A Manomet Walk, Rabbit Pond, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Setting out on a walk, I find I would rather be on unpaved lanes than asphalt when I have the choice......



....and to walk on the soft sponginess of fallen pine needles and hear the challenge of a rooster as I pass by the hens....



.... and to see the ocean spread out before me....



...and confirm that all is right in this idyllic little part of the world.



Getting closer to Rabbit Pond, I note there is still a lot of color left in these trees.



I thought most of it would be gone by the time of this visit.



I was wrong, it was still strikingly beautiful.

The price we pay for this annual explosion of color is the harsh winter ahead. Now it's time to start dreaming about warm and sunny places.......

Mayflower II, Plymouth Harbor, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Today was moving day for the Mayflower II. Just like last year, she was heading off to Connecticut for maintenance over the winter.  She is getting all spruced up in time for the 400th anniversary of the original Mayflower arrival here in the New World in 1620. (This image was post-processed with a black and white pen and ink effect).

I arrived early at the pier to watch - there was no tug boat in sight - I waited - barely fifteen minutes before Mayflower II was scheduled to depart, the tug rounded the corner of Long Beach and headed for the dock - the few other tourists did normal tourist things.



Some were perhaps wistful in anticipation of the landmark ship being gone again for the winter.



The tug approached unceremoniously.......



.......and attached the towline. The only other boat still in the harbor was the police boat at far right above monitoring the Mayflower II departure. (Panorama - click to view in full width).



The tug pulled the towline taut, the deck hands cast off the other anchoring lines, and at exactly the scheduled departure time.......



....off she went - quickly and efficiently.



Somehow I expected more pomp and circumstance - maybe some music, or fireworks, or costumed Pilgrim staff waving from the deck.



She rounded the end of the harbor......turned.....



... and was gone until spring 2016. 

Every time I see her I imagine what it must have been like arriving in late November in 1620 after 60+ days at sea, more than 100 people living on that boat in about the space of a tennis court, the harsh winter ahead, half their number dead by spring - wow.



Plymouth - America's Hometown is left to face the cold winter without her resident icon. Ah yes, but, spring is coming soon.........

Cascadilla Gorge, Ithaca, New York, USA

Cascadilla Creek flows through the south side of the Cornell University campus culminating in a series of nine small waterfalls before emptying into Cayuga Lake.

The peaceful waterside trail is a good place to pause and consider the rigors of academic pursuit or, to simply enjoy the beauty of nature.

It seems to me the sound of rushing water is never far away when you are in or near Ithaca.

There is a trail/path/stairway that parallels much of the creek as it cascades down.

I thought this rock outcropping looked like either Santa Claus or maybe Abraham Lincoln.

This odd panorama captures a few of the small falls.



An adjacent homestead.



An explosion of fall color.



If this group of trees was having a discussion about which one is the tallest, this is the proof - the one still sticking up into fading daylight is the winner.

This is either a bird standing on its tail or, a leaf that is surprisingly shaped like a bird standing on its tail.

This view in downtown Ithaca is just at the edge of the Ithaca Commons and has that classic small town America nighttime feel.

Santa Comes to the Simes House, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

It's that time of the year when hundreds of local folks gather on the Manomet Commons at the Simes House to welcome Santa Claus to light the Christmas tree. This event, (the fourth annual by my count), is testimony to support the vision of the Simes House Foundation that Manomet needs and will benefit from having a focal point, a central location from which to build local community. Judging by the hundreds who turned out tonight, this new tradition will be carried into the future by the latest generation of parents here with their young ones.



The odd blue glow in this and other images was caused by the police vehicle lights parked nearby to help direct local traffic.

The Simes House was built in 1863. The Simes House Foundation was created in 2010 to restore and maintain the Simes House and Manomet Commons as self-sustaining historical landmarks in the Village of Manomet. The Foundation expects the public to benefit through enhanced cultural focus and identity, as well as through education and encouraging community service.



Seasonal live music was provided by this guitar duo from the Middle Street School of Music in Plymouth.



Santa starts the countdown to lighting the tree.



The brightly lit tree served as a popular backdrop for family and group photos. The tree was donated by Egan Landscaping of Plymouth.











Jack Frost made an appearance but, it was so warm this year I'm surprised he didn't melt.



Jack doesn't quite have the stature of the man in the red suit but, he was still a good sport for photos.



The main event was definitely Santa. He received a long line of excited kids who waited patiently to share their wishes with him.



This little fellow was too young to understand the whole Santa hoopla but.........



....he did know how to point at the candy basket.



I think Santa got photobombed for this one.















Hundreds of folks turned out on this unseasonably warm late November evening for the event with Santa.

And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."