In the quiet corner

Rucki's General Store

2012-02-28T18:00:00.000-05:00

Rucki's general store is located on the corner of where routes 44 and 97 cross in Pomfret. Its is your typical old time general store that I grew up with but is slowing vanishing from the area. There are a handful of them left and hopefully they will be around for awhile longer.

Red barn landscape II

2012-02-27T17:30:00.000-05:00

This is a vertical image of the barn I posted a few days back. When I shoot landscapes and most things in general I always work both the vertical and horizontal aspects of the scene. I also added a vignette to give it a more artistic feel to the final image.

This shot will also be posted at Tricia's "Barn Charm"

Steeple & Clock

2012-02-26T17:13:00.000-05:00

This late afternoon shot was taken of the Scotland Congregational church which is right on the green in Scotland. I used my polarizer to punch up the sky which without any clouds is a little boring.

Late winter landscape

2012-02-25T17:48:00.000-05:00

Though it has been mostly snow less this winter we still have had some colder than most. Today it was very windy and chilly. I grabbed this shot on my way home from work in Hebron.

Green shuttered door

2012-02-24T18:05:00.000-05:00

This shuttered doorway is found on the front of the Gilead congregational church in Gilead which is a hamlet of Hebron. There were two side doors to the left and right but only the main entrance was shuttered. I wonder why....

Purple doorway

2012-02-23T17:59:00.000-05:00

I love the color of this door I found at a shop in Marlborough today. The other details on and around the door seem to pull this shot together.

Red barn landscape

2012-02-22T17:58:00.000-05:00

This wonderful, well in my eyes, landscape was taken on a back road in Lebanon this afternoon. I have made it a point to drive more back roads on my way to and from work. I am really trying to take my time and photograph things that I might have normally passed by in the past. Sorry Tricia but I couldn't wait to share this on Barn Charm next week.

Star topped cupola

2012-02-21T17:26:00.000-05:00

I found this cupola quite by accident today. I was scouting out some barns to shoot for next's week Barn Charm and while looking at the details I found all three of the cupolas were topped with stars. Its the first time I have seen that kind of details on a cupola and I wanted to share it with everyone.

Old red barn

2012-02-20T19:52:00.001-05:00

This old, worn red barn is located along route 203 in Windham. It definitely has seen better days and is no longer in use. Its a shame to see it just sitting there month after month falling apart like this.

If you love the charm of the barn visit Barn charm hosted by Tricia.

White-Breasted Nuthatch

2012-02-19T15:07:00.000-05:00

I broke out the 300mm lens this afternoon and sat on the deck for a while photographing the visitors we had to our feeders. This White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) was playing hide and seek from the backside of the tree. He finally popped out long enough for me to shoot off several frames before flying off.

Burrows Hill Schoolhouse

2012-02-18T17:43:00.000-05:00

The Burrows Hill Schoolhouse located in Hebron was first established in 1725. I am not sure how much of the original school is still left in the current building but it is a historical landmark. It is one of a few single room schools left standing here in eastern Connecticut.

Old glory wind vane

2012-02-17T18:20:00.000-05:00

I have driven by this old farm building numerous times in the past and never really paid attention to the wind vanes mounted on top. However today the sun must have hit them just right because I had to stop and shoot off several frames. I really like how this one turned out. The copper wind vane and cupola with the red tin roof works very well against the late afternoon sky don't you think?

Ye old clock tower

2012-02-16T18:34:00.000-05:00

This is the old clock tower that sits on top of the city hall in Willimantic. I was going to convert this to a B&W image but I just love the tarnished green copper against the red brick. Plus with the clock face being back lit I don't think that would have been picked up in B&W either.

Tapping those maples...

2012-02-15T12:24:00.000-05:00

Its that time of year here in Connecticut when the sap begins to flow and the maples are tapped to make maple syrup. I love seeing the old buckets hanging from the trees but more and more you see hoses running from tree to tree to a big collection tank. I understand it might be more cost effective but it takes away from the charm of making the syrup. Times change but I still like the old way of collecting the sap.

Afternoon grazing

2012-02-14T17:44:00.001-05:00

I caught these two horses grazing in the afternoon sun on a farm in Hebron. The sun was low but it lit up this hillside nicely for me to shoot off a few frames. Seems strange in mid February there still is no snow on the ground but after last year I will take it.

