, stands in majestic silence after a December snowfall on a winter afternoon 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 (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.