NYC Street Photographs

The Cloisters, Fort Tryon Park
Times Square
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Something Magical…

Although Christmas is over, it seems to be an unspoken rule that many places are not taking down their decorations just yet. I understand. In fact a large amount of shops and public areas in NYC never took down their lights throughout the year. It seems that the shop owners probably left up the decorations to be taken down a while after the holidays, but then when the pandemic started, without saying a word to each other, they decided to keep the lights of Christmas alive throughout the year. Even into the summer there were trees filled with beautiful lights outside restaurants. There were all kinds of wonderful expressions of spirit and solidarity if you looked in the smallest places. Well…this is one of the most beautiful ornaments I have ever seen…and I couldn’t pass up taking a picture of this wonderful tree that is, you guessed it, outside! Enjoy, and there will be more photos coming your way often! Here’s a little love and spirit to ya!

A Hazy Day in NYC

There’s nothing like a walk along the river on a hazy day in NYC. Despite the fog…it was actually very warm, with folks in short sleeves/shorts and it was a balmy day. During Covid I have been exploring photography and spending time outside in the evenings. Let’s see where this project takes me…Won’t you join me by following my photography? Please like, comment, share, etc!

Magical Manhattan

A journey through the outdoors…in the midst of a bustling city. Follow my blog to see images you don’t normally see.

Sand Castles By the Sea

Oh, who wouldn’t want to make a sand castle by the sea?

Just relaxing,

Just you and me.

I love the breeze,

Running through my hair.

I love the feel,

Of the balmy air.

I love the summer nights so sweet.

I love the sand beneath my feet.

I love the endless ocean waves,

I feel they go for days and days.

I love the feeling, oh so free,

Of just “being,” you and me.

P.S. This post could not have come at a better time, as my mother reminded me via such a happy picture of the two of us, that this time last year we were in Bermuda, one of my favorite places on the planet. The culture and the environment there are like none other. I can’t wait to go back someday!

Windbag

Ha ha! Windbag! What a great word for today! We have lots…of examples of windbags over here, without mentioning names, lol. Blowing lots of hot air; just full of it; flying high on hot air, itself. In fact, hot air is the only thing keeping it afloat, like a kite. The kite won’t work without all of the air buoying it from underneath. Without the air, the kite can’t fly, but take the air out from under its wings and the kite stays grounded…food for thought?

Cloister

If only

I could be cloistered in The Cloisters

That beautiful structure

Standing in the center of a gorgeous park

At the highest point in Manhattan

A park so peaceful

A place so open

A world so green

Looking out over the Hudson River

With the sun shining on the water.

If only

I could look out

From the top of the stone ramparts

Filled with history

That tell the story

Of a massive battle.

Fought closer to home

Than we could feel

From our classrooms in the West.

Out here

This battle

Took place

Where. We. Are.

When it is no longer far away

We have no choice

But to take note.

Remember.

History. Is. Now.

Make it what you want

The future to reflect on.

Luscious Greenery

Luscious is the perfect word for my walk in the park in NYC yesterday! As luck would have it, I shared these photos with my family yesterday, and the response was “how lush.” I read that text this morning before I even knew that today’s word is luscious. What serendipity! I hope you enjoy the photos, and please share your photos and thoughts below in the comments! I’m very curious to see!

Settling In…Or Settling Out?

I know what you’re thinking. What the heck does she mean by settling out? You’re right. It makes no sense. Times are so strange. I honestly wish that tomorrow was January 1st, 2021. 2020 has been a wipe, ha ha. Can we just skip to the good part? Anyways, let’s get started.

During COVID-19 everything has changed. Life is still topsy turvy here in NYC and I’m sure it’s crazy elsewhere, too. I’m finally settling in. I’m finally in a groove. This is all taking place…just when we are now starting to talk about re-opening. I’m still getting used to this new normal. I’m not ready to start a new phase of change (although I will have to adapt regardless and I’m prepared to do so). So I’ve settled in…but what about the next part? What about…settling…out? By that I mean how do we progress towards re-opening and changing our way of life for the 2nd time in a very recent period. How do we feel comfortable in such a chaotic and dangerous world/situation? We’ll have no choice. Life must go on, but how do we, in ourselves, prepare ourselves for the unknown and possible danger of the next phase. We must be brave. We must educate ourselves about how to be safe while moving around the city now. What will this new world look like? Will we be quarantined again? So that’s what I mean by settling out. Going out into the world again with whatever confidence in the face of fear that we can after upending our lives by quarantining (which I agree, has been good to do and may be best to continue). For the record, I don’t want the world to go back to the way things were before. Clearly that was not working, and we need to move forward in a different, more positive manner.

Although I am very well aware of the fact that the phrase settling out isn’t a logical term or a regular one, to me it perfectly captures the way that I’m feeling. How are you feeling?

Pronounce

Pronounce. Pronounce…Pronounce? What do I do with pronounce? The obvious comes to mind, but I’m not sure I feel like writing the obvious today. Given what is going on in my life with volunteering, I find myself talking to many different people in NYC on the phone, and I sometimes get caught off-guard when I think that I’m being very clear, but I get a swift reminder that maybe I am not, and how important communication is. That’s the obvious. Now for the not so obvious thing to write about.

Color.

Words.

Music.

Sound.

Tone.

What do all of these words have in common?

They all are a part of,

How I define pronunciation.

How does the voice sound?

What color would you associate the tone with?

Music.

Speaking and singing both contain music.

How you pronounce something,

Has a certain music to it.

A certain tone.

Can you hear exactly how the word is pronounced?

Can you hear every part of the word?

Every syllable?

How does it sound when each syllable is combined?

Can you feel the warmth in someone’s voice?

Or is it gravelly?

How do those two,

Effect the sound.

Exactly.

It’s all…

Pronunciation.

Photo: Sarah Pflug/burst.shopify.com