New York Snapshots- Thanksgiving Family Vacation

man and dogMan and dog in Central Park.

Alice in Wonderland StatueAlice of Wonderland statue

 

IMG_0655Waiting in line to see the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

 

 

IMG_0685Aunt Mary reading with Maura from her new book about Egypt.

 

George Washington crossing the DelawareMark photographing the boys as Washington Crosses the Delaware. Although I’ve seen the painting I couldn’t have told you the artist’s name –Emanuel Gottlieb Leutz

 

 

PretzelMaura and her pretzel after the museum

 

IMG_0755Lighting candles where Mark’s paternal grandparents were married in this chapel behind the main altar of

St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  I believe the year was 1947.(Bobbie?)

30 Rock at Night

30 Rockefeller Center at Night

 

American Girl StoreMaura likes the American Girl Store Window

 

 

Grand Central STationGrand Central in the background

You have to have a few posed shots, attempting to get everyone with you at the same time. HA!

 

Transit MuseumMichael watches the trains at the Transit Museum

 

subwaySubway ride back to Aunt Mary’s station stop.

 

 

 

 

Central Park Autumn Light Gallery

Hansom Cab

 

Photographed with iPhone 6, Monday November 23, 2015

Bridge in Central Park

 

Man and Dogs Central Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Getting ready for Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

Birds of a Feather

Birds of a feather, flock together. Waiting for the horses to drop some grain. My sister spotted these pigeons on a traffic light post.

No zoom lens on the camera so my sister who had found the birds lined up on the pole, walked me across 59th Street into the Park.  We were headed for the zoo.

Close-up  after we crossed the street- the second shot

pigeons on a lightpole

and the first shot, before we crossed the street

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Greek Independence Day Parade on Fifth Avenue Sunday Afternoon

My sister and I had a good trip to MOMA, seeing the photographs and then a walk through to see Starry Night and some familiar favorites. We walked up Fifth Avenue and  I spoke with the flag vendor near the Plaza Hotel and he liked the sock monkey on my lens.

Mary took me to see the snow leopard and their baby snow leopard at the Central Park Zoo. The fuzzy black feathered penguin who would drown if he fell in the water until his other feathers grow in.

We could hear marching band drums and Mary knew it was the parade.  The Greek Independence Day Parade was in full swing marching up Fifth Avenue.

We walked toward the police barricades and watched the floats and I took a ton of photographs. We heard a lot of Greek being spoken, it was a nice family day, people calling to the parade participants and waving. Sunny but cold!

How some of the women marched in the fancy heels is beyond me.

Greek Priest BlessingBlessing the crowdIMG_8299

This nice woman offered us two tickets to the Grandstand to view the parade but we were cold, too.

Fordham University Hellenic Society

Man and his dog

Beagle with Greek Neckerchief

The owner let me take a close-up but the dog was more interested in the people walking by.

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GreekParade

The photographer on the right was so friendly to me, telling me he wanted to be in two places at once- 79th Street where it ended.

Greek Sweatshirt man

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tubas marching band

Greek Parade

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Top Commenter Shares Link about the Serenity Prayer

If you follow the blog, you’ve seen Stef’s smiling gravatar and you’ve read her thoughtful comments.

She’s the author of Three Daily Delights blog.

This week’s theme is SERENITY and after looking at the gallery of photographs, Stef was prompted  to add this link in the comments yesterday. Although I’d heard and seen the prayer many times over the years, I learned a lot about the Serenity Prayer from reading it, I thought it was good to share. I always liked the line about the ‘wisdom to know the difference” Here is the link to the article 5 Timeless Truths From The Serenity Prayer That Offer Wisdom In The Modern Age 

And the article is correct about almost everyone knowing the beginning of the prayer, but not the second part so much-

“Whether or not you believe in God or an afterlife, and whether or not the prayer’s ending — a vision of being “supremely happy with Him forever in the next” — appeals to you or not, there’s something universal in the prayer’s quiet celebration of understanding our own potential, our own limits, and our capacity for transcendence.”

Thanks Stef for sharing.

Central Park Seasons – Guest Blog

Thank you Jack W. and Joe W., a father and son and  two dear friends and followers who are like family.

You might remember the beautiful winter scene Joe W shared from Central Park.

Here is the same location early October.
Shot from the vicinity of the Plaza Hotel at 59th Street.

Thanks Joe and to his dad Jack for sharing them with me.

Central Park October

and a reminder of how beautiful winter can be even when it is treacherous to get around in the snow and ice.

Central Park Winter

Central Park Snow Scene via Joe in NYC

Here’s today’s guest blog-

This afternoon I received this photo from blog follower Jack.  His son Joe took this  “Central Park- South East corner…there is a small pond that is iced over and covered with snow…it looks really peaceful”

I wrote to Joe (who also follows the blog and he was happy to contribute today’s post- Thanks Joe!)

He gave me permission to share his picture. And thanks Jack for sending Joe’s Central Park Snow Scene.

Central Park Snow Scene

Weekly Photo Challenge: Escape

They call it challenge for a reason.  Escape. Or trying to.

Escape defined : Break free from confinement or control    (School is out June 17th)

Need to get away. Get out. Break free.

Attempted escape. Some of mine seem like “trapped” or “escape is necessary” . It makes me consider posting a photograph of our jail that they built along the Monongahela River, spoiling the scenic view. Escape from reality.  A fire escape?

Me trapped in the mail chute

Me in the mail chute at the City County Building today when we took down the art show.

Fencing so the Cheetahs Can’t Escape!

Fenced in at the Wilds

NYC

Kayaks on Allegheny River

Kayaks on the Allegheny River Photographed from the Roberto Clemente Bridge

Branch trapped

Fence and Branch at the Softball Game

Get out of the Car Wash

Did you ever feel like you can’t escape when you are in the middle of the car wash?

 

 

 

Play House Captive

Take the keys and lock her up! Little sister tries to escape

Buy a lottery ticket

A hopeful escape from reality and the rat race. I guess I need to buy a ticket.  Oh well.

The Book Loft in Columbus

The Book Loft Columbus Ohio.  Reading is a terrific escape!

Roller Coaster at KennywoodA roller coaster is good for a brief escape

at Kennywood Amusement Park

Helicopter Getaway

Ready for the get away

Fire Escapes

 A Couple of Fire Escapes  ( I was shooting the Bitter End, I think)

Central Park

Central Park Pastorale

 

Imagine, Standing with Van Gogh, St. Patrick’s Scaffolded, Mercury, Ribbons for Peace, Patience

We walked through Strawberry Fields and saw the Imagine mosaic.  A man sat on a bench playing the guitar.  We wondered why he wasn’t strumming a Beatles tune.  We walked over the to the Frick Collection and saw the Piero della Francesca in America , no photography allowed.

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At the Metropolitan Museum of Art

you could stand around all day and take photos of people being photographed with Vincent Van Gogh’s self portrait.

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The scaffolding on St.Patrick’s Cathedral will be in place for three to four years.

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Lit a candle in St. Patrick’s.

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Mercury at Rockefeller Center

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Prayers for Peace. I read the sign and took the photo.  After I crossed the street I realized just how many ribbons there were on the fence surrounding the church.

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We walked down Fifth Avenue from 72nd St to 10th St

Mary and I stood at Washington Square in the late afternoon sun for long shadows.

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