Barn with a red & white door

2012-02-13T18:25:00.001-05:00

Here is the full view from yesterday's closeup shot. As you can see this door just pops out of the barn as you drive by.

I am linking this image to Barn Charm!

Red & white barn door

2012-02-12T13:14:00.000-05:00

This door jumped out at me as was driving by this barn in Ashford today. It was in sharp contrast to the otherwise weathered gray look of this barn. I am saving the full view of the barn until tomorrow for Tricia's "Barn Charm" but I thought this closeup of the door worked well.

The flip side

2012-02-11T14:31:00.000-05:00

On the 1st, I posted "Sorry we're closed". Well visiting Marlborough today the shop was open for business and this is the flip side to the sign. Weathered and worn on both sides it seems.

Green metal frog

2012-02-10T18:21:00.000-05:00

Walking the streets of Willimantic again today and i found this large metal statue in front of city hall. I could spend an entire week photographing the downtown section of Willimantic and still not photography every reference there is to frogs here. It its fun to go "Frog hunting" when I have the chance.

Rustic Cabin

2012-02-09T18:00:00.000-05:00

Driving in Ashford today I stumbled upon this cabin today. I wish the sky had some clouds today but you have to photography what you find...right??? I just love the weather wood on buildings like the one above.

Willimantic Brewing Company

2012-02-08T17:15:00.000-05:00

Ahhhh...the Willimantic Brewing Company is one of my favorite local spots for lunch. The food is very good and they have a great IPA. The brewery is located in an old post office seen above and that is why the sign looks like a postage stamp and the frog on the sign is a hat tip to the history of Willimantic dating back to the 1700s.

Brick and lamp

2012-02-07T17:48:00.000-05:00

I love details and things you find in architecture. I think the older buildings have much more charm and character to them than most of the modern buildings. I found this just walk the streets in a small town. I liked how the brickwork framed the lamp.

Johnson's Antiques

2012-02-06T17:24:00.000-05:00

Driving home from work today I stopped in the small downtown area of Coventry. I have driven by this antique shop numerous times and today I made the point to stop. Though it was closed many items were still outside which I think added to the charm of this shot.

Crane wind vane

2012-02-05T17:22:00.000-05:00

Besides doorways and mailboxes I love wind vanes. I found this one on a home in Marlborough. The flying crane or it could be a stork, is the first one I have seen like this. I have seen cows, pigs , ships and many more but this is the first crane.

Lake House doorway

2012-02-04T16:18:00.000-05:00

As most of you know who follow this blog I like photographing doorways. I found this one on at lake side cottage in Marlborough. I like the details in and around the entryway to this home.

Canoes & kayaks

2012-02-03T19:11:00.000-05:00

I found these canoes and kayaks, plus several other ones pulled up out of the water along the shore of a small lake in Coventry this afternoon. The winter has been so mild this year here in Connecticut that most ponds and lakes are still ice free. Its a really big change from the pounding we took last year from the cold temps and heavy snows.

Iwo Jima Memorial in B&W

2012-02-02T17:53:00.000-05:00

This is a shot of the Iwo Jima Memorial found in Newington, CT. I converted it to a B & W shot because the lighting was very poor and the sky was a washed out gray. The actual rocks seen beneath the statues in the photo are from Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima.

Sorry we're closed

2012-02-01T17:38:00.000-05:00

I was wandering around the shops in Marlborough today and this sign caught my eye. I love the worn and weathered look to it. It really has seen better days but it still does the job.

Late afternoon reflections

2012-01-31T18:18:00.000-05:00

Another golden afternoon here in Connecticut and I came across this shot. It is a small over grown pond located right alongside route 87 in Lebanon. I had stopped to shot some geese that were feeding but they swam off before I could get set up. However looking up the sun lit up the far shore giving me this wonderful image.

Small working farm

2012-01-30T17:40:00.000-05:00

This red barn and surrounding out buildings can be found along route 207 in Hebron, CT. It was late in the day and I didn't get the lighting I was hoping for but I have been wanting to shot this one for a few months now. Driving home today I stopped and fired off a few frames before the light went completely gone. I am posting this shot at Tricia's "Barn Charm".

Old silo textures

2012-01-26T17:34:00.000-05:00

I came back to the silo I shot a couple of days ago. I was drawn to the colors, textures and details in the closeup shot I took. There are thousands of nails used to construct this silo as you can see here in this shot. Its amazing the amount of work that went into building this relic.

