Friday finishes and Fun!

 I have been working on a couple of projects that I am still working on, so the only finish I did, was some more masks for the family. I made the glow in the dark ghosts for the boys, something fun they can play in  as well as practical. Then I made matching kitties for me and the boys and they flags for Bill. I like the box style, even though it is tough to do a nice job on the ends, but they fit much better and not only can I breath in them, I can talk in them. That is nice for the boys, as well, since they can talk in the classroom without removing them.

I added a photo, wearing it, to show. you how it stays away from the face. It looks more pronounced from the side, but looks fine from the front.

On Saturday I sent Bill to the store to get me a new camera body. I told him the two choices and a list of questions to ask. Well, the store had no one that knew cameras so he went with the expensive one. I really wish I had more time to think on it, It is a nice camera, but more for a professional than for what I need. I do like how it syncs up with photoshop, so my edits are getting better, but it does seem like the photos run on the darker side. I guess I will just have to learn how to use this one, lol. The good news is, today I was looking at their website before Bill went up to take in the old one and mine was on sale, so Bill was able to get the discount taken off of our price, so I saved money. 

We decided to go to Fort Getty to walk and take some photos. It was dismal out, but with a little editing, I was able to brighten them up.

A picture of the lighthouse on Dutch Island.

A close up of the lighthouse. The photos have a higher resolution, so I am able to crop in closer and still retain most of the details.

And on the beach, I thought this scene was quintessential New England.

The next day we had plans but the boys wanted to play again, so we took them back to the island. They loved playing on the beach and Nick found more treasures than I did.

And all the boys had fun, just being boys. The campground is closed, so we had the place to ourselves, just a few visitors who come to walk around.

It was a wonderful weekend and I always find my greatest joy when we take the boys with us. I had taken a photo of Alex while he was walking further away and cropped his face for a close up. I was not trying for a portrait, but love how it came out, so I will practice more with portraits. I think that is one of the benefits of this camera, it can do nice portraits, so something new to learn.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and find time to find your joys and happiness in these trying times.

Weekend wanderings!

We had another beautiful weekend, but Bill had to work on Saturday. Sunday was our day out and we made the most of being out, by going to Fort Getty where we just sat on the beach and enjoyed the views and Bean got to run and play, all he wanted.

I thought the bay would be rough, but the waters were pretty calm and lots of kayakers were out. I wish we had bought ours, someday I want to paddle over to Dutch Island, where you can see this lighthouse.

We had the beach to ourselves, but of course, people started coming in, so we went to the divers beach. Lots of people with dogs go there and I can usually let Bean play off leash, even with people. I was also getting hot, so I slipped my suit on in the car and was able to play in the water with Bean. The water was cool but full of chopped of seaweed and icky stuff, so I didn't go for a swim.

On the way back we saw a big ship, so I stopped to get a photo, this is the Regal Princess, I never realized how big the cruise ship was, till I saw it with all the other boats.

When we went to pull over, something big flew up past our car, so I had to go see what it was.

A turkey vulture, and while I was taking photos, I finally realized why there were there, when the smell hit me, a dead raccoon. 

Today Bill went to work and things were slow, so he decided to come home early so we could go to the beach and watch the sunset. Well, we left the house and headed for the bridge and a huge fog bank came rolling in and covering everything so that you couldn't even see the island. But, we just wanted to get out so we went to the lighthouse first and a good time to hide a few rocks. There were a few kids coming and going, so hopefully they found the fun rocks. As you can see, no sunset tonight, at least on the ocean.

Afterwards we went back to the beach at the forts and enjoyed a walk down the beach, and of course, adding a few more rocks to my collection. I hope everyone had a nice weekend.

Weekend Wanderings!

The rain finally stopped and we were able to get out Sunday and go for a nice walk. We were heading to the lighthouse but I decided to go to Fort Getty which was an old fort in World War II and now it is a park and camping area.

Usually we just go in and drive around and enjoy the views but this time we parked at the entrance and found a wonderful path that went along the cliffs on one side and a bird sanctuary on the other. We went down to the beach area first and I found this little hidden entrance to the other side.

On the other side was another small beach, surrounded by the cliffs and a nice place to enjoy the views and let Bean play. There was a huge dark cloud coming our way and the sun was beaming through, one of those moments that seems awe inspiring.

We headed back up and walked along the cliffs, but it got a bit narrow and I have no desire to fall down a cliff, so we found a path that took us above the cliffs.

The walk goes around to the campground and docks. You can launch boats here, a future paddle for us someday. The lighthouse is on Dutch Island. It is a park now and you can paddle over and camp there, but when we were young, we had a boat and would spend the day on the island and have a picnic on the beach.

We were able to walk along the beaches on the other side and Bean played with some labs who were going for a swim. On the opposite side is the bird sanctuary, I spied this guy feasting on a clam.

Coming back we went back up the hill through the campground, which is closed now. At the top of the hill are where the forts once stood, now you can see remnants of what is left and most have been caved in and covered to keep people from getting hurt in them. This is the entrance to once bunker, a bit too creepy and dirty for me to go inside.

The men would keep watch in here through the slits on the other side. In those days they were afraid the enemy would come up the bay and attack.  During the war, the island was flat so there were no trees in the way.

And my special gift for mother's day was a heart rock. Bill was searching all over the rocks for a heart rock and I said, don't look, the right rock will be there when you see it and there on the sand was a heart rock for me. It was the perfect way to spend the day and know that Danielle was with me in spirit. I hope everyone had a wonderful day.

A Day at the Lighthouse!

Today I was tired, from  yesterday, so a good day to rest. So, I went shopping and got some needed supplies with my coupons. Then I came home and it was way to nice to sit in the house, so I decided it would be a nice day for a drive to Jamestown, and visit the Beavertail Lighthouse.

It was really hot today and even on the ocean the sun was beating down on us, but it was too beautiful out, not to enjoy a walk around the cliffs.

This is the Narragansett bay side, the land across the bay is the area where I grew up. 

The opposite side of the point, faces Newport. As  you can see, a lot of boats were out today and a lot needing help. The barge is being pushed by a tug and the boater had engine trouble, so they were getting ready to be towed by the boaters version of triple A.

An empty canvas

A painted painter

On the road back there is another area called Fort Getty. From this point you can see Dutch Island and the Light House. Another beautiful day and lots of walking and too much heat and beating myself to death again, but it was worth it;)