Golden trees

2012-01-25T17:28:00.000-05:00

Driving home this evening I spot this cluster of yellow birches that just popped out in the late afternoon sunshine. You have to love shooting in the "Golden Hour".

Old silo in Scotland

2012-01-24T19:10:00.000-05:00

I have seen this old silo off route 14 in Scotland, Connecticut for months. Today I decided to stop and shoot off a couple dozen shots. I even shot a few closeups to get the texture of this old silo. This is my first post after a couple months of being away from blogging. Thanks to everyone who drop me emails to see how I was doing and encouraging me to get back into blogging. Hope you all like the first post of 2012 from the Quiet Corner!

Cemetery fence in B&W - Friday Fences

2011-10-28T10:41:00.002-04:00

Seeing Halloween is on Monday I thought I would match the theme with a B&W shot of this cemetery I found in Union, CT. I used a high contrast blue filter to try and make it look like a moon lit scene. What do you think?

Please visit Jan & Jer's Friday Fences for more interesting fences photos.

I have also linked this photo to Madge's meme "Weekly Top Shot" for more great photos of the week.

Worn red barn

2011-10-26T12:59:00.000-04:00

This working barn is located on a back road in Pomfret, CT. I believe they still raise a small herd of cattle plus several horse.

White garage or art studio?

2011-10-25T16:44:00.000-04:00

This wonderful building is located in Eastford, CT right along route 198. I am not sure what it is used for but the windows on the left side of the building applies that its more than a garage. Still it makes a fine subject for a photo.

Cupola and roof - Barn Charm

2011-10-24T17:23:00.000-04:00

This cupola and roof are part of a very worn barn located in Hampton, CT right along side route 97. I understand most of the people who view photos at Barn Charm but the details in the roof was just to much for me to pass up

If you love the charm of the barn, visit Barn Charm hosted by Tricia.

Downy Woodpecker

2011-10-23T17:05:00.001-04:00

In our backyard, here in Sprague, we have two bird feeders plus a suet cage we keep stocked year round. This afternoon I photographed this Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) while he was working his way up to the suet feeder.

Meadow grass & barbwire

2011-10-14T17:26:00.000-04:00

More of a closeup shot for Friday's fences but I think the softness of the grass and background work well together with the barbwire. Please visit Jan & Jer's Friday's Fences for more interesting fence photos.

Train trestle over the Shetucket

2011-10-13T19:12:00.000-04:00

This train trestle is running over the Shetucket river in Windham, CT. The leaves have finally started to change this year but it seems like they started over night. They are predicted to hit peak color next weekend. Be prepared to see a lot of autumn photos the next couple of weeks.

Looking up the Thames

2011-10-12T19:00:00.003-04:00

This is a view from a parking lot at the Mohrgan Sun casino looking up the Thames river. Around the bend to the top right is the city of Norwich, CT.

Heading to the stables

2011-10-07T17:53:00.000-04:00

These two horses were heading to the stables late this afternoon here in Franklin, Connecticut. This is a post for Friday's Fences host by Jan and Jer.

Fall time flower show - Chrysanthemums

2011-10-06T18:07:00.000-04:00

These hardy mums were located outside a church in Sprague, CT. I love the explosion of colors you see when you take a close up shot like this one.

Postal Pachydermis - Another unique mailbox

2011-10-05T17:48:00.003-04:00

Here is another unique mailbox I found the other day...an elephant mailbox. I found this one on a back road in the town of Occum.

Red barn with geese

2011-10-03T09:40:00.000-04:00

Driving this morning in Hampton, CT, I found this small flock of Canadian geese in front of a barn I pass several times a week. I thought they made a nice accent for this shot I will be posting for Barn Charm.

If you love the charm of the barn, visit Barn Charm hosted by Tricia.

Autumn wreath on black door

2011-10-02T09:20:00.002-04:00

This autumn wreath caught my eye as I was driving. It really popped out against the black door so I just had to stop and fire off a few shots. I found it in Lisbon, CT while doing a little early leaf peeping.

Newent congregational church steeple in B&W

2011-10-01T10:10:00.000-04:00

Here is the steeple of the Newent congregational church in Newent, Connecticut. Newent is a very small hamlet in the small town of Lisbon. I love the wind vane on top of the steeple and lately I have been looking more and more at this detail in local buildings.